Breaking news! Android is getting high quality TTS in the next release (Donuts)!
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CLC
May 27, 2009, 11:09:05 PM5/27/09
to TTS-for-Android
In today's Google I/O keynote, Romain Guy demonstrated a high quality
multilingual TTS with a modified version of the Translate app, and
announced that TTS will be a feature in the next release of Android,
codenamed "Donuts"!
This TTS is heavily based on the current Text-To-Speech library from
the Eyes-Free Project, and I am working with the Android team to
integrate it so that it will be shipped as part of the platform. The
developer facing API will be almost the same as what the current Text-
To-Speech library looks like; migration should be quite easy, and
early adopters will have a leg up as they will have already done the
work of developing talking apps.
I would like to thank everyone who has helped with this project.
Special props to Dominic Mazzoni for helping port eSpeak so that we
had a proof of concept speech engine and to Jean-Michel Trivi who is
helping us get the TTS code into the framework.
Also, I'd like to give a huge shout out to all the developers who have
developed/are developing talking apps on Android. The developer
interest in TTS was a factor in having this as part of the platform,
so thank you for your support and I look forward to seeing even more
talking apps on Android!
-Charles
P.S. If you come to our talk at I/O tomorrow, you'll get free Swiss
chocolates. I'm serious about this. Hope to see you there!
multilingual TTS with a modified version of the Translate app, and
announced that TTS will be a feature in the next release of Android,
codenamed "Donuts"!
This TTS is heavily based on the current Text-To-Speech library from
the Eyes-Free Project, and I am working with the Android team to
integrate it so that it will be shipped as part of the platform. The
developer facing API will be almost the same as what the current Text-
To-Speech library looks like; migration should be quite easy, and
early adopters will have a leg up as they will have already done the
work of developing talking apps.
I would like to thank everyone who has helped with this project.
Special props to Dominic Mazzoni for helping port eSpeak so that we
had a proof of concept speech engine and to Jean-Michel Trivi who is
helping us get the TTS code into the framework.
Also, I'd like to give a huge shout out to all the developers who have
developed/are developing talking apps on Android. The developer
interest in TTS was a factor in having this as part of the platform,
so thank you for your support and I look forward to seeing even more
talking apps on Android!
-Charles
P.S. If you come to our talk at I/O tomorrow, you'll get free Swiss
chocolates. I'm serious about this. Hope to see you there!
Gabe Vega
May 27, 2009, 11:45:53 PM5/27/09
to tts-for...@googlegroups.com
beyond all the great talking apps? will there ever be a system wide
speech option available? for accessing system setting such as wifi,
bluetooth, call logs, sms writing, etc?
at this time I can read sms, hear talking caller ID and I feel that
the stock options of eyes free is a great concept. but this phone/os
has so much potential. and I would love to see a fully accessible
android platform.
Gabe Vega
The Tech of all Techs A+, Net+, ATACP
623-565-9357
speech option available? for accessing system setting such as wifi,
bluetooth, call logs, sms writing, etc?
at this time I can read sms, hear talking caller ID and I feel that
the stock options of eyes free is a great concept. but this phone/os
has so much potential. and I would love to see a fully accessible
android platform.
Gabe Vega
The Tech of all Techs A+, Net+, ATACP
623-565-9357
Darren Minifie
May 28, 2009, 1:18:06 AM5/28/09
to tts-for...@googlegroups.com
i saw that in the keynote today!! very exciting. Also, for those not at the keynote, Google gave everyone there a free Android phone + data plan. Looking forward to the chocolates and your talk tomorrow Charles.
--
Darren Minifie
Computer Science Master's Candidate
My Rants: www.noisyair.com
My Band: www.ohsnapmusic.com
Darren Minifie
Computer Science Master's Candidate
My Rants: www.noisyair.com
My Band: www.ohsnapmusic.com
blindfold
May 28, 2009, 4:55:05 AM5/28/09
to TTS-for-Android
Sounds great, Charles! Thanks for all the quality work. Although I'm
not blind, I'm with Gabe, Per Busch and many other blind phone users
in asking if also any steps towards generic screen reader
functionality are going to be taken? I inquired about that early
January in "Future Narrator-like functionality in Android?",
http://groups.google.com/group/tts-for-android/browse_thread/thread/ef1e91b4c84cfc79/
but so far never saw a reply. Without generic screen reader
functionality, the usability of Android devices will always remain
"spotty" for blind users.
