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Hopefully this is ok to post here since it is a request for dream development. Sorry in advance if this belongs in Q/A or something.
The #1 thing I miss from my old Sanyo dumb-phone was the TTS ringer. When ever I received a call, my phone would:
"beeeep, incoming call from ([name] or "unknown-caller")"
I found this very handy as if my phone was out-of-pocket in my home, I could decide to get off the couch and get it or not without moving a muscle.
I have searched all over for the same basic TTS functionality in both WinMo and now Android but have not found anything.
Is it even possible within the Android system to use the TTS service to speak the contact name on incoming call instead of a ringer?
EDIT: And while I'm posting development requests, I would also like to see an app that lets you re-assign buttons (like vol+/- could page up and down unless there is sound playing, and the camera button which does nothing in Hero could be assigned to launch an app [HTC Camera] or even bring up a menu of apps to select from). They have lots of button programs for WinMo, but I've seen none for android.
I know winmo has this feature as my friend's old tilt had it.
There were a couple apps in the market that announced the name that called but they were not very good. IMO the current TTS in the market sucks, can't even understand it half the time.
I imagine someone could cobble together an application that could sense the ringtone call and hijack the audio, and then just use the TTS library to speak out the name / phone number, with "Incoming call from" prepended. I don't know if that's what the apps are doing. I don't see any apps like that on the market, either.
Search market for:
NameRinger
TalkingCallerID
voicecallerid
who is it
All have their problems. I think only voicecallerid is actually free.
What I did
This is what I did, its a hassle but works. went to
http://www.research.att.com/~ttsweb/tts/demo.php
typed the name of my contact downloaded and insert to sd and set as contact ring tone. yeah it suck but u can tweak it with different spelling to make it sound like the actual name. hope it helps
Here you go!
I tought I could do something back for the community so I started a new project =)
The only problem is that I have no visa to pay the registration fee to get this on the market.
I uploaded the apk to http://wilma.vub.ac.be/~lhoste/TTSNotifier.php (!UPDATED)
Based on the open source design of SMSPopup (thx!)
Speaks:
"Incoming call from <NAME>"
name = "unknown" if the number is not found in the contacts
can you start a google code page for this? im sure you can get some support and bug fixes from the community. maybe even one of the devs might upload to their account for you
upload the apk to somewhere else cause we cant access it
rpmccormick said:
Hopefully this is ok to post here since it is a request for dream development. Sorry in advance if this belongs in Q/A or something.
The #1 thing I miss from my old Sanyo dumb-phone was the TTS ringer. When ever I received a call, my phone would:
"beeeep, incoming call from ([name] or "unknown-caller")"
I found this very handy as if my phone was out-of-pocket in my home, I could decide to get off the couch and get it or not without moving a muscle.
I have searched all over for the same basic TTS functionality in both WinMo and now Android but have not found anything.
Is it even possible within the Android system to use the TTS service to speak the contact name on incoming call instead of a ringer?
EDIT: And while I'm posting development requests, I would also like to see an app that lets you re-assign buttons (like vol+/- could page up and down unless there is sound playing, and the camera button which does nothing in Hero could be assigned to launch an app [HTC Camera] or even bring up a menu of apps to select from). They have lots of button programs for WinMo, but I've seen none for android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My question to you is.. Why stop there?
My teacher once told me... "Why hope to make bridges made of sticks when you can dream of making bridges in the sky?"
Meaning... lets raise the bar.. lets dream bigger... So "Why stop there?"
You want TTS ringer... well I want TTS Notifications linked to any notification I enable.
ex. "Open home download completed", "you have 30 tweets", "USB connected", "You have a text message from XXX, Dictate?"
It may not have artificial intelligence.. but after how many years we have had technology and computers... couldn't we train it to be intelligent for us? You can train a dog to sit... so how come we can't program our phones to verbally say "Plug me in! Battery LOW!", "Open Wifi Signal in range", "So-n-So's birthday is today, bought them a gift?"
