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Google Now on your iPhone and iPad

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131–140 of 231 posts

Re: Google Now on your iPhone and iPad

#131
post #86
post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Remember the hubbub two years ago when Apple was collecting GPS data? http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/04/iphone-customers-laws...

IIRC they did that without informing or asking their users for permission. Contrast that with android which is opt-in.

Also they didn't collect the information or share it with third parties and well it was a bug. I don't agree with the OP but I think it's unfair to contrast what Apple did with anything that also wasn't a bug. It would sort of be like comparing what Apple did with security vulnerabilities in Android; the user isn't informed, notified and permission isn't asked for on the other hand Google and Apple weren't/aren't doing so purposefully.

Re: Google Now on your iPhone and iPad

#132
post #43
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Google better not be evil. Given their history, that's an awful big statement to make.

Who thinks Google is evil?

Google is a business. They can remain non-evil as long as their balance sheet holds up. Downside could be massive.

Re: Google Now on your iPhone and iPad

#133
post #86
post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Remember the hubbub two years ago when Apple was collecting GPS data? http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/04/iphone-customers-laws...

IIRC they did that without informing or asking their users for permission. Contrast that with android which is opt-in.

The problem here is the long-term tendency is to turn opt-in into "if you don't opt in you don't get any of our services".

Kinda like HIPPA medical privacy rights in the USA: when you go to a doctor, they'll hand you a paper for you to sign acknowledging you understand your privacy rights...then they hand you another paper for you to sign away those rights; if you don't sign both, you don't get any medical service. Imagine a not-distant future where if you don't opt-in to questionable services from Google, Apple & Microsoft, you're flatly denied use of any of their products - digitally ostracizing yourself from most of society.

Re: Google Now on your iPhone and iPad

#134

After listening to friends rave about Now and reading so many positive comments online I really wanted to like it. I've been using it for a few months and my experience is significantly worse than what others have reported. It always seems to show me notifications for the wrong information at the wrong time. Take directions. I work at a coworking space 4 miles from my home. The hours I'm there vary. Now seems to try…

It doesn't work too well on the first day. Use it for a few days and it will begin to learn your habits.

Unless you work as Taxi driver, or Messenger.

Re: Google Now on your iPhone and iPad

#136
It's kind of wild that Google knows that the only American sports team I follow is Miami Heat. First time launch of Google Now for iOS was the weather and their score yesterday. Amazing first user impression.

Re: Google Now on your iPhone and iPad

#137

Again I run into the issue that Google doesn't seem to release their iPhone apps internationally. I'm in Europe (Iceland, specifically) and I can't download the Google Search or Google Authenticator apps because they're not available in our App Store. Does this happen to people in any other European countries?

[deleted]

Re: Google Now on your iPhone and iPad

#138
post #5

I have a question for our Android-using brethren who've had the opportunity to play with Now. I've read a bit about it over the past few weeks, and I've been excited about a port to iOS, but now that I have it, I'm not sure how or if it'll fit into my life day-to-day. At first brush, all I see is a weather widget. I know there's more to it, but where exactly does the magic happen? What have you done (if anything) to…

the magic of google now is that you don't have to do anything. most of the time it just sits there quietly doing nothing, every now and then it informs you of something useful.

it's not like other apps where you have to decide if it's worth it to use google now or not. all you have to do is install it, and it will periodically be useful.

Re: Google Now on your iPhone and iPad

#140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I quit my job and started freelancing from home last year, but there's no way to delete a work address in Google Now (only to change it).

You could maybe change it to be the same as your home address.

Having tried that myself, I discovered your suggestion causes Google Now to go a little cuckoo. It spent a week trying to suggest that I work at our local grocery store because I went there one morning for coffee, milk, and lunch ingredients.

Then when I met up with some associates at a coworking spot, it tried recommending that I drive home to the grocery store. :-?

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