Latest Google Chrome Update Adds Now-Style Voice Search

Mobile users have become accustomed to searching with only their voice, but those on the desktop are still stuck with the ol' keyboard and mouse -- that is, unless you're rocking Google Chrome, whose latest stable version now includes voice search.

Android Central reported Tuesday that the latest stable version of the Google Chrome web browser has been endowed with the power of voice search, a feature borrowed from the Android-based Google Now.

After updating to version 27.0.1453.93 and heading to Google.com, Chrome users will find a little microphone on the right edge of their search field. Click it, allow the feature (first time only), then speak and watch as your words magically appear on screen before the search results are presented.

It's a neat trick and a peek into what life might be like should Apple add Siri to the next version of OS X, but it's not quite perfect: We tried doing a voice search of our own name, but every single time, Chrome lopped off the first part of our last name, showing results for "Jr Walter" instead.

We had much better luck with more common phrases, including "Where is the nearest Panda Express?" (Sadly, it's more than an hour away from us. Shucks…) If you're already a Chrome user, voice search will wind up being another tool in your web utility belt and if not, it's a neat trick to kill a few minutes.

The latest version of the Google Chrome browser can be found here.

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