The Moto X is probably going to be the most controversial phone of 2013. Many will argue about the specs vs the price, but one thing we can all agree on is that it has some cool features, namely touchless control. Touchless control allows you to get directions, set a reminder, set an alarm, call someone, find out who won the big game last night, and so much more, all without touching your phone. Sounds pretty cool doesn’t it? By just saying “OK Google Now” anytime anywhere, your Moto X will awake and await your next command. This feature is not on by default, but setting it up and using it is pretty easy, so hit the break to get started.
[Scroll down if you want to skip the written part and watch the tutorial video]
If you just bought your Moto X and you already went through the initial setup process for the phone, you might notice a message in your notification area telling you to set up Touchless Control. If so, go ahead and tap that and it will guide you through a short tutorial and set you up. If you don’t have the notification message or you have already set it up and want to fine tune things, then head over to Settings / Touchless Control.
Make sure “Touchless Control” is on by checking the little square box. You also want to turn on “Launch when display is off.” This way you will be able to speak to your Moto X even if the display is turned off. The next thing you need to decide on is if you want to be able place calls without unlocking your device. This is on by default, and I recommend keeping it that way.
Now tap on “Confirm before calling.” There are three choices. The first one is, “Always place call without confirming”. When you ask your Moto X to place call, it won’t ask you for confirmation. This is much quicker, but you will still have the opportunity to cancel it. This is the default selection, and again, I highly recommend going with it. The second option is “Confirm based on calling history” and the third is “Always ask before placing a call.” Feel free to play with all three to see which you prefer.
The next step is to train your Moto X with your voice and how you will say, “OK Google Now”. Just tap on “Train launch phrase”. You will be given the opportunity to say “OK Google Now” three times for training purposes. Even if you already “trained” your Moto X, you can still go through this quick process again if you find that your Moto X isn’t responding to you so well. The only thing you need to make sure on is to be in a quite room. Don’t try doing this at a concert. Once you have recorded all three versions, you are good to go. In theory, your Moto X will only respond to your voice, but it’s not a 100%. If there is ambient noise or someone else’s voice is similar, then your Moto X might cheat on you. The other thing I need to mention is that often times, you will be able to wake your Moto X with just “OK Google”. It’s not a 100%, but it’s a little shorter.
There are a number of commands that you can say, including “Navigate to______”, “What is the weather like today”, “Remind me at 5;00pm to pick up milk”, “Call______”, and so on. You can also say, “Help me” for a list of commands that you can use. If you have set things up the way I have described, your Moto X will respond from any app and even if the display is turned off.
If you happen to use a security lock screen such as a pin or pattern (which I always recommend), then you will be limited to calls and voicemails, assuming you checked that in the settings. However, Motorola lets you select trusted Bluetooth devices that will keep your phone unlocked. So for example, you can set your car’s Bluetooth as a trusted device so when you are in your car and connected to it, your lock screen will not be active. It works for headsets too. The assumption is that if you’re connected to one of your trusted Bluetooth devices, then your phone is safe and with you. All you need to do is go to Settings / Security. Tap on “Trusted Devices”, type in your PIN or pattern, and select whichever paired devices you want. You can also pair a device from this screen as well.
To make things really easy for you, I put together a tutorial video showing you each and every step along with some of the commands that you can ask your Moto X. Check it out below and be sure to check out all our Moto X guides here.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: How to set up and use Touchless Control on the Moto X
No comments:
Post a Comment