Android voice command list

This works on most Android 1.6 or greater version phones, like the Motorola Droid and the Nexus One.

Long-pressing on the microphone button next to the home screen search box widget or on the hardware itself to bring up the Voice Search window. Any word or phrase spoken will open a google search page for those terms.

You can also speak certain keywords or shortcuts into this prompt to make the phone take certain actions.

List of Android voice shortcuts:

• Call <contact name> (+ <home|mobile|work>): Dial this contact. If the contact has multiple phone numbers, and you don’t specify which number to dial (i.e. “call Dad work”), you will receive an on-screen prompt to select which number.

• Dial <phone number>: Dial your selected number: “Dial 3-1-0-5-5-5-1-2-1-2″. I’ve found that you have to speak the number fairly quickly before the voice prompt times out and starts dialing.

• Find <location>: Open a map a Google Maps displaying pins with the location(s).
  • Specific business name:  “Find Staples”, “Find McDonalds”,
  • Type of business: “Find gas station”, “Find grocery store”, “Find yogurt”,
  • Specific location name: “Find Disneyland”, “Find
  • Type of location: “Find dog parks”

• Map of <location>: See Find, above.

• Directions to < location>: Open Google Maps providing driving, mass transit, biking or walking directions to your selected place from your current location. You can use the same types of locations as with Find, above.

• Navigate to <location>: Start Google Navigate with <location> set as the end point. You can use the same types of locations as with Find, above. General requests like “Navigate to gas station” will produce an on-screen prompt to select which local gas station.

• Open <application name>: Open the desired application: “Open calendar”, “Open Facebook”, “Open Battery Info”. I’ve seen this shortcut mentioned in forums, but have not been able to get it to work.

• Post buzz <message>: Generate a Google Buzz posting of your phrase. Posting will be geolocated with your current position.  More info.

* Note that other installed Android Marketplace applications can also set custom voice shortcuts.

* Please leave a comment below if you discover any additional voice shortcuts for any Android application.

Tips:

• Speak normally and be articulate. No mumbling!

• Use conversational volume and speed; no need to raise your voice or to speak verrrryyy slowwwlllyyy — your phone will feel like it’s being patronized.

• Use in a noisy environment will give you random results.

• When Froyo (Android 2.2) is released, it should be possible to trigger the Voice Search window by briefly holding down the button on your bluetooth headset.

• Bonus tip: The voice-to-text functionality in Android 2.1+ is actually quite amazing. If your phone supports this feature, you will have a small microphone button next to the spacebar on the soft keyword. Press this button and speak phrases into the prompt to quickly send text messages or short emails.