Google Now updated with more card and voice functions

Google Now has just updated for Android Jelly Bean 4.1 and above.

The new features are specifically for the Google Now card interface but come via an update of the Google Search app, as it’s listed on the storefront.

New card notifications will now keep you informed of nearby events, contribute suggestions for any research you might be doing, provide you with boarding passes from Gmail and notify you of the weather at your travel destinations.

Google has also integrated Google Goggles, allowing you to conduct searches of products from the camera viewfinder. You can also get notifications of contact’s birthdays and, for the health conscious, there are summaries of your walking and cycling activity.

Voice search functions have also been enhanced, you can post to Google+ via a voice command, ask Google Now what song is currently playing (like Shazam) or verbally command it to scan a barcode for product related info.

User reviews are already popping up in the app listing as largely positive, in particular users seem to be impressed by the song finder functionality, claiming it is consistently very accurate.