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Topic: Software

Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' killer feature - Voice-to-text

Summary: The upcoming Windows Phone 'Mango' update brings a voice-to-text feature to the OS ... and it actually works!

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

By for Hardware 2.0 |

In an era where technologies compete on brand rather than features, I'm always on the lookout for features that differentiate one platform from another. I think I've found a feature that differentiates Windows Phone 'Mango' from the pack - Voice-to-text.

Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' was released to manufacturing (RTMed) a few days ago so now begins the long wait for handsets to appear running this OS. But when it does come out, I really like the sound of the voice-to-text feature. here is is being described by Bill Pardi on the Windows Team Blog:

'On a recent run around town with my wife to grab dinner and pick up one of the kids, a text message came in from my son. Not an unusual event in itself, but what made this message interesting is that my phone read it aloud to me - and I replied back with my voice.'

Pardi calls this a 'game changer' and I agree. Voice control on iOS and Android isn't anywhere near as sophisticated and integrated as this (I've never really managed to use the Voice Control feature on iOS at all .. no idea why). And what's more, this technology actually seems to work!

I like! I like!

This is the first time that I've actually looked at the Windows Phone with interested ... could a workable voice-to-text feature be a killer app or will this be something that we'll soon see being baked into Android and iOS too?

Topics: Software, Microsoft, Mobility, Operating Systems, Telcos, Windows

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56 comments
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  • Android has had it for a while now....

    I can dictate to my phone, have it open apps and all that stuff in Android now. And it does work. Just tap the microphone button on the keyboard and it will let you dictate. If you hold the home button (IIRC) you can do voice control.

    This is on a Droid X.

    Once again MS FAILs at innovation.
    itguy10
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' killer feature - Voice-to-text

      @itguy10,

      I've got a Droid X too. I love it, and I use the voice recognition software alot. It does actually work, but it is far from perfect. In the article:

      "Pardi calls this a ?game changer? and I agree. Voice control on iOS and Android isn?t anywhere near as sophisticated and integrated as this (I?ve never really managed to use the Voice Control feature on iOS at all .. no idea why). And what?s more, this technology actually seems to work!"

      I haven't demo'ed the WP7 voice control feature, and I'm guessing (forgive me) you haven't either.
      bmonsterman
      Reply Vote

      • Android Voice Control

        @bmonsterman

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ngbBKQuaGU
        Kangaruhs
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' killer feature - Voice-to-text

        @kangaruhs

        What's your point? I said I use an Android phone. I said I use the voice recognition software alot. Why send me a link demoing Android recognition software?
        bmonsterman
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' killer feature - Voice-to-text

      @itguy10 I have an android running 2.2 - I find the voice recognition completely useless - I am living in the UK so maybe that makes a difference?? - regional dialects etc.
      RonanSail
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' killer feature - Voice-to-text

      @itguy10
      OK fanboy, we get your point. But you know what, all of this was there in phones (including Windows Mobile) way before Android even existed!

      The key point here is the level of integration (voice search, voice commands, SMS-to-speech, speech-to-text and so on) within the OS (without having to install anything else).

      Go try a WP7 Mango device yourself and open your horizons. And no, Android does not have this level of integrated voice support. No other phone has it yet.
      TheCyberKnight
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' killer feature - Voice-to-text

        @TheCyberKnight,

        Voice recongition in Android is integrated into the OS (without installing anything). It works with SMS, search, email, voice commands...etc seamlessly.

        I haven't tried WP7 Mango, and have no doubts that the level of integration has some improvements. Since no one on the forum has been able to describe what that distinction is, it will be incumbent upon me to go see for myself.
        bmonsterman
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' killer feature - Voice-to-text

        @TheCyberKnight

        What part of I HAVE THAT NOW don't you understand. I can voice control my Droid X to do all that. For me it works reasonably well. About as well as the Nuance Powered voice recognition in my Ford Sync system...
        itguy10
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' killer feature - Voice-to-text

        @TheCyberKnight Not like this, Android Voice Recognition is extremely accurate and very quick / easy to use.
        slickjim
        Reply Vote

    • No, it doesn't work. I laugh at your posts for the obvious reason

      @itguy10
      You claim that MS making something work is copying when Android has it first but it doesn't work.

