'Google Now' personal assistant represents search giant's answer to Siri - Page 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quintius 

 

So it's not just AI... it's psychic? It knows if I plan to walk, cycle or drive, or if I have any plans to stop on the way or if I want to arrive early?

I wonder if it will tell you where to eat, on the way.

"You have 15 minutes until the bus comes, just long enough to grab a burger at <insert paid advertisement here>."

Quote:

Originally Posted by SolipsismX 

So where are the people saying that Google is artificially limiting Google Now from running on phones with older versions of Android OS and arguing that there are no resources needed to run the service.

Google is artificially restricting Google Now to the latest OS version so they don't overload their servers. You believe me don't you? ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Techstalker 

Goole now makes siri look like a joke. 

I think it's spelt "ghoul".

Quote:

Originally Posted by hill60 

So I have to root my phone.

 

Hey did you know, here in Australia, 'root' is slang for f u c k.

Well no. Not if your Nexified anyway. You can wait until next month for the OTA if you own a Wifi XOOM, Galaxy Nexus HSPA(Not sure if LTE because verizon) or Nexus S. Other than that yea, root.

The big point that really caught me with this was positions. Next to Google Now Siri sounds robotic and static(which is weird since I'm used to Apple serving people and what not), whereas "Now"(Ergo Assistant or Majel I guess) brings in a casual more human like response. Google was not a company I was expecting to give human like qualities to any of their products to be honest.

I wonder if google ever came up with an original idea the world would collapse in on itself? Their goggles are a stupid idea imo but I thought they would be quite popular, but selling them to developers at $1500 makes you wonder about the final cost to consumers. Sounds a but like an abortion, 5% of that price would still be a far too expensive fad

Quote:

Originally Posted by IQatEdo 

Just remember, with Google you are the product!  I wouldn't want Googs knowing that that was important to me. Sure, every little piece of the picture might be innocuous but as a whole...

 

If you trust Google with your information, then good luck!

 

Oh, and I was using voice commands on my Mac many years ago but this is not what Siri is about! (You know that though - right?)

Been trusting them since Gmail came out. They have a perfect track record with my data so why shouldn't I trust them?

You trust your data with Apple too right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by hill60 

So I have to root my phone.

 

Hey did you know, here in Australia, 'root' is slang for f u c k.

For now, yes. Or you can wait a couple weeks. Up to you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bighype 

Hahahha.... another Googledrone is trying to tell us that Google invented Siri before Apple made it popular.

 

Seriously, you're delusional or you're just a TROLL.

But... they did. May 2010.

That makes me a troll how?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Techstalker 

I love apple as much as the next person, but as a lover of technology. Goole now makes siri look like a joke. I hope Apple comes out improves siri to make it as functional as Google now. 

That's where I'm at. I've had a lot more respect for apple post-Jobs for some reason. And can't wait for my rMBP. I'm willing to give the iphone another chance... But not until they catch up in quite a few departments. (maps being one of the bigger ones. taking away public transit wasn't smart)

Quote:

Originally Posted by geoadm 

I wonder if google ever came up with an original idea the world would collapse in on itself? Their goggles are a stupid idea imo but I thought they would be quite popular, but selling them to developers at $1500 makes you wonder about the final cost to consumers. Sounds a but like an abortion, 5% of that price would still be a far too expensive fad

$1500 won't be the final price of them.

They're not due to come out until 2014 either. This is a limited trial.

And they've gone above and beyond Siri so I guess you can call it original.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Techstalker 

I just tried this on my brothers galaxy nexus and siri looks lame now. I mean wow google. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDsOtdRtG0Q&feature=plcp

Interersting... The above video was rigged to highlight Google's advantages (as was the Apple demo of Siri at WWDC).

Most of the requests were for things that could be delivered with [Google] web searches... Maybe even cached...

Odd that they didn't request anything that required specific answers ala Wolfram...

Or involved maps...

Or played music...

Or ran apps...

...maybe Google Now can't do these things?

It can, back in 2009 google voice search did those things.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum 

 

Interersting... The above video was rigged to highlight Google's advantages (as was the Apple demo of Siri at WWDC).

 

Most of the requests were for things that could be delivered with [Google] web searches... Maybe even cached...

 

Odd that they didn't request anything that required specific answers ala Wolfram...

 

Or involved maps...

