So, this Bing Now app that would run on my phone, instead of having data pushed to it, would have to go out and poll these disparate data sources to collect the information that it needs to be useful? Polling increases CPU cycles, reduces battery life, increases storage and data usage. I like your idea less and less as we go.
It seems we have decided to assign Google Now to the far left corner, representing the server-only approach, and a hypothetical Bing Now to the far right corner, representing a client-only approach. As if both must necessarily occupy positions on polar opposites of the server- / client-side spectrum. I doubt this is an accurate representation of how Google Now actually works. Google Now doesn't necessarily have to be (and likely isn't) a purely server-side solution. My point is, that we mustn't necessarily picture a hypothetical Bing Now as a purely client-side solution either. I suspect that is what you are doing, and that is why you believe Bing Now would have a problem polling data from disparate data sources. You are unnecessarily restricting your own creative thinking process.
All the data required to recreate the "intelligent" part of Google Now is already synced to all our devices. Mails, calendar data, GPS location, search history, etc... no polling is required beyond what is already common practice. For any other data, a hypothetical Bing Now could easily register with a Microsoft server to receive push notifications whenever necessary, e.g. when flight information for a particular flight is updated.
Anyway, my goal wasn't to make you like a particular solution. It was only to show that other solutions exist.
The original assumption was that Microsoft has no chance of recreating the Google Now experience, because they don't aggregate the same amount of user data on their servers. This is the only unimaginative silliness I'm attempting to debunk. A vast number of solutions exist between the two extremes we've been discussing (we have, after all, long entered the age of distributed computing), and I'm sure not just one or two of those solutions are plausible.
As for the whole legal thing, you made a statement that Google is claiming the legal right to share info with 3rd parties, then you said you're not a lawyer. We'll just leave that there.
Based on that cheap shot answer, I can only assume you aren't a lawyer either, as I'm sure someone who actually knew what they were talking about could easily convince me I'm wrong. I've read Google's legal mumbo jumbo. I was just trying to explain what my simple self came away understanding. I had hoped that you, being amongst the strongest resident Google supporters around, might have been motivated enough to do more research, but obviously I was mistaken.
Go ahead, this is the part where you tell me that Microsoft's way is better because they don't scan your email for ads.
Look arrowrand, I know this is your favourite topic, but I really couldn't care less about it. I think this just wastes our time. Why? Because it is none of your business where I draw the line when it comes to my personal privacy. That is everyone's own personal choice to make. Not yours. For me, profiling my mails goes beyond what I am willing to accept.
I know you care nothing about your own privacy. I know you also care nothing about the privacy of your friends and family members who send mails to your gmail accounts. I do care. Deal with it.
I hope you will now finally stop trying to steer the discussion towards this topic.
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