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'Google Search' for iOS Updated With Google Now

acorntoy said:
I love how google is making it easier and easier not to switch platforms.
Click to expand...

This is the only part of Google's strategy I don't get.

As an iPhone and Android user, I love that a lot of Google's services and apps have come over to iOS. But what's their long-term goal? Why not keep some of these apps and services exclusive to your own platform and/or Android phones?

I realize they make their money through ad revenue, so getting their apps and services on as many devices as possible makes them more money. But aren't they concerned at all about people like acorntoy? People that might, at some point, consider switching platforms to take advantage of these apps/services, but now can just stick with their iPhone because they can get the same perks?

Maybe Google is taking the opposite approach from Apple. Whereas Apple likes the "walled garden" and likes to make certain perks of being an iOS user not only iPhone-only, but even certain-model-iPhone-only, maybe Google has decided they'll show the consumer they're not mad...look...here's our services no matter what platform you use. See? We're good people!

The iOS part of me loves that I can get all these Google services on my iPhone. But the Android side of me hates it. Why should people who've obviously spurned your OS and phones get the same benefits as the people who've chosen to invest in your ecosystem?

I'm torn on the whole thing.
 
I'll probably wait until they update it to only use location services when it's opened or something. That always on stuff is too much of a battery drain.
 
lucas107 said:
that makes no sense. If they won't notice it then they are not the ones who would be sitting default browsers. The so called protection is for no one but Apple
Click to expand...

Just a simple question, why should apple prevent another browser ?
-> They don't earn money from the browser, they earn money with the device.
-> Having a different browser engine in the background would not change anything regarding the features of the phone (well flash would be possible but i am happy that flash is dying. As a developer who needs to work with flash and as a user who hates the resource hugging).

It is not like microsoft at the browser war times there way need to control the gate to the internet to have the users on their start portal.

There is only exactly one reason why to control the browser
-> preventing bad experience ala "i can't look at this page in browser xxxyyy therefore the iphone is broken".

And yes there are people like that.
I have people calling at my office because ie6 can't render a page and they claim "The pc is broken, you need to reinstall it"
 
As awesome as this Google Now is the always on location services thing is annoying. Sorry but had to turn 'Now' off. I'll still use google search etc.. but I'd rather have more battery usage.
 
If I can enable Google Now, still use the iPhone as I normally do, and still have battery left to spare by midnight tonight (12 hours from now), I'm leaving it on. Seems like the advantages of Google Now far outweigh the drawbacks for me.

I am a little curious how the sports scores work, though. Does it only display the score card in the app when it detects that I am at a stadium? If so, doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose of the app? I don't really need to glance at my phone for score updates if I'm sitting at the game.

It'll be a sad day in this world when people check their phones to get updates about a sporting event that's going on right in front of them.
 
MrGuder said:
I just noticed that if you go into the app and click on setting (the wheel at the top next to the down arrow) you can go into setting for the app and then click on privacy, it allows you to turn off the location services. This is the setting inside the google app, not your iphone settings. Then I lauched the app again and the location services arrow is gone but the app still works and it still gives me cards at the bottom showing me the weather in my area etc...

Then I asked for directions somewhere and it activated the location services, then I closed the app and X'ed out the app at the bottom on the task to completelty close the app and the location services arrow went away, SO it looks like you can activate location services only when you want by changing the setting inside the google app under privacy.

This is great news!!!
Click to expand...

It's the Location Reporting option within the privacy section in the Google Search app that seems to somehow keep the location status constantly in play.

It only seems to be needed for traffic and some other information (there is a short description of what it's supposed to do) but turning it off doesn't seem to affect the overall location awareness functionality for weather and such, but you will notice that the location services will now activate only when required and not on constantly.
 
haruhiko said:
Yes, even if you double press home button and terminate the Google app, the location service is still on and if you go to Settings, Privacy, Location Services (iOS 6), you can clearly see a purple arrow (i.e. currently using location service) next to the Google app icon.
Click to expand...

Just noticed this..If my battery doesn't take too much of a hit and drain out within a day, I might keep using this, but I can see the battery life decreasing at a slightly faster clip already
 
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KentuckyHouse said:
This is the only part of Google's strategy I don't get.

As an iPhone and Android user, I love that a lot of Google's services and apps have come over to iOS. But what's their long-term goal? Why not keep some of these apps and services exclusive to your own platform and/or Android phones?

