Database Users

Donut & Text-to-speech

Hi Guys,
Been a long time since I posted on this forum, back in the days of my T-Mobile MDA Vario! Thankfully moved on to a better operating system in the shape of Google's Android. Any way my question relates to the new Donut (1.6) update. I've had a read off the features for this update from the Google Android website but i'm having trouble using some of them.
http://developer.android.com/sdk/android-1.6-highlights.html
Text-to-speech
I've activated the settings for this in the Settings menu and downloaded the necessary voice pack from the market but so far can't seem to get it to work. Ideally i want it to be able to read back my text messages as this is very handy for when driving, but i can't find any options to turn this on. Anyone got any ideas?
Voice Dialling
Another feature useful while driving (hands free of course) and the normal way on most phones is of course to press and hold a certain button. I think I must have tried every button for this one but still can't find it.
Any help you guys can give would be great thanks.

tubbyman said:
Hi Guys,
Voice Dialling
Another feature useful while driving (hands free of course) and the normal way on most phones is of course to press and hold a certain button. I think I must have tried every button for this one but still can't find it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Voice Dialing (and Voice Search) is not installed outside of US (and maybe AU).
If it was, you would have a microphone icon beside the google search button.
And for Voice dialing, you could just long press the green dial button (physical button)

oh right didn't realise that was a US only feature, guess I can wait till éclair for them to roll it out here. Any update on text-to-speech?

tubbyman said:
Any update on text-to-speech?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try the application TalkBack . (it might be already installed on your phone, or install from market).
You can activate it in Settings-Accessibility. Then android menus/popups/... will be talked to you !
(you should also install Text-To-Speech Extended from market )

Voice Dialer HF

Hi
Has anyone tried this app on the Desire.
Voice Dialer HF
It works on the Nexus One (although you still need to touch the screen as there is no camera button).
My Nexus One has no camera button. How do I start VDHF?
Today, VDHF on the Nexus One may only be started via the icon, since the Nexus One has neither a camera nor a send button. As soon as Google releases an OTA update that activates the Bluetooth "voice activation" feature, we will add support.
It's the closest thing to proper bluetooth voice dialing available at the moment, and since my phone is due to arrive early next week I would be interested if anyone has used this app or will now try it if they didn't know it existed.
Looking foward to receiving feedback.

i can´t DW

miguelromerom said:
i can´t DW
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't download it either

aenis said:
I can't download it either
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is the inibility to download beacuse of the restrictions that are seemingly on the Desire at the moment or is there another reason?

Lyrrad said:
(although you still need to touch the screen as there is no camera button).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For this issue, you can try button shortcut in the market! you will love that I think ;-)

Anyone on this app.
Is it a copy protected app or is it just not downloadable because it's not compatable. I haven't received my phone yet, and to be honest I am beginning to think I was too hasty in ordering it.
EDIT: INFO from Voice Dialer HF
# I can't buy any paid app from Android Market. I use a Google Hosted Domain.
* We have had reports that users signing up for Google Checkout with a Google Hosted Domain email address (Gmail using your own domain name) may not be able to download paid apps from Android Market. A workaround is to sign up using an email address with a standard Gmail [email protected] account. Discussions here and here.

UPDATE
Okay
I've spoken with the developer and the UK sales of his prodcut is suspended because initial voice recognition results with the product were not good. However when I get my phone he isprepared to let me try. I get the impression that it is tweakable. For me, a product like this is the difference between keeping the phone when it arrives, or returning it.

You should try Choice Dialer. I got it from the market on my Desire. There's a free version which will voice dial. There is also a paid version which lets you play an album or playlist by voice. Works well but still no bluetooth control as no voice activation seems to work by bluetooth. Other problem I had was that I could not choose a single song track by voice as I seem to have too many. Tony, the developer, has not yet yet been able to resolve this for me. Voice dialling isn't perfect but pretty good for me. You must speak clearly though.
Try it.

Choice dialer works fine as long as you set it up to work only as a phone voice dialer.
If you enable also the voice apps it often gets confused.
I have used it only one day but it seems like it can deliver also via BT headset.
fingers are still crossed but so far so good...

