Google is listening, and iPhone users are talking

According to the New York Times and the Google iPhone page, the big G is about to add voice recognition capabilities to its iPhone search app (iTunes link), with the new version showing up on the App Store any minute now. You'll be able to ask questions (the kind Google can answer, of course; someone else will have to tell you if those pants make you look fat) and get speedy search results returned from the web or your own address book.

[As of Saturday afternoon 3:30pm ET, the new version is still not in the App Store; interestingly, the Google page no longer has the video embed of the voice recognition demo, nor does it show the new feature listing. Perhaps there was a last-minute delay?

Update, Sunday AM: Techcrunch is reporting an anticipated Monday release for the new version. No details given on the reason for the delay. -Ed.]

Update, Monday PM: The app isn't listed as updated in the App Store, but removing the old Google Mobile app from the phone and reinstalling it brings it back with the voice search capability. Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

The voice recordings from the application will be sent to Google's servers for processing "in the cloud." Given the size of Google's infrastructure and its ability to transfer gargantuan amounts of data, it may have the advantage over existing voice-driven search apps such as Yahoo's oneSearch. Google execs seem hesitant to quantify the accuracy of the voice recognition software, but here's hoping it at least tops some of the iPhone voice-dialers I've been playing with.

You can see a sample video of Googlers testing the feature in the continuation of this post.

[via Truemors / blogtopten]

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Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/14/technology/internet/14voic…

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According to the New York Times and the Google iPhone page, the big G is about to add voice recognition capabilities to its iPhone search...

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louis toms

the update for the google app is now ready through the app store and its actually really cool!! you just have to kinda speak slow!

November 18 2008 at 1:50 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Sam

The update to the Google Search app is now live:

http://gadgetsgamesandstuff.blogspot.com/2008/11/google-iphone-voice-search.html

November 18 2008 at 8:14 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jim

So, I asked, "Where is the best pizza in Austin, TX?" and holy cow's balls, it got it right! East Side Pies 524-0933!!!

Wow...I think that this may be one of those killer apps that makes the iPhone rock.

Is this already on the Android?

November 18 2008 at 1:58 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

IPhoneUser

It's out !! I don't think it's listed as the correct version in the app store, but I just refreshed my phone, got all the updates for my apps, and then google with voice search appeared!!! It is soooooo the bad A$$ !!!!!!!!

November 17 2008 at 7:37 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Brett

So where is this goddamn app?!

It better raise the people from the dead.

November 16 2008 at 7:34 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

iPhoneman

The iphone is still the best device available hands down.

http://apple-iphone-store.com

November 16 2008 at 5:09 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

required

Seems like this could be done via PlainTalk I mean "Speakable Items" and then work with all form fields, not just google's.

November 16 2008 at 11:30 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

vulgo

Now it is available!

November 16 2008 at 1:15 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

trevor lyman

What about ChaCha? Ba-ZING

November 15 2008 at 9:21 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

I doubt this will make it into the iphone.... I think this is going to be another example of google stepping on apple's feet.

I think Apple is working on putting spoken text phone operation system wide into the iphone (it really is needed for handsfree dialing). The already have Universal access on OSX. So, commanding your iphone to google a search is unnecessary if you can totally command it from the phone. Is that the reason that the app isn't up at the app store, and the notes and previous video has been pulled???

I think you can kiss this good-bye until after Apple implements this feature.

November 15 2008 at 9:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to jd's comment

Brett

Then why would the app "Say Who" or "Say What" be allowed on the appstore?

I think the reason it's not up yet is of another.

Who knows when Google submitted it. I don't think app is confirmed within hours when submitted so if they did on friday late afternoon it's probably not going to be up before monday.

November 15 2008 at 10:30 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply