Database Users

[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.

Voice in the gallery and the browser?

I have a problem concerning some voice which appearce in the browser and the gallery. When im in the browser and I press something the voice tells me what I have pressed, and in the gallery when, for example, I multiselect pictures in tells me my action. Driving mode is disabled, TalkBack- deleted, I searched everywhere but I couldn't find anything. Does anyone knows how can I turn this stupid voice off, because it is driving me crazy...

Voice in Browser
derWolf_ said:
I have a problem concerning some voice which appearce in the browser and the gallery. When im in the browser and I press something the voice tells me what I have pressed, and in the gallery when, for example, I multiselect pictures in tells me my action. Driving mode is disabled, TalkBack- deleted, I searched everywhere but I couldn't find anything. Does anyone knows how can I turn this stupid voice off, because it is driving me crazy...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By chance are you using Lightflow. That's what was causing that same thing on my phone.

Yes, I do. I should remove it then?

Voice in Browser - Lightflow
derWolf_ said:
Yes, I do. I should remove it then?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I did and it went away.

Yes, now it is fine. Although I liked the program. Is there a way in which I can leave it without the phone talking to me?

I am getting the same issue but I am not using lightflow - anyone else have any ideas as this driving me up the wall!!

Lightflow
derWolf_ said:
Yes, now it is fine. Although I liked the program. Is there a way in which I can leave it without the phone talking to me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately not that I found. Sorry. I too like it, but had to delete it.

I found the issue. Similar to the other issues, the problem is that my phone is paired with my pebble watch. It looks like the accessibility options are causing this issue.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app

I've found a solution!
Everytime you activate something like lightflow or other apps (like pebble pairing and so on) talkback gets "half" active. I deleted talkback and both pre-installed text-to-speech engines. now everything work fine. But I don't know if other apps that use text-to-speech are affected. I don't use any.
In a german android forum a found a same thread for the Galaxy SIII so it seems it's a Samsung or Google related bug (on Android 4.1.x and above). On my S2 with 4.0.3 nothing like that happend. Maybe I can test it with the 4.1.2 firmware in a few days.

[Q] Svoice voice Wake up?

I've been trying to figure this out since I got the phone, I need some help. How do you wake up the phone while the screen is off using voice?
I turned "voice wake up" on in the svoice settings but it doesn't work. Some people say this was never a feature but apps like "S for switch voice" claim it's a working feature.
It would be awesome if anyone can help,
Thanks

Jeeab said:
I've been trying to figure this out since I got the phone, I need some help. How do you wake up the phone while the screen is off using voice?
I turned "voice wake up" on in the svoice settings but it doesn't work. Some people say this was never a feature but apps like "S for switch voice" claim it's a working feature.
It would be awesome if anyone can help,
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't believe this is a feature: http://forums.androidcentral.com/sa...-wake-up-not-working-s-voice.html#post3586811

spuniun said:
I don't believe this is a feature: http://forums.androidcentral.com/sa...-wake-up-not-working-s-voice.html#post3586811
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just chatted with Samsung live chat thing. They said it is a feature
"Alastair: Hi, thank you for contacting Samsung Technical Support. How may I help you today?
Visitor: Hi, can you explain to me how to get my Galaxy S5 to wake up while the screen is off using S voice?
Alastair: I understand that you require information how to wake up the device using S Voice. Is that correct?
Visitor: yes
Alastair: Thank you for confirming.
Alastair: May I know the model number of the device? You may find it in Applications>Settings>General>About Device. You can also find the model number beneath the Phone's battery. Generally model number starts with SGH,SPH,SCH,GT or SM.
Visitor: SM-g900v
Alastair: Thank you for the model number.
Alastair: I would like to inform you that you need to say "Hello Galaxy" to wake up the device.
Visitor: can i do this while the screen is off?
Alastair: Yes, the device will wake up when the screen is off."
After a long chat, and factory resetting, they recommended me to return it to Verizon. Still cant get it to work
Guess I will wait and see if this problem is addressed by Samsung, or if the Samsung live chat person has no idea what they are talking about.

I can't get S Voice to wake up at all - Ok Google works fine for Google Now but the default wake up command and my custom wake up command are doing nothing to wake up S Voice.
I'm glad I see no point to S Voice considering the robustness of Google Now.

