Google Search received an update moments ago during the Google I/O keynote, and it includes a number of new cards for Google Now. You’ll now be able to set reminders, see upcoming releases for your favorite media types (books, music albums, movies, tv shows, and video games), and view real time public transit updates. 

- Reminders (e.g. say “remind me to buy milk this evening”, “remind me to take out the trash when I get home”)
- Upcoming books, music albums, tv shows and video games you may like
- Real time public transit updates (select cities)
- Last train home (Japan only)

Play Link

Google Search Update on Android Introduces Google Now Cards for Music, Movies, TV Shows, and Games is a post from: Droid Life

Been looking for an easy way to bring those Google Now backgrounds to your homescreen? An app called Google Now Wallpaper lists them out as little cards and then you simply tap and apply which one you want. A feature that makes it exceptionally neat is that depending on the time of day, it will automatically switch to the evening and then night time versions as well. 

All of your cities and landscapes are there just like in the actual Google Now app. There is San Francisco, Austin, New York, Seattle, etc. And awesomely enough, both versions (an HD version and non-HD version) are both completely free on Google Play.

Note: The apps are currently a little buggy when going back and forth through different wallpapers, but it does work. Just don’t be alarmed if you experience a force close here and there while selecting which wallpaper you want.

Play Link: Regular | HD

Via: XDA

Use the Google Now Backgrounds as Your Wallpaper With This App is a post from: Droid Life

Click here to view the embedded video.

Our inbox indicates that many of you are aware that Google released Google Now to iOS this morning. This comes as no surprise, nor does it interest us one bit. Good for iOS users. Welcome to the fun that is Google Now! Well, sort of. The Google Now for iOS will never be as powerful as the version on Android because Apple won’t allow it to be.

For now though, you can open up the iOS Google Search app and find some cards for flights or restaurants or routes home from work and even track packages and flight info from Gmail. But from what we can tell, it may not be able to update in the background at full capacity like the Android version does, which means no ongoing notifications for card updates. You’ll have to consciously open up the app to get Now goodies rather than have it dictate your life for you. You also can’t access Google Now through a shortcut like swiping up or long-pressing navigation buttons. You’ll have to open the Search app and then swipe up the Now cards to view them.

It’s really just an add-on to Google Search, not really the semi-stand-alone, ultra-powerful service that it is on Android. Well, until Google makes it that way – take the iOS Gmail app for example.

But again, enjoy, iOS users.

So…Umm…Google Now was Released to iOS Today…Yep. is a post from: Droid Life

The internet is buzzing today thanks to some digging through test code from Google that revealed multiple references to Google Now. It seems as if Google is ready to take Now to the primetime by featuring it on their home page. As it is the code is pointing towards allowing you to set your Work and Home location so it can give you information on travel times, food places and traffic problems around you. 

Most of our readers have experienced Google Now by this point (or know that we love using it around here), but there are people out there who haven’t gotten into the awesome service yet. Bringing it to the Google homepage could not only be useful for tons of people, but boost Google’s page views through the roof once this goes live.

Would you set Google.com as your homepage for your browser if it featured Google Now?

Via: Google System Blog

More Evidence Pointing Towards Google Now Coming to a Desktop Near You is a post from: Droid Life

Before I get started, I want to point out that I have been a major fan and supporter of Sliding Messaging since early January. It was a major step in the right direction for text messaging on Android, bringing a great mix of looks and functionality to a somewhat bland stock experience Google gives us. Last night, Sliding Messaging received a major update, bringing a completely “re-imagined” look for the entire app. 

Inside the update is a new card-based UI. As one reader put it, think Google Now. On the first page, you are shown your entire list of conversations, allowing you to swipe through cards of all your ongoing texts. Depending on how many people you text, this could either be great or a nightmare. If you hit on a single conversation in the list of threads, you are skipped to it, then can hit back to be returned to your messages. It’s neat, but is quite slow depending on how many texts you have.

So far, I have tried the updated version on a Nexus 4 and a RAZR HD, with much more luck performance wise on the Nexus 4. The RAZR HD can hardly handle the new card system, so unfortunately I had to disable it. I simply had too many cards for this poor phone to handle. Performance optimizations are something the dev will hopefully look into as the update rolls out and bug fix requests pour in.

In the meantime, go check it out and let me know what you think of the update.

Play Link ($0.99)

Cheers Derrick!

