Google has released an update to the voice searching abilities of Android, where actions such text messaging, calling and navigating are now possible through the Voice Actions application and without entering any text.
Announced at a Google conference is the update to Voice Search, which is part and parcel of Android only now you are able to dictate text messages and control the mobile through voice commands.
With simple voice commands alone it’s possible to send text dictated messages, search and listen to music, browse the web and even get directions and maps. All this is through the regular Voice Search button, although Android ‘Froyo’ 2.2 is needed - which currently limits voice actions to only the HTC Desire and Google Nexus One handsets.
Google’s Voice Search commands at present are as follows, send text to [contact] [message], listen to [artist/song/album], call [business], call [contact], send email to [contact] [message], go to [website], note to self [note], navigate to [location/business name], directions to [location/business name] and map of [location].
At the same event, Google also unveiled an extension to their desktop Chrome web browser that allows bookmarks to be shared between the browser and Google Android mobile phones.
The list of voice actions isn’t particularly vast at this stage, but it’s a good start and we expect there will be improvements along the way with different languages brought in other than English.
Click on the video below for a walkthrough of the new voice app, along with how to use it.
High Tech Computer Corporation’s Nexus One handset that’s made for the Internet search engine giant will still be purchasable from Google, only it’s now their new staple reference phone for developing and testing applications upon.
Nexus One will not be entirely scrapped by Google as previously thought, instead it will be sold only as a development mobile phone running Froyo with the purchase price of $529 (£333) through the Android development website to coders.
Previous development phones have been the HTC Dream or T-Mobile G1, as the Android Dev Phone 1, which was then replaced by the HTC Magic that was then known as Android Dev Phone 2.
News of this announcement came in the form of a posting to the Android development blog, with details of exactly how to obtain the unlocked Nexus One as a developer - which will be a welcomed addition to a coders arsenal, seeing as the Magic won’t support new versions of the OS.
Google has sold out of their own branded Nexus One Android handsets, where the webstore selling the mobile phone has also closed up shop.
Earlier this week we brought you news that Google will no longer be retailing its own SIM free and unlocked mobile phone, after the current shipment arriving this week runs out - well, now that has happened.
The HTC handset made for the Internet search engine giant is no more, with no more being ordered or requested by Google.
Vodafone in the UK is still selling the handset on a contract, but when those supplies run out they will be in the same proverbial boat as Google’s own webstore and will close up shop on retailing the phone too.
Google has made it clear they will continue to support the Nexus One, along with its partner mobile phone companies that have sold the handset but for how long, and through how many generations of Android is unclear.
Either way the first ever Google branded handset was seen as a success by the company, where its own CEO called it just that and they were pleased with the way things have gone.
Perhaps there will be another Google phone on the horizon, although we will have to waiting until Las Vegas’ CES in January or Barcelona’s Mobile World congress 2011 to find out.
Vodafone in the UK has confirmed in an email they will soon be rolling out the update to Android for their Nexus Ones, according to the technology website Android Central.
The update that brings in the ability to natively view flash video content on the Nexus One, which has been with the USA Google handset owners for some time could be arriving in the UK anytime now.
However, it appears some of the States side version of Froyo on the HTC phone made for Google won’t be available. Stripped from the UK roll out of Android 2.2 is access to the Amazon MP3 store, along with Google Goggles that allows users to take pictures with their phone and then search the web with those images.
The letter goes on to mention updating over WIFI would be the best way forward, even though customers will be notified over the air (OTA) of its arrival. Seeing as the download could be on the large size, this is preferable as the data plan sold with the Nexus One will certainly be eaten away if downloaded any other way.
No mentioned of whether WIFI or USB tethering have been taken out, but we suspect they will be in tact along with the Flash video ability which effectively brings the handset on par with the HTC Desire.
Google has announced the HTC handset made specifically for the Internet search giant which runs their own OS will no longer be available, after the current shipment arriving this week runs out. The Google website that sells the mobile phone will close up shop when this final stock clears, with no more mobile phones arriving and no more being requested.
Google has stated recently the Nexus One venture for them was a success, where they will continue to support the handset. They will also continue to sell the current stock of these handsets elsewhere in the world too, with their partners such as Vodafone in the UK.
The Android based handset was the first to be updated to Froyo, or version 2.2 of the Google mobile platform and is still a much sort after handset where it’s popular by developers who will still be able to source the handset only through different means.
If you still wish to buy the handset time is distinctly running out, as there won’t be any more manufactured soon although the HTC Desire is still a good alternative and it is more or less the same handset.
Google has produced an application creator called ‘App Inventor’ that simply allows for the easy creation of Android mobile phone apps, all without the need for any previous experience of developing mobile phone software or for that matter, any knowledge at all of application creation.
This GUI driven tool for Android software has been set up for anyone to use, all without any prior expertise in writing software for phones as the almost drag-and-drop approach to mobile app creation is straightforward.
