How to bring Google Vocalisation Search to your desktop browser

Don't look at present, but Google Vocalisation Search just got a lot more than powerful.

Google Voice Search

Google appear an upgrade to its Vocalization Search tool today that puts a host of new commands at your disposal -- commands that let you verbally ask about your flight status, packet delivery status, upcoming hotel or restaurant reservations, or upcoming appointments. You lot can even instruct Voice Search to pull up a drove of specific photos from your Google+ photo drove, like images from a trip to Hawaii or photos you've taken of cats.

Pretty impressive, correct? And here's the coolest part: You don't have to practise any excavation; Google will automatically detect the info for yous so long as it'south somewhere in your Gmail, Google Calendar, or Google+ storage. It's yet another footstep in that whole "unified Google" connective tissue matter nosotros've been hearing near for and so long.

For Android phones and tablets, these new commands add to a list of growing possibilities within the device-level Google Voice Search utility. Only beyond that, it's now possible -- and easier than ever -- to tap into avant-garde vocalisation control from your desktop computer every bit well.

Google Voice Search Desktop

Google's actually had a microphone icon in the search box of its google.com home page for a while at present. That's all well and skillful, merely navigating to google.com and clicking a command isn't exactly a convenient way to get stuff done.

Here's a better way: Install NowVoiceSearch, a free extension for the Chrome desktop browser. It'll place a little reddish microphone icon correct in your browser'south toolbar; clicking that icon will launch you straight into Google Voice Search so yous can simply start talking and wait for Google to requite you the info y'all need.

If y'all really want to go all out, set a custom keyboard shortcut so you lot can access Voice Search with a single keystroke from anywhere in your browser. Just head into the Chrome Extensions folio (click the Chrome Menu button and get to Tools and then Extensions, or type chrome://extensions into your browser'south address bar) and click the "Keyboard shortcuts" option at the very lesser of the folio.

Await for NowVoiceSearch in the list that appears and click the box alongside it, then type in whatsoever key combination y'all desire to apply every bit the shortcut -- Alt-G, Alt-ane, or whatever tickles your fancy. Click the "OK" box at the bottom of the list, and -- voilà!-- you lot now have a 1-step hotkey to pull upward Voice Search on need.

In addition to today's newly appear Phonation Search commands, past the manner, most of the standard stuff you've come to know and love on Android -- request about the weather, sports scores, time zone or measurement conversions, or general search info (queries similar "how tall is Scarlett Johansson," "how former is John Stamos," or "bear witness me pictures of fancy monkeys") -- will work from your desktop, too.

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Just be conscientious how loudly y'all speak. After all, a healthy involvement in the Black Widow, Uncle Jesse, and stylish primates is perfectly acceptable around these parts, but your dominate might not be so understanding.

Contributing Editor JR Raphael serves up tasty morsels about the human being side of engineering. Hungry for more than? Join him on Twitter or sign upward for his weekly newsletter to get fresh tips and insight in your inbox every Fri.

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