Google apps are just great aren’t they? From Google Earth, to Google Docs they ‘Just Work’. The first of Google’s apps to hit the App Store was Google Mobile – a no frills search app which gave you native instant search results from a desired keyword.
Yesterday, Google pushed out an update for Google Mobile which gave the app previously rumored capabilities to translate spoken search terms, into actual search terms. Yes – this, is voice recognition.
Although the application’s description doesn’t yet reflect this change, existing users of Google Mobile can now download or update to a new version of the app which includes VOICE recognition.
I gave it a quick whirl:
Under exclusive license to EMI Records Ltd.
First thoughts
Well it works, however on a couple of occasions (as expected) the app couldn’t find what I was looking for, or it replaced my search term with an alternative of it’s own. It actually quiet a cool way to search. The video above isn’t really true to the capabilities of this feature though as the app does direct you to hold your iPhone to your ear, then speak.
Needed improvements
I’m not sure if it already has this, but I’m going to say it doesn’t yet ‘learn’ from it’s mistakes – in my experience anyway – so I think Google needs to add a voice trainer. Something as simple as saying predefined words so that Google Mobile can learn the different tones of your voice?
It is not yet clear whether this voice recognition feature will work with iPod touch Gen 2,
and it’s new headphones.
Get the update: Google Mobile
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