Database Users

[Q] Difference between S-voice and Google Now

Sorry if this is the wrong place but:
What's the difference between the S-Voice from the S4 and Google Now?
I watched sum comparison videos on youtube, but they seem a little bit inaccurate. For example, it said that "google voice" can't open apps, but it can on my Nexus 4.

S voice is Samsung's own personal assistant developed for Galaxy devices . I guess it has been used in GS3, Note 2 and GS4 as well.
Google Now is vast new concept started by Google. It's more than just a personal assistant. It's like improved version of Google Voice..
for ex. if you are entering any highway, GN will warn about traffic
you are entering into a tube station, GN will alert you about the next trains lined up..
Google voice can certainly open apps.

Google now is better .S voice sucks that's the difference. Half the time s voice doesn't function right or gets s##t wrong that you ask for.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk

imeem said:
Sorry if this is the wrong place but:
What's the difference between the S-Voice from the S4 and Google Now?
I watched sum comparison videos on youtube, but they seem a little bit inaccurate. For example, it said that "google voice" can't open apps, but it can on my Nexus 4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S-Voice is like another apps on Samsung Device that begins with "S", and i prefer to put S as Silly except Samsung
Silly apps that u can find all of them for free in play store but samsung preinstall them on galaxies device!!! on Android OS that it has its own preinstalled apps......................!
of course Google Now is better.

Ok, this is turning into a fanboys sort of thread.
Back to the OPs question:
Essentially, theyre the same thing. Its like iOS' Siri versus Google Now, theyre both designed to do the same things but by different companies
And S-Voice is part of a proprietary framework called Touchwiz, so it can only be installed on devices running a Touchwiz ROM. Google now on the other hand, relies on no underlying framework and so could be installed on any Android device, as long as the Android version supports it

thx for the reply. The reason i ask this question is i installed S Voice on my Nexus 4 from here: http://www.sammobile.com/2013/03/26/samsung-galaxy-s-4s-s-voice-apk-now-available-to-download/
Is there any reason to have both? I just downloaded it for fun.
With further testing, it seems like the Google now can't open sum apps. Such as PPSSPP, CloudOn, Office Suite, and GTA Vice City. While S voice.apk from the S4 can do this and can do stuff like "turn off wifi" and "turn on bluetooth".

imeem said:
thx for the reply. The reason i ask this question is i installed S Voice on my Nexus 4 from here: http://www.sammobile.com/2013/03/26/samsung-galaxy-s-4s-s-voice-apk-now-available-to-download/
Is there any reason to have both? I just downloaded it for fun.
With further testing, it seems like the Google now can't open sum apps. Such as PPSSPP, CloudOn, Office Suite, and GTA Vice City. While S voice.apk from the S4 can do this and can do stuff like "turn off wifi" and "turn on bluetooth".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really, just use whichever is best for what you do, no point in really having 2 of the same sort of utility app
And obviously one will have more features than the other, it just depends on which features are most important to the user
Question, did the s-voice install properly and isnt giving you any force close issues? Strange because I was sure it would rely on the Touchwiz framework

CNexus said:
Not really, just use whichever is best for what you do, no point in really having 2 of the same sort of utility app
And obviously one will have more features than the other, it just depends on which features are most important to the user
Question, did the s-voice install properly and isnt giving you any force close issues? Strange because I was sure it would rely on the Touchwiz framework
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. It installed properly. It only crashes when i go to language & input , select samsung for voice recognizer, and then press voice search.

imeem said:
Nope. It installed properly. It only crashes when language anD input , select samsung for voice recognizer, and then press voice search
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting....thanks, gonna check it out now!
It would seem that it would rely on the TW framework since its an assistant sort of app...

imeem said:
Nope. It installed properly. It only crashes when i go to language & input , select samsung for voice recognizer, and then press voice search.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How are you getting it to work? For me it kept saying "network connection error"?

