Google to Challenge Siri with Enhanced iOS Search App

[Akshay Masand]

Both Apple and Google haven’t been on good terms recently (as noted with the stock YouTube app disappearing in iOS 6) and they both continue to compete in the same markets. The search giant recently lifted the curtain on a major update to the iOS Search app. Google’s Search app for iOS will soon be receiving an update that will improve the voice assistant component and bring it on par with its Android Jelly Bean counterpart. The upcoming version of the search app is said to take advantage of Google’s experience with speech recognition and it’s Knowledge Graph, which tries to make connections between different pieces of information.

For iOS users, the updated Search app will let you ask a question using natural language and receive a spoken answer, much like Apple’s own digital assistant, Siri. The range of information available spans everything from weather and local movie listings to the height and weight of your favorite sports star. The feature is supposedly a small improvement that Google says is vital in building its search engine for the next generation.

You can watch a video of Google’s promotion below:



The developer and entrepreneur behind the app, Ndav Gur, says that queries based on concepts, not keywords is the future of search. He believes that apps like Siri and Google Search are “on the cusp of an entirely new thing.”

For those of you who are interested, Google’s free iOS Search app should be receiving the update within a few weeks.

Source: Google (blog)

[Painkiller006]

Very nice, good job Google.

[2k1]

This seems pretty cool.

[KernelPad]

Yeah, tough competition between Siri and a google search app.

[2k1]

I'll stick with Siri got more features

[Golfinglenn]

Who wants to bet Apple sues???

[2k1]

Wouldn't put it past them.

[rcm]

Attacking from the inside, nice one google. I just hope i can do more than ask about Cape Cod.

[Carvensno]

They have to let it thru iTunes App Store first! Apple could not approve the update for iTunes. Lol

[Senyaichiya]

Still can't watch the video from the application are they ever going to address this issue?

[H4CK3R]

I'd love to watch Apple sue them for patent violations lol. It seems Apple and Google haven't been getting along too well lately...

[xXR3H@NXx.]

Next few weeks? I thought it was in a few days!

[hitman10]

Ive personally tied both siri and google. Google is better with no doubt in my mind. Not only are the speeds faster on google, but the information you receives seems to make more sense then on the iphone using siri. +1 google.

[Holyloktar]

I'll stick with Siri got more features

Google wins, hands down. Faster results, accurate results, information cards, etc. Apple's lost this one.

[thazsar]

I'm looking forward to Nuance's 'Nina' to see who's really the champ!!!

[Kenn@rd.]

I'm looking forward to Nuance's 'Nina' to see who's really the champ!!!

can anyone say H A L 9000? Huh?

[CoronaDelux]

I'll stick with Siri got more features

This comment means you haven't tried the google voice search on jelly bean yet lol.

[TechnoUniversity]

I'll stick with Siri got more features

You obviously are a fanboy. Everyone can tell that you haven't tried out google search and that your blindly biased. Pathetic.

[Kenn@rd.]

This comment means you haven't tried the google voice search on jelly bean yet lol.

No, I haven't. And my HAL 9000 remark was only in reference to everyone who is leaning towards A.I. Which is where this technology is headed, that's all. Or it can be our demise. Also, in regards to the voice search on google, oh I bet that that will be awesome and would love to see how it performs!

[McMichael96]

Glad this is coming to iPhone! I love using this on my HTC one x.