Posts Tagged ‘voice’

New Feature: Google Translate App Gets Real Time Transcribe

Wednesday, March 18th, 2020

The Google Translate app has just launched Transcribe – a new feature that enables you to translate and transcribe audio in real time.

The redesigned home screen of Google Translate (left) and options to change the settings for a comfortable read (right).

The redesigned home screen of Google Translate (left) and options to change the settings for a comfortable read (right).

Transcribe began its roll-out early this morning, and a full roll-out will be happening within the next few days.

Real time transcription in action in Google Translate.

Real time transcription in action in Google Translate.

The new feature will support any combination between the following eight languages: English, French, German, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Thai.

Previously, Translate wasn’t well suited to translate lectures over video conferencing or in a classroom, longer discussions, or stories from grandparents who speak another language.

To address this gap, Google is introducing this new feature that transcribes audio into translated text.

While the feature is only available on Android devices currently, Google is planning to launch it on iOS in the future.

Here’s how Transcribe in the Google Translate app works:

(more…)

New Arrival: Listen To Web Pages On Android Phones

Thursday, March 5th, 2020

You can now ask Google Assistant to read aloud the text on a webpage – basically turning any webpage into a podcast! The new functionality is now available on all Android phones.

Check out the video about the new Read It feature for Google Assistant in Android phones.

Check out the video about the new Read It feature for Google Assistant in Android phones.

Nowadays we consume so much content on our tiny smartphone screen – news, articles, stories etc.

For older folks with failing eyesight, or anybody with visual or reading difficulties, Google Assistant can now read web articles on your smartphone browsers out loud.

I’ve always wished that I could consume web content while I’m driving.

At the moment, you can only do that if it’s a podcast, or unless you just listen to the audio of a video, because you got to keep your eyes on the road while driving.

So I listen to the news or radio, or my own music while I drive.

With the ability of Google Assistant to read aloud web pages, I don’t have to postpone perusing a web article until when I can read it myself.

I can listen to it when I’m driving, or taking a bus or train (using earphones) so that I don’t have to strain my eyes reading on a moving vehicle.

(more…)

New arrivals: Jabra Storm wireless Bluetooth mono-headset

Thursday, September 11th, 2014

New Jabra Storm features advanced Noise Blackout which cancels outdoor noisy situations and offers 10 hours of clear conversation on the go. Available in Singapore for S$128.

South Korean Rock music songwriter - Go Younha - wearing the new Jabra Storm.

South Korean Rock music songwriter – Go Younha – wearing the new Jabra Storm.

Noise Blackout uses dual microphones and DSP technology to reduce background noise.

The sleek and stylish Jabra Storm.

The sleek and stylish Jabra Storm.

The stylish but discreet behind-the-ear Jabra Storm also features microPOWER battery and Wind Noise Blackout (different from Noise Blackout) technology.

microPOWER technology reduces battery size and boosts battery efficiency, while Wind Noise Blackout reduces wind noise.

The A2DP-enabled Jabra Storm weighs only 7.9g and boasts a standby time of 10 days.

The Jabra Storm is now available in Singapore from Apple premium resellers, Challenger stores, Harvey Norman and other authorised resellers.

New voice recorders: Olympus WS-811 and WS-812

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

The new WS-811 (S$158) and WS-812 (S$188) incorporate newly-developed, high sensitivity, low noise directional microphones ensuring the human voice is captured in optimal stereo quality. Available now.

The new Olympus WS-811 (S$158) and WS-812 (S$188) voice recorders are available now.

The new Olympus WS-811 (S$158) and WS-812 (S$188) voice recorders are available now.

The Olympus WS-811 and WS-812 promise a high signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio for pure-sounding recordings.

Olympus WS-811

Olympus WS-811

The two models also allow recording levels to be set manually to ensure complete user control.

Files can be saved in mp3 or WMA format

These multi-function devices combine a stereo recorder with USB stick and mp3 player functionality.

Playback speed can be adjusted to allow for quick and easy perusal of file contents to boost efficiency.

Files can now be located more easily due to the Calendar Search function.

This allows recordings to be found via the date they were created.

Scanning through and listening to the files is also made more comfortable and fast due to playback speeds up to 3.5x quicker than normal on the WS-812 (2x speed on the WS-811).

These slender, lightweight audio recorders require only one AAA-type battery and deliver up to 27 hours of recording time (in LP mode).

Calendar search screen

Calendar search screen

The internal memories of the Olympus WS-811 (2GB) and WS-812 (4GB) can be extended with a microSD Card slot enabling up to 32GB of additional storage capacity.

An integrated USB port provides USB stick functionality and facilitate the fast and easy transfer of files directly to and from a computer, without the need for cables.

Battery life has been extended. The new sub-CPU and audio codec, power consumption is reduced by around 8% allowing 27 hours or more of recording with a single AAA-type alkaline battery.

Olympus WS-812

Olympus WS-812

Additional features of the WS-812

The WS-812 incorporate CD-quality 44.1k/16bit PCM (WAV) recording.

Sound recording levels can be set manually.

Voice Playback technology distinguishes the human voice from other sounds so that non-voice portions are skipped and only those with voice are played back.

Fluctuating sound levels because of soft or loud voices, or due to people speaking from various distances from the microphone, are balanced out by the Voice Balancer function.

Recordings may also be played back using the Voice Changer feature (WS-812) that lets the frequency and playback speed of voice to be adjusted to suit individual needs and preferences.

Files can also be simply moved between folders for better organization.

Main features of the Olympus WS-811 and WS-812 are listed below.

(more…)

New voice recorders: Olympus VN-711PC and VN-712PC

Sunday, March 18th, 2012

The VN-711PC (S$98) and VN-712PC (S$128) from Olympus are now available. These new entry-level recorders come with a built-in stand and 2GB of internal memory.

The new Olympus VN-711PC (S$98) and VN-712PC (S$128) voice recorders are available now.

The new Olympus VN-711PC (S$98) and VN-712PC (S$128) voice recorders are available now.

Olympus VN-711PC

Olympus VN-711PC

The Olympus VN-711PC and VN-712PC are simple to operate and allows beginners and students to record messages, notes and conversations.

Large buttons make the recorders easy to operate, and the adjustable font size on the LCD means that all information is clearly seen on the screen.

Up to 99 index marks can be set to flag important places in individual recordings.

An integrated low noise microphone promises a high signal-to-noise ratio.

Files can be saved in WMA format.

The internal memory of 2GB enables up to 34 days of recording time. Up to 1,000 files can be stored across five folders.

Additional features of theVN-712PC

Olympus VN-712PC

Olympus VN-712PC

The VN-712PC has a microSD Card slot to extend storage capacity.

A new Calendar Search function has been added to help find files quickly and easily.

A dedicated file search button allows users to locate files by recording date.

In addition to WMA, recordings can be saved in MP3 format.

During playback, a Voice Filter improves the sound quality of human voice and variable playback speed control means users can make adjustments to suit their personal listening preferences.

The Scene Select function ensures optimal recordings through preset environmental settings that can be selected based upon surrounding conditions, and a low-cut filter can be invoked to further enhance recording quality.

Main features of the VN-711PC and VN-712PC are listed below.

(more…)