Well my experience after 1 hour is quite different.
I have 600 contacts, most with just a mobile number, but some with mob/Home and some with mob/home/work. I would say sucess rate is about 5% at the moment.
I'm also getting
Sorry!
'The application choice dialer free (process com.resounding.choicedialer.free) has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again.' more often than I get a correct call made. Okay Android OS is new for me, so it's unfair to judge, but this is awful compared to MS Voice Command.

norm2002 said:
You should try Choice Dialer. I got it from the market on my Desire. There's a free version which will voice dial. There is also a paid version which lets you play an album or playlist by voice. Works well but still no bluetooth control as no voice activation seems to work by bluetooth. Other problem I had was that I could not choose a single song track by voice as I seem to have too many. Tony, the developer, has not yet yet been able to resolve this for me. Voice dialling isn't perfect but pretty good for me. You must speak clearly though.
Try it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried it.
It wouldn't undertand me at all!
Also after dialling it went off and I had to press the phone button to select it again for it to start listening again.
If I have to do that I might as weel just use speed dial..
Maybe I am using it wrong??

Try vlingo.
Sent from my HTC Desire using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

Choice Dialler Works fine for me even with a slight Welsh accent. Speak slow and it also picks up on contacts mobile, home or work number.

Evo has started reading incoming texts aloud

Hey kids. At lunch today, my phone started reading incoming texts aloud. I can't seem to find the setting to turn this off. How do i get this turned off?
Secondly, what could have auto-updated or self-enabled to cause this to happen?? I haven't updated anything save for Google Maps today.
Thanks for any help guys.
P.S. Running CM7.

What texting app are you using?

The one built-in to CM7.
Also, i just tried installing SVOX, to improve the voice quality. Couldn't get it set as the default TTS engine, so i removed Pico TTS with TitaniumBackup and now every time i hit the text-to-speech settings "com.android.settings" FC's

SilverStone641 said:
The one built-in to CM7.
Also, i just tried installing SVOX, to improve the voice quality. Couldn't get it set as the default TTS engine, so i removed Pico TTS with TitaniumBackup and now every time i hit the text-to-speech settings "com.android.settings" FC's
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try installing handcent from the market. Only texting app I use, a lot better in my opinion.
Also it fc's because it needs the Pico TTS for the settings, so if you have the backup, restore it from tb, or download and install from the market.

I can't do handcent again. I also can't find the Pico TTS in the market or on google. I tried the three or four 1.6 versions i could find. None of them were valid.
Now, i can't use the SVOX app cause its not set to default and i can't go into settings to change it(not that i could before) because my stupid ass removed Pico TTS. Any tips for a moron?
EDIT: And the best part? My phone is STILL reading my texts aloud to anyone that cares to listen. Where is it getting the TTS engine from???

SilverStone641 said:
I can't do handcent again. I also can't find the Pico TTS in the market or on google. I tried the three or four 1.6 versions i could find. None of them were valid.
Now, i can't use the SVOX app cause its not set to default and i can't go into settings to change it(not that i could before) because my stupid ass removed Pico TTS. Any tips for a moron?
EDIT: And the best part? My phone is STILL reading my texts aloud to anyone that cares to listen. Where is it getting the TTS engine from???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm weird. Try this:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19699565/PicoTts.apk Pico TTS apk from my cm7 rom.

teh roxxorz said:
Hmm weird. Try this:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19699565/PicoTts.apk Pico TTS apk from my cm7 rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This fixed all my problems! Pico is installed, settings work again, i was able to switch over to SVOX.
Also, i found out that Cluzee (which i forgot i had installed) was the cause of all my troubles. Apparently it starts reading texts automatically upon install.
Thanks again for all your help!

SilverStone641 said:
This fixed all my problems! Pico is installed, settings work again, i was able to switch over to SVOX.
Also, i found out that Cluzee (which i forgot i had installed) was the cause of all my troubles. Apparently it starts reading texts automatically upon install.
Thanks again for all your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I'm glad I could help. That sounds like a nuisance of an app.

teh roxxorz said:
Well I'm glad I could help. That sounds like a nuisance of an app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep and here i was thinking i was being clever installing a viable Siri alternative. ^_^

Hopefully the texts weren't embarrassing or racy and you were by yourself if they were!

