I hate being late for appointments. I got that from my father. He’s been drilling that punctuality sermon into me since I was young.
My wife, on the other hand, seems to have no problem leaving for a 10am appointment at 9:59am. I love her, but it drives me nuts.
My wife hates being early. I hate being late.
Last night we had a reservation at a restaurant—Geja’s Cafe. Geja’s is located in a congested part of the city. Traffic can be unpredictable. Throw “rush hour” into the mix—I’m thinking of leaving 1 hour before our reserved time.
She wants to stop by her aunt’s house on the way to drop off some Girl Scout cookies. In my head I’m calculating and recalculating that “1 hour” drive time to Geja’s.
While we’re visiting with her aunt I try not to look at the clock so much. That’s rude. But I wonder: how’s the traffic? How can we get there on time?
Then I get a notification on my Android phone.
So we said our goodbyes. Got in the car. Drove to dinner. We got there on time. Everything worked out great. I should worry less.
Fondued (is that a word?) scallops are amazing.
Rahul
on 26 Feb 13See, Android has some pretty cool stuff, right? :)
Nicholas Smith
on 26 Feb 13I didn’t realize how integrated the Google Now feature was. I was looking up information on a nearby nature preserve in the morning. Later leaving work I unlocked my phone and had the Google Now notifications with directions and ETA to that location. I like the feature, but maybe having Google always know where I am and where I’m going should scare me a little?
Brad Patterson
on 26 Feb 13Scallops are delish… not sure what “fondu” would mean in this context, though (fondu veggies next to them, or just slow cooked Scallops?)
I’ll be interested to see how Google Now notifications are accepted internationally. I’ve had this discussion with friends here in France who think that it’s just too much, but I don’t mind that level of privacy “intrusion”.
Likewise, I’m waiting for Google Fridge: “you’re a bit low on coffee and milk, Brad” which my friends here also find “too much”. Alas, we live in our own worlds and we and the world around us adapt to that.
Ian Pitts
on 26 Feb 13Yes, Google Now is indeed the dog’s danglies. I love the feature and use it often.
Howard Goldman
on 26 Feb 13IMHO the more important learning here is about relationships and life, not app’s. Over the years my wife and I learned that some things about your partner that really bother you have to learn to just let go of. Both of you. I think it’s one of the keys to a successful relationship and of a successful working/business relationship.
Scott McCormack
on 26 Feb 13Google Now really rocks. But if you have an older Android phone that doesn’t support Google Now, then checkout my app NeverBeLate. I wrote it last year to solve the same problem. I’ll be the first to admit that Google’s version is better in many ways, but I get feedback all the time from users who say that NeverBeLate really does the ticket! And yes, it’s totally free. So check it out, and I hope it helps.
Ben
on 26 Feb 13@Jamie Did Google Now read your Google Calendar item? If so, did you have the address of the place in the “Where” field? Or did it read your info from a third-party app e.g. OpenTable?
Jamie
on 26 Feb 13@Ben I had “Dinner at Geja’s?” in Google Calendar. No address. I did make the reservation on Open Table though.
It’s the OS notification + Traffic Data + Maps + Calendar+ Open Table (?) magic that impresses me. All behind the scenes. No fancy polished graphical UI. Just a relevant notification.
Victor
on 26 Feb 13Your wife will listen to Google Now, but she won’t listen to your opinion of when to leave on time?
Steven
on 26 Feb 13@Ben Google Now checked my email for an opemtable reservation to display that notification. I didn’t even have the app installed. It’s a little bit creepy but it makes my life significantly better.
Ben
on 26 Feb 13@Jamie and @Steven – That’s awesome. So effortless yet so useful. I’m just starting to use Google Now so this is exciting stuff to hear. I’m okay with “creepy”ness as long as it serves a purpose and provides real value in my day-to-day life. Go Google.
Khürt L. Williams
on 26 Feb 13@Rahul. Google Now is just an app that uses data on the phone. Nothing magical about Android here. Google or Apple or someone else could provide the same features via some iOS app.
Kevin Cheng
on 27 Feb 13It’s definitely impressive. I had an Android phone for awhile soley to have Google Now. Alas, it’s not available on iOS so we’ve been striving to solve similar problems (and more) with Donna but for iOS instead.
Murray
on 27 Feb 13I just set all the clocks in the house, and my wife’s watch and iPhone 10 minutes early. She’s nearly always on time for things now.
Kart
on 27 Feb 13Google Now is amazing by telling you what traffic when you need it, however the way Google knows where I am is kinda scary. I still like the quick responsiveness of the Google Now compared with Siri
Steven M
on 27 Feb 13About Jamie He is Filipino.
Read all of Jamie’s posts, and follow Jamie on Twitter.
LOL
Justin Reese
on 27 Feb 13Big Brother has the coolest toys.
I truly wish I could pay Google to privately invade my life. There is incontestable value in this sort of algorithmic visibility into my lives, but it’s a carrot for the stick of advertising profile robustness. I wish I could be the customer, not the product, because they’re making a damn fine show of treating me like a customer.
Justin Reese
on 27 Feb 13`s/lives/life`
Nate
on 27 Feb 13My wife and I went there for our first anniversary of dating. Fondue is fun.
This discussion is closed.