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Replace Android's Voice Dialer with Google Now for Better Bluetooth Dialing

Feb 4, 2015 11:01 PM
Smartphone with wireless earbuds on a flat surface.

When you press the "Call" button on most Bluetooth headsets, the majority of Android devices will launch a built-in Voice Dialer app. This app has been around since the dawn of Android, and has received very few interface or functionality updates.

So the development team at Vibaroo decided they'd come up with a way to forward this exchange over to the nicer, newer Google Now interface. After a bit of setup, the call button on your Bluetooth headset will immediately bring up Google's updated voice recognition software.

Install BT GNow

Vibaroo's app is called BT Gnow, and it's available on the Google Play Store for free. Search it by name to get it installed on your device, or head directly to the install page here.

"BT GNow app interface featuring Bluetooth access options"

Configure the Google Search App

BT GNow doesn't provide a settings interface, it simply intercepts the Bluetooth call button action. But to make sure your device is ready for this, open your Google Search app and head to the settings menu. From here, select "Voice," then make sure the "Bluetooth headset" option is enabled.

Settings menu with options for accounts, privacy, search language, and more.
Voice settings menu with options for language, detection, offline recognition, and Bluetooth headset.
Settings menu with options for accounts, privacy, search language, and more.
Voice settings menu with options for language, detection, offline recognition, and Bluetooth headset.

Set BT GNow as the Default Call Button Action

Next, just press the "Call" button on your Bluetooth headset while your screen is on, and you'll see a standard Android "Complete action using" dialog. Select "BT Gnow" from this menu, then press "Always."

Complete action options for an app with Google and Bluetooth options.

Immediately after that, you'll see the new interface. Simply say "Call," followed by a contact's name, and you'll be off and running.

Replace Android's Voice Dialer with Google Now for Better Bluetooth Dialing
Replace Android's Voice Dialer with Google Now for Better Bluetooth Dialing
Replace Android's Voice Dialer with Google Now for Better Bluetooth Dialing
Replace Android's Voice Dialer with Google Now for Better Bluetooth Dialing

From now on, the new Google Now interface will handle your call requests, regardless of if your screen is on or off. Gone are the days of this drab old Voice Dialer interface:

Voice Dialer screen with instructions to call a name or number.
Replace Android's Voice Dialer with Google Now for Better Bluetooth Dialing
Voice Dialer screen with instructions to call a name or number.
Replace Android's Voice Dialer with Google Now for Better Bluetooth Dialing

Does Google Now recognize names and contacts better than the old Voice Dialer app used to? Let us know in the comment section below or via Facebook, Google+, or Twitter.

The next big software update for iPhone is coming sometime in April and will include a Food section in Apple News+, an easy-to-miss new Ambient Music app, Priority Notifications thanks to Apple Intelligence, and updates to apps like Mail, Photos, Podcasts, and Safari. See what else is coming to your iPhone with the iOS 18.4 update.

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