When Apple introduced the world to their acquired Siri iOS6 software back in October of 2011, it was the coolest feature to hit the market…that, without question. In an effort to offer up some healthy competition, Google went right to work, creating counter software for platforms outside of those bearing that bitten Apple. Cue “Google Now,” the personal assistant that provides real-time information, specifically suited for the user.  

 Made available, preloaded on Android smartphones, it is designed to – for example – remind you of meetings, appointments, and dates, provide alternate commute routes based on traffic and show you the weather at the start of your day. The service learns your habits and your routines and provides you the information you need without having to go search for it.

 Today, April 30, 2013, the masterminds at Google release their Google Now service for the iPhone and iPad. It will be accessible via Google's Search application, which is available in the Apple App Store. Like Siri, Google Now supports voice control. Users can simply touch the microphone icon at the bottom of the application’s home screen, command, and sit back, and watch the software work. This strategic move marks one of many in Google’s overall attempt to provide Apple mobile users with alternatives to Apple’s preloaded software.  When originally introduced, the iPhone featured Google services, including their Maps and YouTube applications. As Google's Android devices rocketed in popularity, Apple has shifted focus on its own apps, removing Google's preloaded services. Google Maps and YouTube were not included in Apple's latest iOS6 release, however, still available for independent download and install. In fact, upon the release of Google Maps for iPhone, many users rapidly replaced the provided Apple Maps application with Google's “more accurate solution.” iPhone users replacing Apple's apps with Google's iOS apps, even though they are no longer preloaded, is becoming a trend, analysts say. "Even though Apple has been pursuing Cloud services, Google has placed a stronger emphasis on tying more of those services to apps. A lot of Apple's Cloud services are more of a background infrastructure," Ross Rubin, principal analyst of Reticle Research, told ABC News. "Google is either stronger or there is no real significant competition with many of its Cloud apps. Google Now is just the latest example." To download Google’s Search Application for iPhone or iPad --> HERE.