Video: Cortana vs Google Now

[z33dev33l]

I wish they expanded more games to be on your phone computer/tablet and Xbox. The only one I can think of Halo Spartan Assault and I don't even think saved data moves between them. That would be one feature I would drop Android for.

Posted via the Android Central App

It does move between. Sadly, there aren't many games like that yet. I can think of about 4 though they're in talks to make Castle Crashers the next one which would be amazing.

I get a fine hotmail experience on Android, I use CloudMagic.

Posted via the Android Central App

Fine maybe, not great and that's even with Microsoft supporting the platform.

There is some who value UX then they will like it, but for "more", there are better OSs for it. Also, the line that there was no alternatives to iOS needs to stop, at the time iOS was undeveloped, Windows Mobile was out, BlackBerry, and Symbian were also around as well. There was competition, and the iPhone didn't set the world on fire at first either because if how expensive it was and the AT&T exclusivity.

Posted via the Android Central App

Symbian wasn't big stateside, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile weren't iOS alternatives (Remember how big a pain it was to find the cab files on windows mobile back then? I'm also pretty sure Blackberry had like 4 games, no touch screen, and again, wasn't an alternative but a different device altogether.)

Android came around as an iPhone alternative initially to those not on ATT, then to those who couldn't afford an iPhone. There wasn't any really premium devices until the Galaxy S came to fruition. Some people will rant about the original droid but it really wasn't a premium device. That thing was more riddled with issues than any other phone I've ever known.

 

[Davehow]

Yeah the early androids were junky crap. To be honest, I haven't felt that android handset makers rivalled iPhone quality until spring 2013 and I wasn't using an iPhone.

 

[z33dev33l]

Yeah the early androids were junky crap. To be honest, I haven't felt that android handset makers rivalled iPhone quality until spring 2013 and I wasn't using an iPhone.

What phones do you feel rival the iPhone in terms of quality?

 

[Davehow]

What phones do you feel rival the iPhone in terms of quality?

Right now? Just Moto, Sony and HTC although I prefer the first two mostly. Blinkfeed is a useless yet highly visible feature to me, since I just use apps like Flipboard or Feedly on an occasional basis.
LG and Samsung are on my blacklist and have been for a few years but that hasn't excluded me from test driving both as an owner for a few weeks every launch year.

 

[A895]

It does move between. Sadly, there aren't many games like that yet. I can think of about 4 though they're in talks to make Castle Crashers the next one which would be amazing.

Either way, they really need to expand that, push the fact you can play a game on your Xbox and pick up where you left off on your phone, that would be awesome and similar to PS Vita Cross Play.

Fine maybe, not great and that's even with Microsoft supporting the platform.

I mean fine as in great, Microsoft official app and the abundance of many email apps, plus stick apps cover hotmail needs for anyone.

Symbian wasn't big stateside, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile weren't iOS alternatives (Remember how big a pain it was to find the cab files on windows mobile back then? I'm also pretty sure Blackberry had like 4 games, no touch screen, and again, wasn't an alternative but a different device altogether.)

iOS had no games either, what is your point? Again, the iPhone was not that popular at the time, look here:

http://gigaom.com/2009/03/11/winners-and-losers-in-the-smartphone-market-q408/

Nokia and BlackBerry had more market share than Apple making your argument flawed.

Android came around as an iPhone alternative initially to those not on ATT, then to those who couldn't afford an iPhone. There wasn't any really premium devices until the Galaxy S came to fruition. Some people will rant about the original droid but it really wasn't a premium device. That thing was more riddled with issues than any other phone I've ever known.

The Droid was the biggest advertised Android device yet during the time, and did in fact revolutionize Android. Forget the issues, focus on what it stood for.

Even here:

http://www.asymco.com/2010/08/02/android-global-share-rises-to-16-of-smartphones-in-q1/

Apple was still behind Nokia, and BlackBerry and even Android. This was after the iPhone 4 was around. Without hard numbers, we don't really know what caused Android to surge, but we can guess the wider availability played a big part.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[A895]

Yeah the early androids were junky crap. To be honest, I haven't felt that android handset makers rivalled iPhone quality until spring 2013 and I wasn't using an iPhone.