Sliding Messaging Updated, Brings New UI and Google Now-like Card Layout is a post from: Droid Life

When Google Search updated yesterday, bringing with it “real time package tracking from select carriers” to Google Now, we were curious as to what carriers Google was referring to and exactly what “real time” means to them. For one, I have a couple of packages currently coming via UPS and neither are showing anything different from what we have seen since they first introduced the original package tracking. So what do they mean? USPS with maps, itemized tracking, order recaps, and more. 

A long time reader of ours sent in the screenshot above for tickets he had ordered to an upcoming San Francisco Giants game. Clearly, he is seeing new tracking information and USPS must be one of the select carriers that Google was referring to. There is a map that shows the starting shipping point to the end delivery, an itemized breakdown of each stop along the way, a summary of his ticket order and a “more” link to provide additional details.

So rather than the “Track Package” link opening up the browser and the shipping company’s website with tracking information, Google is trying to give you as much or more info without forcing you to leave Google Now. I know I’m a fan – I just wish it would roll out to UPS already.

Cheers Ben!

Here is What Google Now’s New Real-time Package Tracking Looks Like is a post from: Droid Life

Google Search for Android updated today to include new features and settings in Google Now for devices running Android 4.1+. Package tracking has been improved and now updates in real time (new card below), search results should appear much faster (tough to test that), and individual cards now have an info button (i) that when pressed, gives you quick settings for that particular card. For example, I pressed the (i) on my card for tonight’s Blazers game and it asked to make sure that I cared about this event. Tapping “yes” should help Now to continue to be accurate.

The update is live now, so go get it! 

Update:  Google also completely re-organized the Settings menu for the better. Google Now cards are all in their own separate spot now with On-Off toggles. There is a section for “My Stuff” that has been pulled out on its own, which displays your favorite teams, stocks, and places. Last, there is a simple On-Off toggle for notifications.

Update 2:  The weather card with the hourly slider and extra tools has returned!

Update 3:  Here is a quick video comparison of the new Google Search that was released today versus the previous version. Search results definitely display quite differently, but in a good way. I’m also not sure that the “faster search results” claim is correct. In these quick and unofficial tests, I actually show the old version posting up results first.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Play Link

Our running list of Google Now cards has been updated.

Cheers @BrianLipp!

Google Search Update Introduces Real Time Package Tracking, Faster Search Results, and Card Quick Settings (Updated) is a post from: Droid Life

It’s Google apps update day! We already discussed the changes to be seen in Translate and Google Maps, so up next we have Sound Search and the Movies & TV application. Unfortunately, the Sound Search app has no changelog and after a quick use of it, I can’t seem to find any changes. It still acts the same and looks the same. So let’s move on.

As for the Google Play Movies & TV app, this one has a very solid update. If you are using the application on a tablet, you can now pause movies and get Google Now-like information cards pulled up on the actors, songs in the film, and a lot more. It’s a very cool way of getting even more information about your favorite films while you watch. 

In addition, users can now choose to receive notifications when new episodes are available for purchased seasons of shows. For example, I will be notified every time a new Vikings episode is released because that show is completely fantastic and I am addicted.

Go grab them updates and definitely give that movie card feature a try.

Play Link:  Sound Search | Google Movies & TV

Google Movies & TV and Sound Search Updated in Google Play is a post from: Droid Life

Notif, one of our favorite apps of the last year because of its simple yet powerful note taking abilities, that we’ve already written up a couple of times, received a new feature last night thanks to a recent update. In Google Voice Search, as you tell Google to begin a “note to self…,” Notif (pro version only) will show up as one of the options after you have spoken your note. Should you choose Notif, your spoken note will then appear as all Notifs do, in the notification bar until you swipe it away. 

For those not familiar with Notif, think of it as the easiest way to create a quick note, list or image reminder that you’ll want to tackle later on in your day. It’s not a traditional note taking app in the sense that you have this massive list of notes to categorize and weed through over time. Notif is all about now or the very near future. You create a list or note and it appears immediately in your notification bar. The notifications can expand or shrink, you can set priority levels, add special icons, make items ongoing notifications, and even voice dictate notes from within the app.

There are pro and free versions available, but as one would expect, all of the new features go pro.

Play Link ($0.99)

Notif Pro Adds “Note to Self…” Voice Search Action is a post from: Droid Life

Click here to view the embedded video.

We haven’t posted a DROID commercial in a while, but a new clip for the RAZR MAXX HD surfaced this morning looking more like the original DROID campaign than anything we have seen in some time, and thought we’d share. Plus, anything is better than the desert bedroom explosion spot, right? Not sure this fully redeems the DROID brand after that ridiculousness, but it can’t hurt.