CNexus said:
How are you getting it to work? For me it kept saying "network connection error"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did u turn on ur wifi or data? It needs internet. Other than that, i didnt do anything

imeem said:
Did u turn on ur wifi or data? It needs internet. Other than that, i didnt do anything
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried with both. Could you upload yours since i know it's working? Thanks

CNexus said:
Tried with both. Could you upload yours since i know it's working? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what phone do you have?
https://hotfile.com/dl/201722708/fd3276b/S-Voice_Android_phone_J.apk.html

imeem said:
what phone do you have?
https://hotfile.com/dl/201722708/fd3276b/S-Voice_Android_phone_J.apk.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Evo shift, I'm on AOSP 4.2.2 though, so it should be fine. Strangely, that's where I downloaded it from and no luck.

CNexus said:
Evo shift, I'm on AOSP 4.2.2 though, so it should be fine. Strangely, that's where I downloaded it from and no luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try your evo 4 g

CNexus said:
How are you getting it to work? For me it kept saying "network connection error"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used it for a day then got the network connection error also. Samsung (actually Vlingo/Nuance) reads the incoming device ID and blocks the connection if it's a mismatch with the device ID the app's intended to work with. Same thing happened when people were using bootleg copies of the SGS3's S Voice APK before it was released.
As for S Voice vs. Google Now I use S Voice more. To send a text message for example, Google Now opens up the recipient from the address book but you can't dictate the message, at least not from within Google Now. Same thing with e-mail. Dialing's also kind of clunky where if there are multiple options for your request you have to pick one manually. S Voice also repeats the number back before dialing where Google Now just dials and can miss digits you dictate pretty easily. Using a BT headset you can pretty much completely accomplish things hands free with S Voice while quite a few require a second manual action with Google Now.
Here are some examples
If you're in an app like the browser you also can't get Google Now to launch from the menu key because it's now serving the open application and doesn't recognize the "long press" command to open Google Now. Some people have disabled S Voice and remapped the home key to either Google Search or Voice Dialer. S Voice allows you to post to FB and Twitter too. Also, a lot of Google Now's neatest features (flight departure, package shipping, etc.) require you to use Gmail because Google's servers scrape your messages looking for pertinent data. I don't use Gmail and don't like the idea of Google's servers searching my data, even with my permission so to anyone not exclusively on Gmail certain feature don't mean very much.
Voice controls are also tied to S Voice. I use them pretty frequently; especially with the camera, music player, and to launch apps from the lock screen by voice.
I played with Google Now for a short time when I got my N2 so if it's improved or I'm being too hard on it someone speak up.

CNexus said:
How are you getting it to work? For me it kept saying "network connection error"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think my S voice stopped working, says no network connection

imeem said:
i think my S voice stopped working, says no network connection
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's being blocked because the device ID from the APK you downloaded doesn't match the device ID the server's reading from the actual device.

I love Samsung devices but I can't stand S voice. Unless there has been MAJOR improvement over the S3's/Note2 S voice I will still dislike it. First thing I do when I set up my Galaxy phones is disable it and get rid of the home button delay.
I think google now is better, faster, much more accurate and much more unique ( S voice is a clear copy of Siri).

barondebxl said:
I love Samsung devices but I can't stand S voice. Unless there has been MAJOR improvement over the S3's/Note2 S voice I will still dislike it. First thing I do when I set up my Galaxy phones is disable it and get rid of the home button delay.
I think google now is better, faster, much more accurate and much more unique ( S voice is a clear copy of Siri).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup. HTC Speak is on its way as well.

