Sky Q adds voice search
David Farnor | On 23, Mar 2017
Sky Q is following in Amazon and Apple’s footsteps with a brand new voice search.
In a streaming age, viewers increasingly expect certain things from their entertainment providers, whether it’s cross-device support, the ability to watch offline or flexibility with no ties to a contract. For those paying up for Sky’s premium service, Sky Q, every month, the expectations are arguably even higher.
One expectation that has rapidly become standard is the ability to search by voice – a trend fuelled by Amazon, Apple and Google’s investment in their own hardware to go with their streaming platform. Roku’s devices, too, have continued to set a high benchmark in the VOD world. And so Sky has finally joined its rivals in supporting voice search, allowing viewers to find TV by pressing and holding the voice button on the side of the Sky Q touch remote, and simply saying what they’re looking for.
Customers at home can ask Sky Q to take them to Billions or “the Liverpool game”. For films, they can search for a genre with a specific time, age or star rating, such as “comedy movies”, “Tom Hanks’ movies rated five stars”. They can filter by actors and directors, including “films with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone”, and, in a neat touch, they can also search for movies using some iconic quotes, including “Say hello to my little friend” and “I’ll have what she’s having”.
Alongside voice search, a collection of new personalisation features will also roll out to Sky Q. The My Q section will become the new Sky Q homepage, featuring recommendations based on household viewing and top new series from all channels across Sky Q. And the Continue Watching section will allow customers to pick up where they left off from an episode in a series such as Game of Thrones and Fortitude. Plus navigation will be made simpler, with Recordings and TV Guide a swipe away from the new homepage.
Sky is also adding support for Facebook videos with the current My Photos application. Customers can use the My Photos App on Sky Q to sign into their Facebook profile and see their latest photos and videos.