Now Brief isn't helpful at all

[hlfway2anywhere]

So far, after almost a month, the Now Brief shows me the weather and my calendar events for the day. I already have widgets for that. Where is the traffic information? Smart home info? How do we make it actually do anything useful? 

[Tom6068]

Its usefulness is completely a subjective thing. I myself do not use it as I really do not care for it as it is little more than an unnecessary multi-step function to use apps on my phone, that I can do while I am using the phone. When I am not using my phone, the Now bar means nothing because well, I am not using it. When it comes to anything app minded, like calendar for example, I get notifications and that is good enough for me.

Now that is me that is how I think about it, but for others than may be useful and that is fine. People have to determine the value they get on anything they purchase.

[hlfway2anywhere]

This doesn't answer my question: How do I make Now Brief show traffic or smart home info? It's toggled on but doesn't show anything except weather and calendar, sometimes news or YouTube videos I don't care about

[Tom6068]

Apologies, you are correct there regarding the question. One has to use it for a time for the Now bar to collect data on ones usage and what they view, browse or what apps they use. The Now Brief only updates like a few times a day. I don't know if that comes up when the Now Bar is shown when a app is being used, like when listening to music etc, that will show in the Now Bar ONLY when the apps in running in the background. @Robin621k may have a better answer.

In any case I see the perplexity of its usefulness if one goes to it and it only shows intermittently. Personally, the briefing should have a toggle as to add as a swipe feature to be viewed on another home screen page, like Google can be when swiping right if it is enabled for that use.

[Just_horace · Accepted solution]

That's exactly why I turned it off!! Imo, it just gets in the way with useless info!

[Robin621k]

It will show traffic information depending on certain actions; it knows you have an appointment and that you use Maps consistently. Every day when I leave my house for work, I get my commute information. I've had the Now Brief suggest routines based on my habits. Is it fully fleshed out yet? No. I am thinking that when Google finally pushes out a Google Play System update for the S25 series, more things will be added. It is still on the October update.

[hlfway2anywhere]

Idk. I've been using it since January 29th and I have a daily work commute where I use Google maps and it's never shown me anything. Hopefully it will do what was advertised at some point.

[Robin621k]

Hmmm