Anyone developing a Google mobile OS app simply starts out with what the application needs to look like, then bolts-in what the app actually does from simple drop-down menus and App Inventor does all the rest without any coding needing to take place.
This appropriately entitled App Inventor has an extensive library of nearly everything an Android phone can do, with elements that even use GPS, Twitter and also text-to-speech.
Behind Google App Inventor is the open blocks java library for creating visual blocks programming languages, where the compiler translates the visual blocks language for implementation on Android by using the Kawa Language Framework.
With better functionality than mobile apps and widgets
Google’s YouTube has launched a revamped version of its mobile website, geared up to take advantage of mobile phones today by offering abilities that closely match the desktop browser’s viewed version.
YouTube mobile was launched on mobile devices in 2007, with only 1,000 videos available on that ‘lite’ version of the main site. Now, m.youtube.com receives more than 100 million video playbacks a day, which was the number of daily video views that YouTube.com was streaming back in 2006 when they joined Google.
YouTube has now rolled out an updated version of the mobile site, which is faster than before whilst offering a better user interface that incorporates larger, more touch-friendly elements that make it easier to use from a mobile phone’s screen.
Features such as creating playlists and the ability to assign “favourites”, “like” or “unlike” to videos have only featured on the main website but from today they’re available on the mobile version too.
This now offers better functionality that the applications for phones in their respective market places, with these features being frequently updated as the main website is updated too where the apps themselves aren’t refreshed as often.
See the video below for a demo of the new version.
HTC has begun to roll out updates to their handsets running the Google OS, these are on the HTC Hero and the HTC phone made for Google – the Nexus One. These firmware updates bring the mobile phones up to Android 2.1 and also ‘Froyo’, or version 2.2 on the Nexus.
The HTC Hero initially shipped with version 1.5 of Android, where the Over The Air update will bring the current version of 2.1 to the device. However, the update only appears to be for unlocked or SIM free handsets at present, with the individual mobile phone networks rolling out the new Android version over the next few weeks.
HTC’s mobile phone made for the Internet search engine giant Google will be the first mobile to be updated to the very latest 2.2 ‘Froyo’ version of Android. The Google Nexus One will also receive an Over The Air update message, although running the update over WIFI would be preferable due to the firmware’s size just as it would be with the Hero.
Other HTC handsets such as the Legend, Desire and Wildfire are due to receive the 2.2 update at the start of July we’ve been informed, with the HTC Sense overlay to Android being credited for the slight delay as it’s heavily wrapped around Android.
Google Voice is their voice over IP service which has just moved out of ‘invite only’ and is now widely available in the USA. This service offers a one-phone-number-for-all feature, cheaper calls from a computer or mobile phones, along with other services such as internet based voicemail.
Google Voice is their one number for all solution, where a single phone number is provided instead of one for the home, work and also mobile. People can then ring this number where all the phone numbers linked to that account can ring at once, saving the dialler the need to call each one separately until someone answers. This feature can be tailored down to certain phone numbers, the time of day and a whole host of other criteria too.
The key feature is the way Google Voice is integrated with email and the Internet. Voicemails can be left on a unique number, which is linked to a Gmail account and is delivered via an email where even a transcription of the message accompanies the audio file.
This and other features of Google Voice came from a company the Internet search engine giant acquired in 2007, called GrandCentral. This company offered the same single number as well as central voicemail inbox, which can be accessed and heard over the web – only Google has expanded the service even more.
Applications for using Google Voice are already available for Android and Blackberry mobiles, where other phone operating systems have access to the mobile Google Voice website. This service is currently only available in America, but Google is looking to bring its features to other countries where the UK is bound to be on their radar.
Latest HTC and Samsung phones are now available on the network
Vodafone has announced a trio of new Google OS driven devices for their network, with prices attached for the first time as they go on sale today. The new handsets are from HTC and Samsung, along with a Vodafone branded Huawei mobile phone.
Samsung’s latest flagship model the Galaxy S 16GB, with their TouchWiz 3.0 overlay, is exclusive to Vodafone and is on sale from today. This handset will be free at £35 per month, on a 24 month contract which includes 900 minutes, unlimited texts and 1GB of mobile data. There is also a time limited inclusion of a free Vodafone McLaren Mercedes rucksack with every Samsung Galaxy S.
HTC’s budget Wildfire mobile phone also appears from today on the network, which arrives gratis on £20 per month, over a 24 month period which includes 300 minutes, unlimited texts and 500MB of mobile data. This model is effectively the replacement of the HTC Tattoo phone and now sits below their main HTC Desire handset, whilst offering a less quality 3.2-inch TFT LCD screen as compared to the 3.7-inch AMOLED display of the Desire.
The last model arriving on the network today is the Vodafone 845 handset, which is exclusive to the network operator and is a rebranded Huawei device. This handset is free on a £15 per month contract, over the 24 month duration which includes 100 minutes, 500 texts and 500MB of mobile data.
Control your mobile through voice alone 
HTC handset will still be on sale after all
