'OK Google' voice commands are now available inside apps and from the lockscreen

BYMatt Brian @m4tt4 hours ago

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"OK Google." The phrase is slowly working its way across Google's mobile and web services, but the touchless control is about to get even better for many Android users. Previously limited to just the homescreen on Android 4.4 KitKat devices and anywhere on the Moto X (thanks to its always-on listening chip), the voice-activated command will soon be enabled on any screen, including the lockscreen, on your smartphone or tablet. That's not all, either: Google's also including a new Audio History feature that learns the sound of your voice to increase the accuracy of your searches.

The features come as part of an update to the Google Search app, which is currently rolling out slowly to devices following Google's I/O keynote. Google is making the feature available on a phone-by-phone basis, meaning that even if you are able to grab the relevant app file, you still might not be able to use it. If you are eligible, however, all you have to do is navigate to your Google Now settings and enable the options inside the "OK Google Detection" menu.

[Image credit: Droid Life]

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Via: Droid Life

Source: Google Search (Play Store)

More Coverage: Google Audio History

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Android is reportedly getting voice commands everywhere

Outside of the Moto X, hands-free voice commands on Android are limited; pick up a Nexus 5 or Galaxy S5 and you'll find that "OK Google" only works at the home screen. If Android Police's sources are accurate, though, you'll soon get to bark out orders no matter where you are in the interface. Google is reportedly trying out an "OK Google everywhere" feature (mocked up here) that, much like the Moto X, is always listening and responds only to your voice. It might also pay attention to what you're running. If you're browsing snapshots, for example, you could tell your phone to "share this photo."

That may not be the only change in store. Experiments are reportedly underway with a new navigation bar that replaces the usual home button with a "Google" item. Hit that and you'd start a search without having to speak first. If you need to return to the main screen, you'd use the "recents" (read: multitasking) key. Suffice it to say that this would be a big break for Google, which hasn't changed its basic approach to navigation since Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) in 2011.

Don't count on either the voice or search features coming to a phone near you, however. While AP believes that at least some of these Android revisions will reach shipping software, they're not guaranteed to make the cut. Also, these may only show up in the official Google Now launcher -- third-party phones could mix things up. Still, we wouldn't rule out seeing any of these features on stage at the I/O conference this June.

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Source: Android Police

Tags: android, google, mobilepostcross, okgoogleeverywhere, search, smartphone, VoiceControl, VoiceRecognition Next: YouTube for Android now auto-generates playlists of your favorite artists .fyre .fyre-comment-divider

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