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I think making Now API-interactable would just beg for spammy popups. Mobile is already a maelstrom of apps trying to promote themselves, or getting paid to promote others.

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That's a bad argument against an API, spammy apps are going to spam no matter what.

A Google Now API would be awesome.

Isn't handling of spam a major product hurdle for any public data interface?

Requires addressing in angles regarding security, UX, and performance at the very least.

Google already has a system in place for managing apps and services' access to your account[1]. Not to mention if you install crappy apps you are already going to have issues[2]. People need to be careful of what they install and give access to their account, I can't see how a Google Now API would make this problem worse.

[1]http://support.google.com/accounts/bin/answer.py?hl=en&a...

[2]http://www.androidguys.com/2012/02/28/airpush-ad-network-con...

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