A hot new upgrade for Google Search is starting to roll out to the masses that will bring some very nice functionality. The “OK Google” hotword that you use to initiate a voice search within Google Now or on the home-screen of a Google Experience Launcher can now be used anywhere on the phone — even if you’re in a different app or on the lock screen.
There are a couple of caveats to note, unfortunately. For starters, not everyone is going to see the new options right away even if they are on the latest Google Search update (which should be 5.14). It’s said Google is enabling this option in waves and that you won’t be able to force the update — simply be patient and it should be delivered to you in due time.
We’re also hearing reports that the functionality requires the latest Google Play Services update, so even if you could sideload the latest Google Search APK you’d need not only the latest Google Play Services update alongside Google flipping the switch to push the new options to your phone. That’s a lot that has to happen, but patience can go a long way so hang tight and wait for all the goods to be delivered to you proper.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]