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Google Now Arrives In Chrome For Windows and Mac

Posted by samzenpus on from the get-it-while-it's-hot dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Google today announced Google Now is coming to the Chrome stable channel for Windows and Mac 'starting today and rolling out over the next few weeks.' This means Google Now notifications will finally be available to desktop and laptop Chrome users, in addition to Android and iOS users. To turn the feature on, all you need to do is sign in to Chrome with the same Google Account you're using for Google Now on mobile. If you use Google Now on multiple devices, you will need to manage your location settings for each device independently (change Location Reporting on Android and iOS)."

6 of 74 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Watch out by mystikkman · · Score: 3, Informative

    Google will track which stores you visit if you turn on Google Now on your Android phone.

    http://digiday.com/platforms/g...

    Not just Android phones, even iOS devices.

    If iOS users open their Chrome, Gmail or Google Maps app in a store, their location can be deemed a store visit

    Even the Gmail app snoops on you. Why does it need your location? Sigh.

  2. Google Now Arrives in Chrome? by uCallHimDrJ0NES · · Score: 5, Funny

    What was Google planning to wear before it decided on this new metallic look?

    --
    Cloudiot: A person who does not see offsite storage as a way to lose control over access to his or her own data.
  3. WTF is Google Now? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Really, would it hurt the "editors" to have some sort of description added that explains these?

    1. Re:WTF is Google Now? by Khoa · · Score: 4, Informative

      It's a location-driven, search-driven, email-driven user interface that reads your, well 1) searches, 2) emails/contacts/birthdays/meetings, and 3) location and delivers you what it thinks will be the most relevant information to you. Have an Amazon package? It will read your email from Amazon, parse the tracking info, and display the tracking info for you. Read a blog recently? It will display the latest blog post as soon as it's updated. Searched for "March Madness"? It'll display scores, game broadcast times, ticket prices, etc. Searched for "Frozen showtimes"? It'll display showtimes at the nearest theaters. I'm not saying it isn't creepy. But the service is pretty neat...

  4. Re:Watch out by Lumpio- · · Score: 4, Funny

    What? A company whose revenue is mostly based on targeted ads TRACKS people? Oh no! How could they do this to us!

  5. Meh by Cinder6 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Google Now sounds really cool on paper, but I've never actually found it useful. I was intrigued when it claimed it would show you tracking information for packages shipped to you, but I never got it to work (Gmail cards are enabled, and I tried it with multiple Gmail addresses).

    The quality of and speed of it's voice recognition is impressive, though.

    --
    If you can't convince them, convict them.