[whoever,hey]

I swear i haven't told it where i work, and yet its suggesting that a route, with how long it will take. Also tonight on the way home it was telling me the motorway was busy.

How ace and clever is that!

[IslandNiles]

Yeah, it learns. It's supposed to be really good. Quite scary at the same time though!

[legends wear 7]

Google Now is prob the greatest thing added to a mobile in recent times.

Changed my phone recently and desperately regret a silly mistake to not check the android version first so have lost it until an update to this phone comes in 2013

search for something and it will offer up suggestions, i.e. complete a google search for you favourite football team and it will just start reminding you when matches are and giving you live updates

[paulbrock]

my favourite is searching on my desktop for a map or directions of somewhere. Then, without asking, its waiting for me in Google Now.

[m4tt24]

Originally Posted by whoever,hey

I swear i haven't told it where i work, and yet its suggesting that a route, with how long it will take. Also tonight on the way home it was telling me the motorway was busy.

How ace and clever is that!

The first time it came up with my route home and a 4 minute delay in my notification bar I was just stood looking at it in the carpark for couple of minutes. It must of even noticed I'd moved from work and onto the carpark as until I stepped outside and across it never came up.

[paulbrock]

Originally Posted by m4tt24

The first time it came up with my route home and a 4 minute delay in my notification bar I was just stood looking at it in the carpark for couple of minutes. It must of even noticed I'd moved from work and onto the carpark as until I stepped outside and across it never came up.

I think its more on the time of day, but yeah maybe being 'on the move' contribute to it.

It has a heck of a time with me, I work all over the place at all hours of the day, but I'm sure in time it will figure me out.

If you add a location to your google calendar appointments it will have directions to these ready to go - and not only that, it will tell you when you need to leave to be on time.

[noise747]

Originally Posted by whoever,hey

I swear i haven't told it where i work, and yet its suggesting that a route, with how long it will take. Also tonight on the way home it was telling me the motorway was busy.

How ace and clever is that!

Ace and clever? maybe, but flipping scary. i had a look to see what this google now is and after reading about it, I am glad my phone don't have Jelly bean on it.

i also glad that i keep GPS and wi-fi turned off unless I really need it, wi-fi more than GPs when I am at home.




I can't believe that people really gest sucked into this invasion of privacy, just like people taking pictures with their Iphones and not realising that there is data that allow people other people to find out where the picture was taken, what date and what time. Thankfully Facebook now strips that info out as do other online photo albums.


People are just given away private information as if it is not important any more and some just don't realise. No wonder Google likes us to keep location switched on.

Just realised that my the version of Android in my phone is after Jelly bean. even happier that I switch off the GPs and wi-fi.

[paulbrock]

you know you can just opt out right?

yep all very scary. I'm sure that Google can do all manner of nefarious things by knowing where I work.

[IslandNiles]

Originally Posted by paulbrock

you know you can just opt out right?

yep all very scary. I'm sure that Google can do all manner of nefarious things by knowing where I work.

I don't know. Data is powerful these days. I'm not sure I would like the idea of Google knowing and using information about where I go, what I do, what I search for, what's in my emails etc. It's potentially pretty scary, and Google aren't known for their deletion of information. In fact, they're still in a legal case with the Information Commissioner's office about the wifi StreetView data that they accidentally captured.

Having said all that: I use an iPhone so it isn't an option, but if I had an Android phone running Jelly Bean, I'd probably use the service!!

[Big Poy]

Its good i admit, but it is not a friend of your battery!

[finbaar]

Originally Posted by noise747

Ace and clever? maybe, but flipping scary. i had a look to see what this google now is and after reading about it, I am glad my phone don't have Jelly bean on it.

i also glad that i keep GPS and wi-fi turned off unless I really need it, wi-fi more than GPs when I am at home.




I can't believe that people really gest sucked into this invasion of privacy, just like people taking pictures with their Iphones and not realising that there is data that allow people other people to find out where the picture was taken, what date and what time. Thankfully Facebook now strips that info out as do other online photo albums.


