Voice Dialer...What's the Point?

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Futant_1

New member
I have the HTC Magic (G2) and have since launch, love the phone.
Up until last night I hadn't bothered syncing up my bluetooth headset with the phone, but as the date draws near where it will become illegal here in Ontario (Canada) to drive while operating a cell phone, mp3 player etc. I decided it would be a good time to get it ready.

(No, I do not normally drive while operating the phone, but now and then it "does" happen, yes yes, I know, I'm a horrible person...)

After syncing the phone and testing it out, I have to say, I'm very disappointed with Android's Voice Dialer app. I use to use the HTC tytn2 with Windows Mobile 6, and as slow and clunky as that phone was in comparison, the hands free voice dialer was at least useful. The main problem I have is that for one the screen cannot be in "sleep" mode, which mean now I have to pick up my phone while driving to hit the home button twice to unlock it, then I can use the headset to activate voice dialing and such, which is fine...UNTIL...I now have to confirm the command, with the buttons! Why??? On Windows Mobile, after I said a command it would ask if I was sure if that's what I wanted to do, then I would simply say "Yes", no hand required. What purpose is a voice dialer when I'm pressing more buttons to allow myself to use the voice dialer then I would be if I were to simply open my contacts and press on someone's name?

Sorry about this turning into somewhat of a rant, but I'm really displeased here. Can someone tell me if perhaps I'm doing something wrong? I'd rather be an idiot and find out this works better than to find out that THIS is their answer to voice dialing. If that is in fact how it's supposed to work, does anyone know of another app that is a little more...useful in that respect? I'd appreciate any help I can get.

-Fretty
 
I use starcontact for a dialer, and bettercut to make direct dial shortcuts. Never even think about voice dialing unless i accidentally hold down the call button, then i get pissed and hammer the home button til it goes away.
 
At least it answers incoming calls without me needing to actually touch the phone itself (good for driving).

I still can't believe that initiating the call using voice dialing actually requires more work than just going to the contacts and picking the contact to call manually. Doesn't make any sense to me.

All I really want is to be able to confirm the command via voice as well as be able to initiate voice dialing without needing to unlock the screen first (since it locks when the screen time out occurs), thus eliminating being required to look at or handle the phone to use voice dialing.

Devs...are you looking into changing this?
 
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=1181&q=voice%20dialer&colspec=id%20type%20status%20owner%20summary%20stars

I encourage everyone to star this issue. It is a MAJOR design flaw in what should be rudimentary at this point in time. I want this thing fixed ASAP!
 
Okay, I think I've found a "work-around" for the voice-dialer problem that will allow you to use it hands-free.

In the marketplace, download TopVoiceControl - TopVoiceControl v1.3.0 Application for Android | Tools

The first time you launch it, it will ask which voice dialer you want to be your default. Press the checkmark box for Make Default, and choose TopVoiceControl (you can change this back later by "clearing" the default in Settings > Applications > Manage Applications).

Now, in Contacts, create some "speed dial" contacts with easy to say names you will remember, and which don't sound too much like other contacts names. I am playing with using "numbers" actually spelled out like "One" and "Two". For example, I created a contact called "One" with my wife's cell phone number and NO other information.

Start TopVoiceControl (it will start up like voice dialer, waiting for you to say something). Press the menu button, this will bring up the settings for TopVoiceControl. Check the box next to "Act on single result".

(Note: while you are in the settings you may also want to turn off text-to-speech, which is on by default, because to use this you need to download another app or package or something, and it will keep nagging you until you download it, or until you disable it in settings. I haven't tried it yet).

Now, provided your voice "speed dial" contact name is a unique sounding name that is not too hard to pronounce, it should be the only result found when you say it, and TopVoiceControl will initiate the call right away.

It is important to remember that you have to say "Call" before the contact name, or it will search for apps as well.

I tested this using my Motorola BT ear piece and it worked well. It is important to speak loudly, clearly, and enunciate well so that TVC only finds the one result to call. Play around with names/words that sound very distinct from the other contacts and app names on your phone.
 
With Froyo (Android 2.2) on the Samsung Captivate, I finally got voice-dialing working, though it took a bit of work.

1) Install TopVoiceControl

2) Install TTS Extended Service 3.1
http://code.google.com/p/eyes-free/downloads/detail?name=tts_3.1_market.apk&can=2&q=

At this point, I am able to voice-dial with TopVoiceControl (after the programs initialize, of course). However, I only use TopVoiceControl for a couple commands because I find Voice Search to have better recognition.
- Enable/disable service, e.g. "Disable wifi"
- Launching Voice Search, e.g. "Open Voice Search"
From Voice Search, I perform my dialing or launching voice navigation.

I already experimented with eSpeak TTS vs. Pico TTS which was included in the Froyo 2.2 build for the Samsung Captivate, and decided to stick with Pico TTS. There may be other TTS engines. I also previously experimented with Choice Dialer+ Free with limited success.

The only annoying issue now is not being able to use voice commands while the phone is locked (and I have an aggressive screen timeout set to conserve the battery). That will be my next challenge to overcome, as will the ability to permit phoning the ICE contacts or Lost Phone contacts at the Lock Screen. (I have only had the phone 2 days, so I am still experimenting.)
 
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