Google Has a Gift for Its Australian Mates

— -- Google's voice activated search app now speaks 'Strayan.

Australians can now have their Google app speak to them in an Aussie accent when they're making a search, issuing a command or getting directions in Google Maps. Best of all, Google's new Aussie assistant can understand everyday slang such as Maccas (McDonald's), arvo (afternoon) and footy (football.)

"People are starting to talk their mobile devices more regularly—in fact, mobile voice searches have more than doubled in the past year alone. So, we wanted to make sure that Aussies were hearing an Australian voice speak back to them when they were asking questions during pub trivia or simply setting an alarm for tomorrow morning," Shane Treeves, a communications manager at Google Australia, said in a blog post.

Google said it worked with a team of Australian linguists to make sure its Aussie assistant had the correct pronunciation and intonation so it could pronounce places Mullumbimby or Bouinderra like a local.