1. Google Now
   What does Google Now do? Well, a lot of things, it seems. It DJs, identifies songs, performs calculations, will Google anything, and keeps drivers up to date on traffic. It can even tell you where you parked if you’re having a panicky I-have-no-idea-where-my-car-is moment. Some people believe that Google Now is a more proactive version of Siri. As it gathers user data from your Android, it will begin to come up with suggestions based on your search history — it gets to know you in a way that Siri does not. For example, if you’ve looked up an item recently and you walk by a store that carries it, Google Now will let you know.

Read More: Four Calendar Apps to Replace Your Planner

2. Cortana
   The coolest thing about Cortana, and what makes it different, is that it can work across platforms (meaning it is transferrable between an Android phone and a Windows computer or tablet).
   Otherwise, it seems that Cortana operates much like Siri — a voice-activated system that can tap into other services within the phone, like Google, Spotify, alarms, and calendars.

3. Jarvis
   Jarvis is has pretty standard features, but with a cool male British voice to help you along instead of a robotic American female one.

4. Maluuba
   The best part of Maluuba is that it is free. Maluuba appears to be a pretty basic alternative to Siri. You connect your Google account and voilà! It is a personal assistant designed to help you navigate the web, play music, set reminders, and all of the other good things that Siri does.

5. Robin
   Robin, unlike most Android versions of Siri, brings in the attitude that characterizes Apple’s product. In other words, Robin talks back. She is a sassy assistant, if that’s what you’re looking for. Oh, and it’s also free!

6. Assistant.ai
   Another humorous option — like Robin, a robot with some personality. And, like Google Now, Assistant.ai makes suggestions for you based on your preferences and history.

7. Smart Voice Assistant
   Customizable. Ooh. Aah. Meaning you can choose what features your voice activation has control over. Otherwise pretty standard, it seems.

8. Dragon Mobile Assistant
   A basic alternative to Siri. Responds when you say “Hello, Dragon” instead of “Hey, Siri.” Also customizable to meet your preferences and needs.

There are a few more alternatives out there, but these cover the bases with a wide range of feature options. Which one you choose is really up to your own preferences. Siri is certainly not the best personal assistant out there, and Android users are lucky to have so many options to choose from.

If you have never used voice commands on your smartphone, you need to make the switch. Read on and learn why you should use voice commands on your smartphone more often.

Read More: 3 Ways to Make the Most Out of Gmail on Your Android

Notes, Texts, and Email Messages
No matter how many Android keyboard apps you may have tried, some days it seems like you just can’t type anything the right way, or worse, autocorrect seems bound and determined to make you look silly. Enter: the microphone option. You’ve most likely noticed the microphone on your Android phone. Now, you can easily dictate the things you want to remember, create texts, and send off quick, snappy emails in a jiffy. Voice recognition technology is so accurate, you can get your message finished way before you would if you typed it in. Of course, the environment may be less than desirable, but whenever you can use your voice, instead of the keyboard, it’s a plus.

Need Info? Need Google Now
If there’s something you need to know, you don’t have to stop what you are doing to ask a question, find out the weather, or ask for directions. Instead, turn to Google Now. It’s already built right into your Android smartphone. After you activate Google Now for the first time, you can receive timely cards that are based upon your search history. If you are interested in tech, sports, the weather, and recipes, you would receive cards based on these terms. As you keep using the service, it only gets better. Ask Google what you want to know, and you can find out the answer, fast.

Always Listening, Hands-Free Technology
If you are lucky enough to own one of the few smartphones that has always listening, hands-free technology, then you can save yourself several valuable seconds each morning. Do you often misplace your phone? With this kind of tech, after you activate it, you can simply say, “OK Google Now” and it will chime, saving you from having to look for your phone.

Smartphone Voice Commands Keep You Productive
Faster than typing fingers, more options than a keyboard can handle, using smartphone voice commands is a fantastic way to do more. Make sure that your Android smartphone battery doesn’t die before you need it.

Install PSafe PowerPRO and you’ll never have to worry about a dead battery again. Receive great tips to keep it working better than ever.

WakeVoice: The Talking Alarm Clock

Rather than listening to the drone of the typical alarm, WakeVoice takes a different approach. When it goes off in the morning, it uses voice recognition to hear you tell it to snooze or to turn off the alarm. Of course, you can just lean over and turn it off manually, but where’s the fun in that?

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When you tell it to stop, the voice you’ve selected (and there are a few options, at least in the paid version), will play for you what you want to hear. It could be an inspirational message to add a little motivation to your day or it could be weather, so you don’t have to open another app to figure out what to wear for the day. Or, you could set the app to share with you the latest news of your choosing, your horoscope, or your agenda.

