The NY Times reports that Google has created an app for the iPhone that will give the handset advanced voice recognition. The app will be able to answer user-generated location questions (Like finding the nearest Home Depot), give driving directions, respond to random questions, and even search data from an address book.

It works by recording something you say and uploading it to Google’s servers. Then, it crunches the data and returns with an answer within seconds. The app will be free and should be available for download by as soon as next week.

If your holiday shopping list has "robot" on it, then get in the virtual line for this i-SOBOT. Supposedly the world’s smallest humanoid robot at 6.5 inches tall, it has 17 custom designed actuators, a gyro-sensor; it can walk, talk, and dance.

The i-Sobot robot can understand to up to 10 voice commands and comes with a remote control.

Amazon is accepting orders and it will run you $299.99.

The US Patent and Trademark Office announced two new applications by Apple. One is for a "Multimedia data transfer for a personal communication device," that would bypass the SMS protocol used in GSM networks, and would convert messages from text into voice. The applications for the visually impaired are exciting.

The second is called " One-to-One", and it involves personal training sessions at Apple Stores. For $99 customers get access to individual training on topics such as the basics of digital photography or using an iPhone.