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Google Mobile App for iPhone Voice Search first look

After some minor delay drama, Google/Apple last night went live with the Google Mobile App for iPhone.  I've noticed the initial reactions have been overwhelmingly positive.  Don't get me wrong, this is a really cool technology, but I don't see myself using this often enough (yet) to make it a truly revolutionary application.

First of all, the speech recognition is mildly accurate but not dead on.  I notice that I have to speak slowly and in a quiet setting to get consistent results.  I am rarely in this type of environment when this would be useful.  It also displays results in a very tiny Google desktop formatted webpage.  It'd be better to see those results in a results window formatted for iPhone.

Also, strangely, the location was a few Zip codes off.  This is weird because the iPhone GPS is usually acurate to within block of where I live in downtown Manhattan.  Why am I getting results from the Bronx?


Additionally, the upload of my voice commands isn't zip-a-dee-do-da fast like the video shows.  This might be that fault of AT&T or new users might be overwhelming Google's system trying it out initially.  I find that often, the entire process is slower than just typing in a Google search.  This is obviously a big issue in my mind when I am thinking I want to get results as fast as possible.

Also, it isn't hands free - or as much as I'd like it to be.  You have to invoke the Google Mobile App for it to become responsive.  That means you have to look down at your iPhone, find the app and open it.  This takes a few seconds and isn't the kind of thing you should be doing while driving, for instance.  It'd be cool if you could invoke it with a button click.  I guess I can set up a triple home button tap for it.

Overall, yes, this is an amazing app, but there are a bunch of improvements to be made before it will be revolutionary. 

Oh, and it doesn't recognize baby talk.  WTH Google, get with the program already!

What People Are Saying

There are always idots like

There are always idots like this writer that nothing will please them. They always have negative things to say about anything.

Seth is an idiot. This is a great app. Stop it.

If seth is an idiot why are

If seth is an idiot why are you reading his blog?? (hope you didnt call him an idiot after reading just one article)
read his profile on computerworld - cant be an idiot in that position =)

"This is an amazing app" Ya,

"This is an amazing app"

Ya, he's soooo negative about it. I'm sure you can admit the app isn't perfect... nothing is. If there was no negativity, nothing would get better.

You are an idiot. He said this was a great app. Stop it.

Google App

The technology may be amazing but the app doesn't sound useful for me. As pointed out in the blog, you need to look down at your iPhone and open the app before using the voice activator. In that case I don't see much benefit in it because it's not hands free which is the point of voice activation technology. I'm sure the download is twice as slow too. Again, amazing technology but as for me, I'm not in a hurry to download it.