$q example

gistfile1.txt

.factory('ourFactory', function($http, $q){
    return {
        update: function(){
            var defer = $q.defer(); // we're gonna create a new promise to return
            $http.get('http://google.com').success(function(data){
                d.resolve(data); // This is what we can access from our promise later
            });
            return d.promise; // return the promise
        }
    };
});

.controller('name', function(ourFactory){
    
    ourFactory.update().then(function(data){ // that data we resolved into our promise in the factory is accessible now
        $scope.something = data; //now you can bind that data to your scope
    });

});