Gadgetory

it's time for iphone users to get a taste of Android I'm Bridget Carey and this is your cnet update one of the killer features of Android can now be found on Apple devices it's called google now and it's part of the Google Search app in itunes google now is a service that aims to be your personal assistant using location it learns about your daily commute and alerts you to traffic issues on the way home or it could tell you the best way to get to the next appointment on your Google Calendar it also keeps track of your flights and other interests such as the sports teams you follow there's lotsa can notify you about but for Apple users you have to keep going into the Google Search app to get use out of it unlike Android wear notifications pop up there's also a voice search option similar to asking Apple Syria question so you can ask Google now if you need a jacket today or where's the nearest Italian restaurant it'll be interesting to see how many Apple users flock to using google now although Google will grow its user base by offering it to apple devices it also means that google now is no longer an exclusive feature for Android it also could upset long time Android users since a majority of Android phones still can't try it only android phones with the latest 4.1 jelly bean operating system can use Google now apps have become the more popular way to text on a phone there are more people sending instant messages using a special smartphone chat app rather than sending a text message to standard way through SMS on the phone the Financial Times commissioned a report by research firm informa which found that more people we're using popular chat apps such as what's at blackberry messenger an apples iMessage in total these apps sent and received about 19 billion messages a day compared to only seventeen point six billion SMS text messages and that study didn't even count people who use Facebook to send messages for some users sending a message over an app is better because it doesn't count against text message juice and using a messaging app can let you send more than just a text take for example the app couple it's a private chef for two people in love and aside from typing you can send drawings audio messages and even maps of your location also using an to text or video chat is a way to connect on the cheap to your international friends you may have seen small businesses use the square credit card swiper to process transactions through phones or tablets but you could start seeing more quick service restaurants using square the square register service app has been updated to help restaurant managers with new tools that can make notes if a customer wants a special order and it can be printed out on a ticket sent to the kitchen that's your tech news update you'll find more details on these stories at cnet com / update or you could follow along on Twitter from our studios in New York I'm Bridget Carey