OK Google.
That’s how it all starts. Utter those words, and your Android phone or tablet perks up its ears and gets ready to act.
I cover many of the common things you can say to the Google Search app in my various Android For Dummies books. I’m guessing that most people use the OK Google thing to search the web. Just the other day, I uttered, “OK Google, where can I find a spare battery for my camera?” That trick works really well.
As Google continues to update and improve their services, new OK Google commands emerge. Some of these are pretty clever tricks, such as:
“OK Google, wake me up at 6:30 tomorrow.”
Setting reminders is something the Google app does really well. Even timers:
“OK Google, set a timer for 5 minutes from now.”
Instantly, your Android’s Clock app starts with a 5 minute timer.
Recently, vague suggestions have been added to Google’s audio repertoire:
“OK Google, play some Christmas music.”
The success of the “Christmas music” command depends on what music you have available to your device. On my phone, I have a Christmas playlist, which instantly began playing after I uttered the above phrase.
“OK Google, turn on Bluetooth.”
Google activates Bluetooth on your gizmo. You can even turn off Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi, or enter Airplane Mode. I find this trick really handy, especially if I’m walking somewhere and don’t have time — or the spare hand — to look at the touchscreen and worth through a bunch of menus.
“OK Google, play a funny cat video on YouTube.”
The word “play” apparently means “find” to the Google Search app: The videos are displayed, but not played. That’s okay. I suppose Google is trying not to pick favorites.
“OK Google, show me a recipe for General Tso chicken.”
This type of phrase is more of the traditional search engine command. The results show various cooking websites with the recipes listed. I suppose it’ll be a few years before the Android actually starts cooking for you. Oh: And it will go shopping for what you need before then.
Perhaps one of the more interesting changes is the ability for you to spell things in dictation. For example, if you’re sending an email to Mr. Gookin, you can say, “Dear mister G-O-O-K-I-N.” Spell the name and then Google’s dictation automatically inserts the proper word.
Supposedly, Google has engineered dictation to make corrections: You can say “No, I mean T-H-E-I-R” and the dictation input software replaces a there with a their. I’ve not been successful at making that change happen, but according to Google you can do it. Give it a try!