That does not require artificial intelligence right?
Why not bring Android toward "Fruition"
Damn... If I had the programming knowledge... I think I'd try this myself...
Sorry, link is fixed now
gho0o5t said:
My question to you is.. Why stop there?
My teacher once told me... "Why hope to make bridges made of sticks when you can dream of making bridges in the sky?"
Meaning... lets raise the bar.. lets dream bigger... So "Why stop there?"
You want TTS ringer... well I want TTS Notifications linked to any notification I enable.
ex. "Open home download completed", "you have 30 tweets", "USB connected", "You have a text message from XXX, Dictate?"
It may not have artificial intelligence.. but after how many years we have had technology and computers... couldn't we train it to be intelligent for us? You can train a dog to sit... so how come we can't program our phones to verbally say "Plug me in! Battery LOW!", "Open Wifi Signal in range", "So-n-So's birthday is today, bought them a gift?"
That does not require artificial intelligence right?
Why not bring Android toward "Fruition"
Damn... If I had the programming knowledge... I think I'd try this myself...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Keep posting your great ideas. Everyone has a different view on how to make this easier so if we all combine that we can make something great.
I think the usb connected, sms, battery, wifi, birthday is possible. Ill try to extend the app today and open a github.
You can also start making up sentences the phone has to speak because hearing the same stuff all the time makes it boring.
Zillode said:
I tought I could do something back for the community so I started a new project =)
The only problem is that I have no visa to pay the registration fee to get this on the market.
I uploaded the apk to http://wilma.vub.ac.be/~lhoste/TTSRingtone.php
Based on the open source design of SMSPopup (thx!)
Speaks:
"Incoming call from <NAME>"
name = "unknown" if the number is not found in the contacts
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's probably down to stupidity on my part, but how does the app work?
it installs fine but then it doesn't seem to do anything when someone rings, it just plays my ringtone.
also, does this work on Hero? that could be my problem.
cheers for making this app btw, been looking for something like this for a long time
Meltus said:
It's probably down to stupidity on my part, but how does the app work?
it installs fine but then it doesn't seem to do anything when someone rings, it just plays my ringtone.
also, does this work on Hero? that could be my problem.
cheers for making this app btw, been looking for something like this for a long time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should have the TTS Service installed (search for it in the market). When receiving a change in ACTION_PHONE_STATE, it starts a services that takes care of the speech.
Do mind that your 'Media' volume is about equally high as your ringtone volume.
Zillode said:
You should have the TTS Service installed (search for it in the market). When receiving a change in ACTION_PHONE_STATE, it starts a services that takes care of the speech.
Do mind that your 'Media' volume is about equally high as your ringtone volume.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah i've got that. Do i need to mess with the settings in it or anything? still just getting my normal ringtone playing.
I had a similar problem. I had to uninstall the TTSRingtone.apk (system/sd/vub.lhoste.ttsringtone.apk), re-install the TTS library (Text To Speech Service on the market) and then re-install the TTSRingtone.apk. After all of this was done, it started working on its own.
Nifty.
new build (and projectname)
Ok, I started to make the TTS notification more global. This means we will try to support more and more.
You can find the new build at:
http://wilma.vub.ac.be/~lhoste/TTSNotifier.php
NOTE: UNINSTALL THE OLD (TTSRingtone!) BEFORE INSTALLING THIS ONE.
I started a new thread so the intrested ppl can follow the changes
-> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=4376431
rpmccormick said:
EDIT: And while I'm posting development requests, I would also like to see an app that lets you re-assign buttons (like vol+/- could page up and down unless there is sound playing, and the camera button which does nothing in Hero could be assigned to launch an app [HTC Camera] or even bring up a menu of apps to select from). They have lots of button programs for WinMo, but I've seen none for android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know if it's possible to 'unbind' the vol +/- key.. any1 has an idea?
