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SoundHound adds voice search to its music discovery app
Last June, SoundHound revealed its plan to provide answers to more than just your music queries. It did just that with a universal search app called Hound, software with a feature that aimed to take on the likes of Siri and Google: voice commands. However, that handy tool didn't hadn't made the leap to the company's flagship app, but that changes today. The SoundHound software that finds music answers will now let you ask those questions with your voice.
Google makes its most powerful language parser open source
The days of us communicating with our computers by using our fingers are nearing an end. Google announced on Thursday that it is releasing its language parsing neural network framework, SyntaxNet, as an open source system. The released code includes everything you need to train it using your own data set, though Google is also releasing a version already fluent in English: Parsey McParseface.
Google's Voice Access goes live in beta form
Google quietly rolled out the beta version of its hands-free Voice Access service, allowing some lucky users to control their phones via speech alone. With Voice Access, users can say things like "go home," "scroll down" or "open Chrome" to navigate their pocket computers. Voice Access also allows users to say numbers instead of naming apps, avoiding potential confusion over pronunciation. Applications to test out Voice Access are closed for now, but the beta suggests there will be a public rollout in the near future.
Android Wear update adds new gestures and voice-to-text
Since Android Wear's debut, Google has regularly added new features for the wearable software. Today, those gadgets are getting three more tools -- the stuff we first heard about back in November. First, Android Wear is adding new gestures for navigation through what's on your smartwatch. You can push, lift or shake your wrist to peruse cards, pull up a list of apps or return to the home screen. If you're not exactly sure how the movements work, you can get a tutorial on your Android Wear device from the Settings menu.
Skype for Android lets you schedule calls, open Office files
Skype is constantly getting new tools to make call-related tasks easier, and today the Android version received two more. First, there's now an option for scheduling calls in the mobile app. Select the contact you want to schedule a call with and select the appropriate item from the drop-down menu. This will allow you to block off time in Outlook or your calendar app of choice.
Is Spotify about to get a lot more social?
With over 20 million subscribers and more than 75 million users, Spotify has helped redefine how people access and listen to music. Its streaming apps are functional, but in a world where lots of people are WhatsApping, Snapchatting and Tweeting, Spotify's own social presence is a little lacking. The company appears ready to do something about that, though, as it's just announced that it's bought two new companies, Cord Project and Soundwave, which both happen to have a focus on messaging and sharing.
Skype makes it easy to start work calls in Slack
If you think the one thing Slack is missing is the ability to start voice/video calls, you're in luck. Skype released a preview version of its Slack integration, allowing you begin calls inside the workplace chat room app. Once you add Skype's new feature to Slack, typing /skype in a chat window will offer a join link for your colleagues to call in.
Snowden's favorite secure chat services unite in one Android app
Want to keep your text and voice chats truly private, the way NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden does? You'll want to try Open Whisper Systems' Signal for Android, then. The newly launched, Snowden-approved app merges OWS' existing RedPhone and TextSecure products into a single client -- you can communicate over an end-to-end encrypted connection without having to switch apps as you switch formats. The code is open source, too, so you can verify that there aren't any government back doors. It's really just an amalgam of features you've seen before, but it could make a big difference if you're determined to keep your conversations away from prying eyes.
Skype video and voice chats come to Office and Outlook on the web
You can already have Skype text chats while you're collaborating on Office Online docs or checking mail at Outlook.com. But wouldn't you rather talk to your colleagues and keep your hands free for, you know, work? You're about to get just that: Microsoft says it will bring Skype's video and voice chats to everyone using Office Online and Outlook.com, starting in November. On top of this, it's trotting out a Chrome extension that lets you quickly work with Office and Sway content in the browser, whether it's stored on your PC or in the cloud. All told, you don't have to worry quite so much about leaving Office's native apps behind.
Blizzard rolls out Battle.net voice chat starting with 'Overwatch'
Blizzard has been in the online gaming business for decades with massively popular games like StarCraft and World of Warcraft, but it's never implemented a native voice-chat system in its Battle.net client. Now, it appears that's about to change. Blizzard is testing out voice chat in the beta for its new team-based shooter, Overwatch, and it sounds like the studio has plans to eventually launch voice chat for all of its games. In the Overwatch beta FAQ, Blizzard calls the system "Battle.net voice chat," rather than something Overwatch-specific. Plus, it notes, "With voice chat still in its early development and testing stages, it's too early to say which Blizzard games will be supported and when." Prepare your vocal cords, players: The Overwatch closed beta begins on October 27th.
