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This article was published on August 12, 2010

Google launches Voice Actions for Android. SMS, email and more via voice


Google launches Voice Actions for Android. SMS, email and more via voice

In a rather quiet press gathering today, Google has announced a new product (or rather a feature) that will allow better control over your phone via voice. The primary use: text message via voice.

However there are many more uses, as well. Though it will require Android 2.2, if you’re lucky enough to be running the OS you can try one of these:

  • send text to [contact] [message]
  • listen to [artist/song/album]
  • call [business]
  • call [contact]
  • send email to [contact] [message]
  • go to [website]
  • note to self [note]
  • navigate to [location/business name]
  • directions to [location/business name]
  • map of [location]

Hugo Barra, of Google Mobile Product Management made points during the gather that, in smartphones, we are holding “mini supercomputers” in our pockets. When you take a smartphone and connect it to the cloud, the idea of instructions per second takes on an entirely different meaning, with much less clout behind it.

Barra focused on Google’s innovations in the mobile market using the examples of Google Googles, cloud-based GPS navigation and voice recognition all running in processes that would normally be outside the realm of a phone’s ability.

Here’s an overall rundown of the new features, in a Google-produced video:

We’ll keep you updated as we find out more.

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