 

Or played music...

 

Or ran apps...

 

 

...maybe Google Now can't do these things?

I think they are smarter than to fake the demo. I would give them the benefit of the doubt otherwise they would be shown to be completely incredible within hours since they released it to the devs,

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaroonMushroom 

Been trusting them since Gmail came out. They have a perfect track record with my data so why shouldn't I trust them?

 

You trust your data with Apple too right?

For now, yes. Or you can wait a couple weeks. Up to you.

 

But... they did. May 2010.

 

That makes me a troll how?

That's where I'm at. I've had a lot more respect for apple post-Jobs for some reason. And can't wait for my rMBP. I'm willing to give the iphone another chance... But not until they catch up in quite a few departments. (maps being one of the bigger ones. taking away public transit wasn't smart)

I think you are missing the point.  They have a perfect record stealing your data with your permission. Why on earth would a multibillion dollar company give away everything they make.  In each case it give them access to your personal data.  Access to your friends and co-workers.  They know what you do, when and how often.  They even know what your friends do and where they work and anything else they share with you by email.  They don't have to hack you because you trust them. If you have google voice, the calls are automatically transcribed and searched for data to market to you.  Ever wonder why those damn spammer seemed to know everything about you.  Because Google works for them!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And public transit is actually provided by a number of apps that will be integrating the new maps.  Apple doesn't say it directly but moving away from Google is about more than just the competition.  They actually believe themselves to be stuarts of your data and know who Google really is but knows the public is too blind to see.  So they just do their best to steer clear.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaroonMushroom 

$1500 won't be the final price of them.

 

They're not due to come out until 2014 either. This is a limited trial.

 

And they've gone above and beyond Siri so I guess you can call it original.

In what way do you think above and beyond? A bit faster is all I could see from the video

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum 

 

Interersting... The above video was rigged to highlight Google's advantages (as was the Apple demo of Siri at WWDC).

 

Most of the requests were for things that could be delivered with [Google] web searches... Maybe even cached...

 

Odd that they didn't request anything that required specific answers ala Wolfram...

 

Or involved maps...

 

Or played music...

 

Or ran apps...

 

 

...maybe Google Now can't do these things?

It can, google voice search did those things back in 2009. Its just vastly improved. Siri does understand contextual speech better (more ways to ask siri questions, but google now is not far off). Everything else google now wins flat out. Google now does a better job as getting the information and displaying it and cutting out extra steps siri puts in just to be cute, oh forget about voice dictation google now destroys siri, google now picks up word for word what you say even in loud environments. 

Oh siri sounds more rigid and robot like. Google now sounds more real (I have no idea how google does this, maybe higher pitch? It would be interesting to find out)

one thing siri has an edge with is siri actually pulls date from other applications. I think everything google now does is based of google products, maps, calender, and of course search. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Techstalker 

I love apple as much as the next person, but as a lover of technology. Goole now makes siri look like a joke. I hope Apple comes out improves siri to make it as functional as Google now. 

Meh. 2 out of 10.

The I Love Apple, But™ post isn't very original or creative.

It's so overused on these forums by trolls, it's utterly lacking in verisimilitude.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum 

 

Interersting... The above video was rigged to highlight Google's advantages (as was the Apple demo of Siri at WWDC).

 

Most of the requests were for things that could be delivered with [Google] web searches... Maybe even cached...

 

Odd that they didn't request anything that required specific answers ala Wolfram...

 

Or involved maps...

 

Or played music...

 

Or ran apps...

 

 

...maybe Google Now can't do these things?

I am sure Google Now will have some issues, but so does Siri. Based on that little side by side comparison Google Now looks pretty damned good. I don't see it as bad that Google, or anybody else ups the ante. Apple made a show of Siri's personality but imo its getting a little tired now. The funny answers are funnier in an obviously artificial voice, but it might be nice to be able to choose. It has always annoyed me the way Siri asks if I want her to search the web. It takes longer to ask that than to just do it. The reporter says that Siri results look better, but I am not sure I agree, I kind of like the 'plain look'. 

