When you get the new Droid you have to set up the “Touchless Control” in the settings area. This is really easy and the phone will walk you through it step by step. Once you have it set up all you have to say is “OK Google Now” and give it a command, and it will do the rest. No buttons are required, or touching your phone. It can even be several feet away and it will pick you up and answer your questions. Unlike Siri, it will not call you by name, or but it basically will become your personal assistant. One of the best parts is since you set it up it will only answer to your voice – no worries about the kids or your significant other giving your phone commands.
One of my favorites so far is “OK Google Now Wake me up at …” It will set an alarm for you for whatever time you tell it. It’s great if you forgot to set that alarm and you’re already laying in bed and don’t want to grab it.
Other commands it will take (fill in the blank of what you’re looking for:
- Where is “____________”
- Nearest “___________”
- Map of “_____________”
- Go to “_________”
- Navigate me Home
- Show times for “_____________”
- What is the weather today?
- What is tomorrow’s forecast?
- What time is it in “__________”
- When is sunset
- Do I need an umbrella today?
- When will flight “___________” land?
- What is the loneliest Number
- What is the meaning to Life, The Universe and Everything
You can also tell it to do a couple fun tricks:
- Do a Barrel Roll
- Tilt
You can always ask Google Now questions about anything from basic history, math conversions, tell it to search images etc. It’s the power of Google at just a phrase away.
Sports lover? Ask Google now for your game times, how the team is doing, when they play next or how their last game went!
Let’s keep in mind this is run by the Guru’s at Google. If you have an Android phone, you have to have a Google account. This instantly gives you the access to great apps like Google Drive, Google+ (instantly uploads your image to the cloud drive!), Gmail, Google Talk (now hangouts) and any Google tool out there. Your Google sign in can be used in your Chrome browser as well. This will link everything together. Things you searched online at home or anywhere while signed into Google.
Since the Ultra is essentially a small Google computer in your pocket, it will start to track your movements as you go. Here’s where the stalking comes in – I checked my cards and found a navigation that said “Is this your route to Work?” The next day a card was there with a map that said “Do you live here?” I always have a card telling how far I am from home now. Which is neat, don’t get me wrong – it even tells me how the traffic conditions are.
Because of Google Now, your Ultra will learn more about you the more you use it. The websites you go to, where you frequent etc. I was already pretty convinced that the Google Guru’s knew everything about me anyhow, everything about me including my blood type (wish they’d fill me in on that one). But this takes it to a whole new level.
I really like being almost completely handsfree with Google Now. I’ve been a fan of Google Talk for a while, this is just a great improvement on that technology. Now instead of just using it to text my friends I can say “Ok Google Now Text Jason that I’m running late” the phone will do the rest!