I disagree strongly, there were plenty Android device better than an iPhone before 2013.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[RumoredNow]

...Always listening is FAR superior to Cortana press and hold. You calling this a minus was quite ridiculous...

"...I never faulted Google Now for allowing for hands free operation. In the video it kicks in several times when unasked for. That was the mark down..."

...Clearly touchless control is an asset, not a liability. trying to portray it otherwise is absurd...

... None of the reviewers of the phone seem to be having the huge issue that you are. What are you doing that they are not?...

"...How is the premature triggering of that feature to be considered a benefit?..."

How many times did you say Google in that video? A bunch obviously, since after all the entire video was discussing it and Cortana. OK now get ready for this piece of breaking news...

That's how you voice activate Google Now!

...1. Are you telling us you aren't even aware of how that basic feature of Gnow works.... Yet you're supposed to be reviewing it?
2. Do you normally throughout the course of your day walk around saying "Google" a lot and keep your screen turned on all the time too? No? Good, then it's not an issue for you after all...

...So, with that information in hand, I can only conclude that your issue falls into one of the following categories:

a) you were supposed to be making a video featuring Google Now without even knowing how it works or,
b) your testing device is defective or,
c) you're not being forthright

My opinion of your scoring of this feature stands...

According to my understanding and Official Documentation (https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/2940021?hl=en) the activation phrase is "OK Google." Nothing more, nothing less. Nothing about just saying the name Google.

Do you have documentation that shows multiple phrases are acceptable triggers?

So...
a) I believe firmly I do know how the trigger works (or is supposed to operate according to the software vendor's official documentation).
b) Are you kidding me? The very new tablet is defective in this one area? Premature triggering of Google Now by language outside the documented verbal trigger? Seriously?
c) I'm not being forthright? How so? Did you not see Google Now trigger itself multiple times during the video without the actual documented phrase being used? Am I outright lying that it happened?

...I have to wonder if you were doing it on purpose. Especially since no one else seems to be having the issue with false positives that you are...

Doing it ion purpose how? Please elaborate on how I circumvented Google Now's programming to add extra triggers...

All I was doing "on purpose" was having an extemporaneous discussion of search / task results...

I'll say it one more time only. The mark down was not for Google Now having hands free capability. It was for that feature triggering multiple times when, by all popular understanding and Google's own documentation, it should not have. Not through any ignorance or intention of mine, rather through some over sensitive part of the always listening feature. I never had any expectation that Google Now would exhibit that type of error. Quite frankly, I expected that after 2 years of polishing that feature would be highly refined and bug free.

Anyone who watches the video and says that did not occur is the one being disingenuous.

 

[Davehow]

"...I never faulted Google Now for allowing for hands free operation. In the video it kicks in several times when unasked for. That was the mark down..."




"...How is the premature triggering of that feature to be considered a benefit?..."




According to my understanding and Official Documentation (https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/2940021?hl=en) the activation phrase is "OK Google." Nothing more, nothing less. Nothing about just saying the name Google.

Do you have documentation that shows multiple phrases are acceptable triggers?

So...
a) I believe firmly I do know how the trigger works (or is supposed to operate according to the software vendor's official documentation).
b) Are you kidding me? The very new tablet is defective in this one area? Premature triggering of Google Now by language outside the documented verbal trigger? Seriously?
c) I'm not being forthright? How so? Did you not see Google Now trigger itself multiple times during the video without the actual documented phrase being used? Am I outright lying that it happened?



Doing it ion purpose how? Please elaborate on how I circumvented Google Now's programming to add extra triggers...

All I was doing "on purpose" was having an extemporaneous discussion of search / task results...

I'll say it one more time only. The mark down was not for Google Now having hands free capability. It was for that feature triggering multiple times when, by all popular understanding and Google's own documentation, it should not have. Not through any ignorance or intention of mine, rather through some over sensitive part of the always listening feature. I never had any expectation that Google Now would exhibit that type of error. Quite frankly, I expected that after 2 years of polishing that feature would be highly refined and bug free.

Anyone who watches the video and says that did not occur is the one being disingenuous.

Right, and I'll repeat what both Jeff an I already said in response to all of the above - you're the only one we've ever heard of this happening to, anywhere. Nothing here, nothing on XDA, nothing on Google support. I tried on purpose to replicate your error on two different devices without success. Maybe your tablet is f'd.

