Google has revamped its ‘Google Search’ app for the iPhone and iPad, giving the feature a voice search functionality that poses a challenge to Apple’s Siri.
The app, which is available for free download, opens with a “Try our new voice search” message that sits next to an icon of a microphone. Click on the icon and speak your question into your device.
The move marks a further attempt by Google to win over traffic from iPhone and iPad users, after Apple dropped YouTube and Google maps from its native apps in September.
The release comes in the same week that Apple ousted its senior vice president of iOS software Scott Forstall, who was in charge of Siri.
Siri has not been without controversy and some critics believe that it was overhyped.
In a blog post Google said of the new app for iPhones and iPads: “When you ask a question, finding the answer should be effortless.”
“The new Google search app for iPhone and iPad helps you to do just that with enhanced voice search that answer any question with the comprehensive Google search results you know.”
Users of the app need to tap on a microphone icon and ask a question to see weblinks and pictures that might answer it.
It also makes use of Google’s Knowledge Graph, which offers answers to a range of questions.
Google provided a list of examples, demonstrating how the service works:
• “What does Yankee Stadium look like?” Google will show you hundreds of pictures instantly.
• “Play me a trailer of the upcoming James Bond movie.” The trailer starts playing immediately right within Google Search.
• “When does daylight savings time end?” The answer will appear above the search results, so you can set your clock without having to click on a link.
• “Who’s in the cast of The Office?” See a complete cast list and find out who made you crack up last night.
Watch a promo video from Google here:
Read the official blog post here
