Nuance and Pebble partner to bring voice recognition to many of Pebble’s smartwatches
Nuance Communications and Pebble Technologies have announced that, together, they’re bringing Nuance’s voice recognition technology to the Pebble Time, Pebble Time Steel, and Pebble Time Round smartwatches.
This added voice recognition technology will allow Android users to reply to emails and text messages by using their voice with a simple touch of a button.
It’s available for the Pebble Time and Pebble Time Steel straight away, but Pebble Time Round owners in the US will have to wait until November 8 to take advantage of the built-in voice recognition technology.
Pebble also in conjunction with Nuance has created a Dictation API, which is open to developers to build voice-enabled applications. Developers who are interested in taking advantage of Pebble’s API can check out the all the documentation on Pebble’s developer website.
Was it really worth the time and money of integrating voice technology into the Pebble devices, though? Only a very small group of people will take advantage of the feature, as smartwatches still aren’t widely adopted. And given the chance, most people would rather type an email or text message than yell at their smartphone or smartwatch.
There’s also the frustrations of voice recognition that isn’t just limited to Pebble. When using speech-to-text technology, more often than not the user has to go back in his or her email or text message and edit the parts that the smartphone or smartwatch didn’t hear correctly.
While it’s a nice feature to have on hand, it’d difficult to see how it enhances the Pebble experience for the large majority of its users. Voice recognition technology just isn’t in its prime, but hopefully that will change sooner than later.
Android Users Can Reply to Texts and Emails Using Their Voice with Pebble Time and Pebble Time Steel; API Now Available for Pebble Developer Community
Burlington, MA. – October 15, 2015 – Nuance Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN) and Pebble Technology Corp. today announced that Nuance’s voice recognition technology enables Android users with Pebble Time and Pebble Time Steel smartwatches to reply to email and text messages using their voice at a touch of a button. This feature will also be available on Pebble Time Round starting on November 8 in the US. In conjunction with the voice recognition capabilities, Pebble created a Dictation API leveraging Nuance’s voice technology for the Pebble developer community to build unique and engaging voice-enabled applications that will work seamlessly with Pebble smartwatches on both Android and iOS.
“The value of a smartwatch is directly connected to its overall aesthetics, fit, and intuitive functionality. Pebble is committed to offering not only a variety of smartwatches that blend into individual lifestyles, but also to expanding the usability of Pebble smartwatches world-wide through frequent software upgrades,” said Kean Wong, Vice President of Software Engineering at Pebble. “Making voice capabilities accessible to developers will help grow the Pebble app ecosystem exponentially, providing Pebble users access to more apps that are fun, intuitive, and easy to use.”
“Voice opens up a world of possibility for wearable devices – in seconds, messages dictated by voice are sent right from the wrist with just a touch of a button. By opening the Dictation API to Pebble developers, more experiences will be delivered and consumers will be able to connect without having to look down at their device,” said Scott Taylor, senior vice president of devices, Nuance Mobile.
Nuance provides a voice for everything through a portfolio of innovations that is defining a new generation of virtual assistant experiences. As a result, people experience a more human conversation with the world’s best phones, tablets, computers, cars, TVs, apps and services from leading manufacturers and operators.
Click here to learn more about Pebble’s voice API.
Come comment on this article: Nuance and Pebble partner to bring voice recognition to many of Pebble’s smartwatches
NPR One joins RockScout’s MirrorLink compatability list
Earlier this month RockScout announced the ability to provide a connection between their app running on a smartphone and an automobile running MirrorLink. MirrorLink is an in-car system that makes it possible to use touch and rotary knob infotainment systems in modern vehicles. One of the benefits of MirrorLink is that it is not tied into any particular operating system and does not require a vehicle to have Android Auto or Apple’s CarPlay systems installed. When first launched, RockScout initially supported Spotify. Now the NPR One app for Android has added support for MirrorLink via RockScout.
If you want to give NPR One a try in your vehicle, hit the download link for the Play Store entry. Using the combination of NPR One, MirrorLink and RockScout, users can more easily control what they are listening to in a safer manner than traditional entertainment options controlled through a smartphone.
