'Google Now' for iOS Promotional Video Leaks on YouTube

[Small White Car]

They link to the original Google Now video in the post. It goes into a lot more detail.

I was talking about that one too. I watched them both.

Neither of them makes it clear that any of this stuff is any different than what I currently do with my iPhone. It says it shows traffic and can re-route you...yeah, Google maps has always done that. It was the commentators here who explained it to me that it automatically checks when you leave the house. The video didn't say anything about that.

Find a restaurant? Check a flight? The way the video makes it look it seems exactly like what I do with UrbanSpoon and an airline app. If it's not the same, which it apparently isn't, then I suggest they put that info in the video itself.

 

[turtlez]

This is great. Apple have been slacking far too long and now Google has smashed them. I wish I could hack android onto iPhone 5 to get best of both worlds (physical design + software). iOS7 better blast history to pieces or Apple stocks are gonna drown.

Does anyone else see a trend here?

Google is pushing so hard and at high frequency with new features and updating the old.
Apple just sit back and make minor UI changes like different skin on calendar. Apple used to be like what Google is now.

Maybe it is just that curse of being the leader you can't go forward as fast as 2nd place. Motivation issue? Lack of ideas issue? I guess everyone gets a turn at being in the spotlight so Google will have their prime time for the next few years then it will go to someone else.

 

[Silvereel]

The Google iOS apps look better than the Android apps too. Even some Android users admit that.

They don't want to overwhelm the average Android user with good design

 

[phoenixsan]

Sounds like.....

a promising service. Seems to me the sucess depends in how accurate and fast the info is deployed. Also, I hope what Apple dont want to emulate Google. Still we are seeing the waves from the Maps earthquake.....

 

[apolloa]

It's a very good service on my Nexus 7, but it would be great on iOS, iPhone more then iPad though as it works better with GPS, unless your iPad has GPS obviously.
But yes the key to Google Now is automation, all you need to do is use Chrome or a Google Email Address etc, and it links in with the Now service. It pops up on my Nexus 7 and tells me of any delays to work I never told it where I work, just go there! Amazing system that Apple can learn a LOT from.

 

[Fatalbert]

Very good for now, but something better is coming. Anyway, I'm looking forward to trying Google Now.

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

Google's product isn't Android, Google's product is the data it's collecting on you. What better way to get more data than to get more people participating?

Of course, but why would Google risk losing sales on Android for iOS support? It would just fragment the data, and Google knows all about fragmentation I'm sure.

 

[turtlez]

They don't want to overwhelm the average Android user with good design

hahaha. Yeh the hardcore android people have not ever tasted decent design and I am not sure if they would like it. Generally the most hardcore android users / iOS haters usually get their hormones going by lots of cables, flashing lights, skrillex through their razer headset, first person shooters in a 360 degree panorama etc etc etc.

 

[Oletros]

Good for now, but something better is coming.

???

 

[FightTheFuture]

To be honest, Google Now is a flagship feature of Android... and Google are putting it on iOS. I'm not putting two and two together here, but I think Google know that iOS is winning, and are taking it very seriously.

I feel the same way. Google could easily keep their tech to themselves, pushing users toward Android, but instead put tons of energy and time toward iOS. Maps pre-iOS6 is a great example of this. I don't think Google expected the huge drop in maps after Apple dropped their services. Maybe it's happening with Siri too.

 

[tekboi]

So far every app that google has released on the app store has been fantastic.Google Maps, Youtube, G+.... I almost wish these apps came on iOS by default.

 

[ammonkapow]

I was talking about that one too. I watched them both.

Neither of them makes it clear that any of this stuff is any different than what I currently do with my iPhone. It says it shows traffic and can re-route you...yeah, Google maps has always done that. It was the commentators here who explained it to me that it automatically checks when you leave the house. The video didn't say anything about that.

Find a restaurant? Check a flight? The way the video makes it look it seems exactly like what I do with UrbanSpoon and an airline app. If it's not the same, which it apparently isn't, then I suggest they put that info in the video itself.

You may not have been listening. Here are some quotes:

"As you leave your house, Google Now is smart enough to check traffic conditions and has prepared an alternate route for your commute"

"When you are in a restaurant, your phone already has the best dishes listed for you"

"Automatically keeps you updated on your favorite sports teams in real time"

"With the predictive power of Now"

So it does all the things you do, but it does them before you need them and without your input. I'm not sure how you missed that.

 

[gorskiegangsta]

Once Google integrates Now with applications (reminders, notes, etc) it may surpass Siri in every way.

I really don't see a viable way for them do do that unless Apple will update iOS to allow setting 3rd party defaults.

I agree for web searches etc.... But Siri main design is to control the device. ie text messages, reminders, voice control etc.... and not search for information.

