Google Voice Search Function Finally Debuts -- and It Works Really Well
Days after it was expected to debut, a voice search function has been added to the Google application for the iPhone. The feature allows users to speak a search term, which is then transmitted to Google?s servers, recognized, then entered as a search term.
In initial testing, the feature works surprisingly well, easily recognizing simple, single words like "animals" and "cookies," and even complex phrases like "what is my dog thinking" (don't ask). In fact, despite our skepticism, this feature might actually be faster than the iPhone's onscreen keyboard for complex phrases. Add to this well-oiled functionality the fact that search results are displayed in an iPhone-optimized format, and the app's access to other time-saving features, Google's iPhone offering may have actually become useful.
Download the application through iTunes here.
mike
Saying that, it is pretty impressive. I really wish Google would open up there iPhone APIs...oh to have native map control in my apps.
M.
No Joy. hmmmm I continued, varying pitch, modulation, timing, etc. The end result was about 50% of the time it took a totally random stab at a search result. However, it NEVER looked in contacts. I went so far as to turn off all the choices in Searchable Items EXCEPT Contacts. Tried the names, (both given and sur), but it relentlessly took me to a Google search page of websites.
Good search interface, I guess, for standard Google searches and I suppose I can survive nicely with any of the handfulls of voice dialers out there.
Google is CERTAINLY on the right track here.
Pete
We'll be excited when it supports other languages like Latin, Pig Latin and Klingon.
Good start thought. :-)
Or is this a seasonal thing?