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Posts Tagged “
Voice
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gadgets
call plans
Sprint Call Plan Only $89.99, Loses Inclusive Data
We seemed to have missed this in the recent unlimited call plan-gasm, but Sprint is apparently offering a call plan that rings in at $89.99/month and includes unlimited voice, messaging and push to talk. The plan is cheaper because it does not include any data usage in the price. Still, it is $10 less than Verizon and AT&T offerings, both of which will only give you unlimited voice for $99/month. If you don't need data access via your handset, checkout our awesome cheat sheet to see why this really is exceptional value for money. [Mobileburn]
rumor
Nintendo Wii to Get Voice Chat?
Nintendo's big man Reggie Fils-Aime just said this in their conference call:
In terms of voice chat... certainly our system has the capability for online voice chat, what it comes down to is finalizing the peripheral... I would not be surprised to see that capability come to this system.
What this means is that there's a capability of adding voice chat to the Wii fairly easily by way of Bluetooth headsets (which you probably have loads). And if you think that he's just dork-teasing with his "would not be surprised", execs usually don't even get to that base unless they're actively in development of something. However, the chat will only be available for Wii games and not Virtual Console ones. No multiplayer chat in Double Dragon, unfortunately. [Kotaku]
talking suv
Tell Your Car What to Play, Read With Ford Sync
Ford Sync is a new system developed by Ford and Microsoft that aims to fully integrate your MP3 player, cell phone and car computer with a speech recognition system. You will be able to climb into your SUV and say, 'Play artist Cliff Richards', and the annoying old timer will start blaring out of your speakers. It can even read out your text messages for you in an old-skool synthesised voice, which even understands lazy abbreviations like GR8. Jump to see it in action on a video featuring the action movie guy voice over. More »
patent
Acoustic Caller ID
This Microsoft patent for acoustic caller ID seems ingenious. Instead of relying on the phone company to ID by easily spoofed phone numbers, the system IDs by voice. That way, callers can be identified from whatever line they call from, cell, voip, landline, and gas station pay phone. Of course, that means the caller has to actually talk before the person picks up the phone. More »
gadgets
Nintendo Famicom Voice Recorder
Most of you won't be familiar with this Famicom-styled voice recorder since the US got a differently styled NES controller, but for people who grew up in Asia in the '80s this will feel right at home. The voice recorder features a volume slider, a place to shove two AAA batteries, and a couple of buttons that aren't labeled well. More »
cellphones
HP IPAQ 510 Voice Messenger: A Half-Assed Revival for the Brand
HP's IPAQ brand is back from the dead with this slim phone that looks nothing like the whale-ish IPAQ PDAs of yesteryear. The Windows mobile 6 phone has additions by HP that let it read emails and other text sources, and let you do your best Piccard impressions to open apps ("Computer! Make it SO".) The phone has EDGE data, and WiFi. Laptopmag's Sarah Anderson, got an early look, and had mixed reactions.The Good: Battery life of 6.5 hours, narrow. Voice recognition. Skype support (eventually.)
The Bad: Hefty 5.7-ounce weight. 0.7 inches thick. Synthesized voice sounds mumbly. More »
9:46 AM on Mon Feb 12 2007
By Brian Lam
1,417 views,
2 comments
home entertainment
InVoca Voice-Activated TV Remote Control
Voice-activated technology embedded in stand-alone devices is just about to become useful, and maybe this InVoca Voice-Activated TV Remote from Brookstone just might work. It's supposed to respond to 54 of your voice commands, yells, screams, pleas and yelps. It's allegedly able to understand four separate voices, and can also accept macros. More »
portable media
iPod Audio Navigation Patent
As iPods are further integrated into cars, there's a danger of users T-Boning some poor salary man because they were putting on "In the Air Tonight" instead of paying attention to the road. More »
home entertainment
DS News Galore
Homedogs, Kotaku, are reporting on a couple of announcements about services the DS will soon offer. The first is a download service for the DS. Owners will be able to go to participating retailers and download game demos and other content directly to their DS from the store. Secondly, Metroid Prime Hunters will see the first use of voice chat between players and friends. Finally, kids will be able to cuss me out wherever they please. Additionally the DS Lite will go on sale in Japan next month, but you readers already know more than enough about that. More »
gadgets
More XM Innovation, Voice Control
I guess Howard Stern going to Sirius has made one thing clear to XM Satellite Radio: if XM is going to stay the number one satellite radio company, it's going to have to innovate. And after its announcement this week of HD audio channels by March, we're now seeing another interesting addition. XM is in cahoots with VoiceBox Technologies to bring voice control to its service, allowing you to use voice commands, while you're driving, to search through the 160 channels. This is undoubtedly a good thing, as I have narrowly avoided collisions while scrolling through XM in my ZipCar on more than one occasion.XM will show this technology at CES; automakers and companies that make aftermarket products are expected to have it available by the middle of 2006. More »
