Google has added its Google Now information management and real-time search retrieval service to the Google Search application for the iPhone and iPad.
In order to use Google Now, iOS device owners will need to download and install the newest version of Google Search or update the app if it’s already installed. Users can then sign into their Google account and activate Google Now, which offers personalized information culled from Google services tied to the Google login, such as local weather, sports scores, and the commute length home, in a card-like format on the screen.
The major differences from Now on Android and Google Now on iOS will lie with the level of integration. Where Google Now is an integral part of Android Jelly Bean and is integrated at the system level running in the background, Google Now access will be confined to the Search app and will be more limited in terms of scope as a result of the limitation.
It will also not yet be able to manage other aspects currently available within the Android version, such as boarding passes, events, Fandango ticket purchases, concerts, research topics and searching for nearby events, though those features are expected in future updates.
With the addition of Google Now access to the larger Search app on iOS, iPhone and iOS users will also be able to compare Google Now to Apple’s own Siri in terms of utility while being able to use either for specific situations, which is likely to lead to unique uses for both Now and Siri.
