You Can Now Launch Your Android Phone’s Camera with Your Voice

Daniel Bean
·Assistant Editor
Updated
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(Image: Google+/Google)

OK, Google, what new trick do you have for us now?

On Wednesday, Google added a feature to Google Now that allows you to launch the Android camera app just by saying, “OK, Google, take a picture,” or “OK, Google, take a video.” These new commands join an impressive list of things you can now “tell” your Android device to do, like create reminders, call or text someone, check the weather, execute a calculator function, or simply run a web search.

With the latest version of Google Search (Play store link here) installed on a Nexus, Moto X, or Google Play Android device running the Google Now Launcher, you can simply speak these commands from your home screen to jump into the camera app. With a Samsung Galaxy, HTC, or any other device running Android 4.1 or later, you’ll have to open the Google Search app before your phone will listen.

Remember, this just fires up the camera app. You’ll still need to frame up and take the picture or video yourself by pressing the capture button just as you normally would.

On top of that, we’re not entirely convinced that this is the quickest way to get to the Android camera app. Many Android devices now have options to add a camera to the lock screen, and Nexus devices even have this option integrated by default. If your hands are tied, however, it’s not a bad option to keep in mind. Plus, we’ll never say no to a fancy new Google Now function.

So keep them coming, Google, and we’ll talk to you later.

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