Google Search Update Breaks Hands-Free Alarm, Timer Setup on Some Devices

Google, in an update to its Search app for Android last week, appears to have introduced a new bug that requires an additional step to set an alarm or timer with hands-free operation on some devices. The bug is reported to also remove hands-free support to set alarms or timers for some third-party apps, including Timely - which is now owned by Google.

Users of some Android devices are reporting that following the update to the Search app for Android that brought police activity cards last week, they now have to tap on an extra 'Set Alarm' or 'Set Timer' button to confirm the event after giving the voice command via Google Now.

Android Central reports that several handsets are not affected by the bug, such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. The report adds that Moto X handsets are also required to input the extra command before the hands-free alarm or timer command is confirmed via Google Now. Google's own Nexus 5 handset, as per our testing, seems to be affected, and makes users go through that one extra step for setting up alarms and timers.

Google has not yet acknowledged the Google Search issue, but we expect the company to make fixes with new update that brings back the ability to set alarms and timers via voice.

The Mountain View giant earlier in October rolled out a minor update to its Google Search app that let Android users see Indian train reservations. The update shows IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) reservations by tracking the user's Gmail account, as Google does for bill reminders, or hotels and flight bookings and more in the form of cards.

Google in October also announced the anticipated Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system along with the Nexus 9, Nexus 6 and the Nexus Player