Whats going on with Google Now (Previous Version of Google Assistant)

[G+_David Keeler]

Whats going on with Google Now (Previous Version of Google Assistant)

 

Here is the problem, and I have been looking on various sites and forums but thought I would throw it out to the KitA network.....

 

For a few months now I cannot access "Google Now" .

 

I am running a Rooted Sprint Note 3 and still using Josh's KitKat Killer (yes 4.4.2) Its a GREAT ROM and had been working fine until about Decemberish. Whenever I click on the Google Now Cards, or press the Google App Icon, I get a brief opening of the page with Weather Map and Events etc. but as soon as it loads it crashes out.

 

I can access a pure voice command search through my Widget to set an alarm, get the weather etc...

 

I cant help but Note (get it? NOTE!!! Ha!!) but it would seem to have happened at the same time Google Assistant broke onto the scene en masse back in December or so. Coincidence??? hmmmmmmmmmm

 

I have another phone that also had this problem, (Rooted Galaxy S4 Running Lollipop) and quite honestly couldn't get Google to work until I flashed a Nougat ROM and launched the new Google Assistant. I wonder if they are tired of supporting these older phones and are going to force people to up their game by making them upgrade to Nougat phones.

 

I have seen lots and lots and lots of 'help' sites talk about how if you 'Clear Cache/Uninstall/Re-install/Update' etc that it will work. That is A LIE! And don't talk to me about using the Google Now Launcher (which I am not that thrilled with) because that does not even seem to make a difference either. I have been, and currently using Nova Launcher. The whole process of Install/Uninstall/Install only works once then as soon as it gets a chance to load the data you are back to being screwed. It wont even stay open long enough to access the page to delete/alter/change settings. Very very frustrating.

 

I cant believe there inst rioting in the streets from millions of disgruntled Google users!!!!

 

So now I am just not using it. I'd like to but until then it is a hearty HELLO to S-Voice I guess.

 

Any thoughts??

Thanks!

Dave

 

P.S. Please don't say "get a new phone" because say what you will, I LOVE the form factor. I make daily use of the IR blaster, S Pen and most important of all I have Swappable Batteries for multi day use that is much quicker and easier than carrying around a portable charger.

I do see that Resurrection Remix has a Nougat ROM, I may be tempted to try that out and see if I can just roll with the new Google Assistant.

[G+_Ben Reese]

It's working fine on my HTC 10 running Nougat. I get the Google assistant with "ok Google", but I can still hit the widget to get to Google Now. I'd send you the APK, but not sure that would work for you.

 

I'll check it out on my older M8 to see if Google Now still works there.

[G+_Ben Reese]

Still works on my M8, but that's Marshmallow. I don't think I have any Kitkat devices around anymore.

 

But now that I think about it... I seem to remember hearing recently that Google stopped supporting Kitkat and older devices. Can anyone confirm?

[G+_David Peach]

I would guess that something in the API changed that may have knocked you out. An API change messed me up on another program/platform recently. This is just a guess.

[G+_Ben Reese]

I found the old S3 that the kids play with and it still has 4.4.x. The old Google Now worked there.

 

The Google app updated after I booted the phone, but I was able to snag the APK for both the older and newer version: 6.15.24.16 and 6.16.33.16.

 

If you want to send me a message on Hangouts, I can send you either version. I'd share a link here, but I suspect that's against the TOS.

[G+_T Nohands]

Unfortunately problems like that won't be big in any group or forum for a simple troubleshooting solution since most "app developers" especially from mainstream app development by any corporation like Google, are simply not made to be universally compatible with every version of custom Android rooted platform and are slow to fix any issues of programming conflicts within rooted devices. The place you might try to start is since that app can be account oriented you might try logging into your Google account on another or other devices capable of using that app or if there are problems within the account that might be corrupted (which can happen and usually easy for support to restore when notified) after that if Google's app still can't resolve the issue then the old annoying steps of uninstalling and reinstalling app and maybe even your rooted platform along with rebooting on off in between and after all that physical trouble shooting then the next thing to do is contact system and developer support. All to expend enormous amount of patience and time for a reply of turning something on or off or other simple answer (Bang head on table). There's also a possibility of another app especially root required apps could be in conflict if multiple operations in the background are trying to access some function at the same time so might look at background services and try minimizing running services to see if it works and if so then turn services back on one at a time to find the troublemaking service or services although it is odd a google app or services is having problems on an Android platform even if it's a rooted Android device, it might be worth calling Leo during The Tech Guy or in the chatroom if it can be shortened up a little and PM your conversation with anyone who tries to help you troubleshoot during a show. That might be worth a try.

[G+_David Keeler]

SOLVED!

 

Thanks to Ben Reese and T Nohands, they gave me an ideal... Go into APK Mirror and download a legacy version (Went back to 6.0) and that did the trick! Now I can use it for the basic quick searches, weather info etc.....