Google today released a major update to its Google Searchapp for iOS, implementing a multitude of new features to Google Now, its built-in personal assistant often compared to Apple’s Siri.
With the update, Google Now has gained Notifications, Reminders, new cards that include tickets and boarding passes, and handsfree voice activation on the iPhone 4s and later. Voice searches and commands can be activated with the phrase “OK Google,” which implements a search.
With notifications, Google Now can provide information on appointments and meetings. Reminders is a robust feature that works with standard reminders, such as “Remind me to buy coffee beans at Starbucks,” and with requests that allow users to be notified when a favorite TV show has a new episode or a musician releases a new album.
In addition to the new Google Now capabilities, Google Search has also gained a simplified homepage, new zoom gestures, one touch sign in with other Google apps, and improved voiceover accessibility.
