is exactly that--a voice-powered helper app that can do everything from checking the weather to scheduling appointments to finding the closest Fedex box. And unlike Siri, it doesn't yammer on and on; it just works.

I kid. I don't mind Siri's verbal responses. But I also like Maluuba's speedy, silent operation. Just tell it what you want and bam, done.

Though designed for Android, Maluuba bears more than a passing resemblance to a Windows Phone app, especially on its Explore page. There you'll find colorful tiles for things like weather, businesses, and navigation.

There's also a Search page where you can tap an onscreen microphone or type your search. And the My Day page shows a gorgeous summary of appointments, alarms, and reminders.

Wherever you are in the app, a tap of the microphone lets you issue a command. You can update Facebook or Twitter, get directions, ask how many calories are in a donut, and so on.