Google Now or S-Voice and how to replace one with the other?

[NJRonbo]

So, GOOGLE NOW is the new big thing on Jellybean.

How do I make that the default voice assistant when pressing the home button twice?

....and before I do that, does anyone have a particular preference as to which is better?

Thanks

 

[james27007]

If you want to replace S-Voice with Google Now when you double press the center button...

I hate S-Voice and prefer Google Now. After a little searching I found this post, works great:

Original info at XDA Link

Here is the play link for home2

Step 1) Go into the S Voice settings and uncheck the Launch SVoice box. This will keep S Voice from launching when you double tap the home button.

Step 2) Install Home2 Shortcut from the Play Store

Step 3) Open Home2 Shortcut and configure it to launch the app of your choosing with a double tap of the home button. edited for Note 2

Step 3a) Open Home2 and under settings step 1
....Choose Application --> Installed applications --> Voice Search --> OK

Step 3b) Scrolled down to step 2 and selected "Short"

Step 3c) Scrolled down to step
.... Choose Home Application --> Touch Wiz home

Step 3d) Scroll down to step 4 and click the "Close button"
.... Clicked Home Shortcut --> Always --> Ok



Works great

 

[NJRonbo]

Thank you for this.

Am I missing something? Where is GOOGLE NOW? I don't see the app nor its availability on the Google Play Store.

 

[casarosa]

I was confused with this also if you press the blue square Icon with g symbol (Google) you can search via Mic or keyboard.

Then you have another blue square Icon with white mic symbol (voice search) this to me is Google Now or am I wrong

 

[NJRonbo]

Okay...

The White Mic Symbol (Voice Search) is Google Now. Try it and there will be a link to set up Google Now in the MENU settings (hit bottom left menu).

I *think* you can do the same thing using the blue Google button as well.

Thing is...

Doesn't work very well. Asked Google Now about upcoming appointments and instead of pulling anything from my calendar it simply gave me web results.

Also, thought this talked back to you, but perhaps I am wrong about that.

 

[casarosa]

Yes that is what I thought The White Mic Symbol (Voice Search) is Google Now and I recall when searching for something on the internet it actually talked back to me and gave me the answer one being "When was the battle of Hastings" it said 1066

 

[NJRonbo]

Having problems using Home2 Shortcut in making Voice Search replace S-Voice.

The instructions in post #2 work perfectly until I get to the NOTE part in Step #3.

I click CLOSE and I am never given the option to make Home2Launcher my default. The program just closes and the replacement is never done

 

[james27007]

Having problems using Home2 Shortcut in making Voice Search replace S-Voice.

The instructions in post #2 work perfectly until I get to the NOTE part in Step #3.

I click CLOSE and I am never given the option to make Home2Launcher my default. The program just closes and the replacement is never done

Ok just reinstalled it and this is what I did,
Open Home2 and under settings step 1
....Choose Application --> Installed applications --> Voice Search --> OK

Scrolled down to step 2 and selected "Short"

Scrolled down to step
.... Choose Home Application --> Touch Wiz home

Scroll down to step 4 and click the "Close button"
.... Clicked Home Shortcut --> Always --> Ok

Hope this helps. I'll update my post.

 

[Rxpert83]

Google now DOES indeed speak facts back to you.

 

[NJRonbo]

Home2Shortcut is still not working.

No problem with the instructions. It is easy to set up.

The problem is the last step. When I press CLOSE the app just closes instead of allowing me to complete action. I don't understand what I am doing wrong.

 

[james27007]

Home2Shortcut is still not working.

No problem with the instructions. It is easy to set up.

The problem is the last step. When I press CLOSE the app just closes instead of allowing me to complete action. I don't understand what I am doing wrong.

Try to uninstall/reinstall it

 

[NJRonbo]

Try to uninstall/reinstall it

Been there, did that.

So, everyone using a Galaxy Note II has been able to hit the CLOSE button and instead of the app just closing, an option box comes up with default options?

