Google announces 40 new third-party integrations for Siri competitor Google Now
Search giant Google on Friday revealed that it will allow select Android apps to integrate with Google Now --?the company's answer to Apple's Siri digital assistant -- allowing users of services like AirBnB, Pandora, and Lyft to pull that data into Now.
Each of the new apps will be allowed to present context-sensitive information in the form of a Now card, rather than relying on system notifications. Pandora could surface music recommendations during users' commuting time, for instance, while Lyft might populate a card for ordering a ride when the user arrives at an airport.
Google product manager Aparna Chennapragada said in a blog post that the new cards would be made available over the "next few weeks." There is no word on when, or if, Google will open up Now to the general population of developers or bring the features to its iOS app.
The full list of new Now partners includes AirBnB, Instacart, Pandora, Shazam, Lyft, TripAdvisor, Kayak, eBay, Walgreens, Ford, Waze, Strava, Duolingo, Mint, The Economist, The Guardian, Bellyflop, Coinbase, Redfin, Zillow, Life360, HootSuite, Wattpad, Runtastic, Delivery Hero, Hailo, mytaxi, busuu, ESPN, Housing, Meru Cabs, Shaadi, The Economic Times, CookPad, SmartNews, Suumo, BookMyShow, and Lincoln.
Apple has long been rumored to be considering expanding the Siri API, though such a change has yet to materialize. The company did add a number of new features to Siri in iOS 8, including integration with Shazam.
Each of the new apps will be allowed to present context-sensitive information in the form of a Now card, rather than relying on system notifications. Pandora could surface music recommendations during users' commuting time, for instance, while Lyft might populate a card for ordering a ride when the user arrives at an airport.
Google product manager Aparna Chennapragada said in a blog post that the new cards would be made available over the "next few weeks." There is no word on when, or if, Google will open up Now to the general population of developers or bring the features to its iOS app.
The full list of new Now partners includes AirBnB, Instacart, Pandora, Shazam, Lyft, TripAdvisor, Kayak, eBay, Walgreens, Ford, Waze, Strava, Duolingo, Mint, The Economist, The Guardian, Bellyflop, Coinbase, Redfin, Zillow, Life360, HootSuite, Wattpad, Runtastic, Delivery Hero, Hailo, mytaxi, busuu, ESPN, Housing, Meru Cabs, Shaadi, The Economic Times, CookPad, SmartNews, Suumo, BookMyShow, and Lincoln.
Apple has long been rumored to be considering expanding the Siri API, though such a change has yet to materialize. The company did add a number of new features to Siri in iOS 8, including integration with Shazam.
Comments
More targeted advertising services from the big G. Sapping up bandwidth.:no:
I'm going to go out on a limb and predict Google will pull data FROM the application requests.
Earpiece CPU with voice interface, images and video displayed wirelessly to mobile or desktop screens.
No more screens full of app icons. Just services that the OS connects to.
(Not a very bright future if you're a Photoshop jockey.)
Look, a pic of Google's future headquarters:
Just needs some color changes.
I've got to say that I would love for Siri to become a more powerful assistant. I'm trusting that Apple is taking it's time either to focus on making other things in the ecosystem better or working on bringing a huge bang for the iPhone 6S and future Macs.
I think Apple has done it right. Siri has actually come a long way. It recognizes my voice much better, and there is far less lag time. Her personality is developing nicely, and Apple incorporates features every OS release.
For a preview of personal computing in about 10 to 20 years, watch the movie "Her."
Earpiece CPU with voice interface, images and video displayed wirelessly to mobile or desktop screens.
No more screens full of app icons. Just services that the OS connects to.
(Not a very bright future if you're a Photoshop jockey.)
Sounds like their budget was too low to afford a Photoshop jockey, so they went with the "computer is invisible but sounds just like this girl who is breaking into show-business and will work for minimum wage" option.
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Sounds like their budget was too low to afford a Photoshop jockey, so they went with the "computer is invisible but sounds just like this girl who is breaking into show-business and will work for minimum wage" option.
Exactly. Same reason why the computer on Star Trek: The Original Series "talks" to you.
No need for a fancy SFX display.
Originally Posted by AppleInsider
Search giant Google on Friday revealed that it will allow select Android apps to integrate with Google Now
...
There is no word on when, or if, Google will open up Now to the general population of developers or bring the features to its iOS app.
So... ...open?
I don't know that I'd consider Now to be a Siri competitor. Siri is a verbal digital assistant with some personality. Now is an assistant that aggregates your relevant digital information, and it happens to handle voice search and text to speech.
3rd party Now participation should be quite useful. It is not an ad spam vehicle any more than the notification bar (e.g. it isn't).
Remember people, the product that Google sells is YOU! Keep that in mind and you’ll be okay.