[Q] Air View broken in stock email app

So this is a weird little issue that started yesterday, same day I got my S4. Air View works fine for every app but the email app. Instead of the full text, I just see this chopped off little text bubble (see attachment). It happens on either of the two email accounts I have in the app, one exchange, one aol (yes, I am ashamed). Already tried to remove both the accounts, clear the app cache, clear app data, then re-add the accounts. Same thing. Wondering if anyone has seen this issue yet or if it's just me.
S4 is stock, no root, no nothing. Had already installed all apps and changed my launcher before the issue started. Can't think of anything off the top of my head that I changed directly before I noticed the problem. Any help would be appreciated, I get a lot of emails and would love to have this working again.

magnumburst said:
So this is a weird little issue that started yesterday, same day I got my S4. Air View works fine for every app but the email app. Instead of the full text, I just see this chopped off little text bubble (see attachment). It happens on either of the two email accounts I have in the app, one exchange, one aol (yes, I am ashamed). Already tried to remove both the accounts, clear the app cache, clear app data, then re-add the accounts. Same thing. Wondering if anyone has seen this issue yet or if it's just me.
S4 is stock, no root, no nothing. Had already installed all apps and changed my launcher before the issue started. Can't think of anything off the top of my head that I changed directly before I noticed the problem. Any help would be appreciated, I get a lot of emails and would love to have this working again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it took a bit of time to get used to.....have you try to disable and reenable the airview option in settings?
my video application did that one or twice......all i did was reenabling it again....and now its working....

Ambrosios said:
it took a bit of time to get used to.....have you try to disable and reenable the airview option in settings?
my video application did that one or twice......all i did was reenabling it again....and now its working....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I did, but I found out what was actually causing it. I was using Light Flow for my notifications and didn't know about the existing issues when you enable it in the accessibility options.
FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW about the problem caused, basically there is a known glitch when you try to turn on Light Flow under the accessibility options. It will try to turn on TalkBack, but only some of the TalkBack functions work, which made it hard to diagnose. Turning on TalkBack, disabling all the settings, and turning it back off won't help, neither will disabling the app. Since TalkBack disables settings such as Air View, some of the functionality is lost when you turn the settings back on. The author of Light Flow knows about the issue and is trying to work on it according to an in app message I glazed over the first time. In the meantime, plenty of other notifications still work if you don't turn on accessibility.
Thanks for the response though, hopefully this info will help others.

I have the exact same issue, except light flow isn't installed. Any other ideas?

Anyone have any ideas?

Tripledrop said:
I have the exact same issue, except light flow isn't installed. Any other ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you have something else installed that's causing the issue? I would disable it, reboot, and try again.

I suppose there's always the possibility something else is effecting it, but unsure what! Tried what you suggested and still not working

The way I fixed the talkback issue was to freeze both Google and Samsung text-to-speech in titanium backup.
I've still never seen air view work anywhere but in the browser though. Maybe there is a setting buried somewhere, I only discovered yesterday that the toggles in motion and gestures settings also have sub-menus with settings for individual features (and also when you tap a feature name and then 'try it' there can be more settings like sensitivity for motion zoom and pan).

Do any of you have a pebble? That'd s what was causing the issue for me. Basically if if talkback is being utilized, airview will not work.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

magnumburst said:
So this is a weird little issue that started yesterday, same day I got my S4. Air View works fine for every app but the email app. Instead of the full text, I just see this chopped off little text bubble (see attachment). It happens on either of the two email accounts I have in the app, one exchange, one aol (yes, I am ashamed). Already tried to remove both the accounts, clear the app cache, clear app data, then re-add the accounts. Same thing. Wondering if anyone has seen this issue yet or if it's just me.
S4 is stock, no root, no nothing. Had already installed all apps and changed my launcher before the issue started. Can't think of anything off the top of my head that I changed directly before I noticed the problem. Any help would be appreciated, I get a lot of emails and would love to have this working again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am using LG Tone+ wireless headphone with n9005 and because I enabled its application in the accessibility options, this error happened to me.
Please check any application that might be installed and enabled under the services under accessibility options and disable/ enable until you find the one that causes this problem.
Hope this would help.
btw, thanks guys for the tip, it gave me the idea

mofahmy said:
I am using LG Tone+ wireless headphone with n9005 and because I enabled its application in the accessibility options, this error happened to me.
Please check any application that might be installed and enabled under the services under accessibility options and disable/ enable until you find the one that causes this problem.
Hope this would help.
btw, thanks guys for the tip, it gave me the idea
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks mofahmy, but you'll see that I figured this out months ago. Also a note for any Light Flow users still having the issue, newer versions of Light Flow and GS4 roms have fixed the glitch.

