Google’s wearable devices: A key differentiator for Google Now?
Google has added seven new features to Google Now, an impressive contextual app that pushes information like real-time traffic, weather and news to users based on their preferences, location history and other factors. The app, which serves as an extension of Google Search, now displays car rental information it gleans from email confirmations; shares information on your commute to and from work with predetermined friends and family members; and delivers real-time score updates of users’ favorite NCAA football teams. Among other things.
Google Now debuted in Android more than a year ago, and the app came to iOS several months ago. As my colleague Kevin Tofel notes today, the app is a natural fit for wearable devices like Google Glass or, perhaps, a Google smartwatch. Given Apple’s limited hardware lineup — for now, at least — apps like Google Now combined with wearable devices could help grow Android’s audience in a big way over iOS if Apple isn’t quick to move into wearable devices.