A new update for Google Now, the personal assistant software, has been released, bringing several new features and improvements users' way.
Google started pushing out a new version of its app on Android on Wednesday, November 13. The updated software allows Google Now understand and respond better to voice commands
"Google Now brings you the right information at the right time, and today we're adding some new cards that tap into the richness and comprehensiveness of the web, putting it at your fingertips in a new and unique way," Google said.
For the uninitiated, Google Now is a part of the Google Search app and it enables users in managing scheduling and interests. The basic UI is presented as "cards" which center on a particular information. To illustrate, the weather card will show the current climatic conditions, as well as a short forecast for the next few days. With the update, Google has added several new cards like the Website update, News topic and What to watch to Google Now.
"If you're a fan of a particular blog, the Website update card can bring you things like the latest post so you'll never miss a story, and the News topic card brings you fresh articles from the web on topics you care about. The What to watch card gives you Movie and TV recommendations when you're staying in," per Google.
Apart from the cards, Google Now can incorporate real-time traffic data better. The data comes via Waze and can be deployed to alert drivers if they are issues to avoid them getting stuck in traffic. Users can also set repeat reminders and get scores for rugby matches real time!
"You can see traffic incidents on your commute using real-time data from Waze, set repeat reminders, get real time scores for rugby teams, and also see when your packages are ready for in-store pickup," notes Google.
Users even have the option of bringing back dismissed cards by using the Undo mode. Moreover, the Google Now app will also use the same "hot word" that is available to devices running Android 4.4 KitKat. The assistant will automatically wake and listen to commands when a user says "OK Google." This is a departure from the past where users had to tap the microphone in the search bar to interact.
Additionally, post the update spoken requests will be more natural and not robotic. Previously, users who wanted Google Now to send a text message or email had to say something like "send text message to Joe Smith." Now users can speak and interact naturally with a "send a new text message" to which the software will respond "to whom shall I address the message."
Google Search is available for free download from the Google Play Store here (compatible with Android 4.1 and up).
