Desktop Chrome Browser Users Gain Voice Search

Caprice Neals was excited about its possibilities. “So far, good,” he wrote. “I like it, [it] definitely has potential of being a great extension.”

Another reviewer, Logan M Parker, wrote, “Works every single time with me. It responds really quickly to me saying ‘OK, Google’ and searches smoothly. I am very impressed. If it isn’t working for you, try opening Google and leaving it open for about 10 seconds before trying the search. I had to do this the very first time and now it works as soon as the page is up. It works faster and smoother than Google Now on my Nexus 7! I’m using my flat screen TV as a monitor and this feels like Star Trek. The future is now!”

User smith etienne said it worked well for him, but suggested that prospective users be sure to set their microphone input settings correctly for the best operation of the plug-in.

Plug-In Problems

The critics said that problems with the plug-in have made it disappointing fore them so far.

“Not working on my Samsung Chromebook,” wrote James Washington. “[Microphone] is just the outline. It does work by selecting icon, though.”

Zachary Toliver wrote that the plug-in was not working for him at all. “Persistent ‘Not Listening’ [message] even though my microphone works fine after I click the mic icon.”

Greg Presland agreed. “Doesn’t work. Re-installed and re-launched Chrome a few times and it will not listen. I still have to manually click the microphone icon for it to work.”

The desktop voice search capabilities follow Google’s wide body of work in bringing voice commands to mobile users over the last few years.

In September, Google vastly improved and broadened its voice commands in the latest Version 30 of Chrome for iOS. Users received new capabilities such as being able to string together multiple voice searches with pronouns to get to results faster, as well as deeper voice context into searches.

In July, Google Glass got its own voice command improvements and expanded capabilities as part of the device’s monthly software updates for early Google Glass users. The update allows Glass users to do more things without having to touch any Glass controls, and it will allow users to communicate more easily with family members and friends in their contacts list.

Also in July, Google returned outbound voice calling services to its Hangouts feature in Gmail and Google+ and through the Chrome browser extension after it was temporarily removed in May when Hangouts was updated. Users complained about the missing voice-calling feature after the May changes, and now Google has put voice calling back.

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Originally published on eWeek.