Google Developing Siri Rival?

Google has acquired Cleversense, developers of personal assistant app Alfred, fuelling rumours that the company is set to create an Android rival to Apple's Siri. 

According to Android enthusiast site Androidandme, the project, codenamed Majel, is being developed at the Google X labs in San Fransisco. An evolution of Google's Voice Actions, recognising natural speech patterns as Siri does, the service could be released in its initial form before the end of 2011.

Separately, Google has removed 22 fraudulent Android apps from the Market, after it was notified of the problem by mobile security company Lookout.