Headphones SVOICE Launch strange issue

Hi all, not sure if this is in the right place, apologies moderators if so
I have problem on my Note 3 - so I am now intrigued and enthusiastic about getting to know and getting the most out of S-Voice - but mainly with the headphones in a hands free fashion.
However when the phone is in my pocket and off and i long press the control button on the headphones to supposedly launch S-Voice or Google Now... i get absolutely nothing.... so i take the phone out of my pocket and turn on the screen... unlock it... and i see a prompt "complete action using S-voice OR Google Search" but only for a split second and the prompt dissappears without me being able to even come close to making a selection and always happens that way.....
So im ending up with... nothing.. no control.. no apps launched.. ever... just a teasingly close to choice thats taken away from me.
Whats the deal? anyone know?
Many thanks
Liam

Try disabling Google's Voice Search (Now) in settings->apps>google now.
This should make svoice the default automatically.
If you need Google Now and don't want it disabled I don't know how I can help. I can't replicate the issue here.

Skander1998 said:
Try disabling Google's Voice Search (Now) in settings->apps>google now.
This should make svoice the default automatically.
If you need Google Now and don't want it disabled I don't know how I can help. I can't replicate the issue here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many thanks for reply, I see what you mean by setting it to default.... But you are right, I do want google now voice search enabled so that's not an option (unless doing this sets the default then when voice search is re enabled it remember my preference??)
How is your svoice setup skander1988? Would you be able to screenshot for me?

fletchy88 said:
Many thanks for reply, I see what you mean by setting it to default.... But you are right, I do want google now voice search enabled so that's not an option (unless doing this sets the default then when voice search is re enabled it remember my preference??)
How is your svoice setup skander1988? Would you be able to screenshot for me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe re-enabling google now will reset the defaults again.
There is nothing to setup though, I'm using the S5 SVoice on my Note 3 with Google Now enabled and it automatically uses SVoice for me.
EDIT: I just reconfirmed, it automatically opens SVoice for me by default without any additional configuration
EDIT2: My friend's Note 3 shows the same behaviour as yours.
^
I'm intrigued.

Skander1998 said:
I believe re-enabling google now will reset the defaults again.
There is nothing to setup though, I'm using the S5 SVoice on my Note 3 with Google Now enabled and it automatically uses SVoice for me.
EDIT: I just reconfirmed, it automatically opens SVoice for me by default without any additional configuration
EDIT2: My friend's Note 3 shows the same behaviour as yours.
^
I'm intrigued.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Too right.... I'm intrigued too! Or maybe annoyed is the word! Again your configuration Skander1988?

Skander1998 said:
I believe re-enabling google now will reset the defaults again.
There is nothing to setup though, I'm using the S5 SVoice on my Note 3 with Google Now enabled and it automatically uses SVoice for me.
EDIT: I just reconfirmed, it automatically opens SVoice for me by default without any additional configuration
EDIT2: My friend's Note 3 shows the same behaviour as yours.
^
I'm intrigued.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Skander1988 - what's your rom note 3 (personal s5 build?) All about? How did you get s5 touch wiz?

fletchy88 said:
Skander1988 - what's your rom note 3 (personal s5 build?) All about? How did you get s5 touch wiz?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use the S5 port on rom central (can't link to rom central here) - I customised to my own needs.
It's basically the S5's Firmware made compatible with the Note 3 with the SPen features readded.

