Google Now is cool as ******, can Apple match it?

[F123D]

Google Now is a great feature. Appointments, weather, sports, stocks, commute, places, etc all in one place without searching.

When you do want to search, it's amazing as well. Fast, smooth, and accurate.

 

[Niko91]

From what I've seen, Google Now is amazing.
Anyway, I think also that Siri will become better with the next update.
I hope even better than Google Now.

 

[skippymac]

would be pointless for me unless I shelled out for a second phone for work. Can't get emails and stuff unless it's all authorised and that basically cripples many features of smartphones so I'd want a personal one as well. Plus I'm not sure how lotus traveller actually works but I wouldn't be surprised if I couldn't use it!

 

[irDigital0l]

http://9to5google.com/2012/12/06/go...w-android-google-now-whats-this-song-feature/

Google Now > Siri

I like how Google continues to update Google Now while it takes Apple 1 year for some new features. Sure Google Now is an extension of Google Search, but Apple makes it a huge thing that they added new language and the ability to launch apps.

 

[2298754]

Google Now is insanely awesome. Apple needs to step it up.

Google Now can read my emails and give me a card with package tracking information automatically. If I google something, it gives me related news articles in a card. It pushes weather to me in a card every hour or so. Gives me NBA updates. I think the best is that it tells me to leave work early to avoid traffic or when I'm watching to the bus/train stop, it pulls up a list of upcoming trains/buses.

Siri doesn't hold a candle to Google Now. I use it so much that I got the Google Now app on my iPad.

 

[zbarvian]

I don't believe Google Now and Siri are really comparable. They're not the feature. Google Search and Siri are comparable, those are the voice assistant services.

 

[outz]

Google Now is insanely awesome. Apple needs to step it up.

Google Now can read my emails and give me a card with package tracking information automatically. If I google something, it gives me related news articles in a card. It pushes weather to me in a card every hour or so. Gives me NBA updates. I think the best is that it tells me to leave work early to avoid traffic or when I'm watching to the bus/train stop, it pulls up a list of upcoming trains/buses.

Siri doesn't hold a candle to Google Now. I use it so much that I got the Google Now app on my iPad.

it's definitely cool. I was overseas and it auto pulled up my delta flight times etc. very useful

 

[lordofthereef]

Actually, they do. This is why they changed their privacy terms last year.

But only Google has access to this info. For now.

Can you link me to something official that states this? I believe you, would just like to read for myself, and I can't really find anything.

This is what I found here:

Personal information - Information that personally identifies an individual, such as a name, email address or billing information, or other data which could be reasonably linked to such information by Google. The Google Analytics Terms of Service, which all Google Analytics customers must adhere to, prohibits the tracking or collection of this information using Google Analytics.

So... Your name, billing info, and credit card information. It seems to me Apple, RIM, Microsoft, or any other company who's mobile OS you use has this information, but this isn't what I am referring to. My question is, does Google have my name associated with where I was at 2:30 pm on Sunday afternoon?

And the ads have been proven to target an individual by name, as already evidenced on a number of forums where people began receiving unsolicited email from new businesses they had only been nearby, but never engaged directly. Can't get much more targeted than sending your travel info to an enrolled merchant as a "validated" spam target.

I wouldn't say this is evidence of Google giving out personal data any more than it is evidence that I have been using their services for the past decade and have never had an unsolicited email is evidence that they don't do this.

Also, you use this as evidence that Google collects your personal data, but beforehand you claim that they don't give it to anyone, YET. So which is it? If they have your personal data, but haven't given it to anyone, how are these companies supposedly using said gathered data to target you with ads?

 

[hyteckit]

Can you link me to something official that states this? I believe you, would just like to read for myself, and I can't really find anything.

This is what I found here:



So... Your name, billing info, and credit card information. It seems to me Apple, RIM, Microsoft, or any other company who's mobile OS you use has this information, but this isn't what I am referring to. My question is, does Google have my name associated with where I was at 2:30 pm on Sunday afternoon?

That's google analytics and applies to Google analytics customers such as myself. I use it on my websites and website as millions of other people.

That's separate from Google tracking you are on the Android phone/device.

 

[lordofthereef]

That's google analytics and applies to Google analytics customers such as myself. I use it on my websites and website as millions of other people.

That's separate from Google tracking you are on the Android phone/device.

