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Now saying 'Ok Google' to your Android phone can search inside apps
Android's Material Design facelift is eventually going to trickle down into the entirety of Google's services, but for now the folks in Mountain View are just trying to make sure all its apps look consistent. The latest in a long line of Android apps to get the redesign treatment is Google's Search for Android, but that new look just might be the least interesting thing about it. No no, with the update in place, you can just speak and have Google search within apps installed on your phone. Itching to pull up tracks on TuneIn or get cracking on your holiday travel plans through TripAdvisor? All it'll take is a quick "OK Google" command to get things started.
Google Now wants to help protect your eyes from eclipses
Google Now has just added more cards to its ever-increasing arsenal, and this time, they'll help you prepare for eclipses and possibly dangerous situations. The new eclipse card lists almost everything you need to know about the phenomenon, including what it is, how to make a pinhole projector to view it and how to photograph it safely. If you can see the card right now, then you're most likely somewhere in North America, and the partial solar eclipse tomorrow will be visible where you live, weather permitting. The second card, on the other hand, shows you any police activity happening in your area and nearby places, though an Android Police commenter suggests the card isn't exactly new, just rare. Sure, getting one of these cards might be a bit stressful, since nobody wants to hear that there are bad guys prowling around their neighborhood. But at least it can let you know when to be extra careful or to avoid places where there's trouble. [Image credit: Zhan Tian/Getty]
Google finds that teens use voice search more than grownups
Want to do what all the cool kids do? Talk to your smartphone, apparently. Google has commissioned a study showing that American teens are considerably more likely to use voice search on their devices than adults. About 55 percent of the 18-and-under crowd uses Cortana, Google Voice Search or Siri more than once a day, while 41 percent of grownups do the same. That number climbs to an even higher 75 percent for teens glued to their phones 11-plus hours a day. Younger users aren't worried about social stigmas, either -- they're far more likely to use voice commands when friends are around (57 percent versus 24 percent). About 45 percent of adults, meanwhile, are self-conscious about their geekiness when they speak to their devices.
Google app gets a conversational search upgrade, learns to use OpenTable
Nothing makes voice-recognition software shine more than good conversational algorithms -- and the natural-search function in the Google app just got a minor upgrade. Not only can use your hotel confirmation to find nearby restaurants, but also now you can casually ask it to show you the restaurant's menu or book a reservation via OpenTable. You'll still have to do a little work to complete the reservation, however (Google only gets the booking started), and it's still not perfect: If a given restaurant doesn't support OpenTable or doesn't have a menu online, the process kind of falls apart. Still, it's a nice upgrade, assuming you've already come to terms with the fact that Google's algorithms are skimming your email. [Image credit: Google]
Google Now has your back for Voter Registration Day, too
Google surely has a lot of tricks in store for the Now app: one of the latest to surface, for instance, reminds American voters to register for November's general elections. Residents in Michigan, Pennsylvania and likely other states recently received Now pop-ups about the registration deadline on October 5th. Some of those who reported seeing the card claimed they haven't even done a search for anything election-related in recent years, so it's possible that the app flashes the reminder based on your location. It's unclear whether this is a national rollout or just something the company's testing, though, since Google hasn't officially announced it yet. We first caught a glimpse of this new feature when developer Zhuowei Zhang released his UnleashTheGoogle app in September, which shows all the cards the company's currently testing. Since among the rather lengthy list is an API called "Election info," we might see similar Now cards in the future.
Engadget Daily: Blackberry's $2,000 smartphone, Microsoft's new streaming adapter and more!
Does your love for exotic sports cars bleed over into every aspect of your life? If so, you might like Blackberry's new $2,000 Porsche-designed smartphone. That's not all we have on deck, though. Read on for the rest of our news highlights from the last 24 hour.
Google Now's latest trick is finding you a cheaper flight
Google Now has been showing off alternate info for when your flight's been delayed for a bit, and as of late the app's looking to take another bite out of air transit frustrations: keeping an eye on ticket prices. Poking around on Google Flights for a trip will drop a card into the search giant's digital assistant now and will alert you when prices change based on your recent destination or itinerary searches. It's sort of like what Airfare Watchdog does, but is possibly more convenient. As pointed out by by Android Police, however, it doesn't look like searching for a flight on the likes of Kayak or Travelocity will trigger the same activity. Update: Google has confirmed the feature in a post on Google+ and explained how it works. It's only in the US for now, you will need the latest version of the Google Search app on Android, and yes, it has to be a flight you've searched for on Google. If all of that lines up and the price drops, boom, you'll have a notification coming through.
