SEARCH giant Google has today expanded its offering on Apple's device by bringing Google Now to the iPhone and iPad.

As part of the updated Google Search App, Now is meant to be a better way of organising your day, giving you information you need the instant you need.

Android users have been using Now for sometime, as it is part of Jellybean (Android 4.1) but today it has gone live on the rival Apple platform for the first time.

The app is meant to be able to do a number of wide ranging things, from telling you the traffic before you head out, pushing the latest news on the subjects you've been following or even the details on the flight you're taking.

The app does require access to your Gmail account - and it will use information in your mail to determine what flights you've booked or teams you support.

It's part of Google's ambition to be indespensible when it comes to not just your digital habits but how you run your entire life.

Testing at Newspaper House, when I load it up, straight away it gives me the current weather for Southampton and how long it will take me to get home, based on the current traffic in along my usual route.

I've entered in Saints as a favoured team - only football clubs and American 'franchises' at the moment, so no room for rugby clubs, international football teams or cricket counties - so I await with bated breath as to what it will give me come this weekend's match.

It promises to give relevant information when I head abroad, such as currency conversions, language translation or nearby attractions - although these will all require roaming data, which could cost substantial amounts if you're not careful.

It looks promising, but as with Apple's own personal assistant, Siri, the proof is in the pudding when you being using it for reasons other than it being new and gimmicky.