Thanks!
The vOICe for Android
http://www.seeingwithsound.com/android.htm
not blind, I'm with Gabe, Per Busch and many other blind phone users
in asking if also any steps towards generic screen reader
functionality are going to be taken? I inquired about that early
January in "Future Narrator-like functionality in Android?",
http://groups.google.com/group/tts-for-android/browse_thread/thread/ef1e91b4c84cfc79/
but so far never saw a reply. Without generic screen reader
functionality, the usability of Android devices will always remain
"spotty" for blind users.
Thanks!
The vOICe for Android
http://www.seeingwithsound.com/android.htm
Jakob Sachse
Jun 3, 2009, 8:33:59 AM6/3/09
to TTS-for-Android
If SVOX provides the open source engine for the upcomming Android TTS
is the eSpeak port then obsolete?
is the eSpeak port then obsolete?
Gabe Vega
Jun 3, 2009, 9:10:01 AM6/3/09
to tts-for...@googlegroups.com
It shouldn't be. if people prefer the quick response of espeak, or the
voice in general, why not keep both?
The thing we all experience in windows mobile, and simbian, is that
the high quality voices are always sluggish and respond very slowly to
commands due to the processing the cpu has to do to get the voice to
talk.
Be sure to Check Out my New Blog!
http://theblindmansbluff.blogspot.com
voice in general, why not keep both?
The thing we all experience in windows mobile, and simbian, is that
the high quality voices are always sluggish and respond very slowly to
commands due to the processing the cpu has to do to get the voice to
talk.
Be sure to Check Out my New Blog!
http://theblindmansbluff.blogspot.com
Beth Koenig
Jun 3, 2009, 11:54:46 AM6/3/09
to tts-for...@googlegroups.com
Yes, I have even have that happen on some laptops. I would love to have the eyes free on espeak and use a high quality voice for communication programs, like augcomm. Keep up the great work everyone!
Beth Koenig
bet...@gmail.com
-sent from my T-mobile G1
On Jun 3, 2009 6:10 AM, "Gabe Vega" <thebli...@gmail.com> wrote:
It shouldn't be. if people prefer the quick response of espeak, or the
voice in general, why not keep both?
The thing we all experience in windows mobile, and simbian, is that
the high quality voices are always sluggish and respond very slowly to
commands due to the processing the cpu has to do to get the voice to
talk.
Be sure to Check Out my New Blog!
http://theblindmansbluff.blogspot.com
Gabe Vega The Tech of all Techs A+, Net+, ATACP 623-565-9357
On Jun 3, 2009, at 5:33 AM, Jakob Sachse wrote: If SVOX provides the open source engine for the up...
CLC
Jun 3, 2009, 5:00:56 PM6/3/09
to TTS-for-Android
The SVOX engine is pretty snappy, so I don't think speed will be that
much of an issue. We are also going straight to the audio layer now
without first writing a scratch wav file so I expect the performance
will actually be better.
At any rate, don't worry about the eSpeak port; it will continue to
live on as a plugin TTS engine that also serves as an example of how
TTS engine developers can write an engine that is compatible with the
Android TTS system.
App developers code to the Android TTS API, and the end user will be
able to configure the Android TTS system to choose the default engine
gets picked to do synthesis. This is very similar to how the IME
system works; the Android ships with an IME, but users can install 3rd
party IMEs off the Market (or even write their own) that can then be
set as the default.
-Charles
On Jun 3, 8:54 am, Beth Koenig <bet...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Yes, I have even have that happen on some laptops. I would love to have the
> eyes free on espeak and use a high quality voice for communication programs,
> like augcomm. Keep up the great work everyone!
