Google made a small splash last week by releasing Google Now for the iPhone and iPad. But those hopping on the app store and doing a search will quickly find out that there isn't actually a Google Now app in the App Store. That's because Google Now isn't an app. It's an update to Google Search, Google's "home page" app for the iPhone and iPad.

In order to get Google Now on the iPad, you can click this link to download Google Search from the App Store.

Once installed, you simply need to open the app and turn on the Google Now feature, which the app will prompt you about as soon as it opens.

What is Google Now?

Google Now is Google's take on Siri. But rather than ask it questions, Google Now attempts to anticipate your needs and provide the information before asked. For example, Google Now will display traffic conditions for your commute into work, let you know if you have any email in your gmail account and alert you to events scheduled in your Google Calendar.

Combined with the voice search available in Google Search, the addition of Google now can be very useful. However, it's usefulness can be minimized if you don't use Google for some of those extended features. For example, if you don't use Google's Calendar, it won't alert you to those upcoming events, and if you don't use Gmail for email, you won't see Google Now cards for new email.

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