People are just given away private information as if it is not important any more and some just don't realise. No wonder Google likes us to keep location switched on.

Just realised that my the version of Android in my phone is after Jelly bean. even happier that I switch off the GPs and wi-fi.

Well as has been pointed out you can opt out. But really, is it scary? As soon as you decide to carry a mobile phone and particularly a smart phone, you are providing all the information and have lost all privacy. Google Now is not collecting new information; it is simply using the existing information and presenting it to you in a usable way. Don’t think by sticking to pre-4.1 Google doesn’t know everything about you. Every (every) web search you have even done is stored. Your ISP at home and network provider on mobile already own your arse. If you think switching off wifi and gps turns you into Mr Incognito well let me tell you, you will be as conspicuous as Undercover Elephant.

[jwball]

I think it's great, after testing both Now and Voice Search on the Nexus 7 I'll buy replacing my iPhone with a Nexus 4. The accuracy of the voice commands on google makes Siri look pathetic.

[The Wulfrunian]

Originally Posted by noise747

Ace and clever? maybe, but flipping scary. i had a look to see what this google now is and after reading about it, I am glad my phone don't have Jelly bean on it.

i also glad that i keep GPS and wi-fi turned off unless I really need it, wi-fi more than GPs when I am at home.




I can't believe that people really gest sucked into this invasion of privacy, just like people taking pictures with their Iphones and not realising that there is data that allow people other people to find out where the picture was taken, what date and what time. Thankfully Facebook now strips that info out as do other online photo albums.


People are just given away private information as if it is not important any more and some just don't realise. No wonder Google likes us to keep location switched on.

Just realised that my the version of Android in my phone is after Jelly bean. even happier that I switch off the GPs and wi-fi.

I know all of this and with not being a paranoid freak, I really couldn't give a hoot.

[paulbrock]

Originally Posted by Big Poy

Its good i admit, but it is not a friend of your battery!

can't say I've noticed now being a big drain, at least not directly. Most of the processing will be server side, then its effectively just a few push notifications that pop up.

Of course, if you have gps constantly on that can be a bit of a drain.

[noise747]

Originally Posted by finbaar

Well as has been pointed out you can opt out.

but is it really a opt out or do they just make it look like you opted out?

But really, is it scary? As soon as you decide to carry a mobile phone and particularly a smart phone, you are providing all the information and have lost all privacy.

Everyone knows a mobile phone can be tracked, but most people only thought it is used for certain reason, more for law enforcement to prove if you been somewhere or for the mobile network records.

I doubt few people would think that companies like google or Apple would be able to access that information.

Google Now is not collecting new information; it is simply using the existing information and presenting it to you in a usable way. Don’t think by sticking to pre-4.1 Google doesn’t know everything about you. Every (every) web search you have even done is stored. Your ISP at home and network provider on mobile already own your arse. If you think switching off wifi and gps turns you into Mr Incognito well let me tell you, you will be as conspicuous as Undercover Elephant.

I don't use google to search even on my mobile phone, not that I browsed that often on it anyway. Using the cell information can't be that accurate, I know that the cell I get my signal from here is the same cell that I connect to when I am in town, the cell sizes are pretty large around her,e which could be the reason the signal is naff in some places.

Of cause google would love me to keep my GPs and wi-fi on.

My home Isp got to know where I am, since they are the ones who supply the service, in fact they was the ones that installed the equipment.

Google knows very little about me.

i know that by using the internet I forgo some privacy, but I should not have to be tracked where ever I go by some private company who just wants to sell my info for advertising.


Maybe getting a smart phone was the wrong idea, I think Android was the wrong choice in that respect. Maybe when the time comes to renew my contract I will go back to a normal bog standard phone. at least the contract will be cheaper.

[noise747]

Originally Posted by The Wulfrunian

I know all of this and with not being a paranoid freak, I really couldn't give a hoot.

