Google has released an update for its Android Google Search app that allows people to use voice commands to activate the camera or find out who's singing that catchy song on TV.

"Now with the Google Search App on Android, you can just tap the microphone or say "OK Google", then "take a photo" or "take a video," Google announced on its Google+ page yesterday. Google said it will launch the camera app in the user's preferred mode.

For people already in the habit of using voice commands in Google's Search app, they can still use the microphone icon (instead of saying "OK Google") to launch the camera.

It's also not necessary to use the recommended phrase — for example, saying "open camera" will do the trick too.

The new ability to open the camera app in photo or video mode using a voice command adds to an already long list of commands available through Google Now, which on Android devices is accessed by swiping up from the button of the screen.

So, for those testing out voice commands for the first time, it's also possible to launch other apps like Twitter by saying "open Twitter". It's not possible to say "post to Twitter", but it is possible to say "post to Google+".

Likewise, as listed Google's support document voice commands, you can send an email without a typing a word, which is pretty useful if you think that using a soft keyboard is a pain. Google guides you through the process after telling it to "send email".

One of the options it lists in its support document that can’t be accessed by everyone yet is "listen to TV", another feature it announced yesterday that operates somewhat like Shazam.

"If you happen to miss the name of one of the songs while watching, just tap the mic in your #GoogleSearch app (or say "OK Google") and say "listen to TV". You'll find out the title, artist and other cover versions," Google notes. The feature is only available in the US for now, however.

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