Google Now for Desktop Available in Chrome Canary Builds

Google Now is a personal assistant service that is considered to be Google's counterpart to Siri. Available on iOS and Android devices, the service is now making its way onto the desktop via Chrome Canary, the experimental build of Google's Chrome web browser.

As reported by the Google Operating System blog, the latest build of Chrome Canary allows users to receive Google Now cards directly in the browser's notification system. Canary users on the Mac can enable the personal assistant by turning on the correct flag in the browser. Users should go to "chrome://flags/#enable-google-now" and then switch the settings from "Default" to "Enabled." A final click on the "Relaunch Now" button will turn on the feature.

Users who are signed into Chrome will receive a Google Now notification and a list of available cards. According to a Google support page, Google Now on the desktop will support weather, sports scores, commuter traffic and event reminders. Some of these desktop cards will sync with Google Now if it is enabled on a mobile phone. These mobile-synced cards will display relevant information using location data pulled from the mobile device.

Google Now for the desktop is still in the experimental stage, but it will likely land in the consumer version of Chrome for the Mac.

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Goftrey

56 months ago

Bit by bit, piecing these Chromebooks together. Making a 'glorified web browser' a lot more than that with each update.

They're the future guys!

Rating: 5 Votes

Goftrey

56 months ago

Is that why Chromebooks are being used by practically nobody?

Speak for yourself, mate.

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For the average consumer who only wants to use the web or web-like apps, sure. But most people I know want and expect more than that from a device.

Oh yeah absolutely. I could never own one personally, and probably 90% of the people here who browse this forum couldn't either. It's not designed for us. It's designed for the families, the Mom's and Dad's, the grandparents, net-cafes etc.

Rating: 4 Votes

Tanegashima

56 months ago

Bit by bit, piecing these Chromebooks together. Making a 'glorified web browser' a lot more than that with each update.

They're the future guys!

The future?

Only over my dead body.

Rating: 3 Votes

Goftrey

56 months ago

The future?

Only over my dead body.

Regular Windows/OS X laptops are a dying breed. Even these 'ultrabooks' can't save it.

People are buying tablets & smartphones. But most people still want fully-fledged browsers & a keyboard for home/office work.

Answer? Chromebooks. For the average consumer a Chromebook is perfect. And with the steps Google are making to making Chrome OS feel more like a proper operating system, there's no way around it. See for yourself. (//forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1689854)

Rating: 3 Votes

tymaster50

56 months ago

wish we could use it on safari :(

yes I use safari.

Rating: 2 Votes

Michael Goff

56 months ago

Is that why Chromebooks are being used by practically nobody?

Rating: 2 Votes

oneMadRssn

56 months ago

I love Chrome, but as a browser. I don't want things running in the background, trying to by autonomous. I hope this feature has an off switch.

Overall, it seems Chrome is getting more bloated. Dare I say it's suffering from the Firefox-itis?

Rating: 2 Votes

robjulo

56 months ago

Google Now is head and shoulders above anything iOS offers right now. "Today" is garbage in comparison. Hopefully some of Apple's recent purchases will allow them to play catch-up.

Rating: 1 Votes

sevoneone

56 months ago

I think Chromebooks are a little ahead of their time, but they're getting the convergence of desktop and mobile right. I think we'll see something similar from Apple soon. For the average consumer it makes a ton of sense. People love simplicity. There will always be a place for desktop workstations with power users, but convergence is the way for the masses.

Rating: 1 Votes

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