A Terrific Trio: iPhone, Google, and Voice

I'm in love with an update to the Google Mobile app for the iPhone. Why? Because I can talk to it, and it really listens.

A voice-search functionality has been added, making this already useful app darned near indispensible for me. I love that when I'm out and about and hankering for lunch, I don't have to stop what I'm doing to type in a request. (I'm all thumbs on my iPhone, and I don't mean that in a good way.)

Instead, I just fire up the Google app and say "sushi in Oakland." Bam! It brings up listings nearest my location, including phone numbers and a "Get Directions" link.

It's not perfect; what voice-recognition system is? But it's pretty darned close. If I speak clearly, it figures out exactly what I want about 90 to 95 percent of the time.

Anything that makes my life a little bit easier and more streamlined is great, but the "neat-o" factor combined with the multiple real-world applications of the voice technology puts Google Mobile at the top of my happy list.

Check out the video below for a demonstration.