I have fond memories of the card-based Google Now service from when it was introduced in 2012. As Google’s original assistant, I thought it would suddenly boost my smartphone to a new level, providing context-aware information when needed. It wasn’t perfect, but it did its best to keep me on top of the few things I had to worry about back in high school. And then, in true Google fashion, it was gone.
But, as they say, what’s old has become new again. Years after card-based assistants were demoted in favor of voice assistants like Siri and Bixby, they’re back again. Apple was first to the party with its Dynamic Island, but now Samsung has arrived with a brand-new Now Bar of its own. So, with a healthy dose of nostalgia, I decided to try the Now Bar on my Galaxy S25, and I think it’s made me a believer. Here’s why.