Google’s personal assistant is a key feature of your smartphone and tablet. Barry Collins reveals how to get the most from it
Google Now is arguably a better electronic PA than Apple’s Siri or Microsoft’s Cortana. For starters, it’s the only one of the three virtual assistants that’s properly cross-platform. Google Now comes built into Android smartphones, tablets and smartwatches, but is also available on PCs - through the Chrome browser - and rival mobile platforms via the Google app.
Undoubtedly, however, it works best if you’re fully committed to the Google lifestyle. If you collect your email via Gmail and plug your appointments into Google Calendar, it gives Google Now a wealth of information from which to learn. But it’s smart enough to learn your habits without help. Visit the gym every Tuesday night at 7pm, and before long Google Now will be letting you know when you should set off to get there, taking into account live traffic or public-transport delays.
It’s also possible to set reminders, send messages, open apps and much more with simple voice commands. In fact, the problem with Google Now is that it does so much, you can easily miss the best of it.
How to get Google Now
If your smartphone or tablet runs the stock Android OS, you’ll find Google Now by swiping up from the Android homescreen to reveal the system’s characteristic “cards”, which carry information on different topics. If your OS has been customised by the device manufacturer, this may not work, but you can put Google Now at your fingertips by installing the free Google Now Launcher (pcpro.link/251gnow). This replaces the manufacturer’s homescreen with one that looks and feels more like stock Android, with the Google Now cards available by swiping to the right instead of upwards.
iPhone and iPad owners aren’t left out either, although it’s not as convenient to access Google Now on an iOS device thanks to Apple’s insistence on locking down the homescreen. To find the cards, you must install and launch the Google app, and then swipe upwards from the bottom of the app’s screen. Alternatively, the latest version of the Chrome browser for iOS comes with an optional widget that allows you to issue voice searches and commands from the iOS Notification Center.
Google Now also runs on Android Wear smartwatches; alongside app notifications, you’ll see all sorts of handy information pop up on the small screen via Google Now cards, which you can scroll through using the device’s touchscreen or swipe away to dismiss. And, of course, Google Now’s voice-control capabilities are key to using it on a watch, since the hardware doesn’t have a keyboard. Likewise, Google Glass - the company’s experimental augmented-reality headset - can show cards for sports results, upcoming appointments, nearby restaurants and more. Now has to be actively switched on for Google Glass, though: if you’re one of the few people out there using the headset, go to the My Glass website (google.com/myglass), click on Glassware and toggle the Google Now' card to On.
On the desktop, Google Now is available via Chrome notifications. To check your settings, click on the bell icon in the system tray at the bottom right of the Windows desktop, then click the cog that appears in the bottom right of the pop up window and check that Google Now is ticked. If it is, you should receive notifications for stock price changes, upcoming meetings and all the other things that Google Now handles, which we’ll discuss further below. From here on, we’ll assume you’re using Google Now on an Android smartphone or tablet, since this is the most common scenario, but the system works similarly across wearables and the desktop.
Training Google Now
To get the best from Google Now, you need to train it so that it gets a feel for your interests. To begin with you’ll see a selection of default cards - things such as weather, stock prices and news. You can temporarily dismiss a card by swiping it away; if you don’t want to see a card permanently then click on the three dots icon just above the card. You’ll be asked questions that can help make the card’s content more interesting - do you want to see a certain team’s sports results, for instance - and given the option to switch off the card. If you run out of interesting cards, swipe to the bottom of the pile and select More. Google will then suggest other categories of card that may be of interest.
In the first few weeks, Google Now will ask you lots of questions. Are you interested in travel updates to this place? Do you want to see news on this topic? The questions can be tiresome, but they help Google Now get a grip on your interests; the nagging slows in time. You don’t have to repeat it on multiple devices; the preferences you specify on your Android phone will carry across to your iPad.
As we mentioned above, Google Now works best in partnership with other Google services. If you’ve previously entered your home address into Google Maps, for instance, Google Now will automatically let you know when the last train home is leaving. If Amazon and others are sending delivery updates to your Gmail address then Google Now can track your parcels’ progress. If you’re getting such information sent to other inboxes, it might be worth migrating to Google if you want to make Now as useful as possible - or at least forwarding certain messages to your linked Google account.
Customise your cards
Google Now offers a wide range of cards, many of which are context-sensitive: for example, some will appear only when you’re away from home; others appear only at certain times of day. Here’s how to get the most from the more useful cards.
Events Google Now keeps track of upcoming appointments in your Google Calendar, and scans Gmail messages for mentions of timed events. If it finds something that looks relevant, Google will often highlight the relevant text (“meet you at Victoria station at 4.30pm tomorrow”) and ask you if want it to keep track of this event.
