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Google Docs and Slides step up their voice recognition game
Voice commands and live captions are ready for prime time
Voice typing tools reliant on speech-to-text algorithms have long been a convenient way to create larger text documents quickly, especially if you’re a slow typist, or you're seeking a hands-free experience. Specialized voice typing tools are aplenty, but Google Docs and Slides include one for the average user. The company recently updated the feature to allow editing Slides speaker notes and Docs files using your voice, along with a live caption-generation tool for your presentations.
Setting Google Assistant timers on smart displays is pretty broken right now
But a fix is on the way
Google Assistant usually knows how to handle things when you ask it to set a timer. In the past couple of days, though, it hasn't been able to do so from your smart display.
Soon you'll be able teach Assistant to pronounce your friends' names right
The new tool allows users to manually teach Assistant how to say unusual names
If you have a name that's not common in your default language, you know how weird it can be to hear it spoken back in speech-to-text. Google Assistant is a pretty good example of that in action, and of how it's becoming a more common problem as more and more of our tech gains voice powers. But thanks to some recent improvements, Assistant should be better at handling unusual names and spellings in the future.
Google Assistant on phones is learning to act without a 'Hey Google' prompt
An easier way to snooze your alarm every morning
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Unlike most other developers, unfinished features constantly appear in Google's updates, hinting at plenty of new content in the works. Following an update to the Google app on Android, a new "Guacamole" menu is appearing in the Assistant settings list for some users. Once active, it'll let certain tasks be performed without saying "Hey Google" at all.
YouTube now has voice input on the web, making it even easier to waste hours watching cat videos
The infinite content doesn't help
If it wasn't already easy enough to spend the entire day watching random crap on YouTube, it's just gotten a little bit easier. YouTube.com now has voice input, and it can be used to dictate search queries and navigate through the interface.
LG's latest fridge will open at your command
How much longer 'til my kitchen can just cook french toast for me?
Smart appliances are nothing new, but it's a rare treat to find one that does something we can actually call smart. LG will demonstrate a series of new features coming to its line of refrigerators during the virtual CES 2021 conference in January, and among the highlights will be an automatic door that opens in response to voice commands. This will enable users to simply voice the command, "open the refrigerator door," and they'll be able to drop off or pick up items without touching a handle.
Google's smart home speakers already don't have the best privacy-conscious track record. Back in 2017, our very own Artem Russakovskii had his Home Mini record every word he said for days on end, resulting in Google permanently removing top touch functionality from all Home Minis. Even when hotword functionality is working as intended, we often assume that a user has to be within earshot to actually control one of these devices. It turns out that's not the case, thanks to a new hack that uses laser beams to remotely interact with smart speakers.
LG is getting set to roll out an update to its SmartThinQ app that could change the way people use its smart home appliances: it will incorporate Google Assistant to recognize vocal commands for its Wi-Fi enabled laundry machines, refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, air conditioners, and other devices.
After teasing a navigation-optimized Google Assistant for Maps at I/O 2018, Google is now rolling out the feature to Android users. The new version of Google Assistant in Maps is smaller, less distracting, and executes more commands in the background.
While Essential's first device has a cult following among those who prioritize quick Android updates, it became clear in May that it would never see a follow-up. A report from Bloomberg revealed that the company had canceled a second Essential Phone and put itself up for sale. However, over the past several months, the company has quietly chugged along, continuing to push out lightning-fast security patches. Now, a new report from Bloomberg states that the company is indeed working on a second device — but it's not at all like its first product. According to the publication's tipsters, the handset is an anti-smartphone with a small screen that relies primarily on voice commands.
Judging by the Google Assistant help forums, Twitter, and Reddit, a whole lot of people are having trouble getting their phones to respond to voice commands. Twelve of the 20 top posts are complaining about the problem on several different device models and even in several languages. Google says it's on the case, though.
YouTube's app for Android TV hasn't seen a lot of updates since it switched over to the web wrapper as an interface. However, each new version usually brings something of some importance. The latest release comes with a couple of notable enhancements, including performance improvements, automatic resume after switching apps, and voice commands via Google Assistant. For some people running Android Oreo, there may also be new "personalized channels" appearing in the homescreen.
Most voice assistants can make calls and send texts without the user having to touch his/her screen, but that wasn't true for Cortana on Android until now. The latest update adds this capability, and even though it's nothing groundbreaking, it's sure to make your life just a little bit more convenient if you use Cortana regularly.
Google sometimes stealthily deploys new features here and there in Assistant without telling us, but today's update is a big one with some fanfare. There are changes on the way to media playback, Assistant-enabled devices, and subscriptions. Some of these features are rolling out now, and others will be live in the near future. It's a colossal Assistant update overall.
Now that Google has added multi-user support, the ability to set reminders, and other key functionality to the Google Home, there's not much to complain about. One remaining issue was that you could only say one command at a time. If you wanted to turn off the lights and play something on your TV, you would have to say "turn off the lights," wait for the Home to respond, and then follow up with the casting command.
There are just a handful of video services that support voice controls on the Google Home, like Netflix and Google Photos. This allows you to start playback of content on a Chromecast, Android TV, or other Cast-enabled device using Google Assistant voice commands. I'm still waiting for Hulu to add support, but in the meantime, you can now use it with YouTube TV.
Today's Google event isn't just about new Google-branded products. The company announced today that Nest cameras would have deeper integration with the Google Home and Chromecast.
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- Although Bixby Voice had expanded to 200 countries, India wasn't on the list, but now it is. Samsung officially announced that Bixby Voice is now live in India, but as was previously the case, you'll still have to use US English.
Samsung's controversially received assistant, Bixby, has rolled out its voice command features in Korea and the US, but if you've been just dying to try out in other countries, you're now in luck. Samsung says that the voice commands are available in 200+ countries worldwide including the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa, and more.
Some of you exclusively use their Google Voice (GV) numbers, some have differentiated between friends and colleagues by giving their regular number and GV number separately to each set of contacts, and some might use the GV number occasionally for a few contacts only. Regardless of your case, sending texts from that GV number has been pretty hit-and-miss when it comes to Android Auto, Android Wear, and Assistant. But that should be fixed soon.
Yesterday was a busy day with the official announcement of Android Oreo and our sun playing a short game of peekaboo behind the moon. Yesterday also saw the release of a brand new version of the Google app to the beta channel. After a bit of digging, there aren't any notable changes jumping out at us, but a teardown of the APK provides a monstrous amount of information about a mystery device called Bisto. There's plenty here, so let's dig straight into the juicy bits!