Google iPhone app is the gift that keeps on giving
Just when you thought you had the Google Mobile App with voice search all figured out, Google goes and reveals an Easter egg hidden in the settings menu. To get there, just keep scrolling down below the 'about' button. If you keep at it, the previously hidden 'Bells and Whistles' button will appear, giving you these additional options:
- Different theme colors to change the look of the app
- Changes to the sounds the app uses, including monkeys and chickens
- The addition of a live waveform when you are speaking -- kind of like an oscilloscope
- The option to open links in the app itself rather than transferring to Safari
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
sjdvda said 4:04PM on 1-02-2009
I guess that explains for the "improved version number" joke
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heytpn said 4:12PM on 1-02-2009
I can't do it. I have an ipod touch 2g, running with the normal Google Mobile App on it. I scrolled below ABOUT, but nothing came up but blank light blue screen.
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heytpn said 4:13PM on 1-02-2009
Never mind- It worked. Turns out you have to just scroll down to where it can't
scroll any further 2 to 3 times, then that Bells and Whistles button
will appear right under ABOUT. There, you can unlock all sorts of
neat settings, my favorite being "Open Links in App". I promoted
Google Mobile from 3rd page (1st page after the built-in apps, then
my favorite apps) straight to the Dock! A VERY high honor on my iPod,
because I only leave one space for a third party app.
Alex Muller said 4:16PM on 1-02-2009
Yup - I'm the same. On a 3G iPhone.
kieran said 4:17PM on 1-02-2009
You have to keep scrolling, it will keep bouncing back up but after about 5 bounces bells and whistles will appear below about.
marcoiac said 4:14PM on 1-02-2009
Same here. Can't see anything below about on my 1st gen iPhone running 2.2
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marcoiac said 4:20PM on 1-02-2009
Yes, keep scrolling and eventually it shows
RicG said 4:20PM on 1-02-2009
Spoiler alert! (How to do it)
heytpn pretty much had it. You need to get to the setting page, you need to use your finger to furiously scrub upward several times in succession. The promised button will appear.
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Ryan said 4:26PM on 1-02-2009
Maybe a dumb question....
What is 'Live Waveform'?
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Ryan said 4:30PM on 1-02-2009
Meh....dumb question. :)
For anyone wanting to know:
oscilloscope - a device that uses a cathode-ray tube or similar instrument to depict on a screen periodic changes in an electric quantity, as voltage or current.
Andre said 4:50PM on 1-02-2009
This is cool.
I see the wave files and settings in the plist file, but the only other thing I see is something about logging voice commands to disk - it's set to false, so maybe there's another menu hidden for that somewhere.
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Anthony said 5:04PM on 1-02-2009
I LOL'ed at the chicken sound
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pux said 5:09PM on 1-02-2009
So, if you stay in the app for your results is this a google browser on the iPhone?
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Graham Miller said 5:09PM on 1-02-2009
could this be that hidden api or whatever that everyone was making a big deal over. THEY ARE GOOGLE
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Grant said 5:17PM on 1-02-2009
Why would someone hide useful features of their app like this? I don't get it.
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exnewt said 5:53PM on 1-02-2009
Anyone notice that in the Google "browser", Flash animations appear to work some of the time...?
*gotcha*
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MH said 3:54AM on 1-14-2009
Why the hell have they limited the voice search to iPhone only!.
Doh all it takes is headphones with a mike to be able to speak into an iPod Touch.
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el manzo said 9:57AM on 1-03-2009
I can't open the external links within the app, it keeps on opening Safari, although I checked the option. Any ideas?
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Anthony said 12:05PM on 1-03-2009
Mine is doing that too. Hope it's addressed soon, because I want it to work... Actually, nothing in that menu works for me except the color and the sounds.
Tobby said 10:30PM on 1-03-2009
I cant seen to get to the new screen.
Do i keep scrolling down on the actual setting page or do i actually go in to the about page?
Thanks
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