I realize they make their money through ad revenue, so getting their apps and services on as many devices as possible makes them more money. But aren't they concerned at all about people like acorntoy? People that might, at some point, consider switching platforms to take advantage of these apps/services, but now can just stick with their iPhone because they can get the same perks?

Maybe Google is taking the opposite approach from Apple. Whereas Apple likes the "walled garden" and likes to make certain perks of being an iOS user not only iPhone-only, but even certain-model-iPhone-only, maybe Google has decided they'll show the consumer they're not mad...look...here's our services no matter what platform you use. See? We're good people!

The iOS part of me loves that I can get all these Google services on my iPhone. But the Android side of me hates it. Why should people who've obviously spurned your OS and phones get the same benefits as the people who've chosen to invest in your ecosystem?

I'm torn on the whole thing.
Click to expand...

There is a simple explanation.
Even if android devices are sold more often, they are used less intensive.
Google makes far more money on ad revenue on ios than on android.
So ... if they don't support android ... less money for them.

And are their features really SO great that you would switch phones ?
Not at all for most people. Because the device costs money, their service is free. And if THEY don't make a service, someone else does it.
Because google initially didn't want to provide turn by turn navigation on ios, apple created their own maps.
And thats what leads to apps of google for ios.
Because if someone else creates that feature ... even if it is less good, they get the money.
Because most people are not techy. 10 million may install google maps.
But 70 million didn't bother and use apple maps. that means a lot of ad money lost (something you can see in googles numbers)
 
avanpelt said:
I am a little curious how the sports scores work, though. Does it only display the score card in the app when it detects that I am at a stadium? If so, doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose of the app? I don't really need to glance at my phone for score updates if I'm sitting at the game.
Click to expand...

I think it recognizes the teams you back based on your search history and displays scores based on that.
 
toddterry said:
It's the Location Reporting option within the privacy section in the Google Search app that seems to somehow keep the location status constantly in play.

It only seems to be needed for traffic and some other information (there is a short description of what it's supposed to do) but turning it off doesn't seem to affect the overall location awareness functionality for weather and such, but you will notice that the location services will now activate only when required and not on constantly.
Click to expand...


Right, at least the always on is not constantly reporting when you don't need it, I would rather activate it when I need it.

I would recomend that anyone who is concerned about "always on" to go into the setting inside the google app and turn off the location reporting. This way it will only activate when you need it to. I'm sure this will save on battery too.
 
BryanLyle said:
Used this for 5 min and realized it kept location services on. Uninstalled.
Click to expand...

I keep most location service stuff in manual mode - I turn them on when I need them. I don't like my phone creepin' on me. ;)

My 500th post! WOOT! :D I think I get a forum avatar now.
 
On Android is lets you select the teams you want to show. I'd assume its the same with the IOS version. You just click on the settings for card and select your team(s)


unlinked said:
I think it recognizes the teams you back based on your search history and displays scores based on that.
Click to expand...
 
MonkeySee.... said:
Ask Google Now to text someone in your address book. Also ask it to set a reminder. etc etc etc etc etc
Click to expand...

Google now does that on android same with asking to play music etc. Except you get to choose your default music app ;)

I could see a few apple people jump ship to get the full experience on android.
 
the only use i can see in this is telling me what the traffic is to drive into manhattan the one or two days a week i might drive into there
 
The Phazer said:
No, it says it only works with location services enabled if you try.

What an utter failure of an app.
Click to expand...

Come on people. Look at the freaking app. You can disable location services from working while the app is not open. They will work when you have it open.

What an utter failure on jumping to conclusions.
 
KentuckyHouse said:
Why not keep some of these apps and services exclusive to your own platform and/or Android phones?
Click to expand...

Why should they? Google makes no money from someone using Android, only from the services that run on it.

So let's look at Acorntoy specifically. You say that Google should try to get Acorn to switch from Google services on an iPhone to Google services on an Android phone. Why? What has Google gained? Nothing.
 
kevinof said:
On Android is lets you select the teams you want to show. I'd assume its the same with the IOS version. You just click on the settings for card and select your team(s)
Click to expand...

iOS you install ESPN, team stream and the sports app, choose your favorite teams and it sends you push notifications for news, game highlights, etc
 
kevinof said:
On Android is lets you select the teams you want to show. I'd assume its the same with the IOS version. You just click on the settings for card and select your team(s)
Click to expand...

Bingo! Thanks for the tip! I added my local pro and college teams and the cards with the scores from each team's latest games popped right up. Very slick.
 
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