Why can't OK GOOGLE call or text when locked like SIRI? anyone else regret leaving apple?

[AC Question]

i switched fom apple 5s toa sony z3. i love the phone itself and the camera is amazing.. but the ok google basically is crap compared to siri. with siri i could have my cell in my pocket locked with my headphones in and press the button and say "call so and so" or "text msg so and so" or "read new texts" and reply to those texts.. with ok google all i get is " im sorry you have to unlock your phone", and yes i have all the toggles switched to work in the lock screen etc... what im wondering is... WHAT CAN OK GOOGLE EVEN DO WHILE LOCKED?? IT SEEMS LIKE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!

 

[LeoRex]

What version/phone? In the Google voice settings, you may have these:

 

[JAUPHOTO]

i have this.and android 5.1.1 on sony Z3...
from what i am finding on the web, ok google cant do anything from the lock screen which i think is pointless!!!

 

[LeoRex]

Looks like you don't have the newer version of the Google app stuff. You don't have the "Always On" or the trusted voice stuff. Whether these are on or off are device specific since they require some hooks into the low power stuff in the processor. If you are up to date with the Google Service framework and Google App, then I suspect that, at least on 5.1.1, Sony hasn't flipped the switch on those features.

On my Nexus 6P (6.0.1), it'll wake up and do whatever with no restrictions.

 

[JAUPHOTO]

hmmmm.. yeah i have read that sony is going to 6.0 soon on the xperia.. so i gues its pattern unlock until then.. thnx

 

[LeoRex]

Yeah, some devices got the trusted voice/always on stuff in 5.X.... It all depends on the phone hardware. It isn't so much related to the version of Android. It's more to do with your phone's hardware capabilities and the kernel licensing. The 'always on' features require the phone to access the low power modes on your phone's processor.... so your phone can listen for your voice command to wake. That's why the options you have say "when your screen is on or your are charging" - in both states, your phone is active.

And those low power modes require a) your kernel to support the modes and b) have Sony willing to pony up the extra license fee to Qualcomm to access the features of the Snapdragon processor.