google search vs.siri:voice search speed test

In writing my review for google search yesterday .I realized  the new voice search features are quite a bit faster  then siri

google  has been on iOS for some time, with well-known search capabilities, access to Google apps, Google Goggles for identifying products, and Voice Search. But an update to the app yesterday enhanced Voice Search with spoken answers, and it quickly became clear Google Search had an edge on Siri -- especially when it comes to speed.

Siri has a distinct advantage in most cases because it's integrated with the iOS. This means you can have Siri "Call Rebecca," for example, and Siri accesses your contact list along with your phone app to make the call. Ask Siri where to get pizza and you'll automatically get a result on a background tailored to match Yelp listings. Similarly, you can launch an app using your voice because Siri knows what apps you have and has the access to launch apps for you. Google Search doesn't have this kind of access.

What Google Search does have access to is the most-used search engine in the world, and with the upgraded Voice Search, it seems it also has the fastest voice results available. I performed a number of tests by asking both Siri and Google Search the same question to see how long it took for each to give me results. In the video below you can watch as I ask "Who is Michael Jordan?" and "Who is Lady Gaga?"

Obviously, Google Search is much faster at giving you results and I have to admit I like the short spoken summaries, but that's probably a matter of taste. Siri still has a distinct advantage on your iPhone because it's integrated with apps and can turn up tailored results for many of your questions. But it's also clear that if you're a search junkie who likes to use voice search, the Google Search app may not have the same access, but it is quite a bit faster than Siri.

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Android 4.2 adds multiple users and , copies Swype and AirPlay,panoramic photos

Google's new Nexus devices will come loaded with Android 4.2, a new flavor of Jelly Bean. Here's a rundown of the new features you can expect with the updated OS.
While Google's big press event scheduled for today in New York may have been canceled, the company still decided to move forward with a slew of announcements via blog post. Among them was the release of Android 4.2, an updated version of Jelly Bean to come preinstalled on the new line of Nexus devices.

Swype fans will be pleased to hear that Android 4.2 includes a keyboard that lets users input text via gliding gestures. Not only that, it offers predictions based on common strings of word combinations for "smarter" typing. While the news is certainly good for users who get a significantly improved input interface, it could be harmful to a company like SwiftKey, which just announced its own glide-supporting, predictive keyboard for Android.

Also part of 4.2 is a 360-degree panoramic photo feature called Photo Sphere. While third-party apps for panoramic photos have existed on Google Play for quite some time, this updated version of Google's baked-in panorama mode is unique in its ability to stitch together shots in all 

Tablet users get a little something extra as well, as the tablet-optimized version of Android 4.2 adds support for multiple users. Users get their own home screens, backgrounds, widgets, apps, and so on, and it's easy to switch between accounts right from the lock screen. Because tablets are often shared among family members, this feature could give Android devices a huge leg up over theiPad, which can only support and sync to a single user account.

Perhaps the sexiest feature to come with 4.2 is support for Miracast, an AirPlay-like protocol that allows users to wirelessly stream both audio and video directly from mobile device to television set, without having to go through a wireless network. Developed by the not-for-profit Wi-Fi Alliance, Miracast has tremendous potential, as it has garnered support from both LG and Samsung, with both companies already incorporating the technology into select devices.

Lastly, Android 4.2 brings with it the newest version of Google Now, which has added a handful of useful "cards" to its fast-growing collection. Now, the service can automatically notify you of flight information, restaurant reservations, hotel confirmations, and shipping details, all before you even ask.

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Jimmy Kimmel: iPad Mini is a bigger but not gigantic iPod that you can't talk on

The late night talk show host shares his view on Apple's tiny new tablet.

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Jimmy Kimmel: iPad Mini is a bigger but not gigantic iPod that you can't talk on

The late night talk show host shares his view on Apple's tiny new tablet.

by Lance Whitney

 November 2, 2012 9:25 AM PDT

(Credit: Jimmy Kimmel Live/YouTube Screenshot)

It's big but not gigantic, and you can't talk on it. That's Jimmy Kimmel's take on the new iPad Mini.