Google Now tempts you with a Field Trip to nearby sights
The folks in Mountain View have been adding new tools to Google Now, like suggesting another flight if yours is delayed. The search company's Field Trip app has been suggesting local points of interest since its launch in 2012, and now the two are in cahoots. Now already displayed a list of nearby sights, but with a recent update, the other app's more detailed info on art, architecture and more is automatically beamed to your mobile device. So when you're out of town, expect to see a few more recommended cards in that feed to entice you to change those plans. [Photo credit: Melville B. Grosvenor/National Geographic/Getty Images]
Secretaries beware: Google and HP in talks about Now for the workplace
While Apple has teamed up with IBM to get more of its wares into the workplace, it seems Google is looking to do the same with partners of its own. The Information reports that Google is in talks with HP and others to leverage its card-based Now system for enterprise use. While the negotiations began a year ago, HP has moved forward with its own "Enterprise Siri" project to boost mobile search for businesses. Integrating Now with office-friendly apps will be a chore, as the search option doesn't currently leverage data or abilities outside of Google's suite -- like Cortana and Siri do for certain applications. As you might expect, the conversations seem to be just that at this point, so there's no clear indication of a timetable for a partnership announcement or product release.
Google Now for Android shows alternate flights when yours gets delayed
These days, it's all rush rush rush, isn't it? Our tiny digital assistants are becoming more crucial in getting our days running smoothly, and thanks to a new update to the Google Search Android app, Google Now just got a little bit smarter... at least when it comes to transit and transport. There's nothing like the sinking feeling that strikes when your flight gets delayed (and the existential dread that comes with sitting around an airport for a few more hours), which is why Google bolstered Now with cards that'll highlight alternate flights in case the worst happens to yours. And if you're the sort who prefers traveling on land? Now will also surface your train and bus reservations in card form so you no longer have an excuse for missing the 12:25 to El Paso.
Google Now Launcher available for most Android phones
The trusty Google Now launcher that debuted on the Nexus 5 had already made its way to the rest of that family and Play Edition devices. Now, folks wielding any handset running Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) and later can grab the feature, even if it's absent one of the aforementioned monikers. The software add-on makes Google's card-based repository accessible by swiping to the right of the home screen or speaking an "OK Google" voice command from that main UI. Gadgets that weren't officially stamped by Google hadn't been privy to the functionality, but now even if OEMs drape the OS with their own look and features (looking at you, Samsung), you can still get a taste of stock Android.
ZTE continues the trend toward minimizing Android customization
For all its beauty, Android's openness is the reason why manufacturers and carriers are able to make their own tweaks to the OS. Some companies go as far as completely forking the platform, and we know how terrible that can be -- though there are exceptions like Amazon's Fire ecosystem, which offers a solid experience overall. Thankfully, manufacturers are beginning to realize it's much better to deliver Android as Google intended, or at least as close to it as possible (e.g. HTC's Sense 6). Chinese outfit ZTE will join this movement very soon, announcing that the Google Now launcher will be set as the default home screen on its future smartphones, starting with the launch of the Blade Vec 4G next week. Naturally, doing so means giving buyers a cleaner look right out of the box; plus, it puts all of the search giant's services front and center, including the Play store and, of course, Google Now. Most importantly, it's definitely going to make Google happy.
Google Now tests calendar event suggestions based on Gmail convos
Google knows many, many things about you, perhaps even that you can be a bit forgetful sometimes. To help you remember your plans, the company has started testing a feature that takes possible events from Gmail or other Google services and turns them into Google Now cards. For instance, if it infers that you're planning a day out based on an email thread, the new feature will automatically turn it into a card and will ask if you'd like to add the event to your calendar. It's really not that much different from Now pulling flight or hotel reservation info from your Gmail account. According to Android Police (who first reported its existence), you can choose whether to continue getting event suggestions on Google Now's settings page. So, when you do get the feature, you can switch it off if it starts feeling creepy and turn it back on if that calendar's looking suspiciously empty.
