Interesting: Our Mobile Planet

Google gives Insight and interesting information about how people use their smartphones, across the world.

Our Mobile Planet

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Google answers Siri with its Majel for Android!

When Apple released the iPhone 4S to the world, it was more than a new iPhone – it brought with it a new way of interacting with technology. That new way was the first real way of talking to a piece of software using natural language. Yes we have had voice commands before, but software was listening for very specific words and a very specific syntax. Siri changed that.

Even though still technically in beta and not exactly fully functional yet, Siri lit a fire under the engineers at Google. Nobody likes to be beaten by the competition, but when it comes to voice interaction, Apple’s engineers certainly came out on top, even if they did get a little help from the purchase of Siri.

All that may be set to change as early as the first quarter of 2012, though, as it would appear that Google is hard at work trying to recreate the Siri magic for its own Android devices, and they mean business.

What Google is working on goes by the name of Majel, which for those that are not into their Star Trek trivia is named after the late Majel Barrett-Roddenberry. Majel was the voice actress for the computer in Star Trek Generations and beyond, which gives Google’s efforts a lot of geek cred, even if it never makes it to market!

Via Redmondpie

YouTube App For Xbox Now Available!

Days after the release of the recent update for Xbox's Dashboard, Microsoft has released YouTube app so now you can watch videos directly on your big screen, through your Xbox 360.

Being the world’s most-viewed viral video site, a platform within Microsoft’s fast-advancing Metro UI should turn out to be a positive move for all those concerned.

YouTube for Xbox LIVE includes support for the immensely popular Kinect accessory, which turned out to be the fastest selling gadget of all time. Through the YouTube app, you can see your Watch Later, Playlists, Favorites, and Subscriptions. The like / dislike button is available, as well as captions and a preview of the video’s description. Intriguingly, there doesn’t yet appear to be a comments section.

Microsoft is taking the leading role in transforming consoles into more than just gaming portals. Rumors have suggested the next Xbox console, set to drop in 2013, will include an out-and-out console for the avid gamers, alongside a second unit which will sit as more of a home entertainment system for the streaming media market gradually creeping up on us.

via Redmondpie