You’ll then be told how long it will take to get there, and receive a Leave Now notification when it’s time to go. Google will try to guess your mode of transport; if it gets it wrong you can click on the down arrow next to the journey time/leave now warning and select car, bike, public transport or walking. Directions and journey times will change accordingly.
Travel If boarding passes or flight confirmations are sent to your Gmail account, Google will automatically extract the flight number and show departure information in the hours before take-off, as well as reminding you when to leave for the airport.
Then, once you reach your destination, Google Now turns into a tourist guide. Nearby attractions are highlighted, along with ratings and distances from your accommodation You can swipe away an attraction you’re not interested in, or click on one to get directions in Google Maps. Leave the map open and you can use GPS to plot your walk/drive on that map, without having to keep your expensive roaming data switched on. Other tourist tools that appear in Google Now include an instant translator (when you’re in non-English speaking countries) and a currency converter.
News and website updates Google uses your web history to promote news stories in which it thinks you might be interested. It does a surprisingly good job, but to further train it you can swipe away stories you’re not interested in (Google may ask if you want to continue to receive updates from that site). Or click the three dots above the card and answer questions on your interests.
Sports For sports fans, Google Now is the new Teletext. The first time you click on the Sports card, Google will ask which team you support. A day or two before fixtures, you’ll see a reminder card appear, and live score updates will be posted during and after matches. If you’re holding out for Match of the Day and don’t wrant to know the outcome, click the three dots above the Sports card and flick through until you see the option to hide scores to avoid spoilers. You can also enter additional teams here if you’re interested in more than one club - prominent football, cricket, rugby and other teams are available.
TV and video This occasional card recommends films and television shows that are being broadcast now or are available through streaming services, based on your search history. Tapping the listings will often take you directly to the relevant app (such as Netflix). If you click on the "hamburger” icon (three horizontal bars) in the Search bar, and navigate to Settings I Customise I TV & Video, you can tell Google Now which video providers you use, and optionally tell it to only notify you about shows that you can watch via a Chromecast.
Fitness tracking If you're using an Android wearable, you monitor your daily exercise targets via Google Fit: its Google Now card will tell you how much activity or how many steps you need to hit your daily target. You can also connect apps such as Strava and Runtastic to Google Fit; they have their own cards for Google Now.
Google Now actions
Google Now isn’t just about pushing information at you. You can also give it instructions, in the way you would a real personal assistant. Most of these can be issued verbally, by saying “OK Google” at the Android homescreen, or tapping the microphone button in the search bar.
Set reminders You can set time- or location-based reminders, either by speaking or typing them into the search bar. You might say “remind me to email Tim tomorrow morning", or “remind me to pick up flowers when I leave work”. By default your reminder will be a discreet notification; to set more audible notifications in Android, open Google Now’s settings, Select “Now Cards” and change Urgent Updates to Ring Tone.
Take notes Ask Google Now to “take a note” and it will listen while you dictate a short memo. Don’t pause for too long between words or it will assume you’ve finished. Once you’ve dictated the note, Google will ask you which app you want to file it in. If you have a dedicated note-taking app such as Evernote, the text can be added automatically; you can also file a note to Gmail, which will send it to you via email marked “Note to self”.
Set timers and alarms Got something in the oven? Ask Google Now to “set timer for 20 minutes” and it will beep when your meal is ready. Likewise, tell Google Now to “set an alarm for 6.15am” and you can be assured of an early-morning wake-up call - provided the phone’s switched on.
Keep on top of your bills If credit card, utility or web-hosting bills are sent to your Gmail inbox, Google Now may be able to pick out the amount owed and the payment deadline. Ask Google Now to “show my bills” and you’ll receive a list.
Fire up the satnav Ask Google Now to “navigate to 30 Cleveland Street” or “ navigate to home” and it will launch Google Maps Navigation, choose the fastest route and start announcing turn-by turn directions. It’s a handy feature if you have the phone mounted in the car and need to get somewhere, all without tapping repeatedly at the screen.
Play your music If your MP3 library is stored in Google Play Music, you can simply tell Google Now to “play some music” for a random hop through your collection. Or ask it to play specific tracks, albums or artists by saying “play” and then the relevant name. If you have multiple music apps installed, you might be asked to choose which one to play with. Alternatively, you can issue app-specific commands such as “play Elbow in Spotify”, which starts a random selection from that artist.
Send messages or emails Dictating an SMS or email message can be faster than fiddling with a software keyboard. First say “text Steve Pooley” or “email Dad” (if Google Now has learnt your relationships); you may be asked to choose between different accounts or numbers. Google will then invite you to speak your message. You’ll be asked to confirm whether you want to send the message, as transcribed, at the end. You can make any corrections using the software keyboard at this confirmation stage.
Other actions Discover more Google Now capabilities by simply saying or typing “help”; you’ll be given a selection of suggested voice commands. Setting calendar appointments, calling up flight information and checking stock prices are among dozens of other options.