Calculator talking to me

The calculator app is saying what numbers I push. It started doing it in the middle of using it. How can I turn it off?

It's just trying to be friendly! Talk back, dont be cold-hearted

Wooba99 said:
The calculator app is saying what numbers I push. It started doing it in the middle of using it. How can I turn it off?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi,
ok it seems its some bug ?
This is wat i did,
on device.. settings/accessibilities /Services... turn off all "Services apps that is enabled.
eg. i had under Services.. Pushbullet, Greenify, Enhanced Sms. & Caller id etc. etc enabled. I had to turn them all off. Working 100%
Good luck

I found that the settings of text-to-speech options affects the talking calculator.
I just changed the language from English to any other language, then the calculator spoke the other language.
So, if the text-to-speech is turned off, the calculator will be quite. But no idea how to turn this off...

dogbirds said:
I found that the settings of text-to-speech options affects the talking calculator.
I just changed the language from English to any other language, then the calculator spoke the other language.
So, if the text-to-speech is turned off, the calculator will be quite. But no idea how to turn this off...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi,
it is logical that if caculator "speaks" numbers etc. it is using a text to speech voice option. eg On my device Note 4 or my Note 3 or other, i have Samsung voice, Google voice or SVOX installed. If i disable it a lot of my apps won't work. This is not what is causing problem. (If you search around xda threads you will find thread where this solution was posted, unfortunately i did not save link at time) Try option in my post above and you will most likely see it works, but you have to turn off all apps listed in services.( The text to voice is mere a tool)
good luck

willcor said:
hi,
it is logical that if caculator "speaks" numbers etc. it is using a text to speech voice option. eg On my device Note 4 or my Note 3 or other, i have Samsung voice, Google voice or SVOX installed. If i disable it a lot of my apps won't work. This is not what is causing problem. (If you search around xda threads you will find thread where this solution was posted, unfortunately i did not save link at time) Try option in my post above and you will most likely see it works, but you have to turn off all apps listed in services.( The text to voice is mere a tool)
good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've already tried every solutions I found on internet, and none fixed it. My calculator still speaks... lol

I have this as well
It is so stupid I will have to try these fixes later

Unfortunately I cannot disable everything in the services menu as I have a pebble watch and it needs it.
I guess I'll have to get a different calculator app.

Wooba99 said:
Unfortunately I cannot disable everything in the services menu as I have a pebble watch and it needs it.
I guess I'll have to get a different calculator app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A user of my rom was having the same issue. So I fixed it.
Confirmed working, flash in recovery. Must be on a deodexed rom.
http://www.dynamicrom.com/misc/Calculatorfix.zip
Brian

OMG
i've been crazy lurking around for the possible solution of this stupid voice text on my calculator as well.
I had made a thread regarding this and people from here has no idea about the solution for this problem.
i went to the settings, manage apps, all and deleted google text to speech and disabale samsung text to speech.
thats the time it will stop working. BUT, once you close all your recent used apps the voice message will go back again! WTF!

after how many centuries of searching for a solution, finally!!!! the horrible voice is gone when pressing the
stock calculator. downloaded dodol launcher and used it for 3 days and uninstalled it!
voila!

bri315317 said:
A user of my rom was having the same issue. So I fixed it.
Confirmed working, flash in recovery. Must be on a deodexed rom.
http://www.dynamicrom.com/misc/Calculatorfix.zip
Brian
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Worked perfectly! Thank you so so much!

bri315317 said:
A user of my rom was having the same issue. So I fixed it.
Confirmed working, flash in recovery. Must be on a deodexed rom.
http://www.dynamicrom.com/misc/Calculatorfix.zip
Brian
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will work on an Odexed ROM also. Just rename or delete original stock calculator apk and odex. Then flash or extract fixed calculator apk and copy to system/app and reboot! !!
Sent from my SM-N910V / VZW Note 4 DE / Factory Bootloader Unlocked / Rooted / Custom Kernel-ed / TWRP 2.8.4.0.trltevzw

calculator sound off
Settings, system,language and input- Google voice typing
that did the trick....

ijimbov said:
Settings, system,language and input- Google voice typing
that did the trick....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that worked! Awesome thanks

Finally figured it out on my device, it's the samsung text to speech engine causing this issue. Since I'm rooted i froze it through bloat freezer and it worked perfectly. I still have google text to speech enabled and that doesn't interefere.