Nick N said:
Hopefully the texts weren't embarrassing or racy and you were by yourself if they were!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Funny you should say that. I was texting with an EMT friend of mine and she had just helped a guy married to a mannequin. During this string of texts, she said to me "Well, at least you know she swallows" And THAT was the text my phone decided to read whilst walking through the IT department of my company.
good times!

[Q] Difference between S-voice and Google Now

Sorry if this is the wrong place but:
What's the difference between the S-Voice from the S4 and Google Now?
I watched sum comparison videos on youtube, but they seem a little bit inaccurate. For example, it said that "google voice" can't open apps, but it can on my Nexus 4.

S voice is Samsung's own personal assistant developed for Galaxy devices . I guess it has been used in GS3, Note 2 and GS4 as well.
Google Now is vast new concept started by Google. It's more than just a personal assistant. It's like improved version of Google Voice..
for ex. if you are entering any highway, GN will warn about traffic
you are entering into a tube station, GN will alert you about the next trains lined up..
Google voice can certainly open apps.

Google now is better .S voice sucks that's the difference. Half the time s voice doesn't function right or gets s##t wrong that you ask for.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk

imeem said:
Sorry if this is the wrong place but:
What's the difference between the S-Voice from the S4 and Google Now?
I watched sum comparison videos on youtube, but they seem a little bit inaccurate. For example, it said that "google voice" can't open apps, but it can on my Nexus 4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S-Voice is like another apps on Samsung Device that begins with "S", and i prefer to put S as Silly except Samsung
Silly apps that u can find all of them for free in play store but samsung preinstall them on galaxies device!!! on Android OS that it has its own preinstalled apps......................!
of course Google Now is better.

Ok, this is turning into a fanboys sort of thread.
Back to the OPs question:
Essentially, theyre the same thing. Its like iOS' Siri versus Google Now, theyre both designed to do the same things but by different companies
And S-Voice is part of a proprietary framework called Touchwiz, so it can only be installed on devices running a Touchwiz ROM. Google now on the other hand, relies on no underlying framework and so could be installed on any Android device, as long as the Android version supports it

thx for the reply. The reason i ask this question is i installed S Voice on my Nexus 4 from here: http://www.sammobile.com/2013/03/26/samsung-galaxy-s-4s-s-voice-apk-now-available-to-download/
Is there any reason to have both? I just downloaded it for fun.
With further testing, it seems like the Google now can't open sum apps. Such as PPSSPP, CloudOn, Office Suite, and GTA Vice City. While S voice.apk from the S4 can do this and can do stuff like "turn off wifi" and "turn on bluetooth".

imeem said:
thx for the reply. The reason i ask this question is i installed S Voice on my Nexus 4 from here: http://www.sammobile.com/2013/03/26/samsung-galaxy-s-4s-s-voice-apk-now-available-to-download/
Is there any reason to have both? I just downloaded it for fun.
With further testing, it seems like the Google now can't open sum apps. Such as PPSSPP, CloudOn, Office Suite, and GTA Vice City. While S voice.apk from the S4 can do this and can do stuff like "turn off wifi" and "turn on bluetooth".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really, just use whichever is best for what you do, no point in really having 2 of the same sort of utility app
And obviously one will have more features than the other, it just depends on which features are most important to the user
Question, did the s-voice install properly and isnt giving you any force close issues? Strange because I was sure it would rely on the Touchwiz framework

CNexus said:
Not really, just use whichever is best for what you do, no point in really having 2 of the same sort of utility app
And obviously one will have more features than the other, it just depends on which features are most important to the user
Question, did the s-voice install properly and isnt giving you any force close issues? Strange because I was sure it would rely on the Touchwiz framework
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. It installed properly. It only crashes when i go to language & input , select samsung for voice recognizer, and then press voice search.

imeem said:
Nope. It installed properly. It only crashes when language anD input , select samsung for voice recognizer, and then press voice search
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting....thanks, gonna check it out now!
It would seem that it would rely on the TW framework since its an assistant sort of app...

imeem said:
Nope. It installed properly. It only crashes when i go to language & input , select samsung for voice recognizer, and then press voice search.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How are you getting it to work? For me it kept saying "network connection error"?