Right. As mentioned, that is the closest I could get to what he was speaking of... Which is why I asked him to please show me where it states Google is tracking personal information, such as your location throughout the day.

 

[KnightWRX]

That's separate from Google tracking you are on the Android phone/device.

Google doesn't have a file on you personally and it especially doesn't share what it has with other firms. Google sells ad placement based on analytics data it has (we can target 30,000 people who like traveling in Europe with your ad for Bycicle tours around Portugal).

A lot of people think Apple doesn't do this. This is wrong. Apple has as much need for analytics and it does collect the same information and use it in the same way. The difference is iAd is not a big profit center for Apple, it is for Google.

 

[smwatson]

It's one of Android's best features, and I wish I had a phone so I could properly take advantage!

As I use my Nexus mainly at home, I just keep getting told about pubs near me. But when I take it anywhere, it immediately offers directions and traffic info for the journey home. Brilliant.

 

[lordofthereef]

Google doesn't have a file on you personally and it especially doesn't share what it has with other firms. Google sells ad placement based on analytics data it has (we can target 30,000 people who like traveling in Europe with your ad for Bycicle tours around Portugal).

A lot of people think Apple doesn't do this. This is wrong. Apple has as much need for analytics and it does collect the same information and use it in the same way. The difference is iAd is not a big profit center for Apple, it is for Google.

This was my understanding exactly. But I have known to be wrong, which is why I wanted to look into it myself, but can't seem to find any evidence pointing to the fact that this is happening.

 

[hyteckit]

Google doesn't have a file on you personally and it especially doesn't share what it has with other firms. Google sells ad placement based on analytics data it has (we can target 30,000 people who like traveling in Europe with your ad for Bycicle tours around Portugal).

A lot of people think Apple doesn't do this. This is wrong. Apple has as much need for analytics and it does collect the same information and use it in the same way. The difference is iAd is not a big profit center for Apple, it is for Google.

Apple's tracking is fairly limited compared to Google.

The more Google services you use or other people use, the more they know about you.

Google Wallet/Checkout
Google Voice
Google Maps
Google Analytics
Google Mail
Google Android
Google Search
Google Plus

Basically they know whom I called, where I went and at what time, where I am currently, what I bought, what I search for, what websites I've been to, who my friends/acquaintances are, and a number of stuff.

Google definitely does have a file on you. Aggregated through a number of Google services. Multiple google accounts are linked up base on the file they have on you including your name, address, phone number, google accounts/usernames, and so forth.



If the government wants that info from Google, Google has to provide the government with that information.

 

[lordofthereef]

Apple's tracking is fairly limited compared to Google.

The more Google services you use or other people use, the more they know about you.

Google Wallet/Checkout
Google Voice
Google Maps
Google Analytics
Google Mail
Google Android
Google Search
Google Plus

Basically they know whom I called, where I went and at what time, where I am currently, what I bought, what I search for, what websites I've been to, who my friends/acquaintances are, and a number of stuff.

Google definitely does have a file on you. Aggregated through a number of services. Multiple google accounts are linked up base on the file they have on you including your name, address, phone number, google accounts/usernames, and so forth.



If the government wants that info from Google, Google has to provide the government with that information.

First thing is first, the government doesn't need to just want that information. They have to provide a warrant for it. Your doctor keeps an extensive medical record on you, too. But the government can't just request it, at a whim. But I can see this being a concern to some people, still.

Again, I ask, is there a link someone can provide that specifies that Google does, indeed, keep this information? Most of the services you mentioned can be used without even having any form of login. How is that data being associated to names if said person isn't logged into the service?

 

[hyteckit]

Again, I ask, is there a link someone can provide that specifies that Google does, indeed, keep this information? Most of the services you mentioned can be used without even having any form of login. How is that data being associated to names if said person isn't logged into the service?

Google is required by federal law to retain that information.

Just as phone companies are required to retain certain information.

How do you use your Android phone without logging in?
You don't need to be logged in to be tracked. As long as you logged in once to a google service like gmail, the cookies are set, your IP address is logged, and google analytics tracks your activities through the web.

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2012/08/google.shtm

 

[MonkeySee....]

Its amazing what you can do if you're predominately a search engine.

