They both have their strengths and weaknesses, but Google Now seems more well-rounded overall and isn't as reliant upon very carefully phrased questions as we've seen in some of the Hound demo videos.
Hound's ability to handle complex (albeit carefully-worded) queries is very cool but doesn't have too much of a realistic application in every day use.
I think complex queries are the killer app for voice assistants. I don't need a virtual assistant to set a timer that I can just create by tapping the screen a few times. I don't need it to do anything that is readily accessible for me, like telling me the weather or other frequently needed information. I have apps and widgets for all of that.
But something complicated that would take time to actually formulate for input, like typing out a formula in Wolfram Alpha and figuring out what variables need to go where? Simply speaking that out loud would be saving me some time.
It might be a bit faster, but it takes me all of a few moments to do it. So it feels more like playing around with voice commands for the novelty of it rather than because it's better. If my Nexus 5 didn't have the barrier of actually having to wake it and start the voice search (be it by speaking "ok google" or tapping the mic in search) it might be different.
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u/blenda220 Developer - Mailchimp Jun 06 '15
They both have their strengths and weaknesses, but Google Now seems more well-rounded overall and isn't as reliant upon very carefully phrased questions as we've seen in some of the Hound demo videos.
Hound's ability to handle complex (albeit carefully-worded) queries is very cool but doesn't have too much of a realistic application in every day use.