Google Search app for Android update enables 'Ok Google' voice command from any screen

Just in case you haven’t had your fill of Google news for the day, we’ve got one more tidbit that you may want to be aware of.

An update to the Google Search app for Android is now rolling out that brings the app up to version 3.5.14. The big new feature in this update is the ability to use the “Ok Google” phrase to initiate a voice search from anywhere on the device. Previously you had to be on your home screen, but now you can launch a search from any app and even from the lock screen.

To enable this new “Ok Google”-anywhere feature, you can launch Google Now and head into Menu > Settings > Voice > “Ok Google” Detection. You can choose if you’d like “Ok Google” to work from the Google Search app, from any screen and from the secure lock screen.

Today’s Google Search update also introduces Audio History. This feature allows the app to analyze your past voice searches to make your future searches more accurate.

Overall this looks like a pretty spiffy little update for Google Search. The ability to use “Ok Google” from anywhere on your device obviously makes using that hotword much easier since you no longer need to be on the home screen to activate it. Meanwhile, the Audio History can make your future voice searches more accurate, which is always a good thing.

The Google Search app for Android can be snagged from Play Store right here.

Via Droid-Life, Play Store: Google Search

Disqus Comments