Google Now: search based on time and location

As part of its Android Jelly Bean update, Google has just announced Google Now — a card-based search interface that takes your location and the time into effect to give you more useful information. Google Now works by using your search history, calendar, and location to help make search more relevant. For example, if you have a calendar event, Google Now “will help you get there on time” — if you take the bus, it tells you how long it will take to walk to the bus and when the next bus will arrive. If you have a flight, Google Now keeps tabs on the flight status; Google Play can also give you updates on your favorite sports teams based on your Google searches. From the demo Google showed off, it looks like a very flexible system for maximizing your time, but we’ll have to see how well it works in practice. It’s creepily self-aware, but sounds like it could be very useful for those with busy schedules.