NPR One for Android is Now MirrorLink®-Compatible
MirrorLink RockScout app delivers a wealth of Android audio to MirrorLink-enabled cars and smartphones
October 15, 2015 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
BEAVERTON, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Starting today, NPR One users can take advantage of easy and ethical connectivity to their car dashboards via MirrorLink® RockScout, a simple download that makes participating Android audio apps MirrorLink-compatible. The Car Connectivity Consortium, creators of MirrorLink, made the announcement as more and more of the world’s most useful apps become available in the MirrorLink ecosystem.
“Due to its highly customizable nature, NPR One is a great way for listeners to get public radio national and international coverage and their local station’s news, as well as their favorite podcasts, wherever they are on their phones, tablets, wearables and cars,” said Joel Sucherman, Senior Director of Digital Products at NPR. “Compatibility with MirrorLink makes NPR One driver-aware and accessible via large icons that conform to established guidelines in driver distraction. As a car connectivity standard, MirrorLink offers the added benefit of wide-scale handset and vehicle interoperability.”
RockScout leverages Media Browser Service, a standard Android API, to make Android audio apps compatible with MirrorLink. MirrorLink compatibility means apps are driver-aware and controllable via touch and rotary-knob infotainment systems. The Android application can be enabled without further development or integration, and the solution is free and open-source.
“Access to NRP One is a major turning point for the MirrorLink app ecosystem,” said Alan Ewing, President and Executive director of the CCC. “RockScout has attracted the attention of some of the world’s most iconic music and audio brands because, with zero integration, the platform extends access to millions more potential subscribers.”
MirrorLink is the most ingenious way to bring smartphone content to the dash. Huge icons make apps easy to use and smart technology knows if the car is in Park or Drive. Designed for maximum interoperability between a wide range of smartphones and cars, MirrorLink is the only OS- and OEM-agnostic standard for car-smartphone connectivity where no single entity has a controlling stake.
To download RockScout, click here. To download NPR One for Android, click here. For general information, please visithttp://www.mirrorlink.com.
Come comment on this article: NPR One joins RockScout’s MirrorLink compatability list
5 problems with the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and how to fix them
Like with the Galaxy S6, Samsung introduced a new level of build quality on its latest Galaxy Note smartphone, with the Galaxy Note 5 now also featuring a metal and glass unibody design. The premium look, top of the line specifications, faster and less bloated software experience, and improved S-Pen stylus all make for a very compelling device, but unfortunately, like most other smartphones out there, the Galaxy Note 5 is not without its issues. Which is why, we’ve rounded up some of the common problems that Samsung Galaxy Note 5 owners face, and offer potential solutions on how to fix them.
Disclaimer: Not every Samsung Galaxy Note 5 owner will face these issues, and it is actually more than likely that you won’t come across any of the problems listed below.
Problem #1 – Jammed S-Pen
“Pengate” has of course been quite the controversy with the Galaxy Note 5, with some users finding the S-Pen stuck in the slot after having inserted the stylus the wrong way.
Potential solutions:
- The easiest way to avoid this problem occurring is to just be a little more aware when slotting the S-Pen back into its place. Just feel for the tip of the S-Pen, and keep in the mind that it is the point that goes in first.
- If the S-Pen has got stuck, keep in mind that forcefully pulling it out could result in some major functionality getting broken. Luckily, there is a simple and safe way for you to remove the S-Pen in such a scenario. You can check out the tutorial here.
Problem #2 – Device randomly reboots, unexpectedly shuts down, or just becomes unresponsive
Some users have found the device to randomly reboot or shut down, which occurs multiple times during the day. Others have also found the device to get completely unresponsive, even while just swiping through the homescreens.
Potential solutions:
- If the device freezes, you can force a reboot using the hardware buttons of the device. You can find out how to do so in the guides below.
- If this problem has occurred after a software update, wiping the cache partition might help. The instructions to do so are below.
- Finally, you can check to see if a rogue app is creating this problem. First, boot the device into Safe Mode (instructions below) and see if the problem persists. If it doesn’t, an application is the cause for concern. You can try removing the last few apps you have installed or updated to see if the problem continues.
- In extreme cases, only a Factory Reset may do the trick.
