Google
on Wednesday has reportedly started rolling out its "Ok Google" hotword
detection feature to any Android UI screen, via an update to the Google
Search app. It means just like the
Motorola Moto X (
Review
|
Pictures), all the
Android 4.1
or higher devices will now be updated to detect the 'Ok Google' voice
command from the any screen, including the lock screen.
The Google
Search app was updated on Wednesday, but the feature seems to be
rolling-out gradually to individual accounts, according to a report
by Android Police, which lists the signed apk for the app. The site
notes that even if the apk is installed, the feature will only be
activated by Google on an individual basis.
The 'Ok Google'
hotword feature was also rolled
out to Chrome browser last year.
Users can go to Google
Now>Settings>Voice >Ok Google hotword detection, and check if
the feature is rolled out to them or not. The menu will include
detection 'From any screen' option, along with the existing 'From Google
search app' (see above). Users will be able to further select if they
want to use it 'From lock screen' or not. Also in order to register your
voice for the first time, the user will need to say 'Ok Google' three
times and it will set up the hotword detection.
Notably, the
updated app on
Google Play
does not include the feature in its 'What's New' list. Along with the
app being faster now, it lists the
parking
location card (in beta) feature that lets remembers where you have parked
your car; the
offline
Google Now card feature which saves the cards to use in absence of
internet connection;
shop
the recently searched products feature which tells you when the item is
sold nearby, and store directory at a mall feature that gives the
stores list of a mall if available.
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