It is possible to use the same structure as TTSNotifier or SMSPopup to capture the cam button press, but since I'm running the cyanogenmod it is occupied and useless to start a 2nd app
Hi,
I was looking on the market but couldn't find anything like it.
I am looking for an app that can setup different things under different circumstances. Exaple would be: disable calls to the phone when satnav is on, or even better play an mp3 (or text-to-speech) to the caller with message (i'm driving now, will call back) or sending a text to a caller.
Also change settings based on time/place ur in etc.
Any app that can setup chain of events if/when -> then would be good.
Wouldn't be cool when you're driving and your android would answer the phone for you with a prerecorded robotic message saying that you're driving and will call back later?
Does an app like that even exist?
I read something about an app that can change phone settings depending on your location, but i don't remember it's name.
Any help would be great,
Thanks in advance.
bump, anyone?
Maybe someone is willing to create such application?
Locale is probably the app you read about. It wont do everything you want but it should do some.
Even though Locale cant do all of those things, they do offer a plug in system. Having had a quick look at their documentation, it should be fairly simple to create one.
Thanks for the responses, i will look into it, if I'll get anywhere with the plugin I'll post it here.
Cheers.
I recently purchased Choice Dialer, and thought I'd start a thread with somewhat af a review, and hopefully learn from others too about how to make it work well for us.
Ever since moving to Android, I have sorely missed Microsoft Voice Command. Choice Dialer is a start toward that direction. Of course, some will think of Vlingo, which in fact may be better now than when I last used it. Seems there is not one voice app that does everything.
Among features that it has are;
Of course, Dial by name, or number
Play/pause music; Next/Previous song; Play by artist; Play from album; Play songs by title
Send email
Send text
Set Facebook status
Create contact
Open App
Schedule an event on calendar
Enable/Disable WiFi, Blue Tooth, GPS and some more
Tell you the time
Add to calendar
I have only had the app for a few days, and this review will not be comprehensive.
Does it understand?
I am struggleing a bit having it understand me. I frequently have it say "Try again". Sometimes it does something completely different from what I asked.
I am finding that it has a learning curve for speaking so it understands, as it is getting a little better. Interestingly, it understands better if I speak faster. When talking to a voice recognition, I think people have a tendency to speak slow and enunciate clearly. Interestingly, i find that makes it worse...at least, speaking slow does, for me.
I also think the app needs to mature some. For example I had this conversation with it yesterday:
Me: Enable Blue Tooth
CD: Did you say Disable Blue Tooth?
Me: No
CD; Disabling Blue Tooth.
Uh...it should have understood NO.
Another thing, as all voice dialers need, it needs a fairly quite environment. Background noise, radios, etc. will really throw it off.
Playing Music
First off, the only music player it plays through at the moment is the native android music app. I use MixZing, so prefer that.
It is nice that it will play by Artist, Album, or Song. But a glaring omission is it will not play by Genre. I asked them about playing genres, and got this response:
As to your suggestion for genres, for now perhaps you can approximate the effect through playlists? I steer clear of genres, as Android does not support the concept in its data model (I cannot ask the phone to tell me which songs are "pop").
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dialng
I find it to do fairly well at dialing when the person is in the contacts. Occasionally need to retry. I really like that it has voice confirmation.
Send Email
When I go to dictate an email, it uses Google Voice to hear the message. And often I get "Server problem Speak again" message in the Google App. I suppose it is a problem for the Google App, not Choice Dialer. But in the end, not too great. I attempted an email 7 times, and it worked twice. When it works, there is no way that I know of to have it use punctuation.
Open App
I can say Open <program name> and it works fairly well.
An interesting challenge for it is this one: "Open GPS Test". It never gets that. I presume because GPS is not a word.
Enable/Disable Functions
It works pretty good to enable Blue Tooth, and WiFi. Again, I sometimes need to repeat.
