Google is testing a new feature for its main app for Android and iOS. It is called Daily Listen and will pull stories on topics you are interested in for a five-minute recap. You have to opt in to try this experiment with Search Labs. In addition to the audio, the app will provide text transcripts so you can follow along.
Google says Daily Listen is based on your interests with Discover, so the topics you follow on Search and Discover in the Google app will help you get a more personalized audio experience. If you can access the feature, you will see a new “Daily Listen” section on your home screen when you open the Google app. The card will display a play button showing how long the podcast is; you can enter the audio experience from there.
Playback speed options range from 1-2x, and the timeline notes each segment with the ability to skip while a 10-second rewind rounds out the controls.
Daily Listen has a “Related stories” tab where you can give a thumbs up or thumbs down to stories and explore new topics. This helps Google fine-tune the algorithm and serve up even better content over time.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
