Google Search App Brings Siri-Competitor to iPhone

MacRumors · Oct 30, 2012, 05:07 PM

Google has given its iOS app a new search feature that squares it directly at Apple's Siri. Google even calls it the "most advanced voice search" on iOS. Google gives a number of examples of how the service can be used.

Quote:

- "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.

The service feels notably faster than Siri, recognizing words as they are spoken rather than all at once in the end. It even works on devices that aren't supported by Siri. One commenter on Hacker News confirms that the voice search works on his iPhone 4.

Google Search for iOS is available free on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Google Search App Brings Siri-Competitor to iPhone

timshundo · Oct 30, 2012, 05:11 PM

As a heavy Siri user, I've been using Google's voice search all day and I'm pretty impressed. I've always defended Siri but this blows it out of the water for simpler requests (not maps/reminder/alarm/etc related).

blinkin182 · Oct 31, 2012, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timshundo

As a heavy Siri user, I've been using Google's voice search all day and I'm pretty impressed. I've always defended Siri but this blows it out of the water for simpler requests (not maps/reminder/alarm/etc related).

Agreed and I must say, we're getting the better deal: the best of both worlds

sneaky butcher · Oct 31, 2012, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinkin182

Agreed and I must say, we're getting the better deal: the best of both worlds

android has everything baked in. "Google now" is faster , more features and better speech recongnition than siri. But this app gives ios users an insight into the power google has behind it.

mrbyu · Oct 31, 2012, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sneaky butcher

android has everything baked in. "Google now" is faster , more features and better speech recongnition than siri. But this app gives ios users an insight into the power google has behind it.

It's really impressive that while Siri advertisements show a fake realtime usage (it's nowhere as fast as in these scenes), this Google Search is in fact as blazing fast as in the ad...

flameproof · Oct 31, 2012, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timshundo

As a heavy Siri user, I've been using Google's voice search all day and I'm pretty impressed. I've always defended Siri but this blows it out of the water for simpler requests (not maps/reminder/alarm/etc related).

I think the strong point of Siri IMHO is that you can CAN set alarms and have other non browser functions.

I wonder, can Siri switch Wifi and Data on/off? That really sux on iOS

Survivor61 · Oct 31, 2012, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timshundo

As a heavy Siri user, I've been using Google's voice search all day and I'm pretty impressed. I've always defended Siri but this blows it out of the water for simpler requests (not maps/reminder/alarm/etc related).

Agreed. Its very fast to!

baslotto · Oct 31, 2012, 12:42 PM

It speaks faster too! LOL
Anyways I think it's only a search tool. I primarily use Siri to do stuff with the phone, like opening apps, setting alarms and touch less texting. For conversions Google is faster and for online searches Google is also faster. Cool to have both.

ajamali · Oct 31, 2012, 12:47 PM

Question: "What is your name?"
Google Search App: "A rose by any other name would smell sweet"

Haha!

RVdave · 05:31 PM

On my 3GS I asked Google 4 questions (weather, a Celsius conversion, how to spell Fahrenheit, and FedEx rates). Google nailed all 4. Siri, on my iPad, got the first, had to think about the second and finally gave me a list to choose from, had to think about it and finally provided Daniel Fahrenheit's biography for #3, and offered to search the web for #4. Sorry Apple, game, set, match for Google.

kjs862 · Nov 3, 2012, 06:17 PM

First time I'm seriously considering jumping ships from Apple onto Google.

I'll wait till the next iteration of iOS to see.

RVdave · Nov 4, 2012, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjs862

First time I'm seriously considering jumping ships from Apple onto Google.

I'll wait till the next iteration of iOS to see.

Yep, recent events are definitely testing the loyalty we want to continue having to Apple.

clukas · Oct 30, 2012, 05:11 PM

This will make many iOS users happy who don't have SIRI on their iPhone such as myself!

NOV · Oct 30, 2012, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clukas

This will make many iOS users happy who don't have SIRI on their iPhone such as myself!

Which is a bloody shame BTW...

Sixtafoua · Oct 30, 2012, 05:17 PM

probably not the best time of year to schedule a beach trip to cape cod...

clukas · Oct 30, 2012, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NOV

Which is a bloody shame BTW...

why because I didn't have to pay £529 for a feature I would not even use.

chas0001 · Oct 30, 2012, 06:36 PM

I am really impressed. The voice recognition is good and the results are instant.

Nahaz · Oct 30, 2012, 06:44 PM

Just downloaded the app and it appears to have no sound for me on my iPhone 4
Is this normal, or have I missed a setting?

Also, I've noticed it's probably accurate for people living in America and maybe Canada but when I ask for an auto mechanic (Australia) it gives me a listing for mechanics that are 250km away, unlike Siri.

gertruded · Oct 30, 2012, 07:00 PM

Works on my iphone 4. Siri does not. Enough said.