>
> Beth Koenig
> bet...@gmail.com
> -sent from my T-mobile G1
>
much of an issue. We are also going straight to the audio layer now
without first writing a scratch wav file so I expect the performance
will actually be better.
At any rate, don't worry about the eSpeak port; it will continue to
live on as a plugin TTS engine that also serves as an example of how
TTS engine developers can write an engine that is compatible with the
Android TTS system.
App developers code to the Android TTS API, and the end user will be
able to configure the Android TTS system to choose the default engine
gets picked to do synthesis. This is very similar to how the IME
system works; the Android ships with an IME, but users can install 3rd
party IMEs off the Market (or even write their own) that can then be
set as the default.
-Charles
On Jun 3, 8:54 am, Beth Koenig <bet...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Yes, I have even have that happen on some laptops. I would love to have the
> eyes free on espeak and use a high quality voice for communication programs,
> like augcomm. Keep up the great work everyone!
>
> Beth Koenig
> bet...@gmail.com
> -sent from my T-mobile G1
>
> On Jun 3, 2009 6:10 AM, "Gabe Vega" <theblindt...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> It shouldn't be. if people prefer the quick response of espeak, or the
> voice in general, why not keep both?
>
> The thing we all experience in windows mobile, and simbian, is that
> the high quality voices are always sluggish and respond very slowly to
> commands due to the processing the cpu has to do to get the voice to
> talk.
>
> Be sure to Check Out my New Blog!http://theblindmansbluff.blogspot.com
>
> It shouldn't be. if people prefer the quick response of espeak, or the
> voice in general, why not keep both?
>
> The thing we all experience in windows mobile, and simbian, is that
> the high quality voices are always sluggish and respond very slowly to
> commands due to the processing the cpu has to do to get the voice to
> talk.
>
Gabe Vega
Jun 3, 2009, 5:48:57 PM6/3/09
to tts-for...@googlegroups.com
can ssome one tell me by feel where the sd slot is? and when I hear
the tones, what my daughter needs to look for on screen on how to get
the sd card to mount as a usb drive?
Be sure to Check Out my New Blog!
http://theblindmansbluff.blogspot.com
Gabe Vega
The Tech of all Techs A+, Net+, ATACP
623-565-9357
the tones, what my daughter needs to look for on screen on how to get
the sd card to mount as a usb drive?
Be sure to Check Out my New Blog!
http://theblindmansbluff.blogspot.com
Gabe Vega
The Tech of all Techs A+, Net+, ATACP
623-565-9357
Darren Minifie
Jun 3, 2009, 5:54:09 PM6/3/09
to tts-for...@googlegroups.com
Hi Gabe
When you slide the keyboard out, there is a tiny lip that can be felt on the left side, right above the bottom buttons. If you press into the small gap therer, the spring loaded SD card should pop out.
To mount it on Mac OS, simply plug the phone in via usb. When that is done, a notification will appear on the device stating that usb is detected. From there there is an option to mount as a drive. Hope that helps.
Darren--
Darren Minifie
Computer Science Masters Candidate
University of Victoria, BC. Canada
When you slide the keyboard out, there is a tiny lip that can be felt on the left side, right above the bottom buttons. If you press into the small gap therer, the spring loaded SD card should pop out.
To mount it on Mac OS, simply plug the phone in via usb. When that is done, a notification will appear on the device stating that usb is detected. From there there is an option to mount as a drive. Hope that helps.
Darren
Darren Minifie
Computer Science Masters Candidate
University of Victoria, BC. Canada
Gabe Vega
Jun 3, 2009, 6:32:53 PM6/3/09
to tts-for...@googlegroups.com
do you have a pic that my daughter may reference so she can show me. up to now neither her or I can't find it. and when the usb mount msg comes up I have to be on the normal, home screen right, or will it pop up in the eyes free shell window?
Be sure to Check Out my New Blog!
Gabe Vega
The Tech of all Techs A+, Net+, ATACP
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