Google now cant access microphone

So i use "ok google" a lot and have on all of my phones. But i constantly am having issues with my Nexus 6p, it will simply not work and when i press the mic button on the google search widget it tells me "cannot access microphone" a reboot fixes it or simply waiting a little bit then it will work again. It's anyone else having this problem??

Haven't seen this one personally. That sucks sorry.

I had that problem when I had cortana. It had taken priority. Prior phone though.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

dislplin01 said:
So i use "ok google" a lot and have on all of my phones. But i constantly am having issues with my Nexus 6p, it will simply not work and when i press the mic button on the google search widget it tells me "cannot access microphone" a reboot fixes it or simply waiting a little bit then it will work again. It's anyone else having this problem??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless you specify what is installed on the phone, what ROM, etc.
It's difficult to help.
I would start disabling the apps I installed prior to this happening.

tech_head said:
Unless you specify what is installed on the phone, what ROM, etc.
It's difficult to help.
I would start disabling the apps I installed prior to this happening.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea sorry, stock no special add ons and minimal app, facebook, instagram, ect very simple i have other phones and tablets to play i keep this guy stock for now

i have this problem too occasionally. a reboot fixes.
as someone else already mentioned, i suspect some other program is taking over the mic but i haven't figured out which one yet.
what's weird is that only okay google and the home screen search bar mic is busted when this happens. i can still use the mic to search in chrome and to do anything else (like write a text or whatever).
anyway, keeping an eye on this thread in case anyone figures out what the guilty app is.

May try going to app settings for the Google app (press and hold on it in the app drawer and drag it to app info is the fastest way)
And then go to permissions. Mic should be on. If it's not turn it on. If it is on, try turning it off then back on?
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Do any of you have Smart Lock with Trusted Voice enabled?

Same Issue
I also have this issue. My phone is non rooted. Only broken through the search widget. I was using nova launcher. Now using google launcher to see if that cures the issue. So far so good. Will now download my common used apps and see if anything breaks it. I really hope it was'nt Nova. I'll cry. I did speak to Google and they will replace the phone under warranty but I am going to test first anyways. I won't be returning my phone to google anytime soon as they want to pre authorize another charge on my credit card to ship me the device well behold I don't have enough available credit for a pre auth. Said they have no other options. So if your phone is under warranty and needs to be replaced make sure you have a good credit limit. I even offered to send them my phone before they sent me the new one but they said I cannot do that. So upset with google right now and their returns.

I had the same issue as OP, as recent as this past weekend. I was stock/normal rooted, no special launcher, no cortana. Microphone worked fine for speakerphone, but i could not use voice search on Google now on my phone, my moto watch, or android auto in my car. Weird how one issue spans three devices.
google searches yielded nothing. i deleted tons of apps and nothing. i went ahead and just flashed the whole stock rom, and it works normal now.

Check the permissions settings.

I am having the same problem as the OP. Glad to know I'm not alone.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Reading the thread, had anyone solved this problem? I took the advice on checking the permission settings and found that all permissions are allowed except for storage and camera (or was it contacts? I don't remember exactly, both of them are lcoated closely). Anyhow, I decided to just allow all permissions, walla it seemed to have solved the problem, I pressed my finger on the microphone at the back of the phone and said "ok google" and it responded. Can anyone else try to see if this works?
This new permission structure has its fair share of problems, I have plenty apps crashing because of only partial permission allowed, Skype being one of them