In this spot, instead of selling the new powerful Google Voice Search, Verizon has decided to brand it with their own term called, “DROID recognition.” Yes, that’s a silly word play on the phrase “voice recognition.” Come on, we should be able to do better than this.

New DROID RAZR MAXX HD Commercial Touts “DROID Recognition” is a post from: Droid Life

Today, Google announced a brand new trial for their Gmail users. Starting now, users can opt in to a Search Field Trial, which brings all of your personal data right into your Google search bar and end results. For example, much like Google Now, when you have important info such as shipping information or flight information, you can search for these personal things right through Google’s search box and even through their main Google search site, as long as you’re signed into your account. 

Beyond that, your email’s search bar will also show results for receipts saved in your account, files from your Google Drive account, saved sports events, and much more.

This new feature is for non-Google App account users, so if you have a regular Gmail email address, go get it! To access it, I simply started a search inquiry in the top bar inside Gmail and it prompted me to enter the trial.

Via: Google

Cheers Zach!

Google Intros Gmail Search Field Trial, Like Google Now for Your Email is a post from: Droid Life

I think we can all agree that Google Now is nothing short of amazing, right? It continues to learn from our Google searches, so that it can recommend everything from travel routes to nearby photo spots. But one thing it also does well, is suggest topics that you may be researching, through the Research card. 

Thanks to its tie-in with Google, it knows every time you search for something, whether that be a travel destination, or in today’s case, a recipe for dinner. Now, I’ve seen the research card in action before, but up until this afternoon, I had yet to see it recommend recipes for items I had previously searched for. A reader of ours noticed the same thing at almost the exact same time as well, so I’m tempted to think this new recipe integration is somewhat new.

As you can see from the card, I spent a few minutes last night looking for a cucumber salad recipe to round out my Valentine’s Day feast. Today, it’s still trying to help by suggesting other recipes. While it may be a day late, I still appreciate the recommendations.

Have you found other Research cards? Anything else new in Google Now since the last update?

Cheers @Tim87D!

Tip: Google Now Will Show You Recipe Recommendations Too is a post from: Droid Life

Yesterday’s update to Google Now continues to surprise us with fun-filled tweaks. The latest, is the displaying of Google Doodles in the top area that is normally reserved for your location and the time of day. In today’s doodle, being Valentine’s Day and all, we get the Ferris Wheel of love. The doodle isn’t exactly interactive like the version you’ll find on google.com, but you can still click on it to learn the history of the Ferris Wheel, which was created by George Ferris.

Think we’ll see more doodles going forward? I hope so.

Cheers EC8CH, Michael, blakjakdavy, Chris, Brian, and Andrew!

Thanks to Latest Update, Google Now Displays Google Doodles is a post from: Droid Life

We’re still diving into the latest Google Now update, as Google tends to slip in features here and there that it doesn’t necessarily list in the changelog. One of those being more control over the traffic card. In past versions, the traffic card would appear before you took off on your daily commute or oft-traveled locations, however, there wasn’t much control over it. In today’s update, that changes for the better. 

If you go into Google Now Settings>Google Now>Traffic, you’ll see a new “Transportation Mode” section that lets you specify the mode of transportation for your commute or other trips. If you typically take the bus or bike to work, you can tell Google Now to suggest routes based on those transportation types. For other trips, non-commute-related, you can specify similar biking, walking, public transit, or driving options.

What else have you noticed in the new Now update?

Cheers Mike!

New Google Now Allows You to Specify Mode of Transportation for Commutes or Other Trips is a post from: Droid Life

In today’s Google Search update that was just released, we are seeing a major update in terms of Google Now cards. The update introduced real estate cards in a variety of forms, Fandango movie pass support, and Rotten Tomatoes scores in movie listings. We have examples of all of the new cards for you below, something we try to do with each update. 

Fandango Movie Passes

Similar to the event booking card, in that it is pulled through your Gmail account. Tells you when you need to leave for the movie you have purchased tickets for and then shows a scannable QR code that can be used at the theater.

Movie Listing with Rotten Tomatoes Score

Shows when you are near a theater or when a movie you are interested in is playing. Now shows Rotten Tomatoes score.

Real Estate

Shows after you have been searching Google for real estate and are near properties that are for sale.

The entire list of Google Now cards can be found here.

Here are All of the New Google Now Cards: Real Estate, Fandango Movie Passes, and Rotten Tomatoes Scores is a post from: Droid Life