Voice Actions: a system of voice commands for Android

The U.S. firm has made a discreet yesterday press conference to announce two new features for mobile Android under Froyo Voice Shares and Chrome To Phone.

Google has never ceased to astonish with its speech recognition tool. The firm has unveiled a new version of its voice search widget, which can now trigger certain actions in the voice.

Although the technique is not new: many phones have tools to control the like, beginning with the iPhone, which since the 3G version accepts some rudimentary vocal controls.

But Voice Shares goes much further: it not only to call a contact or to launch a piece of music of your choice, but also send an e-mail, SMS, navigate to the desired location ... without having to touch the keyboard, since the module takes care of everything! To send an e-mail, simply indicate the action "send e-mail, contact name and message - all in the same speech - and the message will be automatically dialed.

In all, a dozen commands are available in Voice Shares, software unfortunately reserved for owners of mobile sub Froyo (Android 2.2). Another concern: these functions are currently available in English. Download this new version of the module is not useless Francophones, since it adds some useful features to the voice search, including a suggestion of responses when the system is not sure what you said.

The return of Chrome To Phone

Another advertisement, a software update already provided in recent months: Chrome to Phone. Once installed, both on the phone and in Chrome - through an extension - Chrome To Phone service takes advantage of push messages from Android 2.2, and allows the user to send on his phone link to Web page that is currently available on his computer. The smartphone will immediately launch the browser and load the page.

Chrome To Phone also works with Youtube videos and Google Maps, and automatically opens the application corresponding to the uploaded content. New in this version: the ability to route a telephone number on the mobile after selecting it on a webpage.