After Smartwatches, Microsoft Launches Its 'Ok Google' Alternative App 'Torque' For Android

Microsoft has released an app for Android smartphones called Torque that lets you perform instant search similar to Google's 'Ok Google' command. However, instead voice, you need to shake your device to activate the app.

Initially, Torque was launched in October just for selected Android smartwatches. Users could activate the app with a wrist flick. Now the app is available for Android smartphones as well. Like Google, Torque would also provide instant answers to questions related to local flights, stock prices, sports scores, weather and many more. 

The results are powered by Bing search. 

Torque is a product by Microsoft Garage - a group exploring, experimenting with cross-platform consumer applications. Microsoft Garage grew out of Office Labs in five years ago. 

"From a customer's point of view, it's a really great way to get first access to emerging technologies. And from Microsoft's point of view, it's really a great way to get real feedback from real customers on how people are using things," said Jeff Ramos, Manager of The Garage in a blog post.

On the Play Store, Torque has been receiving mixed reviews. For some users the app works accurately but for some its just another gimmick. At the time of writing this story, the app had scored 3.9 star out of 5 ratings and had 240+ review. 

The team apart from building Torque has worked on quite a number of other applications as well. Some of them include Mouse without Borders that lets you control four computers with a single mouse and keyboard; Bus Alarm which tells you when your bus is arriving; Journeys and Notes, an Android app for logging social trips; Next Lock Screen (Android lock screen)and a Voice Commander. 

Torque is just another example of Microsoft treading softly on rival platforms under Satya Nadella. 

Download Torque Search 2.0 free on Play Store.