Apple acquires speech technology and virtual assistant startup VocalIQ
Cupertino is set on improving its voice technology and virtual assistant, and is reportedly doing so by acquiring a UK-based startup that specializes in just that. Financial Times reports that Apple acquired VocalIQ, a company that builds virtual assistants using machine learning tech. One can easily surmise that Tim Cook & Co. were interested in VocalIQ's smarts to further boost Siri, but Apple may also be interested in help with either of its automotive efforts. GM was reportedly working on a system with VocalIQ that would learn a driver's intentions and vocabulary over time, taking cues that are more intuitive. With Apple having both CarPlay and Project Titan on the table, the company's plans could be focused solely on the driver's seat. That being said, we'll have to wait and see how the matters progress, but hopefully we won't have to wait until 2019 to get the details. We've reached out to Apple for confirmation of the acquisition and will update this post when we hear back. [Image credit: AP Photo/Paul Sancya]
Tesco's self-service checkouts are getting a lot less irritating
You don't step up to a self-service supermarket checkout unless you're ready to gamble. Either you hit the jackpot and escape in record time, or you end up wildly hailing the nearest assistant while the infernal machine's repetitive accusations slowly chip away at your sanity. While Tesco can't make its automated checkouts any better at weighing up your loose veg, it can train them to be less annoying. So, for the first time since Tesco introduced self-service checkouts over a decade ago, it's changing their voice alerts, which the supermarket admits "has become a source of frustration for customers." Most importantly, you'll never have to listen to chants of "unexpected item in bagging area" ever again, as well as six other "unhelpful phrases" like "please take your items."
This Netherlands bank lets you use your voice as your password
Online banking is usually an exercise in remembering complicated pin numbers or passwords -- but what if there was an easier way? In the Netherlands, there is: banking customers who use the ING Netherlands app can now long into their bank account, check balances and make transfers using just their voice.
Google Voice transcriptions will soon actually make sense
One of the most prevalent qualms users have of Google Voice is its occasionally accurate (but usually absurd) interpretations of what's being said. However, with the upcoming public debut of the Project Fi cellular service, Google has reportedly greatly improved its transcription service. According to a post on the company's blog, Google's managed to reduce its transcription error rates by nearly 50 percent by leveraging a "long short-term memory deep recurrent neural network." Users don't even have to change their routine to take advantage of the new system, just keep using Voice and Fi as they always have. [Image Credit: shutterstock]
Google voice search knows where you are and responds appropriately
One of the biggest problems with voice search is that, for consistent results, you have to use specific words and phrasing. The process often feels unnatural, and you spend most of your time trying to second-guess the sort of sentence Google will interpret properly. Well, Google is making it a little easier now with location aware queries. It means that your Android or iOS device will take your current position into consideration and pair your questions to nearby points of interest. So If you ask "how big is this lake" or "what's the name of this park," Google should know what you're referring to and provide the relevant information. The feature was shown off at the Search Marketing Expo in Paris and appears to be live right now for some iOS and Android users. If nothing else, it should keep you amused until Google releases Android M and its ambitious Now on Tap service.
SoundHound takes on Siri and Google with new voice search app
While SoundHound hasn't seen the tune-searching success as Shazam, the company behind it is taking a similar stance as the competition. Like Shazam's recent addition of product queries, SoundHound is looking to tackle more than songs too, and it'll do so with a new app called Hound. It's more like Siri or Google Now (taking some design cues from the latter), handling searches for weather, directions, hotels, stocks and much more. And yes, the know-how from SoundHound is baked in as well, so you won't have to wield two apps just in case you need to identify a track by humming.
Google reveals Now on Tap, its canny new Android M concierge
Google's trying to make Now even more subservient to your needs with its next version for Android M called Now on Tap. The new digital assistant listens in on your activities and gives you supplemental info like store hours or movie reviews right inside an app or web page. For instance, if a friend texts you with a dinner invite at a new restaurant, you can ask Now on Tap for reviews, hours and other info mid-conversation. It'll also create reminders on the fly about previous email or text discussions and incorporate detailed Knowledge Graph information.
'OK Google, Shazam this song'
Siri started handling song queries when iOS 8 arrived, and now Google's voice commands recognize Shazam as a prompt to do the same on Android. That's right, Android devices now recognize the "Shazam" command, in addition to "recognize" or "name" for "track," "song" or "tune" identification. It's not the only one either, as a few other apps like NPR One, TuneIn, Zillow, Flixster and TripAdvisor (a complete list is here) are also enjoying early access to the Custom Voice Actions feature. Previously you could search apps that way, but with this access developers can get more specific. It seems like the perfect kind of feature to use along with something like Android Auto, just when your phone is slightly out of reach.
Xbox One is finally getting voice messages
Among the many improvements of moving to a new console generation, the Xbox One left a few features from the Xbox 360 behind. Now, Microsoft is testing a preview for its April update that brings back one of the most requested features: voice messages. As annoying as voicemail can be on a phone, simply saying a quick message while trying to coordinate a raid in Destiny can often be faster than typing it with a controller or even the SmartGlass app. One more bonus? The voice messages will work across Xbox One and Xbox 360. The software update with the feature is already available to preview members, check after the break for more details and a demo video.
Android Lollipop lets you tweak some settings using voice commands
"OK, Google. Turn on WiFi" is something you might want to start practicing out loud if you're among the small percentage of Android users who already have Lollipop on their devices. Android Police has discovered that Google Now on the latest Android release can tweak some of your settings for you with just a voice command. Specifically, it can switch the device's Bluetooth, flashlight and WiFi on or off, whereas it could only bring up the Settings page in the past, leaving you to toggle things yourself. The feature can be really useful at times, especially if your device doesn't come with a built-in flashlight controller or if you need to use your phone while on the road. It seems to be limited to those three for now, and only for Lollipop devices, so you'll still have to work those thumbs to adjust any other setting.