Set up relationships
When texting or emailing with Google Now, you can skip proper names and use shortcuts like, “Text my mom” or “Email my manager.” But first, you’ll need to establish those relationships.
Be super specific
Google Now understands very specific commands combining two or more factors. For example, try asking for the weather on a specific day.
You can also ask to play a song by a specific artist.
The personal assistant can even understand complicated commands like, “Remind me to turn on the air conditioning when I get home.” Google will then create a location-based reminder.
Use punctuation and smileys
Just because you’re dictating an e-mail doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice good grammar.
When speaking, just say puctuation like, “Hey comma where are you question mark.” You can also say things like “smiley face” or “sad face.”
Give Google Now an accent
If you speak British English, please ignore this.
If you don’t, and you want to make your personal assistant sound a little more sophisticated than your friends’, change the accent.
You can do so by going to Google Now settings > Voice > Lanuage, and changing the primary language to English (UK).
Get calendar reminders
As long as you have Google Calendar installed on your device, appointment reminders should appear in Google Now.
Plus, depending on your Google Now traffic alert settings, you may even see suggested departure times (given the appointment has a location defined.)
Here’s the deal with Web History
Not everyone is willing to let Google track and store their Web History (that is everything you’ve ever searched for on Google). But, if you’re willing to share that data with the Goog, Google Now will display cards related to recent searches.
For example, if Google detects a pattern in searches about sea otters, a card will appear in Google Now pointing you to more information about them.
Or, if you tend to read a specific blog, a card will appear when that blog publishes new content.
It’s also basically like Shazam
You can identify any song that’s playing by saying, “What am I listening to?” and Google will go into Shazam mode, identifying the song, and giving you the option to purchase it.
This can also be used for live TV. Just say, “Listen to TV” and Now will give your more info about whatever program you’re watching.
Get immediate turn-by-turn directions
Launch your phone into instant navigation mode by saying, “Driving directions to [location].”
Get flight status updates
Picking up a friend from the airport? Keep tabs on the flight with a dedicated Google Now card. To enable this, just search for the flight number. The next time you launch Google Now, the card will appear.
Note: Web History must be enabled to use this feature.
Set an alarm
When you’re too drowsy to set an alarm, let Google Now do it. Just say something like, “Wake me up at 5:30 a.m. tomorrow” and the alarm will be set.
Google Now on your desktop
With Google Chrome Beta, Google Now can be accessed on your desktop.
Launch apps
Forget digging through the app drawer. Google Now can launch any app when asked nicely.
Tweet out loud
Want to tweet? Just say “Post to Twitter…” followed by your message. Just remember not to ramble — you’ve only got 140 characters.
Search your phone
Whether it’s a specific song you’re looking for, a contact, or content from within another app, Google Now can handle it.
Just use the search bar and Google will also search through your phone for data that matches.
You can customize what’s included by going to Google Now’s settings > Phone Search.
Teach Google Now new commands
In typical Android fashion, you can use a third-party app to add even more commands to Google Now. Here’s the full step-by-step on how to use Commandr to make Now do things like read new e-mails, lower the ringtone, and even toggle settings.
Make Google Now get it right
Did Google misunderstand you? You tell ’em! Next time that happens, follow up with “No, I said…” then a correction for whatever word it got wrong.
Source: CNET
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