For the last few years, the problem with virtually all entertainment venues--especially those that deal in short-format video--hasn't been in content, but rather in discovery. Cable packages boast channel availability commonly in the three-digit mark. YouTube (News - Alert) gets more video in a week than most users could watch in a lifetime. Most cable networks have their own websites in which recently-aired programming is re-aired at no charge. But finding something to watch is a tougher proposition, and one that DirecTV (News - Alert) wants to make easier when it adds voice-search functionality to its mobile app, set to hit this summer.

Search function isn't new to DirecTV, as the service already offers a search capability through its DVR system. But the new search function, which will hit on its smartphone app for both iOS and Android (News - Alert) devices, will allow the search function to be made even easier by bypassing text entry--which can be unpleasant on many standard remotes--allowing users to simply speak the desired search terms and let the app do the rest.

The app is set to work on "natural language" commands, requiring no start-up cue phrases--phrases like "Xbox Bing" when using the Xbox 360's features--and instead going directly to the meat of the search like "find all horror movies" or "search for The Big Bang (News - Alert) Theory". Early indications suggest that the search function works surprisingly well, with not a lot of the misinterpretations that are normally found in voice-related functions. Of course, the early word likely focuses on a bit of a dog and pony show, with plenty of tame searches that have been previously verified to work smoothly, but still, it's good to see the search works as well as it does even in a tame environment. Voice searches can work by actor, channel, genre, and time frame across basic, premium and even on-demand content, bringing the full range of offerings to one basic function.

Early word also indicates a tablet version may be in the works, to come after the smartphone version, but a specific timeline on that is not yet available. Also, despite the range, there are still some limitations: searches can't be limited to only content that's already been paid for, so both pay-per-view options and the options already paid for come up in searches.

Still, the early word is positive for DirecTV's new app, and anything that makes an overall set of searches easier is going to be the kind of thing that will keep at least some subscribers in and paying. With more options available than ever--Dish Network is constantly looking for new subscribers, so pulling them from DirecTV would be a good market strategy, and that's before the issue of cable cutting even gets involved--being more competitive and offering more services is just the kind of strategy that makes sense.