Problem #3 – Wireless charging issues
Quite a lot of users who use wireless charging with the Galaxy Note 5 have found that the device stops charging after some time, around 15 minutes, or even more frequently than that, and the phone needs to be picked up and placed on the charger again to restart the charging, until the issue occurs once again.
Potential solutions:
- The issue here seems to be related to the software, as it looks like the device stops charging when the screen times out, which is quite odd. A software update will be rolled out soon that should help fix this problem, but some users have found that turning on Daydream while the device is charging, which essentially keeps the display from timing out, helps alleviate this problem. Using the Daydream method isn’t recommended however, as the phone will charge slower, and this could result in the device heating up as well.
- For some users, the issue seems to occur when charging the device with a third-party wireless charger. You could try replacing the third-party charger and trying once again, as the issue could be related to a faulty charger itself. It is best to use the new charger that is officially available for the Galaxy Note 5, which also allows for fast wireless charging.
- Some users have found that wiping the cache partition, or even just a simple restart temporarily fixes the problem, but it does return after a few days.
- Finally, it may have to do with the case you have on the Galaxy Note 5. While some case manufacturers claim that their cases allow for wireless charging, and it is true for the most part, it is still best to remove any protective cases or covers before wirelessly charging your smartphone.
Problem #4 – Device asks for owner account info after performing Factory Reset
This isn’t a problem per say, but rather a security feature that gets triggered during special circumstances. That said, quite a few users have found this to occur, and are lost as to what should be done next, given the device is rendered unusable from that point.
Potential solutions:
- This security feature kicks in only when a user resets their Google account password, and the device associated with that account gets Factory Reset soon after. This is likely to show up after buying a second hand phone from a seller directly who has reset the device for you, so it is always a good idea to keep their information at hand to be able to contact them.
- If you can’t there is unfortunately no workaround, unless you are someone who is comfortable with flashing a custom ROM on the device. This security feature lasts for 72 hours, and after that, you will be able to use the device as normal.
Problem #5 – Connectivity issues
As is the case with any new device, there is a chance that you might face issues with connecting to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Potential solutions:
Wi-Fi issues
- Turn the device and the router off for at least ten seconds, then turn them back and retry the connection.
- Go to Settings – Power saving and ensure that this option is turned off.
- Use the Wi-Fi Analyzer to check how crowded your channel is, and switch to a better option.
- Forget the Wi-Fi connection by going to Settings – Wi-Fi and long tapping the connection you want, then selecting “Forget”. Re-enter the details and try again.
- Make sure the router firmware is up to date.
- Make sure the applications and software on the device are up to date.
- Go into Wi-Fi – Settings – Advanced and make a note of your device MAC address, then make sure that it is allowed access in the router’s MAC filter.
Bluetooth issues
- Check the manufacturer’s manual for the device and the car and reset your connections.
- Ensure that you are not missing a vital part of the connection process.
- Go to Settings – Bluetooth and ensure nothing needs changing
- Go into Settings – Bluetooth delete all prior pairings and try setting them up again from scratch.
Guides – Soft reset, Hard reset, wipe cache partition, boot into Safe Mode
Soft Reset
- Press and hold the power button and volume down key simultaneously for about 10 seconds until the device powers off. This works when the screen is unresponsive.
Hard Reset
- With the device turned off, press and hold the volume up key, home button, and power button simultaneously.
- When the Samsung logo appears, release the power button, but continue to hold the volume up and home buttons.
- When the Android system recovery screen appears, release all buttons.
- Use the volume down button to toggle the selection to “wipe data/factory reset,” then press the power button to accept it.
- Use the volume down button to toggle the selection to “Yes — delete all user data,” then press the power button.
- Wait for the reset to finish. You will eventually be prompted to “Reboot system now.” Press the power button to continue.
- If the phone is on, go to Settings – Backup & reset – Reset device – Erase Everything.
Wipe cache partition
- With the device turned off, press and hold the volume up key, home button, and power button simultaneously.
- When the Samsung logo appears, release the power button, but continue to hold the volume up and home buttons.
- When the Android system recovery screen appears, release all buttons.
