OK Google to expand across Android OS: Report

NEW DELHI: The 'Ok Google' voice command that launches the Google Search app from the homescreen on phones with the Google Now launcher and from the Google Now screen on other smartphones, will reportedly be extended to core Android apps. 

According to Android Police, users will be able to perform certain actions through the voice command 'Ok Google,' inside core Android apps like Photos and Gmail. For instance, they'll be able to share images through voice commands within the Photos app or reply to emails inside the Gmail app by simply saying 'Ok Google.' Apps that support the feature may sport a red coloured round button with the letter 'g' in lower case denoting the functionality. 

The report doesn't mention the source of the information but claims that the project is being actively worked on. The feature may be available only on Google experience devices like Nexus 5 and Nexus 7. The website has also posted mock-ups of the activation screen of "Ok Google" everywhere.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE from timesofindia.com

Gap Shrinks Between PCs and Mobiles with Google Now Release

Google has moved the PC one step closer to becoming a smartphone-like digital assistant with the addition of the personalised data card service Google Now to Chrome browsers. Google Now was previously only available as part of the Android and iOS Google Search Apps.

Google Now was a “predictive search” engine that remembers calendar appointments, weather updates for the home and work area via GPS, customised sports scores and transport previews to and from work and home addresses.

Google Now could also answer natural-language spoken questions such as “Where is the nearest pub?” and a map and directions to nearby pubs appeared, much like Apple’s Siri.

Features to be rolled out over the next few weeks included the option to configure Gmail, Google Drive and Hangouts alerts.

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How to impress your friends: 40+ voice searches

I never make videos, but felt compelled to share the many new voice capabilities on +Android, some of which were not demoed on stage during Google I/O 2012. You may be surprised by some answers, notably those provided by the Knowledge Graph. This is not a performance or comparison test (I don't have an iPhone 4S or a Samsung Galaxy S3).

READ FULL DESCRIPTION from Jean-Louis Nguyen

How to use Chrome's coming voice search feature today

Welcome to perceptual computing. Google recently added hands-free voice search to the beta build of the Chrome browser, a new feature that allows you to simply say "Ok Google" and then dictate your search terms to their browser (assuming your PC has a microphone, of course).

It's a handy feature, but Google has yet to say when it will be baked in to the official Chrome build. The good news for anyone who wants to talk to their computer right now is that you can manually add hands-free voice search using the Google Voice Search Hotword (Beta) extension.

Yes, it's also a beta test, but adding an extension to your current browser is a lot simpler than switching over to a less stable version of Chrome, don't you think?

To get hands-free voice search in Chrome right now, visit the Chrome Web Store toinstall Google's extension. Tap the blue button in the upper right corner labeled + Free. A pop-up window will appea,r asking you to authorize installing the extension by clickingAdd.

Next, you should see a webpage with settings for the hotword search extension. There isn't a whole lot to worry about, but if you spend a lot of time using your laptop on battery power then you should probably check the box that says "Stop listening for 'Ok Google' hotword detection after 5 minutes." This setting will save your battery from getting hammered when you're sitting on a Google search page.

Read Full Article from PCWorld