I do a lot of driving to get around, and Google Now has been a huge help in the very simple things I need my phone to do -- navigation, scheduling, and so forth.
Ask HN: Do you use Google Now?
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Re: Ask HN: Do you use Google Now?
#12I try not to use anything related to Google. This includes their technologies like Go and AngularJS. Not that the NSA has necessarily compromised those too, but it's a matter of principal; the same reason I don't shop at Wal-Mart or eat at McDonalds: I do not trust them to do the right thing.
Do you actually succeed at this? TMK there's no decent alternative to Gmail and Gvoice, the two things that keep me hooked the most.
Re: Ask HN: Do you use Google Now?
#13Partially on. I find it too creepy. Especially after the Snowden leaks. My life isn't that interesting, but still. If my location data could be anonymised somehow then I'd be more happy allowing Google access to my location data. I do use the reminder feature though, which is part of Google Now I believe. TL;DR: I have location sharing switched off on my Nexus 4 because I find it intrusive. Google Now is switched on,…
So I guess I should just keep it off. I wouldn't be surprised of Google does track my location anyway despite location services turned off, and just doesn't show it to me.
Re: Ask HN: Do you use Google Now?
#14Yep, I like the way it tells me how long my journey to uni in the morning is going to take.
Re: Ask HN: Do you use Google Now?
#15I use it to know traffic and weather, as well as keep track of shipments, but I do not use Web Search History.
Re: Ask HN: Do you use Google Now?
#16Yes
Re: Ask HN: Do you use Google Now?
#17No. Searching on Google is akin to using a public washroom where video cameras have been installed.
Re: Ask HN: Do you use Google Now?
#18I used to until 4.4 introduced Web Updates, so Google Now would bug we with updates to websites I don’t even remember visiting or haven’t been to in ages. They said in Help that there was a way to turn off that feature but I was only able to turn off specific cards for each site…
Re: Ask HN: Do you use Google Now?
#19The phone company already knows your location history, so I'm like why not.
The annoyance with Google Now is the fickleness of what it decides to give you. "This would be the perfect time for card X" means it will probably be the one time it doesn't show up.
"It's 2am, he's leaving a concert somewhere strange in Los Angeles... let's show him the "Drive to Work" card."
Re: Ask HN: Do you use Google Now?
#20I try not to use anything related to Google. This includes their technologies like Go and AngularJS. Not that the NSA has necessarily compromised those too, but it's a matter of principal; the same reason I don't shop at Wal-Mart or eat at McDonalds: I do not trust them to do the right thing.
Do you actually succeed at this? TMK there's no decent alternative to Gmail and Gvoice, the two things that keep me hooked the most.
Not sure about voice, but a decent alternative to Gmail is Zoho's email solution.