It was very clear from the iPhone 4s keynote, as well as Apple's subsequent marketing, that Siri was designed to obviate the need for many web search (aka. Google in the browser) functions. It's true that Siri's main advantage over Google Now is its deep integration within iOS and I expect Apple will try to hold on to that for as long as they can. It may actually be the main reason why Apple is holding back implementing the ability to set 3rd party apps as defaults.

 

[iGrip]

Thankya, Google!

And once again, Google helps out iOS users with the coolest of the new software.

They could have kept it an Android exclusive, but instead, they are allowing iPhone users to get a taste of what made Google's platform dominant in the mobile world.

Way to go, Google!

 

[ammonkapow]

It was very clear from the iPhone 4s keynote, as well as Apple's subsequent marketing, that Siri was designed to obviate the need for many web search (aka. Google in the browser) functions.

I didn't get that vibe. If eliminating web search was a huge goal (enough to base a flagship feature on), I think Spotlight would have been beefed up with similar abilities and data repositories. I think Siri does absorb some of that traffic, but not enough to base that claim on.

 

[cgc]

As much as a dislike Google, they do make amazing applications and are very innovative...

 

[Fatalbert]

Did you even watch the video?? Geez. Some people have attention spans lasting a few microseconds at most.

I dunno, there was an annoying ad at the beginning.

 

[BWhaler]

I agree with others that Apple needs to kick innovation into high gear.

This is not about more and more features, a la Microsoft, but adding a few features which make a product markedly more useful.

Google Now is an example of this type of innovation, the type of knock you off your socks innovation which makes technology more useful.

The iOS apps have gotten stale. I normally roll my eyes when posters want more, more, more from Apple, but it's gotten to the point where basic functionality and great ideas are missing, to say nothing of the kludgy interfaces requiring too many taps and swipes.

There are been a lot of discussion about skeumorphic design, but I think it cloaks the real issue: Apple's software needs innovation and streamlines interactions.

Google is catching up. They're not there yet. But they're catching up fast.

 

[Fatalbert]

Once Google integrates Now with applications (reminders, notes, etc) it may surpass Siri in every way.

That is, if Siri stagnates, which I hope it doesn't since it's near useless now.

 

[iGrip]

I wish I could hack android onto iPhone 5 to get best of both worlds (physical design + software).

Why would you want such a tiny screen?

 

[Gemütlichkeit]

Very cool. I already use google maps over apple maps.

I dig competition.

 

[gorskiegangsta]

To be honest, Google Now is a flagship feature of Android... and Google are putting it on iOS. I'm not putting two and two together here, but I think Google know that iOS is winning, and are taking it very seriously. (Google Maps, excellent implementation: reviewers call it better than the Android version, YouTube app is fantastic, Google Now, well, let's see if the trend continues.)

And no, sales don't mean a platform is winning.

People tend to forget that Google is a services company. Android OEMs make all the money on the hardware front and Android is free, so Google makes nothing on that either. What they do make money on is serving ads to the people who use their services. They've developed Android primarily to maximize mobile adoption, with their own services at the helm.
The more people use their services - the better. Hence, they only stand to benefit from having those services across multiple platforms.

 

[apolloa]

I wonder if Apple released a smart watch with the Google Now features how many haters on here would be having orgasms over such amazing innovation?

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

I feel the same way. Google could easily keep their tech to themselves, pushing users toward Android, but instead put tons of energy and time toward iOS. Maps pre-iOS6 is a great example of this. I don't think Google expected the huge drop in maps after Apple dropped their services. Maybe it's happening with Siri too.

Who knows! Hopefully this rumour will come to fruition, Google Now really is an excellent product.

 

[Small White Car]

"As you leave your house, Google Now is smart enough to check traffic conditions and has prepared an alternate route for your commute"

Current map programs show me traffic and give me a choice of route. So Google now just speaks up instead of me having to click an icon? That's different. That's not what they pointed out.

"When you are in a restaurant, your phone already has the best dishes listed for you"

So does UrbanSpoon. I've used it before.

Oh, Google Now speaks up without me asking? That's the difference? They didn't say that so I didn't know.

"Automatically keeps you updated on your favorite sports teams in real time"

Sounds exactly the tag like for every sports app in exsitance. How was I supposed to know Google meant it in a different way?

"With the predictive power of Now"

I always thought normal Google searches were "now" so this didn't clue me in that this was somehow different.

So it does all the things you do, but it does them before you need them and without your input. I'm not sure how you missed that.

This is getting close, but throwing it in at the end doesn't really make up for an entire video's worth of catch-phrases that sound like every current smartphone's features. They really need to highlight the differences.