 

[hyteckit]

http://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/

We will share personal information with companies, organizations or individuals outside of Google if we have a good-faith belief that access, use, preservation or disclosure of the information is reasonably necessary to:

meet any applicable law, regulation, legal process or enforceable governmental request.
enforce applicable Terms of Service, including investigation of potential violations.
detect, prevent, or otherwise address fraud, security or technical issues.
protect against harm to the rights, property or safety of Google, our users or the public as required or permitted by law.

http://www.google.com/policies/privacy/faq/

Why are search engine logs kept before being anonymized?

We strike a reasonable balance between the competing pressures we face, such as the privacy of our users, the security of our systems and the need for innovation. We believe anonymizing IP addresses after 9 months and cookies in our search engine logs after 18 months strikes the right balance.


How often are you asked by governments to provide data on users?

Like other technology and communications companies, we receive requests from government agencies around the world to provide information about users of our services and products. To help increase transparency about these requests we have created the Government Requests Tool, which shows the number of requests that we have received that relate primarily to criminal investigations. For more information about the tool and the nature of these requests, please check the Government Requests Tool FAQ.

 

[lordofthereef]

Google is required by federal law to retain that information.

Just as phone companies are required to retain certain information.

How do you use your Android phone without logging in?
You don't need to be logged in to be tracked. As long as you logged in once to a google service like gmail, the cookies are set, your IP address is logged, and google analytics tracks your activities through the web.

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2012/08/google.shtm

Thanks for the links, that was helpful.

By the way, you don't NEED to log in to use an Android phone. To buy things you do, but since apps can be side-loaded, it's pretty easy to avoid, if you want. I always understood they can track the device. What I didn't know is that they associate this information with your name, or you, as an individual. There is a huge difference between knowing that a person who likes pizza was at Pizza King on Tuesday or a person named Joh Doe who lives at 999 Worcester Ave was at Pizza King on Tuesday. It seems to me, based on the links, they are keeping this info. Easiest way to avoid it? Either don't log in, or enter some BS information when you do, I guess.

EDIT: Apple's Privacy Policy is eerily similar...

 

[Oletros]

Google is required by federal law to retain that information.

Just as phone companies are required to retain certain information.

How do you use your Android phone without logging in?
You don't need to be logged in to be tracked. As long as you logged in once to a google service like gmail, the cookies are set, your IP address is logged, and google analytics tracks your activities through the web.

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2012/08/google.shtm

What has to do a web cookie with Gmail app on Android?

Please, do you have any proof or you're only spreading FUD

 

[cynics]

I've never been targeted anymore using Android then I do with apple (iOS or Mac). I think it's save to say we've all been on the web and see an ad that you know is not random regardless of operating system.

If someone wanted information on me they'd merely need to hack Facebook if they weren't already friends with me.

Credit card security and identity theft are a bigger concern for me. I try to remain somewhat anonymous as a first line defense. After that I have things on my credit card and insurance policy to help protect and reimburse if something were to happen.

 

[TheHateMachine]

So many aluminium foil hats in this thread... I could probably make an iPhone with one.

 

[timmothy90]

Not really a big fan yet of Google Now, but I do like the sports notifications.

I agree

 

[The iGentleman]

First thing is first, the government doesn't need to just want that information. They have to provide a warrant for it. Your doctor keeps an extensive medical record on you, too. But the government can't just request it, at a whim. But I can see this being a concern to some people, still.

Again, I ask, is there a link someone can provide that specifies that Google does, indeed, keep this information? Most of the services you mentioned can be used without even having any form of login. How is that data being associated to names if said person isn't logged into the service?

I'll give you the short answer. Everything you do on any Google service is logged and saved. Some data is saved anonymously and some is saved under your login. As far as data being provided to 3rd parties, your personal data is never exposed to third parties in ordinary cirumstances (law enforcement and things of that nature is something different). Anonymous data such as demographic information and such, is shared with third parties. Data security is the number one priority with everything else being secondary after that.

 

[435713]

Anything google does is rad with the Internet nerds Their turds come out in rainbows and Larry Page has perfect teeth.

I saw a video where google now is clearly better than Siri, wasn't floored by it but I found it impressive. I went old school and against the trendy and use no smartphone and do it like I did in the late 90's early 2000's and have ZERO issues, and my member even got bigger

Also: No I doubt Apple will match it since they don't have such a vast internet service like G does. Siri will be C+ to B- at best more than likely. They just don't do web services well.