Google Now is one of many Android improvements that Google has introduced in Jelly Bean. It is definitely one of the most impressive. We found that it answered our questions very smartly and its voice search really should put the wind up Siri.
How to install Google Now without the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update
If you won’t be buying a Nexus 7 as soon as it’s out, or you can’t wait for your order to arrive, there are a couple of tricks that will get Google Now running on an existing Ice Cream Sandwich device.
The first way to get Google Now working on ICS is a bit fiddly, and needs root and multiple edits to build.prop, as well as some file renaming. It’s not too mind-blowing, but if you want to avoid any mistakes, there’s a simpler option too. You’ll need to install a modified Google Now package that’s set up to ignore the lack of JellyBean.
Even when it’s running, Now isn’t perfect. The voice search isn’t working great, which may put you off installing it. There are also other errors that users are coming across, like network connectivity and the inability to leave the app easily. There’s also the choice of ROM to contend with, with pure AOSP-based ones working best.
It’s obviously a work-in-progress, but if you want to find out more, go to the XDA thread for the instructions and the download links.
