Google Now

Dolby

Dolby

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I thought this was a great idea - and it probably is - but something isn't quite right. Dunno if it's me doing something wrong, or it needs more time to learn, or its buggy or what. So just want to comment and maybe see?

When it gives an ETA - is this for the time the card first shows? I got an ETA notification at 6.40am for work saying 20 minutes. I actually leave 40 minutes later and it takes me 50 minutes. During the journey it updated once and said ETA of 12 minutes ... but it still took 25 minutes. How accurate are ETAs?

Birthdays - it was a friends birthday the order day (in GMAIL) and I received no card to remind me? If the birthday is in Gmail, shouldn't it remind me?
 
On the ETA stuff- I don't think it could ever be 100% accurate. This is how Google sources the traffic data:

Data is gathered through third-party services and through information from Android users who have opted in to the My Location feature on Google Maps. Google would be able to tell, for instance, if there were several Android owners moving slowly on the freeway and determine that there was traffic slowing them down. The more people opting into the service in the area, the better the traffic information available will be.
Click to expand...

So I think this is more related to the saturation of devices that use Google maps, relative to the area.

For your contacts birthdays' to show up on Google Now, they need to be synced to your Google+ account as well.
 
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Dolby said:
Um.

How do I do this? :P
Click to expand...

I think that they would need to be on Google+, in order for this to work... From there, it would merely sync your Google Contacts with those already on Google+. A bit sucky actually, but understandable...
 
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Oh that is pretty sucky ... I don't want all my contacts from Gmail added :/
 
No ... unless I'm missing something ?

EDIT : I'm using that Samsung S Calendar ... going to Google Calendar
 
I've found Facebook to be a better birthday notifier, especially since the FB app now pushes the notifications of birthdays directly to my notifications drawer.

WRT Google Now, I feel it is a complete waste in this country. The ETAs are always wrong and it notifies me of next to nothing to be honest. In fact I am currently receiving notifications for landing and take-off times for a flight I was on last year, where they;re evidently reusing the old flight number. LOL.

Oh, I sometimes get notifications for Man U games. Sometimes not. Depends on how Google Now is feeling. It's a complete gimmick and I'm yet to find anyone who actually uses it for more than the 'go home' button.

I was under the impression that it would monitor my meetings and notify me of traffic. It rarely does that. I was under the impression that it would notify me of interesting things around me at any given point. It's yet to do that. I was under the impression that it would cook me eggs and bacon when I'm hungover. It never does that...
 
Dolby said:
No ... unless I'm missing something ?

EDIT : I'm using that Samsung S Calendar ... going to Google Calendar
Click to expand...

Sync S-Calendar with Facebook as well. You can have multiple calendars in S-Calendar if memory serves correct. Also pulls in events which is sometimes pretty helpful...
 
Funny, Google Now has been very accurate for me. If I leave for an appointment when it says, I've made it every time so far. The only thing that isn't quite so accurate is that it keeps telling me I'm 6 minutes from home, when I'm actually at home.

And yes, you can have multiple calendars in S Planner, or Android's standard Calendar app. Unsynced, Google calendar(s), Exchange accounts, etc.
 
The only thing I really miss about using a custom rom is S-Calendar, which imo is the best calendar app out there. I've tried all of the recommended options and they don't hold a candle to S-Calendar. Samsung did a helluva good job with that calendar app...
 
DJ... said:
I was under the impression that it would monitor my meetings and notify me of traffic. It rarely does that. I was under the impression that it would notify me of interesting things around me at any given point. It's yet to do that. I was under the impression that it would cook me eggs and bacon when I'm hungover. It never does that...
Click to expand...

Haha those features are for USA only. Agree that it is sadly not much more than a battery drain in ZA. In a few years time with a bit more development it will become a great tool though.
 
AlmightyBender said:
Haha those features are for USA only. Agree that it is sadly not much more than a battery drain in ZA. In a few years time with a bit more development it will become a great tool though.
Click to expand...

The monitoring of meetings it does. On occasion. So it simply can't be relied upon...
 
DJ... said:
The only thing I really miss about using a custom rom is S-Calendar, which imo is the best calendar app out there. I've tried all of the recommended options and they don't hold a candle to S-Calendar. Samsung did a helluva good job with that calendar app...
Click to expand...

You mean S Planner? Because that sucks balls. Unless there's something actually called S Calendar now too?
 
TJ99 said:
You mean S Planner? Because that sucks balls. Unless there's something actually called S Calendar now too?
Click to expand...

Wait, S-Planner. That's it. It is the only calendar app with perfect FB, Gmail, Email integration, that allows for meeting locations set by Google Maps and where the meeting is monitored properly by Google Now.

I haven't come across a function it couldn't perform whereas the others all lack in one department or another...
 
DJ... said:
Wait, S-Planner. That's it. It is the only calendar app with perfect FB, Gmail, Email integration, that allows for meeting locations set by Google Maps and where the meeting is monitored properly by Google Now.

I haven't come across a function it couldn't perform whereas the others all lack in one department or another...
Click to expand...

The stock Android calendar works perfectly with Google Now (they were developed together after all). Most of the suckiness has been patched out of S-planner now so it's only the clunky interface that still bothers me. The version that came with my S3 had borked Exchange support. I'd add an event on my calendar on my laptop, and a minute later there'd be 20 copies on my phone. Each item on the calendar was duplicated 19 times, 20 lovely alarms to cancel each time. It seemed to be quite common since Google turned up a lot of hits from people with the same issue.
 
DJ... said:
I've found Facebook to be a better birthday notifier, especially since the FB app now pushes the notifications of birthdays directly to my notifications drawer.

WRT Google Now, I feel it is a complete waste in this country. The ETAs are always wrong and it notifies me of next to nothing to be honest. In fact I am currently receiving notifications for landing and take-off times for a flight I was on last year, where they;re evidently reusing the old flight number. LOL.

Oh, I sometimes get notifications for Man U games. Sometimes not. Depends on how Google Now is feeling. It's a complete gimmick and I'm yet to find anyone who actually uses it for more than the 'go home' button.

I was under the impression that it would monitor my meetings and notify me of traffic. It rarely does that. I was under the impression that it would notify me of interesting things around me at any given point. It's yet to do that. I was under the impression that it would cook me eggs and bacon when I'm hungover. It never does that...
Click to expand...

Thats your problem right there.....Supporting ManU :erm:
 
Anyone receive an Activity card this morning?

It tracks how far you've walked (rough estimate, it says) and flashes the card once a month. I got 5km during June :/ and just wondering how accurate this is?
 
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