Google is rolling out the Assistant to more devices. It will soon be available on Android tablets running Nougat and Marshmallow, and smartphones running Lollipop. Tablets in the US running English will be the first to get access. However, a wide array of Android 5.0 smartphones (Lollipop) will get the Assistant: Those operating in English […]
Google bringing the Assistant to tablets and Lollipop Android phones Read More »
Unlike VR headsets or wearables, smart speakers are rapidly emerging as a mass market technology platform. The latest to document relatively high satisfaction and usage of these devices is call-tracking and analytics company Invoca. Earlier this year, Invoca surveyed 1,000 people in the US who own an Amazon Echo or Google Home device. The survey
Smart speaker owners increasingly using them instead of typing or swiping Read More »
In 2016, Google said that 20 percent of all mobile queries were voice searches. Since that time, the number of virtual assistants in US households has continued to swell, with tens of millions of voice-enabled home devices projected to be in use. Voice as a primary search interface — beyond mobile phones — is a
Content may be king, but context is queen in the new voice-first world Read More »
Today Google announced a number of updates and improvements to help make third party apps for Google Assistant more functional and easier for users to discover. It’s also adding new capabilities for developers. Developers can now build Assistant apps in Spanish, Portuguese and Indian English. For the UK, Google announced the availability of transactional capabilities
Google aims to make apps for Google Assistant more functional and discoverable Read More »
Apple has recently made some significant changes to both Siri and Safari, with potentially far-reaching implications for digital marketers. First, Apple has announced that results for its AI-powered digital assistant, Siri, will now be provided by Google rather than Bing. This interesting development encompasses two of the most important areas of modern search marketing: voice
A number of Google Home Mini devices that were distributed to members of the press had a defect that caused them to record everything being said around them. This discovery renewed privacy concerns surrounding smart speakers as surreptitious listening devices in our homes. The problem was first discovered by Android Police. Once being notified, Google investigated
Echo and Home will probably have to tell you they’re always listening — in Europe Read More »
Google generally doesn’t do as well when it builds “follower” products — think Google Plus or Allo. But there are other examples where Google has excelled with later entries (e.g., AdWords, Maps). Right now, Google Home is a follower product seeking to break out of Amazon Echo’s shadow. On paper, Google should win in this
Home device with a screen to compete with Echo Show Read More »
Yesterday, at a pre-emptive event in Seattle, Amazon introduced new Alexa devices to keep its lead in the battle for the smart home. Google is having its own hardware event on October 4. Amazon introduced six products. First and foremost, it presented a more compact, cheaper Echo with better sound. It comes in six different
Amazon just upped the ante in the battle of the virtual assistants Read More »
Apple has switched back to using Google for their search results needs in both iOS and their Mac operating system over Spotlight search, TechCrunch reports. Google and Apple spokespersons confirmed this with Search Engine Land via email. The “search the web” results you get in both search interfaces will no longer be pointing to Bing,
Apple switches back to Google search results for iOS & Mac Read More »
Google is set to reveal the Pixel 2 smartphone and potentially other hardware at an event on October 4, in time for holiday shopping. While the Pixel 2 is set to be the star of the event, a prominent supporting role will be played by the new “Google Home Mini.” This is apparently Google’s answer
Google to debut ‘Home Mini’ smart speaker for $49 on October 4 Read More »
