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Google Now
With Android 4.1, Google introduced Google Now. It can be launched either from the homescreens by tapping the transparent grey search or by swiping up from the home navigation button. In simple terms, if you enable it, it stalks you. It tracks your location and Google searches mostly. While it may seem intrusive, it can be useful.
When I first started up Google Now, it could tell me already how long it would take me to get to work, or in my case school. It offered navigation advice and even does this when I search for a business in Google. A notification will soon appear telling me its address and how long it’ll take to get there. It will also provide information on calendar events, sports teams, flight information, translations, currency exchange and nearby interesting places.
Does it seem a bit stalker-like? Yes. Am I worried about it? No. Should you? Depends on your mindset.
Each Google Now tile can be swiped away, but will return when new information becomes available.
Voice Search
The abilities that Google Voice Search has gained in Jelly Bean makes it very similar in nature to Apple’s Siri. I have never been in awe of these voice command applications. When I reviewed the Samsung Galaxy S III recently I thought S Voice was a gimmick – I never used it outside of the times I forced myself to use it.
Yet there is something different the new Google search. It is undoubtedly a combination of the closer Google integration, cleaner interface and neat tiles inherited from Google Now.
Voice recognition is impressive and is much better than Samsung’s S Voice. If your search involves some kind of specific information such as the local weather or random facts then it will be display in its own Google Now styled tile. Below this are your standard Google search results.
Other commands include setting an alarm, wanting to navigate or get directions to somewhere and sending email. For a full list of commands refer to this list. Sadly, it does not appear as if you can set calendar appointments at this stage.
Keyboard
The keyboard has been improved in Android 4.1 and takes a few steps towards a fully fledged keyboard such as Swiftkey. This involves improved predictions and it can now guess at what you’re going to say next.
The 7 inch display is also the perfect width for thumb typing. Meanwhile in the landscape orientation you can have a go at some strained thumb typing or some slightly cramped finger typing.
As I mentioned earlier, there is no vibration motor in the Nexus 7, so there is no haptic feedback. Personally I found keypad sound tones to be an equal replacement.
At last I am 85 percent happy with the stock keyboard on the Nexus 7, a first for a device I’ve reviewed in recent times.
