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Google Mobile iPhone app with voice search now available

The new version of Google's Mobile iPhone application that includes voice search recognition was made available as a free download on the App Store last night.

"The new Google Mobile App for iPhone makes it possible for you to do a Google web search using only your voice," said Dave Burke, Engineering Manager for Google's mobile team. "Just hold the phone to your ear, wait for the beep, and say what you're looking for."

In addition to allowing users to speak their search queries instead of typing them, the updated app (Free, App Store) includes an Apps Tab that allows you to reorder Google Apps to make it easier to access your favorites.

Google also said there's no longer a need to specify where you are because Google Mobile App now has Search with My Location.

"Search for 'movie showtimes' or 'Mediterranean restaurant' and you'll automatically see results based on your current location," Burke added. "For this to work, Location Services must be enabled on your iPhone and you have to opt-in to let Google Mobile App use your location."

For a bit of the history behind Google's new speak-to-search capabilities, see AppleInsider's report from last Friday.



31 Comments

macbookboy 8 comments · 16 Years

Sadly the voice recognition is awful.

nutts 25 comments · 17 Years

Quote:
Originally Posted by MacBookBoy

Sadly the voice recognition is awful.

It works well for me, if I put on a "North American English accent" as the settings suggest. I tried with 'whats the capital of Japan', '4 times 2' and 'Japanese yen exchange rate' and it got them all. Oh and of course 'pizza' too.

But if I use my natural (Southern British English) accent it gets nothing. Well, it guesses at *something* but it's nowhere near correct.

Still, for the North Americans out there, it looks like it could be ok (if you assume my take on the accent was passable).

potterhead4 59 comments · 17 Years

Worked extremely well for this American. Will have to try in my faux British accent though.

bigskyjeff 3 comments · 17 Years

It seems when I'm real drunk it has a harder time figuring out what I'm saying. Please Google... fix this!