Google Now versus Google Assistant?

[spinedoc77]

I'm very curious to see what the differentiation between these 2 is, especially since Google is only including this with the pixel, arguably it's only selling point. I was doing some google searches (ironic) and it seems like they are pretty much the same at this point. Now I'm sure Google will beef it up, but if they continuously improve Assistant what does that mean for Now? Does that mean Now will become a 2nd rate project like Hangouts? Is this yet another project which has multiple needless apps with divided focus such as their messaging strategy?

I wonder if there is the possibility of a backlash from non pixel owners and if someone might step in, maybe MS Cortana, or maybe Apple will bring Siri over, who knows? I know that if I'm letting Google leach every single bit of information about myself they better well give me their best app, and not force me to buy their phone on top of it.

Just food for conversation. https://www.cnet.com/how-to/the-difference-between-google-now-and-google-assistant/

 

[ronincse]

Well you can test it out right now if you want. Just download Allo and talk to the Assistant there

Edit: totally unrelated to the topic but related due to cnet: I absolutely HATE websites that auto play videos. Seriously if I want to watch your stupid video I'll click play! GAH!!!!

 

[ramram55]

Tried out the Allo app with google assistant. Seems to be a great one from Google.

 

[maxsix]

My stellar experience with Google Now on my Nexus 6P and 5X over the long haul, has been the influencing factor in deciding to preorder my Pixel XL. AI Assistants will play a big part now and into the future, so I've decided to go all-in just for the experience.

 

[spinedoc77]

Well you can test it out right now if you want. Just download Allo and talk to the Assistant there

Edit: totally unrelated to the topic but related due to cnet: I absolutely HATE websites that auto play videos. Seriously if I want to watch your stupid video I'll click play! GAH!!!!

Yeah I've been playing with Allo and I don't get it, I seem to get the same answers as Google now. I get that Assistant will be better and better, but I'm talking about today. These changes seem to be fairly slow, and it's possible by the time Assistant is much better we'll be into the next generation of phones.

I also hate websites with auto play, my apologies for the link. I have that crap blocked with Adblock.

 

[ronincse]

Yeah I've been playing with Allo and I don't get it, I seem to get the same answers as Google now. I get that Assistant will be better and better, but I'm talking about today. These changes seem to be fairly slow, and it's possible by the time Assistant is much better we'll be into the next generation of phones.

I also hate websites with auto play, my apologies for the link. I have that crap blocked with Adblock.

Lol sorry wasn't calling you out for the link, just had to rant . I have ublock installed but they still play for some reason, hmmm.

And yeah I had a similar experience. I think maybe the assistant will be a little more conversational and I think it'll remember conversations better than Now. I guess we'll have to wait and see. I'm not getting a Pixel but I did preorder a Home so I'm excited to mess with it.

 

[Vegastouch]

Just got the app and havent tried it much yet. Im used to just tapping the microphone on the search window to use GN so hopefully in time Allo is incorperated in that same search window so i dont have to hit an app button.

 

[AppleRobert]

Does the Google Assistant speak back its responses to your voice queries or are they just displayed?

 

[MRU]

I have allo installed but don't see what Google Assistant is meant to be giving me that other voice assistants including Now isn't already doing.

Can anyone point me to something that explains what Google Assistant can do that Now doesn't ?

 

[MRU]

Does the Google Assistant speak back its responses to your voice queries or are they just displayed?

No ... Just displayed. It's akin to a text/messaging conversation with Google Now

 

[Vegastouch]

Google Now imo is better. Responds back to me most times than just giving me a link. Also doesn't from the little I've tried it and it isn't as fast.

 

[epicrayban]

Question: is it possible to set defaults to google assistant?

For example, if I don't use the Google play music app for my music needs, and use PowerAmp, is it possible to set it so Google assistant knows to launch PowerAmp as my default music player when voice a command to start playing music?

 

[MRU]

Question: is it possible to set defaults to google assistant?

For example, if I don't use the Google play music app for my music needs, and use PowerAmp, is it possible to set it so Google assistant knows to launch PowerAmp as my default music player when voice a command to start playing music?

Currently I can get it to work Play Music, if I ask about TuneIn Radio and say play a station name on TuneIn it will give me a box result with station and I gave to click it and it launches TuneIn and goes to that channel.