- Use the volume down button to toggle the selection to “wipe cache partition,” then press the power button to accept it.
- When the previous menu returns, go up and select “Reboot system now,”
Boot in Safe Mode
- When the device is turned off, turn the device on again and press and hold the volume down button until a “Safe Mode” button shows up. Tap that button to boot your device in safe mode.
And this concludes our roundup of some of the most frequent problems faced by Samsung Galaxy Note 5 owners, and what they can do about them. If you ran in any of these problems and you found alternative solutions, let us know and we’ll revisit the issue. For more Galaxy Note 5 discussions, or if you have any questions, check out our official forums!
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 videos
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If you’re still unsure if you want to get the Galaxy Note 5, this list of issues should not stop you from buying it. Except the theoretical – and unlikely – S Pen issue, these problems occur quite rarely. And in the case of software problems, updates can solve the issue. For what is worth, you risk running into problems like this with most devices.
Motorola’s latest ad asks: what if your phone was a person
What do you get when you cross a comedian and an unsuspecting member of the public? #WatchAndFindOut #PhoneyJob https://t.co/TIuMzdIzU3
— Motorola UK (@motorolaUK) October 15, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Despite increasing competition in the entry segment, the new Moto G (2015) continues Motorola’s tradition of bringing us excellent low-cost smartphones that offer a ton of features without breaking the bank. With improved features like waterproofing, Moto Maker customization, and an improved camera – there’s a lot to like about the Moto G (2015).
Of course, winning against the competition isn’t just about creating a solid product, it’s also about good marketing. Motorola’s latest commercial succeeds to that end, at least in my own personal opinion. The new ad casts an “unsuspecting volunteer” to play the role of the Moto G, and the video shows the phone’s ‘owner’ asking the person to sing songs, entertain it through games, tell the time, ask it to report on recent text messages, and so forth.
See also: Motorola Moto G 2015 review
It’s a fun to watch video, just because it’s obviously not taking itself too seriously. The video ends by flashing an image and promotional tag-line for the Moto G. While some folks prefer marketing that focuses directly on features and capabilities, these kinds of adds actually tend to do pretty well among mainstream users.
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What do you think of Motorola’s latest ad for the Moto G (2015)? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
iPhone 6s Launches in India and 6 Other Countries, Coming to Thailand October 30
After a large second launch wave earlier in October, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus today have expanded to seven new countries: India, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Montenegro, and South Africa. The launch follows the announcement of Apple’s partnership with India-based retail chain Croma, which will see the tech company test out a few store-within-a-store locations in the country starting in November. Until the Apple Shops open, customers can purchase a new iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus at any Apple Authorized Reseller or local carrier in India and other launch countries.
Thanks to all our customers in India who queued at midnight for the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus! pic.twitter.com/MxSkRk2BmP
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) October 16, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsTurkey was originally slated to see the iPhone 6s launch today as well, but Apple delayed the release by a week due to the recent terrorist bombings in the country. After today’s release, the next iPhone launch wave falls on October 23 in the following countries: Belarus, Guam, Moldova, Serbia, South Korea, Ukraine, and Turkey. Those in Thailand will be able to pre-order their devices on October 23, but the new smartphones won’t officially launch there until October 30.
iFixit Tears Down Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Trackpad 2
iFixit has published detailed teardowns of the new Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Trackpad 2, providing a closer look at the internal design and several matching components inside the trio of accessories.
The teardown experts first pried through the Magic Keyboard’s adhesive to uncover its logic board, rechargeable 793 mAh lithium-ion battery, Lightning connector cable and honeycomb-shaped spacer layer. iFixit also removed the keycaps to reveal Apple’s new scissor mechanism.
The Magic Keyboard logic board contains a Broadcom Bluetooth transceiver, ST Microelectronics microcontroller, NXP charging IC and Texas Instruments battery charger:
The new Magic Keyboard earned a low repairability score of 3 out of 10, with ten being the easiest to repair, due to the excessive use of strong adhesive and difficulty of opening the keyboard without damaging internal components.
iFixit then removed the adhesive feet on the Magic Mouse 2 and separated the lower casing from the mouse, revealing the mouse’s midframe. Popping four plastic clips led to a 1,986 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
The Magic Mouse 2 also has a capacitative touch-sensing array, tiny switch for clicking and a logic board with similar chips as the Magic Keyboard:
iFixit also tore down the Magic Trackpad 2, prying through its adhesive to reveal its Taptic Engine for Force Touch, 2,024 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery, Lightning connector cable, touchpad, strain gauges and logic board with six chips:
Magic Trackpad 2 also received a low repairability score of 3 out of 10.
