Smartphones are getting smarter each day with the use of apps. The most recent trend by developers is cracking the "virtual assistant" code that gives users the ability to talk to their phone to get search results, find locations, schedule meetings, call contacts, read messages, and sorts of functionality that we would normally have to physically interact with our phones to complete.
Apple, Google, and other major companies have their players in the game, but some of the most innovative attempts come from indie developers like Speaktoit who are also looking to give your phone J.A.R.V.I.S.- like qualities.
Their latest attempt includes integrated speech technology from Sensory, Inc. that gives Speaktoit the ability use voice commands even when the screen is off. The feature is only available to Premium users, of course ($2/month or $20 lifetime); but, if you pony up the dough, you can speak the phrase "Hey Assistant" and the phone will wake from sleep mode and await your next command.
Upgrading to Speaktoit Premium will also give users the ability to "teach" their assistant personalized commands. Think of it as macros for your old-school programmable TV remote - You can program your assistant to do execute tasks your way.
Additional features in the latest update include Waze integration, reading email from Gmail, Yahoo & Outlook, and a new avatar to give your assistant more personality. Pretty soon, we will be able to tell our smartphones to start brewing coffee and warm up the car in the morning.
Wait, we can already do that.