Google Now: Why doesn’t this exist anymore? Google has apparently said goodbye to the smart idea

Like no other company, Google stands for collecting, evaluating and combining a large amount of user data and, based on this, improving its own products. Google Now perfected this system many years ago, offering users a centralized stream of information they might need. But why did Google’s idea of ​​all things fail?

It is Google’s business model to get to know the users well in many areas, to build a profile and to place advertisements based on this, which bring in a multiple of non-adapted advertising. As a user, you can benefit from interest-based advertising, but ultimately only very few people will contribute to profile building voluntarily and without consideration. So you have to offer them something to make that palatable so that the data comes “all by itself”.

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Google’s offer is that many products can be used free of charge and that they are designed as smartly as possible. The contents of the products are tailored to the users and correspond to their interests. This applies to web searches, maps, Gmail and, of course, the Google Assistant. Preferences and interests are queried so that you always see interesting or at least suitable content. You also know it from Google Discover or from Facebook, Instagram & Co – only that it doesn’t feel like it works quite as well there.

Smart products are still available today, the free argument is increasingly being sawn and, unfortunately, efforts to make not just individual products, but the entire Google experience smart is being frustrated time and again. It’s all there, but why can’t the strategists just get it together? It’s not up to the developers.

That was Google Now

Many users will still remember Google Now. If not, I recently covered it in a bit more detail in this article. It was a general store-like feed, but with only relevant content from the user’s point of view. From the weather to appointments, traffic forecasts, notifications about parcels and bills to suggested destinations or world time and currency conversion abroad.

Now was designed in such a way that the user always sees the information that is needed at the current time or location. You will see different content at the train station than at the airport or at home. With the first two, if available, the ticket including QR code and link to the corresponding e-mail is immediately available. The same for restaurant reservations or the shopping list at the mall.

There was never a successor

Unfortunately, Google Now was discontinued several years ago without a real successor. Although individual suggestions can be found in other Google products and should make their way into the Assistant in the long term, it never happened on a large scale. Just a few days ago, the end of Google Assistant Snapshot became known, which could best be described as the successor to Now. But with a lot less information and more of a focus on using the Assistant as much as possible.

We recently showed you another follow-up product: Lots of smart widgets on the Android lock screen, but unfortunately, that didn’t get past the project phase. As things stand today, the ‘At a glance widget remains, but it only offers very limited options. Although there is an extension as a Smart Space in the room, it will only be a widget with little space and correspondingly few options.

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