But, interestingly, enabling GPS is not what you expect. It launches the settings for you to click it, rather than just turning it on. I contacted them about it, and this is their response:
That is because that is all it CAN do.. nothing more direct is permitted a non-Google app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That one perplexes me. If you can directly enable Wifi, and Blue Tooth, I wonder why you couldn't do GPS. Certainly, there are apps that you can toggle it with.
Support
I find them VERY responsive. This is a good sign, and hopefully the app will mature and improve.
Wish List
If only this, or some app somewhere, could be as solid and capable as I found Microsoft Voice Command to be.
Would like to be able to : Play music by genre; Of course, have improved understanding and accuracy; tell me what is on my schedule today, and tomorrow. I'm sure there are others, but I'm running out of time for now on this post.
Conclusion
I may continue to use this for basic stuff, including dialing, and turning on BT when in car, opening apps etc. But for now, its too much effort repeating and so forth for the other features to be of much value to me.
So, are you using Choice Dialer? Better luck with it? Suggestions for use?
ewingr said:
I recently purchased Choice Dialer, and thought I'd start a thread with somewhat af a review, and hopefully learn from others too about how to make it work well for us.
...
Conclusion
I may continue to use this for basic stuff, including dialing, and turning on BT when in car, opening apps etc. But for now, its too much effort repeating and so forth for the other features to be of much value to me.
So, are you using Choice Dialer? Better luck with it? Suggestions for use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried the free version and really found it to be barely on par with the VoiceDailer.apk. Additionally, though there were lots of settings, it seemed overly complicated to me (I am a huge Voicedial fan from MS6.5).
I really only want the dial bit with confirmation (I never got that to work with the free version), and maybe reading/sending texts via voice.
I am not ready to step up and buy the app, and a 1 day trial is sort of silly. Give me 3-4 days. I did not realized there was a 1 day trial when I got the free version from the market, so I did not have an opportunity to test the paid version.
It is good to hear that their support is responsive. Let me know how you progress with this. I will let you know if I purchase the product.
I'll post back in a while.
I am still finding it a bit frustrating. I love the confirmation. But, I find it has a LOT of trouble understanding me. I think it is due to background noise.
Last night I tried it a bit driving home. I drive a Lexus, so road noise is not that bad, but with my Motorola T505 speaker phone unit, I had to scream at it for it to hear me.
Well, I'm about to give up on Choice Dialer. It just has way too high a percentage of not understanding.
I'm very disappointed. This is the only app I've found that has verification by voice.
I find Vlingo and Google Voice to have its share of misunderstanding, but not near as bad as Choice Dialer, but then they require hands on methods for verifications.
The major omission I found when switching from Windows Mobile to Android Eclair was voice dialling thru bluetooth. When I updated to Froyo I immediately tested the Voice Dialler with my Jawbone II - disappointed is an understatement. Recognition of contact names was abysmal, half the time it would dial the wrong contact without any confirmation. Other times I'd have to select an option on the screen - hardly hands free!
I tried Vlingo, but soon found it would only listen and speak thru the phone, not the bluetooth. Apparently a headset with A2DP profile is required.
So I tried Choice Dialer free, and found it better than the stock voice dialer because it offers voice confirmations thru bluetooth. That alone makes it worth using.
Recognition is good using the Jawbone, I haven't tried a built-in bluetooth or separate speaker phone yet. I'll report back when I've done so.
Anyway, I was impressed enough to purchase the Choice Dialer Plus. Can't say I've used the text and email capabilites for real yet, because although you can dictate a message thru bluetooth, you can't send it without pressing a button on the screen. Apparently the developer is working on making texting fully hands-free. He seems pretty active, judging by the change log on the site.
So I would recommend that those who are disappointed with stock Voice Dialler give Choice Dialer a try and see how the voice recognition works for you. Or if you have an A2DP headset, try Vlingo.
I'm a big fan and user of computer generated speech, have been since oh, the early 1980s when S.A.M. first appeared for the Commodore series of computers, and it's been nice to see the progression from that truncated truly "computer sounding" speech to what we have nowadays. In my opinion, the best "voices" yet created are produced by Ivona and my favorite at the moment is the Amy British female voice. Just something about that Brit accent (and yes I know it's not an accent, I'm just saying...).
