Google Now was introduced alongside the 2012 Nexus 7 tablet and the launch of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Google Now arrived alongside Project Butter to improve our devices from this software version forwards and over the four years, has evolved and improved into the service it is now. Google Now works across all of our Android devices and offers some functionality on the Chrome platform, including Android Wear smartwatches, smartphones, and tablets. We’ve often covered Google Now but today we’re going to remind users of one of the service’s often overlooked functions: the ability to set reminders using what looks like the Google Search toolbar.
First, let’s take a look at how Google’s reminder service works. We are able to set reminders based on a location or time, so we can tell the service to remind us to buy something when we are at a local store, for example. We can also use it for simple – but critical! – tasks such as to remind us to turn the oven off when we are baking a cheesecake. Google’s reminder service as built into Google Now is subtly different to the reminder service built into Google Keep and Google Calendar but these services are moving closer together. Google Now has many features and benefits, such as the slightly creepy way of looking through your messages and calendar to suggest you add an appointment if you have missed something but been emailed about it. It can also preempt things such as regular commuter traffic and lets you know when it’s time to leave to travel to your next appointment.
We are able to set reminders using our voice – on many devices, simply saying, “Okay Google! Remind me to buy milk tomorrow morning” on the homescreen will work. If you are lucky enough to own an Android Wear smartwatch, you can perform the same function on this device, and you can do something similar on the Chromebook and desktop Chrome platforms too. Or if you don’t feel like talking to your device (or might feel self conscious, or are in a noisy environment) you can instead type into the Google Search bar and Google will format your request. Google has a go at identifying what you mean and will attempt to reformat your request. You will need to be signed in on the particular device you are using, and you will need to approve or amend what Google has translated for you. Once you are happy, tap the green tick accept icon and you’re good to go.
