Everytime Google adds new features to search (i.e. Google Now) they neglect to tell you how to use them. So...

Launch Apps
"open app name_of_app"

For example, "open app youtube"

Some important caveats: you'll need to know the name of the app. For example, "open app kindle" will not work. You have to say "open app amazon kindle"

Schedule Calendar Event
"schedule a type_of_event with person_name at time_of_event"

For Example: "schedule a phone call with John tomorrow at 6pm"

An important caveat: That will NOT create an appointment. Instead, you'll get a card that says "edit event" on it. Click that and then click the "done" button and now it's scheduled. This is (hopefully) a bug.

Checking upcoming Schedule

"when is my next appointment" THIS IS FIXED FROM PREVIOUS INCORRECT SUGGESTION

Let's cut to the chase: physical Google Wallet card. That's happening, and you'll be able to get one, probably soon.
The physical Google Wallet card will work just like a regular credit card. Whatever your currently selected default card on the Wallet app is, the Wallet card will charge to. It will work anywhere major credit cards are accepted. This is for those scenarios where you don't have (or want to use) tap and pay. Imagine leaving all your credit cards at home from now on, and just carrying one, and your phone. Sure, it's not the magical future of using your phone to pay everywhere with a painless tap (let's face it, tap payments are rarely painless anyway), but this is awesome nonetheless.

Maps is getting real-time traffic rerouting!

In order for this message to be necessary, Maps would have to be periodically checking traffic conditions and recalculating new routes while you drive. When it finds a better route, it will prompt you with these messages. This would be really helpful for a long trip, and it's something that shouldn't be too hard to implement.


Google Now will be learning a few new tricks as well, the most exciting of which is probably the last thing that gives me Siri/S-Voice envy: how to hold a conversation. If tell S-Voice to "Send text to Bob," it will say "Ok, sending text to Bob, what would you like it to say?" and then you can verbally dictate a message. These 2 or sometimes 3 step voice interactions are much more natural and easier than the perfectly-executed "verbal command line" that Google Now requires.

For starters, the build quality and materials are amazing. As soon as you pick it up you know you're holding something that is built with more love and thought than a Galaxy Nexus or GSIII. The front and back are Gorilla Glass 2 and the sides are made from a rubberized plastic that actually feels great. The whole phone is really solid, and it's the first Android phone that seems like it's had real passion put into the design.

The front is still a beautiful, minimalist black slab, devoid of any logos or carrier branding. I love it. The back features a giant Nexus logo at the top and a smaller manufacturer logo at the bottom. This is, easily, the most beautiful Android phone ever made. I'll take some proper pictures of it later.

Anyone who is worried about the back of the phone being a sparkly disco ball can rest easy. In many lighting conditions, the back is black - just black. When the light catches it just right, there is a very tasteful, subdued shimmer effect that rolls across the dots. The dots on the back don't bindingly reflect light, either, they just kind of turn silver. Camera flash is pretty much the worst case scenario. Even in that picture on the left, the reflection is greatly exaggerated. In the right picture, the bottom right corner is about as bright as it ever looks in real life. In person it's very subtle, tasteful, and kind of hypnotizing.

Compared to a Galaxy Nexus? Well the Gnex looks like it just walked out of a garbage heap when compared to the N4. The glass back and build quality outclasses the Galaxy Nexus so much it isn't even fair. If you care about that stuff, you're going to want to upgrade.

Speaking of which, with the beautiful design, and lack of LTE, an SD card, and a removable battery, I'm starting to think this phone isn't for geeks, but for designers. I really like for my phones to be well made and beautiful, and this is right up my alley. Many of our commenters won't like it because of the spec sheet (it's insanely fast, by the way), but if you just want a premium feeling, stunning looking device that is still fast and functional, this is your dream phone. I feel like this is the first time Android has had a piece of hardware that matches the stock OS design philosophy. Some people won't care about that, but those that do will be absolutely in love.

Just over a month removed from launching its latest phablet, Samsung is reporting the Galaxy Note II has already racked up sales of 3 million units. The 5.5-inch stylus-enabled smartphone is selling at more than three times the rate of the original Note, a figure which probably won't be hurt by rolling out on multiple carriers including Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and US Cellular in the US. This supersized device can't quite match the mainstream appeal of Samsung's own Galaxy S III -- which cracked 20 million just 100 days after its debut -- but it should quickly surpass its predecessor, last seen cresting the 10 million mark back in August. Still not sure if squeezing this one into your skinny jeans is a good idea? If our review wasn't convincing enough, Samsung has a few hands-on videos of its own to show off some of its more unique capabilities, and is pushing the Note II with an ad campaign featuring LeBron James (insert joke about needing a 6' 8" basketball player to make it look normal here.)