CNexus said:
How are you getting it to work? For me it kept saying "network connection error"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did u turn on ur wifi or data? It needs internet. Other than that, i didnt do anything

imeem said:
Did u turn on ur wifi or data? It needs internet. Other than that, i didnt do anything
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried with both. Could you upload yours since i know it's working? Thanks

CNexus said:
Tried with both. Could you upload yours since i know it's working? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what phone do you have?
https://hotfile.com/dl/201722708/fd3276b/S-Voice_Android_phone_J.apk.html

imeem said:
what phone do you have?
https://hotfile.com/dl/201722708/fd3276b/S-Voice_Android_phone_J.apk.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Evo shift, I'm on AOSP 4.2.2 though, so it should be fine. Strangely, that's where I downloaded it from and no luck.

CNexus said:
Evo shift, I'm on AOSP 4.2.2 though, so it should be fine. Strangely, that's where I downloaded it from and no luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try your evo 4 g

CNexus said:
How are you getting it to work? For me it kept saying "network connection error"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used it for a day then got the network connection error also. Samsung (actually Vlingo/Nuance) reads the incoming device ID and blocks the connection if it's a mismatch with the device ID the app's intended to work with. Same thing happened when people were using bootleg copies of the SGS3's S Voice APK before it was released.
As for S Voice vs. Google Now I use S Voice more. To send a text message for example, Google Now opens up the recipient from the address book but you can't dictate the message, at least not from within Google Now. Same thing with e-mail. Dialing's also kind of clunky where if there are multiple options for your request you have to pick one manually. S Voice also repeats the number back before dialing where Google Now just dials and can miss digits you dictate pretty easily. Using a BT headset you can pretty much completely accomplish things hands free with S Voice while quite a few require a second manual action with Google Now.
Here are some examples
If you're in an app like the browser you also can't get Google Now to launch from the menu key because it's now serving the open application and doesn't recognize the "long press" command to open Google Now. Some people have disabled S Voice and remapped the home key to either Google Search or Voice Dialer. S Voice allows you to post to FB and Twitter too. Also, a lot of Google Now's neatest features (flight departure, package shipping, etc.) require you to use Gmail because Google's servers scrape your messages looking for pertinent data. I don't use Gmail and don't like the idea of Google's servers searching my data, even with my permission so to anyone not exclusively on Gmail certain feature don't mean very much.
Voice controls are also tied to S Voice. I use them pretty frequently; especially with the camera, music player, and to launch apps from the lock screen by voice.
I played with Google Now for a short time when I got my N2 so if it's improved or I'm being too hard on it someone speak up.

CNexus said:
How are you getting it to work? For me it kept saying "network connection error"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think my S voice stopped working, says no network connection

imeem said:
i think my S voice stopped working, says no network connection
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's being blocked because the device ID from the APK you downloaded doesn't match the device ID the server's reading from the actual device.

I love Samsung devices but I can't stand S voice. Unless there has been MAJOR improvement over the S3's/Note2 S voice I will still dislike it. First thing I do when I set up my Galaxy phones is disable it and get rid of the home button delay.
I think google now is better, faster, much more accurate and much more unique ( S voice is a clear copy of Siri).

barondebxl said:
I love Samsung devices but I can't stand S voice. Unless there has been MAJOR improvement over the S3's/Note2 S voice I will still dislike it. First thing I do when I set up my Galaxy phones is disable it and get rid of the home button delay.
I think google now is better, faster, much more accurate and much more unique ( S voice is a clear copy of Siri).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup. HTC Speak is on its way as well.

Calculator talking to me

The calculator app is saying what numbers I push. It started doing it in the middle of using it. How can I turn it off?

