Google Now has gained quite a few new cards ever since it first debuted with Android 4.1, including support for boarding passes, recommended content alerts and movie ratings. Today a new report has revealed another new card that could make its way into Google Now in the future, and this one's got a focus on news.
Quartz has been told that Google is currently testing a new "hyperlocal news" card for Now. Johanna Wright, Google's VP of search and assist, explained that the card will teach users about the neighborhood around them. "For example, I found out Miss Mexico came to my son’s school, I saw that [the local] Chipotle was giving out burritos, and someone was stabbed in the park near my house," Wright said.
It's not yet clear whether or not this hyperlocal news card will actually reach the public, as Wright said that the card is currently undergoing testing so that Google can get feedback on it. Still, it sounds like an interesting addition that could really help users to learn more about what's going on around them. Local news can often get overlooked in favor of national stories, but this new Google Now card could help to inform users about what's going on around them without having to carve out time for the 10 p.m. newscast or remember to visit a local news website. Would you use this hyperlocal news Google Now card if it were available?
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