Google Shows Off Nexus 4, Google Now During Grammys

Last night's Grammy Awards telecast included the return of Justin Timberlake and whole lotta leg from J'Lo, but it also included a new Nexus 4 commercial that focused on the wonders of Google Now.

The one-minute spot (below) showed Nexus 4 users around the world - Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, and Tokyo - using their phone to get real-time updates about their commute, weather conditions, restaurant locations, and on-the-fly translations.

"The right information at just the right time. Nexus 4 with Google Now," reads the tagline.

The LG Nexus 4 smartphone was unveiled in October. It features a 4.7-inch, 1,280-by-768 display with 320 pixels per inch. Google said it has "reinvented the photo experience" with Photo Sphere, which lets you create 360-degree images that can be shared on Google+ and Google Maps.

It runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and features 2GB of RAM. There's an 8-megapixel camera on the back and a 1.2-megapixel camera on the front.

The Nexus 4 runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Among the new features is Gesture Typing, which lets you swipe over the keyboard when crafting a message. There's also support for wireless display so you can watch videos or play games on a Miracast-compatible HDTV. The Nexus 4 will also support wireless charging and near-field communication.

But one unique feature - and the focus of Google's commercial - is Google Now. The search giant unveiled Google Now at its 2012 I/O developer conference alongside Jelly Bean 4.1. The service taps into your search history, location history, and calendar to figure out what information your might need and when. Google Now, for example, will memorize your normal commute from home to work and back and provide alternate routes if it detects traffic. If you're waiting for a bus or subway, Google Now will tell you when it will arrive. If you're at a restaurant, Google Now could tell you the dish for which that place is best known, or could recommend places if you're walking down the street.

In December, there were rumors that Google Now was coming to the Chrome browser, but Google has not yet made any announcements.

In the U.S., the Nexus 4 is now available via T-Mobile for $49.99 with a two-year contract. An unlocked, 8GB version is also for sale via Google for $299, while the 16GB is $349.

For more, see PCMag's review of the Nexus 4, as well as Google Now Is Good for Now.

For more from Chloe, follow her on Twitter @ChloeAlbanesius.