I'm having same issue, s voice won't wake phone no matter what. I figured eh whatever cause google now is awesome:thumbup:
Sent from my SM-G900V using xda app-developers app

I don't mean to bump this thread but I figured it out if anyone is interested.
Turn on Car mode then exit out (make sure you still have the steering wheel notification in the status bar). Now you can say "hi galaxy" whenever.
What makes this good is that you can download "S for switch voice" app on the play store. That opens Google Now instead of Svoice. Works just like a Moto X now

Jeeab said:
I don't mean to bump this thread but I figured it out if anyone is interested.
Turn on Car mode then exit out (make sure you still have the steering wheel notification in the status bar). Now you can say "hi galaxy" whenever.
What makes this good is that you can download "S for switch voice" app on the play store. That opens Google Now instead of Svoice. Works just like a Moto X now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool, but you need to keep Car Mode enabled?

spuniun said:
Cool, but you need to keep Car Mode enabled?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess so. Looks like it's the best we are gonna get

I thought would ask on this thread to keep the spam down.
Can this svoice wakeup thing be achieved now that we have root? I mean the function is already there with car mode, but maybe someone could strip down the car mode to have it only wake up with voice, and not mess with Bluetooth or restrict minimum volume.
I know this requires more work then I can imagine and is probably pretty low on anyone's priority list, but if anyone could tell me how to do it or link me to a fix, that would be awesome.
Thanks

I think u should bump this question again to the main Q&A. I would also love to have this figured out, just not sure if any one is following this post any more.
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Free mobile app

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.

Remove the bleepin Google Assistant from the 6P

It was with great horror that I discovered that Google is now forcing the effin' Google Assistant down our throats. Home long press now launches this abomination of an app. Quickly figured out how to disable the crapware, but nowong press of home does nothing. So Google, of you are reading this....
I DON'T WANT TO BE TALKING TO MY PHONE ALL THE TIME, I HAVE A LIFE AND PEOPLE TO TALK TO.
Is there a way to recover the old functionality? I want long press to launch the old style Google app. If no, what is the version of the last update that does not include this POS software? I had not updated for a while and now this...
Apologies for fuming, it is just so freaking invasive on Google's part to ot even ask if I want to opt in.
PS setting ro.opa.eligible_device=false does NOT do the trick. Grrrr, this is getting more annoying by the minute

Someone on Reddit says you can change your language to US Virgin Islands to get the old now on tap back if that's what you're wanting. I haven't tried this myself though.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus6P/comments/5y578g/psa_if_you_found_old_now_on_tap_more_helpful_than/
Sent from my Nexus 6P using XDA Labs

swallowingled said:
Someone on Reddit says you can change your language to US Virgin Islands to get the old now on tap back if that's what you're wanting. I haven't tried this myself though.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Nexus6P/comments/5y578g/psa_if_you_found_old_now_on_tap_more_helpful_than/
Sent from my Nexus 6P using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, this works, the original source may be here
https://android.gadgethacks.com/how...ndroid-device-switch-back-google-now-0174676/
Unfortunately editing the build.prop does not seem to do the trick for me. I have to wonder how long before Google screws up that workaround.
I am curious, is there ANYONE out there who wants to ALWAYS talk to their phone and have the phone talk to them. Say you are in the middle of a meeting and want to quickly check on something. What is Google thinking? Or am I missing something?

GroovyGeek said:
Yes, this works, the original source may be here
https://android.gadgethacks.com/how...ndroid-device-switch-back-google-now-0174676/
Unfortunately editing the build.prop does not seem to do the trick for me. I have to wonder how long before Google screws up that workaround.
I am curious, is there ANYONE out there who wants to ALWAYS talk to their phone and have the phone talk to them. Say you are in the middle of a meeting and want to quickly check on something. What is Google thinking? Or am I missing something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can still type in searches using the Google search bar without talking. I prefer Google Assistant to the old functionality but I guess everyone uses their phone differently. Most people likely consider GA an enhancement rather than an intrusion like you do. Many people were unhappy that it was only offered officially on the Pixel but you can't please everybody.

All you have to do is turn GA off within settings.

boxcar8028 said:
All you have to do is turn GA off within settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sadly this is not true. When you disable it in settings and long press home it pops up and says, Google Assistant is currently disabled, would you like to enable it? Options for yes or no. Yes pops up with assistant and no just disabled the window with no further actions. It doesn't revert to the old now on tap functionality.

i want to delete Google Assistant permanently, any clue ?

I'm surprised this thread doesn't have more attention. Before I had assistant I was trying to get it early on my device but now I am trying to go back to now on tap just because of the ease of use and time it takes to get to google.
The best workaround I found was this SwipeUp utility app. You can press and hold either your home button or fingerprint scanner to open straight to the Google app instead of the popup assistant (which is basically a blank screen until you say something or press on the keyboard symbol to type a search) it works really well.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.AdrianCampos.swipeuputility

No solution's to this yet? This is absurd.

@tolol @applePhx in this thread someone recommends deleting the Google Home App folder from /system using twrp to get completely rid of Google Assistant. Haven't tested it though