Not happenin' fer me.

 

[CzechPleez]

Home2Shortcut is still not working.

No problem with the instructions. It is easy to set up.

The problem is the last step. When I press CLOSE the app just closes instead of allowing me to complete action. I don't understand what I am doing wrong.

Settings > Application manager > All > (scroll down) TouchWiz home > click 'Clear defaults' button

Then go back to the Home2 Shortcut app and follow through with step 4, making sure to highligh 'Home2 Shortcut' (Always).

 

[RalfyJ]

Okay...

The White Mic Symbol (Voice Search) is Google Now. Try it and there will be a link to set up Google Now in the MENU settings (hit bottom left menu).

I *think* you can do the same thing using the blue Google button as well.

Thing is...

Doesn't work very well. Asked Google Now about upcoming appointments and instead of pulling anything from my calendar it simply gave me web results.

Also, thought this talked back to you, but perhaps I am wrong about that.

This

I thought this would be just like the S Voice but better. Its just a voice google search

 

[wyndslash]

Google Now also does voice actions

 

[Elantric]

And if you load Google Play Books App - it can read your Owners manuals and technical Docs back to you using the nice to understand Google Voice

Accessibility and text to speech - Google Play Help

Accessibility and text to speech


We have accessibility options for our Google Play Books apps for Android devices as well as the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.
Android devices

We offer accessibility support and text-to-speech (TTS) reading of books in the Google Play Books app for Android devices. To enable this feature, follow these steps:

1. Enable TalkBack on your device (found under Settings > Accessibility). If you don't have TalkBack on your device, you can install it from the Google Play store.
2. Open a book* in your Google Play Books app
3. Tap the center of the page to bring up the top bar
4. In the top bar, tap the menu button in the top-right corner
5. From the menu options, tap "Read aloud"

 

[NJRonbo]

Settings > Application manager > All > (scroll down) TouchWiz home > click 'Clear defaults' button

Then go back to the Home2 Shortcut app and follow through with step 4, making sure to highligh 'Home2 Shortcut' (Always).

CzechPleez,

Thanks for the help. The Clear Defaults is greyed out under TouchWiz home settings.

Can't use your instructions.

 

[james27007]

CzechPleez,

Thanks for the help. The Clear Defaults is greyed out under TouchWiz home settings.

Can't use your instructions.

That is so odd. Are you using the stock launcher?

Ok, if you are willing to try something else?
uninstall home 2
download Apex or Nova launcher
Once they install, press the center button, you should get the pop up for which to use
Select Touch Wiz and select just once
Reinstall Home2
Try again

If that does not work, then I have no idea what is wrong.

As a off the wall and unrelated point; this is my 999th post; really cool!!!

 

[NJRonbo]

Using Nova Launcher, so I am guessing that is the problem.

 

[james27007]

Using Nova Launcher, so I am guessing that is the problem.

Ok, go into settings --> application manager --> , nova launcher and select clear defaults; that should give you the popup

 

[NJRonbo]

James,

You are my HERO. That worked. Thank you so much. Problem solved!!!!

 

[NJRonbo]

EDIT....

Okay, got it working perfectly.

Thanks for your help.

 

[ThelVlaster]

Can't you open Google Now by long pressing the menu button? Is double pressing home that much better than the long press shortcut?

As a side note, when I get my note 2, I'm going to disable the S-Voice shortcut, so that my home button is more snappy (goes right to home screen, rather than waiting to see if you double press or not).

 

[james27007]

Can't you open Google Now by long pressing the menu button? Is double pressing home that much better than the long press shortcut?

As a side note, when I get my note 2, I'm going to disable the S-Voice shortcut, so that my home button is more snappy (goes right to home screen, rather than waiting to see if you double press or not).

When you long press home, it brings up the recent apps and there is a "g" logo to open Google Now; I just prefer the double click, works 1000x faster.

 

[nemesys06]

I haven't played with Google Now or s voice much yet. Anybody able to compare that to Robin?