If I ask about Spotify or Deezer at the moment it just goes "checking the web for play me music on etc..."

Hope it's better when baked in, because at the moment I see no additional functionality at all.

 

[theinstructor]

Wait until you get to experience Assistant then go back to Siri. It makes people want to cut that m9 coprocessor out and throw it in a crusher.

My new iPhone 7+ Hey Siri takes 5-6 seconds to initialize then you have to speak so 20 seconds later you MIGHT be telling her something. Sigh, I'm in a world of hurt thanks to my Note 7.

 

[MRU]

Wait until you get to experience Assistant then go back to Siri. It makes people want to cut that m9 coprocessor out and throw it in a crusher.

My new iPhone 7+ Hey Siri takes 5-6 seconds to initialize then you have to speak so 20 seconds later you MIGHT be telling her something. Sigh, I'm in a world of hurt thanks to my Note 7.

Works as soon as I say hey siri or hold down home button here. Works exactly same speedwise as OK Google does on my android handsets.

 

[JaySoul]

Use to love Google Now and even had it as my Launcher.

But it's become less useful for me over time.

 

[lowendlinux]

My poor phone cried and stopped booting yesterday form me being ham fisted and lazy trying to get it to work

That did give me the excuse to flash the new Pure Nexus ROM though so all is not lost.

 

[AppleRobert]

I am still at a loss as to why I would acquire a Pixel to be able to use the Assistant instead of Google Now on my current smartphones.

Consumers best get some feedback from Google on this very quickly I might add if they want to use the Assistant as one of the selling points of the Pixels.

Myself? I have really no other reasons for my use to acquire one versus what I have, especially at their cost.

 

[tbayrgs]

I am still at a loss as to why I would acquire a Pixel to be able to use the Assistant instead of Google Now on my current smartphones.

Consumers best get some feedback from Google on this very quickly I might add if they want to use the Assistant as one of the selling points of the Pixels.

Myself? I have really no other reasons for my use to acquire one versus what I have, especially at their cost.

I'll let you know what I find different between my 6P and the Pixel XL later next week.

 

[MRU]

I am still at a loss as to why I would acquire a Pixel to be able to use the Assistant instead of Google Now on my current smartphones.

Consumers best get some feedback from Google on this very quickly I might add if they want to use the Assistant as one of the selling points of the Pixels.

Myself? I have really no other reasons for my use to acquire one versus what I have, especially at their cost.

Given it works in Allo on any Android, if they keep it for pixel only (don't roll it out as a replacement to google now) on devices running 7.1, then clearly it's an artificial restriction to differentiate pixel devices.

 

[Mark316]

I think people are confused about this. I guarantee you Google Assistant will come to other Android devices. Sure they might be using it to sell Pixel phones now but like all of Googles services, they want as many people using it as possible.

I wouldn't be surprised if Google now and Assistant were combined soon enough, it makes no sense keeping them separate.

 

[mi7chy]

More likely Google Assistant has hardware and software SDK dependencies that currently exist on Pixel and will eventually make their way to other devices. That's been the purpose of the Nexus and now Pixel platform.

 

[Michael Goff]

More likely Google Assistant has hardware and software SDK dependencies that currently exist on Pixel and will eventually make their way to other devices. That's been the purpose of the Nexus and now Pixel platform.

Wouldn't be so sure. The Pixel and Nexus aren't the same and they don't have the same goals.

 

[spinedoc77]

I am still at a loss as to why I would acquire a Pixel to be able to use the Assistant instead of Google Now on my current smartphones.

Consumers best get some feedback from Google on this very quickly I might add if they want to use the Assistant as one of the selling points of the Pixels.

Myself? I have really no other reasons for my use to acquire one versus what I have, especially at their cost.

There is no good answer to your questions "today" What the future brings who knows, maybe Assistant will be incredible in a few months, or maybe Google abandons it like most everything else.
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More likely Google Assistant has hardware and software SDK dependencies that currently exist on Pixel and will eventually make their way to other devices. That's been the purpose of the Nexus and now Pixel platform.

That's also my suspicion why Assistant is exclusive for now, it just doesn't make sense to keep it as an exclusive just to sell phones. Once other Android phones have the proper hardware then everyone will get it.

 

[5105973]

It actually is better on Allo, in that you can type to communicate with it. On the Pixel you have to talk to your phone. Every reviewer is hoping for that to change.