Edit: OK I see after reviewing your video again what your issue is. Occasionally Gnow may misinterpret a word prior to "google" as the leadup word "OK". Occasionally.

In real world use? NEVER going to happen unless under the following conditions. Your screen is always on even in your pocket. You frequently say " Google " during the day. If your screen is not on all day, you frequently say "Google" whenever you turn your screen on.

Am I the only one who finds any of the above totally ridiculous? Bueler? Bueler?

Still doesn't change anything. Still a totally skewed fanboy video. Don't take offense if I stick with the other professionally done and impartial tech media reviews. Those would be the guys you folks over at WPC accuse of having a hate conspiracy against WP just because they aren't painting a picture of sunshine and rainbows for your company. Justly so.

 

[Davehow]

So after some more careful reviews of the videos that were uploaded by respectable tech media outlets I think I see what's happening here. Pretty much all of them were well done, reflected real world use, and were quite impartial. Even granting Cortana praise as an equal. I must say I agree (except for the inability to voice activate).
Now as a dedicated and fervently biased WP fan this wasn't good enough for you and bothered you so much that you spent hours creating and editing a reactionary video that you could skew to your biased perceptions, and were so eager to paint Gnow in a lesser light, could not resist posting to your peers at WPC that it would be "educating and elucidating" before you had even completed it.
Thankfully (!) for the average viewer researching this, Google's strong search algorithms on YouTube will direct those innocents to the proper reviews with a hundred thousand+ views and their attention span will run out long before they would get to your 400.

 

[JeffDenver]

...How is the premature triggering of that feature to be considered a benefit?...

Who is it prematurely triggering for except you?

I have always-on voice control on my Nexus 5. OK Google works on any screen, even the lock screen. Yet this has not happened to me even once. What am I doing that you are not? You tell me. None of the reviewers have complained about it either.

Due to your obvious bias, I have to wonder if you are trying to trigger it "by accident" on purpose.

Doing it in purpose how?

How do you think? By deliberately finding ways to trigger false positives.

If it was just me, that would not necessarily be evidence in itself. The fact that none of the reviewers seems to have had these issues is what I consider to be evidence that you're wrong.

Please elaborate on how I circumvented Google Now's programming to add extra triggers...

As soon as you elaborate on how I am magically able to avoid these extra triggers on my own devices. Does Google Now just like me more?

I'll say it one more time only. The mark down was not for Google Now having hands free capability.

LOL...the "mark" does not matter to me either way. I don't consider your comparison to be legitimate due to your bias, so any marks, for or against, mean nothing IMO. I am simply arguing on a specific point. Your claim that Google Now has "extra triggers" is simply wrong...I know because I have seen this for myself after months of use.

 

[RumoredNow]

LOLz... You are putting waaaay too much into your conspiracy theory.

I made a list of questions and asked each device the same thing. The results are exactly as they appear in the video There was no intense study of other videos available. No trial and error to get results skewed. I simply put together the idea of the video, roughed out the questions and began shooting.

I like Windows Phone, yes. It is my daily driver, yes. I've used Android as well. I've used other mobile OS devices as well. For daily drivers I've used (in this order over the last few years): Android, feature phone, webOS, Android, webOS, iOS, Android, Symbian, webOS, Android, Ubuntu Touch, Firefox OS, Android, Ubuntu Touch, Android and Windows Phone. Until about 10 days ago my tablet was a Nexus 7 2012 always running the most up-to-date Factory Image. I am not rabid in defense of any one OS (as you appear to be). I actually have more time, posts, thanks and likes on Android Central than I do on Windows Phone Central. I'm not sure how it is you have me pegged as a fanatic in the pocket of Windows Phone. You are so far off the mark. And that's because you have no idea who I am or what I am about. You are just having a reaction. It is also known as being a reactionary...

Did I hype the video before hand? Yes. Promo is a good thing. Did I know what the final score would be before I shot the video? No. Did I edit out any questions or responses? No. Did I try and force the score to favor Cortana? No. It came out the way it came out... I did have it edited/annotated and ready to upload when I posted the educate and elucidate comment. But even still, should I have said: "I shot a video and I think it is horrible and not worth watching;" why would anyone do that? Of course I wanted to get some readers excited about seeing it. Is that not what people do in that situation? Of course it is. So don't be petty and foolish and accusatory because you are being reactionary...