I am not a paranoid freak, but I do like some privacy, it seems that every company is out to sell your information to someone else these days.
If I was paranoid, i would not even have a computer hooked up to the net or a mobile phone.

but i do wonder what info these companies do have on some people.

[legends wear 7]

Nothing to hide so the service is awesome for me

[whoever,hey]

Originally Posted by noise747

If I was paranoid, i would not even have a computer hooked up to the net or a mobile phone.

You say that, but then you disable everything that a nokia 3310 couldn't do anyway on your smartphone.

[Thine Wonk]

Originally Posted by noise747

Everyone knows a mobile phone can be tracked, but most people only thought it is used for certain reason, more for law enforcement to prove if you been somewhere or for the mobile network records.


Using the cell information can't be that accurate, I know that the cell I get my signal from here is the same cell that I connect to when I am in town, the cell sizes are pretty large around her,e which could be the reason the signal is naff in some places.

If the phone can detect multiple cells they can triangulate you even if the phone doesn't connect to the distant cells. In certain high profile cases like murders they actually get cell technology specialists to tell where the phone was at a certain time with not bad accuracy.

Your phone repeatedly tells the network what cells it can see every so many seconds, and what signal strengths it's receiving them at, the network then uses this data to decide which cell is the best one for you.

However you sound quite paranoid so I won't panic you anymore!. This kind of stuff would only be done in very serious criminal investigations.

[Gormond]

Originally Posted by legends wear 7

Nothing to hide so the service is awesome for me

So privacy is only for people who want to hide something?

Let me guess your in the ID cards brigade? Like we are still in WW2...

[noise747]

Originally Posted by whoever,hey

You say that, but then you disable everything that a nokia 3310 couldn't do anyway on your smartphone.

At least the Nokia 3310 was easy to see in the sunshine, had a loud ring on it, had great battery life and was as touch as old boots.


Oh yeah, I could not play music on the nokia.

[noise747]

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

If the phone can detect multiple cells they can triangulate you even if the phone doesn't connect to the distant cells. In certain high profile cases like murders they actually get cell technology specialists to tell where the phone was at a certain time with not bad accuracy.

Your phone repeatedly tells the network what cells it can see every so many seconds, and what signal strengths it's receiving them at, the network then uses this data to decide which cell is the best one for you.

However you sound quite paranoid so I won't panic you anymore!. This kind of stuff would only be done in very serious criminal investigations.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that, but if that is the case then why don't my phone pick up a stronger cell in town?

I am not panicking, but i still think it is wrong that phone makers like Apple and google are allowed to use that info for tracking.

[whoever,hey]

Originally Posted by noise747

At least the Nokia 3310 was easy to see in the sunshine, had a loud ring on it, had great battery life and was as touch as old boots.


Oh yeah, I could not play music on the nokia.

Sounds great. I dont listen to music on my phone anyway.

[noise747]

Originally Posted by Gormond

So privacy is only for people who want to hide something?

i wonder if they would like me to put a video camera and microphone in their place of residence?

I thought not.

Let me guess your in the ID cards brigade? Like we are still in WW2...

The only decent thing the tories did was to get rid of the ID card, strange really since they was going to produce their own when they was last in power.

[Thine Wonk]

I actually do understand the privacy concerns. I'm very aware that we should learn the lessons of the past and that just because at the moment there is little in the way of singling out of people that it won't happen in future.

The Jews were killed on a grand scale because of tracking of citizens on IBM punch card technology (yes IBM has been around since the 1911). The Nazis were able to read the punch cards which kept personal information about people, from which they were able to identify the Jews in an extremely quick and mechanised way. Whilst that's an extreme example the principles of not letting companies and organisations keep data longer than necessary, restrict them to only data they need to perform the duties and to keep it secure are things I all agree with.

I think there's still a lot of privacy concerns with Google, the EU still has issues with people's internet searches being kept for years, and other privacy issues. I actually agree with Noise and sympathise. You don't have to have something to hide to not want unnecessary data kept about you for a long time.