It's just trying to be friendly! Talk back, dont be cold-hearted

Wooba99 said:
The calculator app is saying what numbers I push. It started doing it in the middle of using it. How can I turn it off?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi,
ok it seems its some bug ?
This is wat i did,
on device.. settings/accessibilities /Services... turn off all "Services apps that is enabled.
eg. i had under Services.. Pushbullet, Greenify, Enhanced Sms. & Caller id etc. etc enabled. I had to turn them all off. Working 100%
Good luck

I found that the settings of text-to-speech options affects the talking calculator.
I just changed the language from English to any other language, then the calculator spoke the other language.
So, if the text-to-speech is turned off, the calculator will be quite. But no idea how to turn this off...

dogbirds said:
I found that the settings of text-to-speech options affects the talking calculator.
I just changed the language from English to any other language, then the calculator spoke the other language.
So, if the text-to-speech is turned off, the calculator will be quite. But no idea how to turn this off...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi,
it is logical that if caculator "speaks" numbers etc. it is using a text to speech voice option. eg On my device Note 4 or my Note 3 or other, i have Samsung voice, Google voice or SVOX installed. If i disable it a lot of my apps won't work. This is not what is causing problem. (If you search around xda threads you will find thread where this solution was posted, unfortunately i did not save link at time) Try option in my post above and you will most likely see it works, but you have to turn off all apps listed in services.( The text to voice is mere a tool)
good luck

willcor said:
hi,
it is logical that if caculator "speaks" numbers etc. it is using a text to speech voice option. eg On my device Note 4 or my Note 3 or other, i have Samsung voice, Google voice or SVOX installed. If i disable it a lot of my apps won't work. This is not what is causing problem. (If you search around xda threads you will find thread where this solution was posted, unfortunately i did not save link at time) Try option in my post above and you will most likely see it works, but you have to turn off all apps listed in services.( The text to voice is mere a tool)
good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've already tried every solutions I found on internet, and none fixed it. My calculator still speaks... lol

I have this as well
It is so stupid I will have to try these fixes later

Unfortunately I cannot disable everything in the services menu as I have a pebble watch and it needs it.
I guess I'll have to get a different calculator app.

Wooba99 said:
Unfortunately I cannot disable everything in the services menu as I have a pebble watch and it needs it.
I guess I'll have to get a different calculator app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A user of my rom was having the same issue. So I fixed it.
Confirmed working, flash in recovery. Must be on a deodexed rom.
http://www.dynamicrom.com/misc/Calculatorfix.zip
Brian

OMG
i've been crazy lurking around for the possible solution of this stupid voice text on my calculator as well.
I had made a thread regarding this and people from here has no idea about the solution for this problem.
i went to the settings, manage apps, all and deleted google text to speech and disabale samsung text to speech.
thats the time it will stop working. BUT, once you close all your recent used apps the voice message will go back again! WTF!

after how many centuries of searching for a solution, finally!!!! the horrible voice is gone when pressing the
stock calculator. downloaded dodol launcher and used it for 3 days and uninstalled it!
voila!

bri315317 said:
A user of my rom was having the same issue. So I fixed it.
Confirmed working, flash in recovery. Must be on a deodexed rom.
http://www.dynamicrom.com/misc/Calculatorfix.zip
Brian
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Worked perfectly! Thank you so so much!

bri315317 said:
A user of my rom was having the same issue. So I fixed it.
Confirmed working, flash in recovery. Must be on a deodexed rom.
http://www.dynamicrom.com/misc/Calculatorfix.zip
Brian
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will work on an Odexed ROM also. Just rename or delete original stock calculator apk and odex. Then flash or extract fixed calculator apk and copy to system/app and reboot! !!
Sent from my SM-N910V / VZW Note 4 DE / Factory Bootloader Unlocked / Rooted / Custom Kernel-ed / TWRP 2.8.4.0.trltevzw

calculator sound off
Settings, system,language and input- Google voice typing
that did the trick....

ijimbov said:
Settings, system,language and input- Google voice typing
that did the trick....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that worked! Awesome thanks

Finally figured it out on my device, it's the samsung text to speech engine causing this issue. Since I'm rooted i froze it through bloat freezer and it worked perfectly. I still have google text to speech enabled and that doesn't interefere.