LOCAL NEWS:

UVA Celebrates Completing Another Academic Year

KEYWORD 
Lifestyle News
A   A   A

Posted: Thursday, 09 August 2012 5:02AM

Google bolsters voice search app for iPhone



SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google Inc showed off enhancements to its voice-based search technology for Apple Inc's iPhone and said it was testing a new service that will combine its Web-based email with its search engine.

The new version of Google's search app for the iPhone and iPad, expected to be available within a few days, will let users find information about everything from the weather to nearby movie showings by speaking into the devices, matching some of the capabilities offered by Apple's own Siri technology.

Google's new app recites answers to search results in a human sounding voice, similar to Apple's Siri, which some analysts and technology observers believe could make iPhone users less reliant on Google's search service.

The news comes as the relationship between the two companies grows increasingly competitive. On Monday Apple said it would no longer offer Google's YouTube app as a pre-loaded app in future versions of its iPhone.

Google, which unveiled a version of the voice-based search app for its Android software earlier this year, showcased the version for Apple devices at a press event at its San Francisco offices on Wednesday.

The company also announced a test version of a new service that will integrate users' personal emails into searches on the Google website. The service, which Google said will initially be available to 1 million users, aims to make it easier for consumers to access information such as flight schedules or shipping orders.

A truly universal search will "have all the information that humanity has put on the Web and information that's your information," Amit Singhal, senior vice president of Google Search.

The initial "field trial" will work with Google's Gmail, but Singhal said the company was open to working with other email providers.

Story & Photos Copyright 2012 Reuters
Filed Under :  
Topics : Technology_Internet
Social :
Locations : San Francisco
People : Amit Singhal
More Lifestyle Headlines

National Weather Service gets big computing boost

Google+ struggles to attract brands

Lower DUI limit to 0.05% blood-alcohol level, NTSB says

ABC to start first streaming of live broadcast shows

Modern Etiquette: When a colleague is abusing alcohol

Colorado legislature votes to tax recreational marijuana

Video game maker drops gun makers, not their guns

Senate passes internet tax bill; fight expected in House

They're back: 17-year cicadas to swarm

Starving Jamestown settlers turned to cannibalism in 1609: study

FDA approves Plan B for girls as young as 15

Catholic church excommunicates Brazil priest for liberal views