Anyway, I'm using the Ivona Amy beta - Ivona's Android voices seem to be in a perpetual beta going on 2+ years now, go figure) and it can be assigned as the default voice for most everything in Android: turn by turn navigation, reading eBooks, etc, but for some unfathomable reason the default voice used for Google Now is still the rather crappy robotic sounding female one. It's not bad, mind you, but it most definitely ain't Amy, not by a very very long shot.
I've done some research but unfortunately every time I use the search terms "Google Now" and "voice" - even with quotation marks in all variations - all I end up finding is info about Google Voice for the most part and no actual mentions or info about making any installed voice data usable as the replacement for the voice you here when you use Google Now.
Yes I'm aware that Google Now has several different voices to choose from, from different countries, but it does not "see" the Ivona voice installed nor is it something I can apparently force into action.
Does anyone know if switching out the default voice with Google Now is even possible? I'd love to use Amy as the default one device-wide for any and all text-to-speech purposes. It does seem a bit odd that Google is restricting this in whatever manner they happen to be using, unless of course it's something much simpler to alter than I'm understanding. I have gone into the Google Now settings - Voice - and made alterations and I do get other voices, just not the Ivona Amy one that I currently have installed.
If anyone has any info or suggestions, I'd appreciate hearing it, thanks.
br0adband said:
I'm a big fan and user of computer generated speech, have been since oh, the early 1980s when S.A.M. first appeared for the Commodore series of computers, and it's been nice to see the progression from that truncated truly "computer sounding" speech to what we have nowadays. In my opinion, the best "voices" yet created are produced by Ivona and my favorite at the moment is the Amy British female voice. Just something about that Brit accent (and yes I know it's not an accent, I'm just saying...).
Anyway, I'm using the Ivona Amy beta - Ivona's Android voices seem to be in a perpetual beta going on 2+ years now, go figure) and it can be assigned as the default voice for most everything in Android: turn by turn navigation, reading eBooks, etc, but for some unfathomable reason the default voice used for Google Now is still the rather crappy robotic sounding female one. It's not bad, mind you, but it most definitely ain't Amy, not by a very very long shot.
I've done some research but unfortunately every time I use the search terms "Google Now" and "voice" - even with quotation marks in all variations - all I end up finding is info about Google Voice for the most part and no actual mentions or info about making any installed voice data usable as the replacement for the voice you here when you use Google Now.
Yes I'm aware that Google Now has several different voices to choose from, from different countries, but it does not "see" the Ivona voice installed nor is it something I can apparently force into action.
Does anyone know if switching out the default voice with Google Now is even possible? I'd love to use Amy as the default one device-wide for any and all text-to-speech purposes. It does seem a bit odd that Google is restricting this in whatever manner they happen to be using, unless of course it's something much simpler to alter than I'm understanding. I have gone into the Google Now settings - Voice - and made alterations and I do get other voices, just not the Ivona Amy one that I currently have installed.
If anyone has any info or suggestions, I'd appreciate hearing it, thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The "other voices" you mention: are they user-installed or stock with Google Now? If user-installed is the case, is it possible that "Amy" is on extSdCard and the others are local? I know this is a long-shot...
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The other voices are region based like US UK etc and part of Google Now. I'm not having much luck getting the Ivona voice(s) recognized as something I can assign in place but I'll keep at it.
Sent from my I537 using xda app-developers app
Did you try to change the global TTS under Settings > Language and Input?
