Compared to Apple's Siri, the idea of what Google Now is has been quite vague for most people. While it may seem like it's the Android counterpart of Apple's famous voice assistant Siri, it's a more ambitious take on such feature that attempts to expand beyond the limitations of voice command dependent on the smartphone's software. Despite its availability in both Android and Apple smartphones today, few are aware that such revolutionary feature is present in their smartphones today.
So, if you do not have the bucks to purchase the new Google Pixel, here is a tip on how you can easily make the most out of your smartphone with Google Now.
Setting It Up
First and foremost, you must own a Google account or you must sign in to create one. If you have a Gmail account and uses 'Google' regularly, this will help to better enhance the app's recommendations as they track your preferences and other relevant information. 
To use Google Now on your Android, simply press and hold the Home Button of your smartphone. It will then open a page that looks like a google home page. On the upper left hand of the page, you'll see a button in a form of three (3) bar lines), simply click on it and you'll see all the configuration options that you need. You can click customize to key in your interests or habits, and settings for the operational configuration of Google Now. Using an iPhone? Just download the app and begin using it as described above.
Reading Your Habits- The Pre-emptive Google Now
One of the most pleasantly surprising things about Google Now is that it can read your daily habits and routine and synchronize it with the phone's utility apps such as Google's Transit feature, alarm, calendar, and a lot more.
Say, for example, you wake up at 6am, ride the train at 7, and get to work by 7:30. When doing this on a regular basis, Google Now's cutting edge algorithm will read your daily habits and provide suggestions to improve your daily lifestyle such as updating the time of arrival of the next train, how many hours it take for you to get from your home to your office, the traffic condition in the roads that you usually take, the weather in your area and others.
Hands-free Operation
Like the Google Assistant, you can easily configure Google Now to perform thousands of tasks on your smartphone with voice commands. Simply tap the microphone symbol and say "Ok, Google" followed by your command. It's that easy. It can also open various apps, even the third-party ones, with just a verbal command. Google Now can also read the text messages for you, plot an appointment in your calendar, remind you of upcoming events, roll a dice for you and so many more. Here is an 'endless' list of voice commands you can easily execute. The sky is your limit! 
Google Now Vs Google Assistant
What are the key differences? Google Now is pre-installed on Androids phones utilizing version 4.1 (Jellybean) and above. As said earlier, iPhone users (requires iPhone 4s or later) can download this app as well.
While Google Assistant is an upgraded version of Google Now additional features in the new app includes added interactivity and conversational features – just like Siri. However, the Google Assistant can only be used through Google Pixel, Google Allo Chat app, and Google Home (a voice-activated speaker from Google). To the public, the new Google Assistant isn't too different from its predecessor app.
Making the Most Out of Google Now
Though the new Google Assistant is without a doubt cooler and more interactive, the fact remains that Google Now remains super useful for users. So, it might be great to skip that marketing gimmick urging you to purchase the new Google Pixel and rather exploit the full benefits of your current smartphone with Google Now.