Google has been pushing its Google Now virtual assistant and its "cards" across different services and apps. How, the company is introducing Now to replace the "Classic" launcher that mimics Windows' Start menu, and making it sit happily right alongside shortcuts to your applications.
Google Now is Google's virtual assistant first introduced for its Android KitKat mobile operating system in 2012. With "cards", the assistant delivers information that it thinks "appeal" for its users from the data it gathers against time. Having a well reception from users, Now is getting pretty much cleverer in helping users in getting what they want, whenever they need.
Since the launcher is the Chrome OS' equivalent of the Windows' start button, putting Now in it makes users see it the first thing they want to do. It makes sense that Google wants Now to "creep" deeper into the users' habits by giving customizable experience that Google thinks people want to see.
Before, Google has started pushing Now to desktop users since March 2014. But since searching via Google is one of the most common tasks people do, Google thinks that putting it on its launcher is the perfect thing to do.
Now on Chrome OS might seem to be a small update to small individuals, but to Google, it can put its operating system much closer to the more famous and complete competitor, especially Windows.
The Now feature in the beta-channel of its Google Chrome operating system, up to a some extent, is similar to Google Chrome web browser's tab. For users that are familiar in using Now cards, they can now see relevant information given by the user's preferences and browsing habit, right next to Chrome OS's search bar.
With the similarities, dubbed as Chrome Launcher 2.0, the Now can show your appointment, flight, reminder, etc. cards if you use the feature on a mobile device(s). As a launcher, it does what it's supposed to do. The Now is the additional feature that makes Chrome's start button different than Windows'.
Adding Now to its launcher isn't the only feature available in the beta update of Chrome OS. The Chromebook platform has finally gotten support for extracting password-protected ZIP files. It now also supports automatic changing of timezones which comes in handy for frequent travelers. Chrome OS is also starting its move towards Material Design, starting with the Files app.
Although not completely stable, Chrome OS that still has a long way to go, is certainly improving in each update.
Suspicion to the Next Level
Anyone who has used Android understands the usefulness of Google Now. With timely information such as weather and traffic updates, news headlines, reminders, appointments, etc., Now delivers the bits in an easy manner that isn't at all annoying. Unless for you are one of those privacy concerned people.
Google Now that is at the heart of Google's Chrome OS is claiming itself to be the best way to start new activities on Chrome OS.
The company that is well-known and respectable in the search industry is enhancing its services to help users find what they want, faster and better. The more you use it, the more it becomes "creepy".
Google Now is so good at learning about users that the "creepiness" is what makes it work to an almost scarily good degree. It can remind you by learning what you do. It can see what you have as a habit and show you want are relevant to your likings. Among many things (cards) it can show you, in short, the service can learn things from you almost as good as as your spouse.
As it might arise some dilemma, is all of this a good or a bad thing?
The answer will depend on the person, privacy advocates will chime in and disagree with the immense possibility virtual assistants can have to offer. They might think that they are just another way for tech companies to invade their personal lives. But for those that is more open to public exposure and trust others better with personal information, virtual assistants are just the way to go. It's just putting information into a contextual perspective in which different experience is expected from different people.
If people are concerned about their data collected by NSA or the government, more virtual assistants creeping into your daily habits is just another step for them to get more out of you. But despite that, with or without virtual assistants, anything you put on the internet is at risk.
So if you think that the government's agencies are stalkers, Google is more like a useful stalker that helps in providing the better goods.