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Google Hangouts finally supports Apple Watch
The latest update for Hangouts on iOS won't tell you this, but Google's instant messaging app will play nicely with your Apple Watch now. What the change log does say, however, is that you can now reply to notifications in-line -- but that means following up via Apple's wearable is an option. You can pick from a handful of pre-written responses, but those don't include canned messages for telling your coworker to bring funky-flavored KitKat bars from Japan to CES. No, that's where using voice dictation comes in, silly. If your iOS gizmo hasn't updated yet, we've got you covered at the source link below.
Pebble Time smartwatch apps are getting voice dictation
If you're a Pebble Time owner and would like to respond to emails or texts without pulling out your phone, we've got good news. Starting today, Android users can employ the Pebble Time and Pebble Time Steel to reply to those messages using their voice. The feature is scheduled to arrive on the Pebble Time Round on November 8th. What's more, the wearable company has teamed up with Nuance for the voice-driven tools and the duo is releasing a Dictation API for third-party developers to build apps for both iOS and Android. The functionality is limited to emails and text messages for now, but we'll be interested to see if more voice commands arrive in the future.
Nuance and Intel team on Dragon Assistant Beta for Ultrabooks, Dell XPS 13 to lead the charge
Intel at CES promised a partnership with Nuance to give Ultrabooks a taste of ready-made voice recognition, and we're finally seeing the results at IDF in San Francisco through the launch of Nuance's Dragon Assistant Beta. As the name implies, this isn't just a voice dictation engine like that in Naturally Speaking: chatty users can delegate common tasks like playing music, reading social network updates and searching the web. The beta isn't immediately available as of this writing, but it should go live soon and will be a core part of of Ultrabook software bundles in the near future, starting with the Dell XPS 13 this fall. We're wondering why Intel is focusing its Dragon Assistant efforts solely on thin-and-lights -- the company still makes money from portlier PCs, after all -- but we won't mind as much given the simultaneous launch of a Perceptual Computing SDK 2013 Beta, which lets developers work Dragon recognition into their own apps. More details await after the break.
Android Jelly Bean input options include updated keyboard, offline voice dictation
On stage at Google I/O, the company is showing off its newest features for Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, which include a new keyboard with SwiftKey-like word prediction, and voice typing that works even when you're offline. From the demo on stage it worked quickly without the annoying lag of waiting for the server to process your words we've experienced from voice control so far. There are 18 new input languages including Persian and Hindi, although offline voice dictation is US English only for now. Also mentioned on stage are new audio cues for blind users, and support for Braille. Check out our Google I/O 2012 live blog for all the details. Check out our full coverage of Google I/O 2012's opening keynote at our event hub!
Next generation iPad adds voice dictation
Earlier today at the iPad media event, Phil Schiller announced that the new iPad will feature voice dictation. Users will find a new microphone button on the keyboard. Give it a tap and start speaking, much like you do with the iPhone 4S. As of the announcement, voice dictation on the new iPad supports US English, British, Australian, French, German and Japanese.
Siri sort-of comes to the new iPad, does voice dictation only
Ever since Siri showed up on the iPhone 4S, she's been put to work in a variety of non-Apple approved ways and unofficially ported to other iDevices, including the iPad. Now Apple's next-gen iPad has made its auspicious debut in San Francisco with a splash of Siri on board. It's not the full voice assistant, but the new tablet does have voice dictation software that supports US English, British, Australian, French, German and Japanese. Not only that, but the dictation feature is available in third-party apps as well, so you'll be able to speak your tweets and status updates on Apple's new slate. For more coverage of Apple's iPad event, visit our hub!
NTT DoCoMo handset "slows down" cellphone voices for the elderly
We love those movies where the kidnappers use voice-altering equipment to talk to the authorities and such -- lower voice octaves with seemingly lower speed rule, yes? The elderly of Japan may like that concept as well, as Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo is about to roll out the "Raku-Raku" handset that personifies that functional but useful line for customers that just want to make calls. For the elderly, that's usually the only goal with a cellphone. An extra monthly revenue stream for NTT DoCoMo is not bad either from a business perspective. What is killer about the Raku-Raku is the "Slow Voice" feature. It actually slows down spoken words coming into the handset itself for those that prefer a more laid-back conversation instead of a caffeine-fueled one. Other goodies include noise compensation that raises or lowers mic sensitivity and incoming audio based on ambient noise and voice reading of SMS and email messages. Seems like NTT DoCoMo feeds the power user to the basic user in very decent fashion, yes?[Via Digital World Tokyo]
