“Google Now” is Getting Smarter with its “Now on” Tap Function and the Ability to Work Inside the Other Apps
While on the subject of major announcements at Google I/O 2015, an annual software developer-focused conference, the new capabilities of Google Now should not go unnoticed. As an integral part of Android, the intelligent personal assistant has learned to analyze information on the screen of the cell phone and automatically perform the relevant actions. In fact, this time Google Now has “penetrated” into each Android application component.
“You’re deluged with a lot of information on your phone’s” said Sundar Pichai, SVP of Android, Chrome Apps at Google Inc. Several new features in Google Now are intended to change the situation. “We Have the biggest investment in machine learning over the last few years, and we believe we have the best capabilities in the world.”
Aparna Chennapragada, Google Now’s product manager, noted that one of the main developers’ targets is to make Google Now proactive so that the user can get the necessary information even before thinking of it. At The moment Google Now is able to “understand” over 100 million different objects, and it operates not like a simple business listing. In order to demonstrate the all-encompassing awareness, Mrs. Channapragada asked Google Now to provide the real name of the singer while playing a song of Skrillex, the famous American Singer and producer. The assistant gave a correct answer.
Having received an email from a friend or a fellow with an enclosed list of various movies, you may simply tap and hold your finger on the screen to get the detailed Google Now cards with the useful information on each item. The app instantly analyzes the content on the screen and provides the useful material. For Example, if the user is asking a friend about a good place for dinner, the assistant immediately and automatically provides the information on the best nearby restaurants covering its ratings, customer reviews,and opening hours for any place mentioned in the conversation.
The Google Now assistant is becoming much easier to use. Thus, it helps to get the definition of any term or additional information about different objects and phenomena. You only need to tap on the necessary word in Chrome, and Google Now will build a corresponding card.
Mrs. Channapragada has also stated that these are not the only prospective changes and promised to share a lot more details over the next few months.
It should be noted that this is not the only new Google Now feature which has come into prominence recently. Not long ago the number of third-party applications supported by Google Now for Android has been increased to 110 units.
Apparently, the competition on the market of personal assistants is growing by leaps and bounds. The Announcement of the new “Google Now” capabilities has come along with the rumors that Apple is developing the competitor to Google intelligent assistant, which will become a part of iOS 9. Moreover, Microsoft has recently confirmed the plan to produce its own Cortana assistant for Android and iOS. However, a new Nowon Tap function in Google Now, which described in yesterday’s news about Android M, is able to completely overshadow Cortana in its current form.