Survey: People becoming less inhibited about using voice search in public
Texting is the most common use case for voice, and men use voice search more than women, according to new data from Stone Temple Consulting.
Topic: Virtual assistant
Apple says HomePod is finally coming on February 9, but can it compete?
Apple also said that Siri is now used on more than 500 million devices.
Smart speaker sales grew 103% last year
The virtual assistant devices became the fastest selling consumer technology last year, dramatically outpacing wearables and VR.
Report: Amazon in discussions with consumer brands about ads on Alexa [company denies it]
CNBC report says product promotions on Alexa are already being tested.
Google bringing the Assistant to tablets and Lollipop Android phones
The move comes against the backdrop of accelerating virtual assistant usage and intensifying competition.
Voice search: Content may be king, but context is queen in the new voice-first world
Yext VP of Industry Insights Duane Forrester discusses his new e-book, "How Voice Search Changes Everything," and what marketers can do to adapt and compete.
Target expands voice-commerce relationship with Google to battle Amazon
Retailer joins Walmart in climbing aboard the Google Express.
Google’s ‘Manhattan project’: Home device with a screen to compete with Echo Show
Can Google Home emerge from Amazon Echo's shadow?
Amazon just upped the ante in the battle of the virtual assistants
Smart speakers are the 'gateway drug' to smart home adoption.
When it ‘can’t answer that,’ Alexa begins recommending third-party skills
The move appears to be an attempt to broaden the device's utility and better compete with Google's search capabilities.
SearchCap: Alexa & Cortana, Google Assistant speakers & Google Maps parking
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on and from other places across the web.
Google Assistant coming to more speakers and home appliances from LG
“Ok Google, start vacuuming.”
Report: 43% of millennials have made a voice-device purchase in past year
Also, Kayak introduces ability to book a hotel room through Alexa devices.
Study argues Google Home 6X ‘more effective’ than Alexa, but will consumers care?
Amazon's assets, including distribution, brand loyalty, aggressive pricing and a more diverse product mix could trump Google Home's better performance.
No more ‘OK Google’: Cortana can now be the default assistant on Android
It's Cortana you'll get when you long-press on the home button.
WSJ: How Siri went from virtual assistant market leader to laggard
Internal cultural issues and employee departures have impacted Siri's evolution.
Google Assistant comes to iPhone, adds alerts, hands-free calling & more
Google's virtual assistant gains a number of new features and expands to Apple's iPhone as competition for Siri & Cortana.
Report: Google planning to bring its Assistant to the iPhone
Google also expected to announce integration of the Assistant into GE appliances.
Report: Google Assistant bests rivals for questions answered and overall accuracy
Cortana was second for questions answered, Alexa second-best for accuracy.
Patent 1 of 2: How Google learns to influence and control users
Columnist Dave Davies does a deep dive into a recently granted Google patent that describes how your data and context could be used to influence your future actions.
Siri is Google’s nearest mobile search competitor [Report]
According to a survey from Fivesight Research, Siri had a larger share of mobile search than Bing or Yahoo.
How AI will shape the future of search
Artificial intelligence is changing the way users access information online. Columnist Justin Freid discusses where the trends are heading and what this might mean for search marketers.
Your guide to using Google Assistant and the Google search app on Android & iPhone
Google Assistant is coming widely to Android phones. Here's how to use it and other ways to Google on your smartphone -- even for iPhone users.
FAQ: How to get Google Assistant on your Android phone
Google Assistant is officially available for many Android phones now, but the rollout will take time.
Google’s “One True Answer” problem — when featured snippets go bad
Obama's planning a coup? Women are evil? Several presidents were in the KKK? Republicans are Nazis? Google can go spectacularly wrong with some of its direct answers.
SearchCap: Google Assistant, local finder test & Bing hospital finder
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google Assistant to roll out across newer smartphonesFeb 27, 2017 by Greg Sterling The virtual assistant capability will soon be available on smartphones running Android 6.0 and 7.0. 5 ways you […]
Google Assistant to roll out across newer smartphones
The virtual assistant capability will soon be available on smartphones running Android 6.0 and 7.0.
Survey: Alexa the most frequently used assistant, Cortana seen as most accurate
Nearly 60 percent used voice because it was faster or easier than typing.
Survey: 60 percent of voice users want more answers and fewer search results
Making calls, searching, texting and map lookups were the most common use cases for voice.
SearchCap: Google top searches, Cortana with Harman Kardon & image product schema
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Move over, Amazon Echo & Google Home: Here comes Microsoft CortanaDec 13, 2016 by Danny Sullivan Cortana will be baked into a new smart speaker from Harman Kardon to be released […]
Microsoft debuts brilliant Cortana SDK strategy
The strategy potentially means that Cortana will show up on many more devices and device types than if it Microsoft had simply copied Echo.
SearchCap: Santa tracker, Yahoo Answers app & digital assistants
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Yahoo introduces ‘Answers Now’ app but will users respond?Dec 9, 2016 by Greg Sterling The company hopes to address historical quality problems with a matching algorithm. Three steps to customer experience […]
Report: Microsoft responds to Amazon Echo, Google Home with “HomeHub”
Software approach would make Cortana available from the lock screen and provide other smart-home features.
SearchCap: Bing local search updates, digital assistants & PPC performance
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Bing local search update highlights business holiday hours in local listings Nov 28, 2016 by Amy Gesenhues Local listings display accurate holiday hours in real time. SEO without SERPs is here […]
For answering questions, Google Home bests Amazon Echo & Alexa
If you've always wanted someone around the house to answer all the questions you have during the course of your day, that someone is a something -- Google Home.
Google Assistant is only an incremental advance over current voice search
High expectations made me want it to do more and be more naturally conversational. That will come.
Buying Viv, Samsung makes its “me too” virtual assistant play
Like Siri, Viv sells itself before its ambitious product vision is realized.
Google seeks to humanize its brand with new “Google Assistant” female persona
She seeks to be a 'companion' that is 'always there but never in the way.'
Local Search Advantage: SEO, Linkbuilding, Voice Search, Mobile Wallets & More
SMX East workshop on Monday takes a deep dive into all things local search.
SearchCap: Apple Siri Echo, paid search ROI & more
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Refine your content marketing tactics to benefit from enhanced search engine displayMay 25, 2016 by Thomas Stern Columnist Thomas Stern discusses how content marketing performance can fall short if SERP features […]