Android can now wake you up when you're close to your bus stop
If you've ever taken the bus or subway home after drinking too much at a party, you know how tough it can be to get off at the right stop -- you may fall asleep well before then. That shouldn't be an issue if you're using a recent Android phone, however. Android Police has noticed that the latest version of Google Now on Android lets you set an alarm that wakes you up shortly before a favorite destination comes up; you can safely catch some shut-eye knowing that you'll still be home on time. There are third-party apps that offer similar reminders, but it's good to have a built-in safety net when you're not entirely sober. [Image credit: Jose Antonio Navas, Flickr]
Google and Twitter join forces for disaster alerts
Google's and Twitter's relationship has been a bit rocky since the former launched a social network of its own, but, for the greater good, that's changing. When a "more extreme" natural disaster strikes, Google Now, Search and Maps will populate with tweets related to the Public Alert event in an effort to add context, both on mobile and the desktop. On Google+, the search giant notes that these related tweets will serve to answer questions about school closings, nearby evacuations and to display what people closest to a storm are seeing. At the moment, this is only available for English-speaking countries, but Mountain View says it's working to add new kinds of social content to more places and its other products for the future. It isn't quite the Realtime Search of yore that added everyone's tweets to Search results, but it is something. If you had bets on The Blue Bird and Big G never ever getting back together, it's time to pay up.
Smartphones for hire: Which personal assistant is right for you?
"Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding." This isn't a standard job interview answer, but then again, "What does the fox say?" isn't a typical question, either. The top three smartphone platforms now feature fully functional personal assistants, and just like real-life assistants, it's not so easy to pick one at random. Each has its own talents, weaknesses and personality quirks to consider. So, I conducted a series of "interviews" with Siri, Google Now and Cortana to get to know them better -- and yes, they all know exactly what the fox says.
Mulling a new wardrobe? Google Now alerts you when it's available nearby
Sometimes you have to run out for a meeting seconds before you're able to commit to a well-researched online purchase. Fret not though, Google Now is here to help. The card-based system will display the items that you're longing for when they're available from a retailer you're passing by. All you need to do is update Search for Android and the software will remind you of the products and pricing info, allowing for a quick stop on the way home. That's after you find your car, natch.
Google Now's info cards will stick around when your phone goes offline
One of Google Now's biggest quirks has been its inability to cope with going offline -- go through a subway tunnel and you risk losing those important directions or your parking place. You won't be left hanging after today, though, as Google has brought offline support to Now on Android phones. So long as you're using the latest version of the Search app, all your information cards should hang around whenever you're cut off from the rest of the world. It's a small change, but it could make a big difference if it keeps you informed while you're off the grid.
Google Now for Android remembers where you parked
You probably have a trick or two up your sleeve to remember where you've parked amidst a sea of other cars. But if you're still prone to forgetting your parking spot, Google's refreshed Android Search app might be able to help you out. The update adds a new Google Now parking card that lists the address of the place where you left your car, along with a map that shows how far you are from that location. In case the card got it wrong the first time (ever got lost because Google Maps gave you faulty directions?), it can also offer alternative places that you can check. Yes, that's a nightmare if you're in a massive parking lot, but it sure beats going around in circles for hours. Update not showing up for you? You can download the APK from Android Police instead.
Google Search: A visual history
"To organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful." That was one of the primary goals Larry Page and Sergey Brin set when they launched Google in 1998 as a privately owned search company. Since then, the Mountain View-based outfit has branched out, creating a mobile operating system, mapping service, cloud-based productivity apps, branded devices and, now, smart thermostats. All of those offshoots, however, always point back to the company's original aim: search. That baseline service is something Google's been making refinements to ever since its inception. A practice that continues to this day, with the company constantly improving upon the usability and design of its search-based offerings. This means cleaning up a UI when needed, and launching new features that serve up that much-lauded universal accessibility in short order. What may come across as a small box centered in a vast expanse of white is, as you'll see, actually something that's constantly evolved since '98.