On his talk show last night, Kimmel took a few digs at Apple's new mini tablet, telling the audience that for the millions of people who don't yet have power, Apple is releasing a new "paperweight."

And in light of Hurricane Sandy, anybody in New York or New Jersey who stands in line for aniPad Mini this weekend should be "punched in the throat." People who have that kind of time should maybe consider volunteering, Kimmel said.

But the talk show host saved his best for an Apple promo spoof that tracked the evolution of the company's various mobile devices. As the promo points out:

"First came the iPod, then a slightly thinner iPod, then a tinnier iPod, then a taller, thinner iPod, then a taller, thinner iPod that shuffles your songs, then a pink one, a blue one, a green one, then an even smaller iPod, then a wider iPod."

After those, came "an iPod you can touch, then an iPod you can talk on, then an iPod you can talk on with a G on it, then a shorter, fatter iPod, then a shorter, fatter iPod that shuffles, then a thinner iPod you can talk on with a 4 on it, then a gigantic iPod you cannot talk on, then a gigantic iPod you cannot talk on that's a little faster, then a white one, then a taller, thinner iPod you can talk on, and now a bigger but not gigantic iPod you cannot talk on."

And in closing, the promo told people not to forget to buy chargers for the new Lightning connector.

Though Kimmel may have missed a few models in its iPod evolutionary scale, he got the bulk of them. So for anyone out there who's picked up an iPad Mini, how would you describe the new device?

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Facebook wants you to understand its privacy features -- really

The social network isn't changing its privacy policies. But it is changing the way the it explains them to new users.

Facebook's privacy policies are often criticized as overly confusing. So today the company is taking steps to clarify exactly how the things work -- so you more easily know who has access to your data, for instance, what the default settings are and how to select just who sees what you share.

It's not doing this for its existing 1 billion plus monthly users, however. Today's changes, which are rolling out across the globe, will only be seen by new users. That seems limiting, considering Facebook already counts one seventh the entire world population as members. But so be it. No one is going to argue against more clarity when it comes to personal data and privacy.

New users will get more guidance and education about the following topics:

• Default settings
• Selecting an audience for information shared on Timeline
• Access to their data
• How they interact with applications, games, and websites
• How ads works on the site
• Tagging people and things
• Finding friends on Facebook through search and contact importers

In a statement about the new efforts, Facebook Chief Privacy Officer Erin Egan gave a shout out to the Iris government for helping out.

At Facebook, we're committed to making sure people understand how to control what they share and with whom. We're pleased to be rolling out more prominent and detailed privacy information to new users as soon as they begin the account sign-up process and we appreciate the guidance we've received from the Irish Data Protection Commissioner's Office as we strive to highlight the many resources and tools we offer to help people control their information on Facebook.

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Nexus 10, Nexus 7 are here -- now all they need are apps

The lack of apps for Android tablets has long been a reason why the iPad still reigns supreme. But Google hopes that will change with its new Nexus tablets

The Nexus 10 features a nicer display than the iPad.

(Credit: Google)

With an expanded line-up of Nexus tablets, Google isn't just making a case for Android tablets to consumers, it's courting developers, too.

In the Nexus 10, Google and Samsung managed to put together a tablet that outdoes the newiPad both in screen resolution and price. Google and Asus shoved in another 8 gigabytes in the Nexus 7, and added a 32 GB version in addition to cutting their prices, both of which are at a considerable discount to the upcoming iPad Mini. The message is clear: Google is willing to go all out in establishing a beachhead in the tablet business.

Unfortunately, it's software, and not hardware, that continues to be the key problem for Google. Android tablets have struggled to make a real impression with consumers because there is a dearth of apps built specifically for tablets on Android. While the hardware and specs are great for the gadget enthusiasts and hardcore Android crowd, most consumers would just opt for the device that can do the most.

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