Not enough said, as Siri would work on my iphone 4 but for an Apple marketing decision.

zemaker · Oct 30, 2012, 06:37 PM

A lot faster than Siri, and the voice sounds a million times more natural.

KieranDotW · Oct 30, 2012, 05:11 PM

So almost Google Now? So basically, whenever a fandroid says iOS and Siri are inferior and Google Now is so much better, you can remind them that we iOS users now have the best of both worlds.

belbri · Oct 30, 2012, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KieranDotW

So almost Google Now? So basically, whenever a fandroid says iOS and Siri are inferior and Google Now is so much better, you can remind them that we iOS users now have the best of both worlds.

Well Said.

hot spare · Oct 31, 2012, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KieranDotW

So almost Google Now? So basically, whenever a fandroid says iOS and Siri are inferior and Google Now is so much better, you can remind them that we iOS users now have the best of both worlds.

I think you are clearly unaware of Google Now. This is (voice-enabled) Google search, Google Now is something totally different.

Google Now isn't possible in iOS as Google can never have access to iOS services like it can have it on Android. It's not just a simple app.

fodawim · Oct 30, 2012, 05:12 PM

Love the Easter eggs "sing me a song" results in you having a number of songs being sing to you (I count 5 at least).

Quote:

Originally Posted by KieranDotW

So almost Google Now? So basically, whenever a fandroid says iOS and Siri are inferior and Google Now is so much better, you can remind them that we iOS users now have the best of both worlds.

Google now is the card system, this is simply voice search, google now is what gives you the card based suggestions.

chuckd83 · Oct 30, 2012, 05:13 PM

"Is Google Search better than Siri?"

Oct 30, 2012, 05:11 PM	#2
timshundo macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA	As a heavy Siri user, I've been using Google's voice search all day and I'm pretty impressed. I've always defended Siri but this blows it out of the water for simpler requests (not maps/reminder/alarm/etc related).
	43

Oct 31, 2012, 12:47 PM	#9
ajamali macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: In Yo Face	Question: "What is your name?" Google Search App: "A rose by any other name would smell sweet" Haha! __________________ iPhone 5 2012 MBA
	0

Oct 31, 2012, 05:19 PM	#10
RVdave macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2012	On my 3GS I asked Google 4 questions (weather, a Celsius conversion, how to spell Fahrenheit, and FedEx rates). Google nailed all 4. Siri, on my iPad, got the first, had to think about the second and finally gave me a list to choose from, had to think about it and finally provided Daniel Fahrenheit's biography for #3, and offered to search the web for #4. Sorry Apple, game, set, match for Google. Last edited by RVdave; Oct 31, 2012 at 05:31 PM.
	0

Oct 30, 2012, 05:11 PM	#13
clukas macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2010	This will make many iOS users happy who don't have SIRI on their iPhone such as myself! __________________  iMac 27 (Late 2012)  13" 2010 MacBook Pro (Mid 2010)  iPod Touch 3nd Gen 8 GB  iPhone 4  iPad 4
	40

Oct 30, 2012, 05:17 PM	#15
Sixtafoua macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Boston, MA	probably not the best time of year to schedule a beach trip to cape cod... __________________ My App
	11

Oct 31, 2012, 12:42 PM	#8
baslotto macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2007	It speaks faster too! LOL Anyways I think it's only a search tool. I primarily use Siri to do stuff with the phone, like opening apps, setting alarms and touch less texting. For conversions Google is faster and for online searches Google is also faster. Cool to have both.
	0

Nov 3, 2012, 06:17 PM	#11
kjs862 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2004	First time I'm seriously considering jumping ships from Apple onto Google. I'll wait till the next iteration of iOS to see.
	1

Oct 30, 2012, 06:36 PM	#17
chas0001 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Alicante, SPAIN	I am really impressed. The voice recognition is good and the results are instant.
	0

Oct 30, 2012, 06:44 PM	#18
Nahaz macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Australia	Just downloaded the app and it appears to have no sound for me on my iPhone 4 Is this normal, or have I missed a setting? Also, I've noticed it's probably accurate for people living in America and maybe Canada but when I ask for an auto mechanic (Australia) it gives me a listing for mechanics that are 250km away, unlike Siri.
	0

Oct 30, 2012, 07:00 PM	#19
gertruded macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Northwestern Illinois	Works on my iphone 4. Siri does not. Enough said. Not enough said, as Siri would work on my iphone 4 but for an Apple marketing decision.
	6

Oct 30, 2012, 06:37 PM	#20
zemaker macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2011	A lot faster than Siri, and the voice sounds a million times more natural.
	3

Oct 30, 2012, 05:11 PM	#21
KieranDotW macrumors regular Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Canada	So almost Google Now? So basically, whenever a fandroid says iOS and Siri are inferior and Google Now is so much better, you can remind them that we iOS users now have the best of both worlds.
	5

Oct 30, 2012, 05:13 PM	#25
chuckd83 macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2010	"Is Google Search better than Siri?"
	4

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