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Google Now will tell you if nearby stores have a product you've searched for

Google Now will tell you if nearby stores have a product you've searched for

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Google Now has a new purpose: reminding you to spend money. With the latest update to Google Search, Android users will soon begin receiving notifications when nearby retailers carry an item they've recently searched for online. If you've queried Google about a new pair of hiking boots or a toy for your kid, don't be surprised if those items automatically appear in a Google Now card — assuming a nearby store actually carries them. If so, you'll see the products, their prices, and the stores where you can find them show up in a card meant to "remind you that you wanted them," Google says. It's not clear how many products Google keeps track of at any one time, nor how long it will hang onto items and check if you can buy them locally.

Unfortunately, even if it finds a match, Google Now can't tell you whether an item is in stock at a given retailer; you'll still need to call or go in to confirm availability. Like other cards, you can turn off tracking via Google Now's settings. (That might be a good idea if you often share your phone and want to avoid gift spoilers, for instance.) Google has been busy improving its personal assistant of late. In recent weeks, the company has added offline support and introduced a helpful feature that remembers where you parked your car.

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