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Of course, that was the first thing, and then a reboot, then the attempt to change the setting in Google Now directly but, I suppose Google just wants people to hear the robotic-like voice they apparently have forced on us as a default. Oh well...
br0adband said:
Of course, that was the first thing, and then a reboot, then the attempt to change the setting in Google Now directly but, I suppose Google just wants people to hear the robotic-like voice they apparently have forced on us as a default. Oh well...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I figured as much. I didn't mean to insult you. But hey, I've been guilty of similar blunders >_<
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my-blue-snog-box said:
I figured as much. I didn't mean to insult you. But hey, I've been guilty of similar blunders >_<
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No worries, I make 'em all the time but this wasn't one of them.
ps
You do realize that your "sig" is quoted because it's part of your regular posts, right? You can add a proper sig that doesn't get added into a reply quote...
I noticed that earlier. I think it's a Tapatalk thing. Thanks.
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Hi, Other*voices are region based like US UK etc and part of Google Now. Try to change the global TTS under Settings > Language and Input?
Doesn't make any difference that I can make note of: Google Now just has its own set of voices and regardless of what TTS engine/voices you have installed it's going to apparently use that default one built-in.
Still looking around for more info, however.
Still no relief from Google's robot voice in sight?
only control over the voice ive found is to change your language setting within the app itself to UK to get a male voice. supposedly the actual UK got an update to a female brit voice which would be preferable. cant believe google wouldnt incorporate custom tts into this app. might have to be brought to their attention for a later version release.
youd think there would be dedicated voice repository for the google voice search app and that you could theoretically change the name of or reroute the voice command to a custom tts default.
any thoughts?
so i found a beta version of a speech command app based off google now. it's called utter. allows you to choose speech program and voice. also has additional features not found on google now from the looks of it. initiate listening via icon tap in shortcuts on the home screen. different setup but looks promising. hope this helps
PhilipTD said:
Still no relief from Google's robot voice in sight?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of you're rooted with titanium backup installed you could always try freezing Google tts and selecting ivona in language and input settings, I used to do that to change the voice of svoice to ivona when I had my note 2 and 3, haven't tried it for Google now though
Settings > My Device > Language and Input > Text-to-Speech Options >>> Select Google Text-to-Speech Engine
Then click on the "settings gear" icon to the right and select Llanguage and select your language. Then go to "Install Voice Data" and install the voice you want.
Has anyone figured this out?
Or are we stuck with using only Google's various voices from around the world, when we want to use Google Now?
Heck, I even uninstalled Google TTS so that only my 3rd party TTS voice was showing up in the options. And Google Now still managed to use its own voice for Google Now.
2015 and still google doesn't use androids architecture possibilities into google now. stuck with horror Spanish google voice that makes me wanna kill myself...
Please google. Aply common sense and let Now use systems preferred voice engine.
In Maps I have a similar issue since sometimes I get IVONA (my choice) and some other times I get Google's in the same travel... Anyone with the same issue?
Anyone ever thought about writing an app that would take in speech, feed it to google now, getting results as text and "saying" the results using the built in TTS settings?
That would be awesome, still didnt found such APP. Isnt such thing possible with Tasker?
Gesendet von meinem GT-I9295 mit Tapatalk
So, I found the setting that reads to me who is calling.
So, for instance if Jesse Pinkman calls me, my phone will say "Jesse Pinkman" and then ring.
If it is not in my contact list, it will read the number.
But it only does it once.
I remember on some of my older phones, it would actually say who was calling, you would get the ring, say who was calling, get the ring, and repeat until VM picks up or I pick up.
I am looking for a way to do this again. If not available, is there an APP that will do this?
The reason I am doing this is because I have bluetooth on my helmet, and when I am riding I only want to pick up for certain callers.
On my phone, it is found under
Settings >> Accessibility>> Screen Reader>> Settings >>Read caller ID aloud
I simply did a search for "aloud" in Settings.
For anyone still looking for an answer: Samsung has made it difficult (on Oreo) to enable the function without the accessibility settings that call out every action you do. It has been integrated well in Pie under call settings. However, if you don't like Pie, like me, there's only one app that I found to actually do it very well. Its called Who's Calling. Get it from PlayStore. I have tested more than 20 apps and nothing does it better. I haven't even seen a single ad from it. Hope this saves someone time.
Cheers