Hey, Google, did you know I could bypass Siri with one click on an iPhone and go to you instead?
Apple recently upgraded its Siri Shortcuts, which let you record quick one to two-word commands to Siri create a tweet, call the wife, read aloud your daily schedule or play your favorite podcast.
One of those options Apple is the ability to record yourself saying, “Hey, Google,” in the same manner as you would do with Siri. The phone automatically goes to the Google Assistant app, (which you’ll need to have, if you haven’t already) and the Google microphone is cued, awaiting your query.
Some believe the Google Assistant to be a smarter alternative. Here are some Siri/Google comparisons. We asked:
•Siri to play a music station for us on Pandora, but it said it couldn’t do that; Google could.
•Siri when the best time to visit Japan was, and we were told, “Here’s what I found on the Web.” Google told us, in spoken words, that the spring and fall were the optimum times.
•Where the nearest Chipotle was. Siri showed us, Google told us.
Here’s how to add the shortcut:
•Download the Apple Shortcuts app.
•Go to Settings on your iPhone.
•Open Siri & Search.
•Open Suggested Shortcuts. The Google Assistant, along with things like “send an e-mail,” “get directions to” call a specific contact or create a new tweet are included as options. Select the Google Assistant category. You will be prompted to record yourself saying, “Hey, Google,” and your shortcut is now done.
All you have to do to bypass Siri is say “Hey, Google,” to your iPhone, and the Google Assistant will be at its service.