That's all it was. An average user - using each assistant in the way they normally would. Maybe not the way you would have. But that's not the point, that I have to go about it in the way you would. The point was that I was being natural in the way I used the assistants. You seem to be accusing me of some subterfuge and sinister plotting that never happened at all.

I find it pretty humorous that you are having such a chicken little "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!" reaction to a video that didn't have the result you desired. It's not an exact science. Different people will use their devices in different ways. It's meant as a guideline to show some examples of how they behave under normal circumstances.

P.S.: The wife and I were at a Samsung Device training class today, run by a Samsung trained Rep working at a Best Buy... He inadvertantly made Google Now kick in twice while showing the wife some uses and in the end he routed her to do the things she wanted via App and preinstalled S-Apps as being more efficient and desirable. I thought that was pretty funny. (True story, although I'm sure you, Davehow, will never believe it.)

 

[JeffDenver]

Yeah the early androids were junky crap. To be honest, I haven't felt that android handset makers rivalled iPhone quality until spring 2013 and I wasn't using an iPhone.

The Droid 1 was very well built. That thing was a tank. I still have my original...it endured years of use without a case. Definitely more durable than any of the iPhones of it's time.

 

[SirGeorgeKillian]

You guys do know Cortana died at the end of the last game right?

Sent from my SM-N900T using AC Forums mobile app

 

[RumoredNow]

Who is it prematurely triggering for except you?

I have always-on voice control on my Nexus 5. OK Google works on any screen, even the lock screen. Yet this has not happened to me even once. What am I doing that you are not? You tell me. None of the reviewers have complained about it either.

Due to your obvious bias, I have to wonder if you are trying to trigger it "by accident" on purpose.

How do you think? By deliberately finding ways to trigger false positives.

If it was just me, that would not necessarily be evidence in itself. The fact that none of the reviewers seems to have had these issues is what I consider to be evidence that you're wrong.

As soon as you elaborate on how I am magically able to avoid these extra triggers on my own devices. Does Google Now just like me more?

LOL...the "mark" does not matter to me either way. I don't consider your comparison to be legitimate due to your bias, so any marks, for or against, mean nothing IMO. I am simply arguing on a specific point. Your claim that Google Now has "extra triggers" is simply wrong...I know because I have seen this for myself after months of use.

See my previous post in this thread... I'm not writing that all up again. LOL

And I'm also done with the bias.

Some people feel I am biased and that will be their final attitude, no matter how often I state it was an ad-hoc demonstration without malice aforethought and my speech was both natural and unrehearsed.

Enjoy.

 

[JeffDenver]

LOLz... You are putting waaaay too much into your conspiracy theory.

There's no conspiracy. Just bias. You're not the first...lots of people have made biased "comparison" videos...even Android people.

A conspiracy would be if I claimed all comparison videos were biased against Android, and I am not claiming that. Only the one in this thread. By definition a conspiracy would have to include more than one person anyway.

I find it pretty humorous that you are having such a chicken little "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!" reaction to a video that didn't have the result you desired.

Why would I have that reaction? WP is not significant enough to merit such a reaction. I'm simply taking issue with a specific claim you made.

P.S.: The wife and I were at a Samsung Device training class today, run by a Samsung trained Rep working at a Best Buy... He inadvertantly made Google Now kick in twice while showing the wife some uses

And, coincidentally, there is no video of it or anything. So we'll just have to take your word for it. All the many reviewers and users are wrong, but you and your wife's experience (that we can't see of course) proves it's true.

(True story, although I'm sure you, Davehow, will never believe it.)

Why do you care if we believe you or not?

 

[JeffDenver]

And I'm also done with the bias.

I doubt it, but anything is possible.

 

[Davehow]

it was an ad-hoc demonstration without malice aforethought and my speech was both natural and unrehearsed.

Enjoy.

Even Hodor would notice how biased your attitude in that video is. But don't let that stop you from denying it over and over.

 

[RumoredNow]

Whatsa Hodor?

 

[A895]

Whatsa Hodor?

Big guy from Game of Thrones

 

[RumoredNow]

So it's like musical chairs?

I'm not following you guys...