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Google releases “OK Google” Chrome extension for hands-free voice search on the desktop

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNBBijn4JuY]

Google announced today on Google+ that it’s releasing a new extension for Chrome that will enable hands-free activation of the voice search features it rolled out earlier this year. Google announced the conversational voice search features for Chrome back in May and has been updating it on various platforms since, but previously users had to actually click a microphone icon to activate voice search on the desktop.

Now, like on Android 4.4 devices and within the Google Now mobile apps, using the extension users will be able to simply say “OK Google” to initiate a search:

This year, rather than stopping midway through to wash your hands and type in a search, you can just speak to your laptop: “Ok Google, how many ounces are in one cup?” Et voila, the cooking can go on. You can also say “Ok Google, set a timer for 30 minutes” so you don’t forget to baste that turkey.

Users will have to be on Google.com in Chrome in order to activate a voice search hands-free.

The free extension is available on the Chrome Web Store now for English speakers in the U.S.

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Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s weekly Logic Pros series and makes music as one half of Toronto-based Makamachine.