Don't get me wrong, Siri is still great, but we all know Siri now. Time to drop the gimmick and focus on improved features and functionality. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by genovelle 

I think you are missing the point.  They have a perfect record stealing your data with your permission. Why on earth would a multibillion dollar company give away everything they make.  In each case it give them access to your personal data.  Access to your friends and co-workers.  They know what you do, when and how often.  They even know what your friends do and where they work and anything else they share with you by email.  They don't have to hack you because you trust them. If you have google voice, the calls are automatically transcribed and searched for data to market to you.  Ever wonder why those damn spammer seemed to know everything about you.  Because Google works for them!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And public transit is actually provided by a number of apps that will be integrating the new maps.  Apple doesn't say it directly but moving away from Google is about more than just the competition.  They actually believe themselves to be stuarts of your data and know who Google really is but knows the public is too blind to see.  So they just do their best to steer clear.

Well yeah. They're a software and advertising company. Of course they have your data.

The evil company is Facebook. They take your data and then won't give it back to you.

I'll always go with the company that offers the superior products / technology.

For phones, that's still Android based phones. Microsoft has lost the battle over what computer I will own and I'm moving to macs.... But to me, Apple has some work to do with iOS

Quote:

Originally Posted by genovelle 

I think you are missing the point.  They have a perfect record stealing your data with your permission. Why on earth would a multibillion dollar company give away everything they make.  In each case it give them access to your personal data.  Access to your friends and co-workers.  They know what you do, when and how often.  They even know what your friends do and where they work and anything else they share with you by email.  They don't have to hack you because you trust them. If you have google voice, the calls are automatically transcribed and searched for data to market to you.  Ever wonder why those damn spammer seemed to know everything about you.  Because Google works for them!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And public transit is actually provided by a number of apps that will be integrating the new maps.  Apple doesn't say it directly but moving away from Google is about more than just the competition.  They actually believe themselves to be stuarts of your data and know who Google really is but knows the public is too blind to see.  So they just do their best to steer clear.

Lets clear this up.

Google provides a service 

In return google gathers data on you in order to:

1. Make money which leads to keeping that service running, improving that service and making a profit for their stock holders (Apple does the same thing with iads just on a much smaller smaller scale)

Google never sells your data to anyone. Goolge finds out information about you when you use their services. Advertisers go to google and say hey I need this advertisement to reach this type of person. Google says okay give me the advertisement and I'll make sure it gets to the right person. Your information never leaves google. If it did google would be out of a business because advertisers would not come back to google for the information google has. 

Google is not evil, Apple is not evil, facebook is not evil. All of them are traded companies trying to make a profit and they all take advantage of the consumer by providing them a service.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstone 

I think they are smarter than to fake the demo. I would give them the benefit of the doubt otherwise they would be shown to be completely incredible within hours since they released it to the devs,

i don't think the vid I was referring to was a Google vid -- rather something prepared by  fan droid.

Quote:

Originally Posted by derekmorr 

So I've seen a lot of posts here lately complaining that Google is "spying" on you and that Google knows too much about you.
AppleInsider uses Google Analytics.
Does anyone else see a double standard here?

AI is the customer.

Google is the vendor.

You are the product.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gatorguy 

You mean like Siri records and stores each of your searches and requests for some unspecified time-frame? Siri is at it's roots a search engine. Like most other search engines it harvests data from both your device and personal search requests to "offer an improved user experience". Google Now is not any different probably

You don't get it do you??  Siri does what it does to improve your experience. YOU are Apple's customer.

Google does what it does because your information is valuable to Google's bottom line. YOU are not Google's customer, Google's advertisers are their customers.

Google includes GPS so they can know where you are - so their closest customers can push messages to you to come in and take advantage of a special, etc. You become a walking patsy in a world full of Google pick-pocketers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Techstalker 

It can, google voice search did those things back in 2009. Its just vastly improved. Siri does understand contextual speech better (more ways to ask siri questions, but google now is not far off). Everything else google now wins flat out. Google now does a better job as getting the information and displaying it and cutting out extra steps siri puts in just to be cute, oh forget about voice dictation google now destroys siri, google now picks up word for word what you say even in loud environments. 

 

Oh siri sounds more rigid and robot like. Google now sounds more real (I have no idea how google does this, maybe higher pitch? It would be interesting to find out)

 

one thing siri has an edge with is siri actually pulls date from other applications. I think everything google now does is based of google products, maps, calender, and of course search. 

Keep in mind that with technology there is leap-frogging going on. Of course Google looks good with their latest product when compared to Apple's 8-month-old iOS. It's been this way since the iPhone hit the market. Soon Apple will be looking better, then on and on it goes.

