Google Assistant - How is it different?

[BladeJrs]

Hey Guys,

I'm hoping someone can shed some light on this. Based on everything I've read, and now first hand experience from using it on my S7 today, I still don't see how Google Assistant is different than the previous google app? All of these 'new' features I keep reading it can do, like reading your texts aloud, showing your last texts, setting alarms, taking a reminder note, etc...I've been doing all of that with the normal google app widget on my homescreen for the last few years. I click the G, it starts listening, and I say "send text to.." or "set alarm for..." and it's always done it. How exactly is assistant different if it's doing the same things that I've already been doing for a while now? I really don't get it. Can someone enlighten me?

Thanks folks.

 

[cbreze]

Well, I don't have an S7, but come here to learn about the assistant. I just got it on my HTC 10 yesterday. Haven't done much with it yet, Not to exciting for my usage, but,
I think you can ask it stuff in conversation format without having to preface everything with OK Google first. Like OK Google, where is a good pizza restaurant? Assistant: I see one on 1st street. Me: Do they have outside seating? Assistant: Yes they do? Me: What are their hours? Assistant: they are open till 10pm. blah,blah,blah. etc.

Saying this I still find it quite like the old ask google app, Lots of what I ask it just brings up a google search. It's supposed to get better as it gets to know you, But seriously I'm not all in with it and don't feel like training it. Kinda Meh, IMO. The biggest thing I want it to do is tell me the time, set an alarm or timer or turn Pandora on or off while I'm laying in bed or other routine stuff while my hands are busy. I have to touch it to wake it up which absolutely removes half of the functionality for me. It does not work hands free unless awake for me. I doubt I'll use it much. There is an option to wake it from sleep which I have checked, but won't work anyway.
Not sure I've helped much, but wanted to subscribe to this thread. Hope to see some good info.

 

[BladeJrs]

Ugh, I hope the selling point is more than the conversational aspect, otherwise I can guarantee I won't be using it if that's the only benefit . I really hope there's something more to it that we're just missing, because like you, I'm not totally sold on it at the moment.

 

[cbreze]

There are good YouTube vids comparing assistant to Siri. Check those and some others out.

 

[Almeuit]

Ugh, I hope the selling point is more than the conversational aspect, otherwise I can guarantee I won't be using it if that's the only benefit . I really hope there's something more to it that we're just missing, because like you, I'm not totally sold on it at the moment.

It's just a smarter Google now that can recognize the context of a conservation (like a human).

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

Google Assistant is basically a more natural Google Now.

It builds on the Knowledge Graph and the backbone of Google Now while adding Machine Learning and also natural language processing to be predictive and also more natural.

Google Assistant is still rather now, so some stuff that Google Now could do currently isn't on the Assistant yet. But I do like some features.

 

[pjniez]

Anyone know if the Google Now cards are still accessible now that Google Assistant is on my S7? If so, how do get to them? I used to long press on the home button to get Google Now and it's cards. The cards are missing in the Google Assistant.

 

[LineKill]

You get cards by swiping up after you long press the home button. It does not work on the homescreen though.

 

[justafew]

When you long-press to bring up Google Assistant, say "Open Google" and it will bring up the cards format you are familiar with in the Google App. Or you can directly open the Google App (create a short-cut on your homescreen to it).