Google enhances "Voice Actions" on Android

By on Aug 12, 2010 at 2:05 PM
Breaking August 12, 2010

At Google’s media event today, the search giant unveiled enhanced Voice Actions for their Android mobile operating system. Voice actions allow you to preform certain functions on your device just by using verbal commands. Voice Actions include:

  • send text to [contact] [message]
  • listen to [artist/song/album]
  • call [business]
  • call [contact]
  • send email to [contact] [message]
  • go to [website]
  • note to self [note]
  • navigate to [location/business name]
  • directions to [location/business name]
  • map of [location]

The implementation of the new feature looks really, really slick. We’ve got a video after the bounce of Google showing off just how powerful the new enhanced Voice Actions can be. If you have an Android phone running version 2.2 hit up the Android market and download Voice Search and the Google Search Widget. Let us know what you think of the new features!

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  • Jon H

    i just got a incredible, how do I know if it’s running 2.2?

    • Travis

      That’s easy, it’s not. Not yet at least. Probably very soon.

      • JP

        haha

  • MicroNix

    How sweet is THAT?! This clearly shows that search IS happening in the mobile space unlike what SJ says. This brings a whole new level of simplifying your life to a phone and again shows that Android is innovating and taking the lead.

  • MTSUNAMI

    GAME OVER!!!!!! This is sick

  • Brian

    okay, so this is pretty sweet! Only problem is, on my Droid atleast, I try the “Listen to” command and it tells me I have to download a music player from the market which supports the voice search function… and I use DoubleTwist so it doesn’t work right now. Other than that, the send text is really cool! Makes it very easy, without having to open up the messaging app.

    • WalterSobchak

      It doesn’t access music on your phone, just streaming apps(last.fm, pandora, mspot, etc.)
      Hopefully it will soon access your library, but this could be one more step to transition people away from local based storage.

  • Sonya

    Android is beating the shit out of Apple with all these features. I’m starting to feel bad for Apple, and this is coming from someone who was going to purchase the iPhone 4 before the antenna issue surfaced. I don’t know what Apple is doing but they need to get on the ball, usually things like this drive a company to do better but it seems Apple could care less.

  • Max

    Nothing to see here, Blackberry Morons. Move along.

  • http://www.agilityloop.com Kevin Heald

    Maybe I am missing something, but on my Droid using 2.1 I could already do most of these commands? Still freaky sweet though that they are commiting to expand the command list..

    • Ohholditwithmyrighthand

      No, there is a big difference. we put it on our evo and you can speak an entire email or listen to music, or even navigate. the things that are the same are the internet searches

  • Adam

    It doesnt seem to be working for me. When I do “listen to” or “navigate to” it just listens to what I say and then at the bottom of my Evo screen it just shows in a little bubble what I just said. Nothing happens.. Anyone else experience this?

  • Adam

    Oh i figured it out.. I was using the widget and thats why.. If I use the actual app icon it works perfect!! Nevermind..

  • zee

    oh my god are they openly copying tell me from microsoft!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    man google reaks

  • Matt J.

    Why are people so obsessed with voice-activated controls? I don’t WANT everyone within earshot to hear who I am calling. I would much rather pick out the contact myself using a WELL DESIGNED user interface.

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