      Going with your logic I can now offically claim I built the worlds first FTL warp engine, even though I can't get it to do anything - the fact that I call it that means all others are just copying me! :)
      William Farrell
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' killer feature - Voice-to-text

        @William Farrell Doesn't work? Are you seriously, thinking it doesn't work in Android? It is one of Androids best features.
        slickjim
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' killer feature - Voice-to-text

        @Peter Perry The article said it doesn't work as well, so it doesn't work as well. The article said it isn't as integrated, so it's not as integrated. Your extraordinary claim otherwise requires extraordinary evidence.
        jgm@...
        Reply Vote

      • Sorry Peter, I inadvertatently left out "well"

        @William Farrell
        obvious it does work (it's in there) but not all that great from what I hear (Nuance on WM6.5 isn't all that great either), but my statement to ittybitty10 still stands.
        William Farrell
        Reply Vote

    • Ahem, not really

      @itguy10 I've had voice controls on my PCs since 2001. I've dictated and its read emails to me. WP7 needed to focus on getting certain things right before it included other features. No problem for me.

      I don't think you can name one things that iOS, Android or WP7 do that wasn't been done already by someone else. This includes the touch screen (hello MS Surface). Most everything we see in smart phones are just old tech repackaged. That doesn't mean MS is doing anything *more*, that's for sure, but to say they fail seems wrong.

      I mean, can *your* phone play Netflix? Most Android can't but iOS and WP7 can. I wouldn't say Android fails because of that. Its just the "price" for being open.

      Does your Droid X run Android 3.1? I'm guessing no. You don't have the latest OS? Fail? probably not, just a limitation.

      Can your Droid X use the itnernet while on a phone call? Fail? Some would say so, but its just a missing feature (on I use daily).
      A Gray
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' killer feature - Voice-to-text

      @itguy10 you dont get it, with wp7 this isnt an app its integrated into the phone and because of that the advantages are tremendous, you can text to chat to people on all social networks thats integrated into the phone so facebook, linkedin twitter, msn etc you can text to speech just about anything, with wp7 its well thought out its not just an app wp7 is awesome
      bxbbrian
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' killer feature - Voice-to-text

        @bxbbrian How do you get speech to work in Facebook? I've been trying and can't seem to make it work.
        MistaWet
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' killer feature - Voice-to-text

      @itguy10 I recall using voice command and dictating on my PC about 15 (or may be more) years ago.
      pupkin_z
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' killer feature - Voice-to-text

      @itguy10
      Well my Windows Mobile had this before Android, my Windows PC had this before Android and I am sure Palm also might have had this. So by your logic Google FAILs at innovation, they just stole others ideas, but I didn't say that, you just did. Also you fail to be an "ITGUY", because a true ITGUY will not have biases, (s)he/it uses proper technologies for specific purpose and treats technologies as delivery platforms and tools to do the job. Once again you FAIL at IT.
      Ram U
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' killer feature - Voice-to-text

        @Rama.NET
        Do you post as Loverock Davidson also? It is silly that you preach about ' a true ITGUY will not have biases', whereas every one of your post shows you are Microsoft shill
        Van Der
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Windows Phone 7.5 'Mango' killer feature - Voice-to-text

      @itguy10 You are so dumb haha! Microsoft was working with voice command when google was not even a thought! They did not fail to innovate when google is using microsoft software. Thats why microsoft is making so much money off of the android phone because they are innovators. Microsoft has made well over $50 million off android phones now. They have time to work with WP7 when android is making them that kind of cash. Read the news or a book. YOU FAIL!!!!
      imsimsj
      Reply Vote
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