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Posts Tagged ‘Apple’

I had a client in town for the last few days. He has one of those Google Android (or Droid) phones and here I am thinking that the Iphone is the best out there. I am finding that some of the most convenient features of the Droid phone can not be found for the Iphone. At least on a non “jailbroken” Iphone. I will not “jailbreak” my iphone because I don’t want to void the warranty among other reasons, but I am seriously considering it now that I’m realizing that the best apps out there are not available on a factory Iphone.

One of his apps is the ability to speak a contact name and have it instantly dial the said contacts phone number, as well, he can speak “navigate to: wherever” and Google maps will navigate him to his location. Now I have found similar apps for the Iphone but all of them require some button pushing which to me defeats the point of the speech to text conversion. And now, with the release of Google Voice and Apple’s decision to not support or carry it in the app store, it leaves one wondering who is the technological leader in cell phones these days?

So, as I am searching the Iphone app store for similar apps for the Iphone, I stumble across VERY FEW, much to my surprise. And the ones offered only translate your speech to an email via a voice recording. One of which actually sends the recipient a audio file via email, the other will transcribe your voice recording, but still requires at least 6 to 8 button taps to achieve the intent. In that amount of time, I could have sent a brief text reply! Either way, this is not what I am after. I want the ability to receive a text on my phone, tap a little microphone button, and have it translated into text and automatically sent to the recipient.

Some old school people have said on various forums that this would defeat the point of a text message, but I wholeheartedly disagree. An app such as the one that I am dreaming of is not only possible, but currently exists. If the Google Droid phone can translate your voice to text to enter into search queries and Google Maps, why has apple not jumped on this? The fact that it is technically not a text message at that point is a mute point to me. Text messaging is not a direct conversation, you have the ability to control the conversation or reply or choose not to as you wish. Being on the road a lot as I am, this would make it a ton easier to reply to important text messages while on the road with minimal safety risk.

So, the question that I am posing is: Why is this technology not available for the Iphone? I think this technology should be available to any cellular device period. For safety purposes alone. If I am totally missing something here and this technology is available for the Iphone, someone please point me in the right direction and at the same time point me to their marketing department for failing to have a successful advertising campaign on such incredible technology.