I like the introduction of artificial intelligence that I see with Google and Apple devices. I expect both implementations to be somewhat rough until the programs self-learn enough to be less intrusive and more helpful.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gatorguy 

You mean like Siri records and stores each of your searches and requests for some unspecified time-frame? Siri is at it's roots a search engine. Like most other search engines it harvests data from both your device and personal search requests to "offer an improved user experience". Google Now is not any different probably

Seriously? You're comparing Apple harvesting data to Google?

Google makes its money harvesting data and then selling that data (refined & broken down as required) to other companies (their paying customers). Apple makes its money selling hardware and content for that hardware. Apple harvests data about users to improve their own products, not to sell to other companies so they can improve theirs.

The relationships aren't quite that simple.  Apple sells advertising so it has advertiser customers as well.  More important Google has to make product good enough to induce customers (end users) to buy products that use their operating system.  

As a user of Google services, why do I care if Google sells aggregated information to advertisers?  Or just as interesting uses that information to improve the provision of services to me?

Quote:

Originally Posted by hill60 

 

I wonder if it will tell you where to eat, on the way.

 

"You have 15 minutes until the bus comes, just long enough to grab a burger at <insert paid advertisement here>."

Dave: "But I don't like burgers!!" "

Now aka Hal9000: "I'm sorry Dave. You must have a burger, Dave.  You must have one 'Now' Dave!". 

Give me a break! There is nothing innovative here. This is just plain old location services with a bit of window dressing. All they do is keep track of where you are then pop up in your face whatever they have in their database near where you happen to be, whether it is the bus station, a restaurant or what have you. No thanks Google. 

Hey, anyone try asking the Google Service questions like "Do I need a raincoat?" Or "How are you today?" I like to see how their service responds to questions that only humans, or Siri, can understand.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jragosta 


Yeah, good luck with that.
Maybe Google should stop talking about things until they have something to show.

If SJ had said the exact same thing, you'd be hailing the future... It would sound like a SJ thing, really: removing complexity for the user...

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaroonMushroom 

The evil company is Facebook. They take your data and then won't give it back to you.

 

They sure don't take mine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bighype 

Another shitty Google knockoff.

The venom on here for anything developed by anyone but Apple is truly sickening.

Open your eyes, enjoy tech no matter who develops it. There's no joy in being a fanboy, it's just childish and ridiculous.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KDMeister 

Give me a break! There is nothing innovative here. This is just plain old location services with a bit of window dressing. All they do is keep track of where you are then pop up in your face whatever they have in their database near where you happen to be, whether it is the bus station, a restaurant or what have you. No thanks Google. 

 

Hey, anyone try asking the Google Service questions like "Do I need a raincoat?" Or "How are you today?" I like to see how their service responds to questions that only humans, or Siri, can understand.

I'm affraid that's not Google Now's main goal. You see, it's not made for unnecessary and useless "features", but more for real life helpful features. On top of that, you and I are smart enough to ask directly about the weather instead of asking wether we need a raincoat..

Related article from AI today:

http://forums.appleinsider.com/t/151000/street-test-measures-siri-comprehension-at-83-accuracy-at-62#post_2136889

And the original Fortune article.

http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2012/06/29/minneapolis-street-test-google-gets-a-b-apples-siri-gets-a-d/

 "In order to become a viable mobile search alternative," Munster writes, "Siri must match or surpass Google's accuracy of B+ and move from a grade D to a B or higher."He estimates that Siri is more than two years behind Google in its learning curve, but he's optimistic: "With the iOS 6 release in the fall, we expect Siri to improve meaningfully while reducing its reliance on Google from 60% to 48%."

Given the results, however, it's not clear that reducing Siri's reliance on Google is necessarily a good thing.

Currently Siri gets 60% of its answers from Google, 20% from Yelp, 14% from WolframAlpha, 4% from Yahoo and 2% from Wikipedia.

"Breaking down Siri's reliance further," Munster writes, "Google provides 100% of navigation results, 61% of information results, 48% of commerce results and 42% of local results. Among other result aggregators, Yelp provided the most local results (51%) and commerce results (51%), while WolframAlpha provided 34% of information results."

IMO any search method or program that assists users in finding more relevant answers to queries should be welcomed.