Customize your wake up experience. WakeVoice includes a selection of themes, sounds, and even home automation features. Yes, WakeVoice is compatible with Philips Hue bulbs, so you can wake up without a jolt. Now that’s smart.

Good Morning, Sunshine
After you’ve installed the app, it’s time to get busy. Set your first alarm. Choose from your standard ringtones or any special music you already possess. Choose if you want the alarm to repeat and on what days.

Then consider your extras. Will you choose the news you want via RSS feed? Or will you go with your horoscope or the weather? Waking up in the morning has never been so much fun.

Make sure your phone battery doesn’t die on you in the night. Instead, install PowerPRO, so you always know where your phone battery stands. Receive hints and tips to keep your battery running for longer than ever.

One of the best Android TV sets currently available is the Nvidia Shield Android TV box, which includes a controller (a remote is sold separately), GeForce (a gaming streaming service), and 4K HDR streaming. It’s the best option if you’re into gaming, but it’ll cost you about $200 — at a minimum. However, if you’re not into gaming, you’ll save some money on an Android TV device. There are many other great options available on Amazon, from KudoTV to Matricom, ranging from $30-$100. The following are some of the best features of Android TV:

Read More: 4 Best New Android Apps for August

1. Google Casts Media onto Your TV
One of the best features about Android TV is its ability to work like ChromeCast. You can cast anything — movies, television shows, games, sports, music, etc — from your phone, computer, or tablet to your TV. No wires, adaptors, or additional devices necessary!

2. Gaming
Another great feature of Android TV is the ability to play games, whether you’re playing solo or have multiple players. You can use game controllers, or else your phone or tablet as controllers. You can also play on- or offline, depending on the game. The best part? You can play a game on your phone and then continue it on your TV — exactly where you left off. Your progress will be saved on all of your devices.

3. Voice Search
With this function you can search through your apps more freely. You must say specific commands, but there is a lot of freedom with how specific you must be. For example, if you can’t remember the name of that TV show everyone is talking about, but you know it has Winona Ryder in it, you can command the device to find “television shows with Winona Ryder.”

4. Watch More Than TV Through Your Favorite Apps
All of your favorite media apps are included, like Netflix, HBO Now, and Hulu Plus, in addition to apps such as YouTube, ESPN, BBC iPlayer, Vevo, DailyMotion, and more. You’ll also have full access to the Google Play store, so that you can rent and purchase all of your desired media.

Google Now recognizes repeated actions that are performed on a device to display more relevant information to the user in the form of “cards.” It also uses Google’s Knowledge Graph system to assemble detailed search results. Google Now is a useful tool for all Google users. Here are a few of the key functions and commands to familiarize yourself with.

OK, Google.

By first saying “OK, Google” to your Android device, you can then follow that up with a question or task that your Google app will then perform (i.e. “OK, Google, what’s today’s weather?” to which Google will provide the day’s forecast).

You can also just tap the microphone button on the Google search bar. If this isn’t working for you, make sure that your “Google Now” function is enabled, which can be done by going to the Google Now app, then “Menu > Settings > Voice > OK Google.”

Read More: 4 Android Features to Know, Use, and Love

Here are a few commands that can now be done, and questions that can be asked:

• Open [app name]. For example, if you say “Open Gmail,” it will automatically open the Gmail app for you.
• Text or Send Text to [Contact Name]. Easily send a birthday text to your mom just by saying it into your phone!
• Take a Picture. Self-explanatory. Saying “Take Photo” also works.
• “How old is [Michael Jordan]?” Google Now will search Google to provide you with the answer based on web searches.
• “What’s the tip for [65 dollars]?” Google Now will use the calculator function on Google to give you the correct answer.
• Create a Calendar Event: [Lunch with Patricia, Tuesday at 2:00 PM]. Your Google Calendar will be utilized to save this event.
• “Where’s my package?” If you have any tracking information saved in your Gmail account, Google Now will pull up this information for you.
• Post to Twitter. Send out important Tweets to all of your followers with just the sound of your voice!

These are just a few samples of the many commands that Google Now recognizes. If you have an Android device, try out this function; it’s handy, fun, and can even help you stay organized. While you’re busy giving Google a workout, make sure that your phone isn’t getting too much heat — download PSafe Total for free today.

PSafe Total features functions that can accelerate your phone’s internet speed, boost its memory, and cool the CPU, allowing your phone to run without interference or fear of overheating.