Will We Ever See Google Now on iOS Devices? Google Says It’s Up To Apple

“You’ll need to discuss that with Apple.”

… Not what we wanted to hear from Google’s Eric Schmidt when asked if we could expect Google Now to land on our iPhones and iPads. Google’s contextual assistant has been providing Android users with timely info about things like traffic, flights, restaurants, and sports for about a year now, and Schmidt says that bringing the service to iOS is out of Google’s hands:

“Apple has a policy of approving or disapproving apps that are submitted into its store, and some of them they approve and some of them they don’t.”

For a top Google executive, that explanation by Schmidt is incredibly void of insight, but it does highlight the obvious—Apple’s ways are mysterious, and whether or not we ever get Google Now, we won’t know the reasoning behind their decision… Be that as it may, it seems safe to assume that Siri will factor here, as it’s hard to image a world in which Google Now wouldn’t be seen as encroaching on the space of Apple’s own virtual assistant.

But maybe, just maybe, Google Now could live inside the iOS Google Search app, and iPhone users could have a way to enjoy the same benefits Android users get baked into their devices. I’m sure we’re supposed to be happy with Siri’s assistance, but the grass at Google does seem greener…

However Apple decides, it’s exciting to hear Schmidt insinuate that a Google Now iOS app is either in development or has been submitted to Apple. We got Google Maps, so maybe this isn’t out of the question?

Update: Apple has revealed that Google Now has not been submitted for review. It seemed that Schmidt gave a false impression.

About the Author

Devin Wieland

 

Best Free Apps of the Day!