The OnePlus X makes an appearance, full details leak
The third phone from OnePlus has reared its head. The OnePlus X, the little brother to the OnePlus One and OnePlus 2 appeared on OppoMart this morning, revealing specs and a picture of the device.
The OnePlus X will run $249, making it the cheapest offering from the company that focuses on low cost, high performance phones. The X will be powered by the same Snapdragon 801 processor as the One last year, and will be clocked at 2.5GHz. The rest of the specs are below.
| OnePlus X | |
|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 801, 2.5Ghz |
| OS | Oxygen OS based on Android 5.1 |
| Display | 5″, 1080p, 2.5D glass |
| RAM | 3 GB |
| Storage | 16/64GB |
| Main Camera | 13MP |
| Front Camera | 8MP |
| Battery | 2450mAh |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n |
The OnePlus X will use a Micro Sim and have two SIM slots, be unlocked for worldwide use (although you can’t use it on on CDMA carriers), and will be offered in multiple colors, according to OppoMart.
We recently saw the X pass through TENAA (the Chinese certification office) and we’ve been getting teasers on social media so the launch looks eminent. We’ve seen October 29th throw around several times.
Do you think that OnePlus can disrupt the budget market with the OPX? Let us know what you think about the new device with a flagship processor from two years ago.
The post The OnePlus X makes an appearance, full details leak appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Carphone Warehouse offers a proper hands-on with the BlackBerry Priv
In the last few weeks, since the BlackBerry CEO confirmed and (awkwardly) showed off the new BlackBerry Priv, folks have been wondering what will be under the hood. Luckily, the folks over at Carphone Warehouse were able to get their hands on one, and have released a hands-on video of BlackBerry’s first Android device.
In addition to properly showing of the capabilities of the Priv, the folks at Carphone Warehouse have given everyone a full spec sheet.
- 4-inch QHD (2560×1440) dual-curved AMOLED display, 540ppi
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor
- 3GB of RAM
- 32GB of internal storage, microSD card support up to 2TB
- 18-megapixel rear camera
- 2-megapixel front camera
- 3,410mAh battery
- 147mm x 77.2mm x 9.4mm
- Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
It’s up to you to decide whether this is a power-house device, or something that’s just another phone in the Android lineup. Now that you know the specs, you’ll probably want to see how the Priv performs, so here’s the awesome video from Carphone Warehouse that shows off the Priv.
In today’s day and age, finding a smartphone WITH a keyboard is a little far-fetched of an idea. However, BlackBerry users love their keyboards, and combined with their mobile Enterprise solutions, the Priv may be a slam dunk. While a few of us here at AndroidGuys are excited for the release, we’ll have to wait and see how the rest of the world feels about BlackBerry’s foray into the Android ecosystem.
Additionally, the Priv has been put up for pre-order by Carphone Warehouse before BlackBerry has even put the device up for pre-order. Currently, you can’t pre-order the Priv without a contract, but you can sign up for a contract through Vodaphone via the Carphone Warehouse pre-order page.
In the meantime, drop us a line and let us know what you think about the BlackBerry Priv and whether you’re looking forward to it or not.
Source: Carphone Warehouse via Android Central
The post Carphone Warehouse offers a proper hands-on with the BlackBerry Priv appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google confirms Nexus 5X and 6P ‘double-twist’ camera gesture canned
Keen followers of the new Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P smartphones may have spotted references to a ‘double twist’ camera launching feature lately. Qualcomm recently mentioned the feature in a blog post about the new phones, but it turns out that the feature was dropped.
Originally, the phone camera was supposed to have a launch shortcut that could be activated by twisting the device around twice using your wrist. The shortcut was originally to be powered by Qualcomm’s Context Core, which has since been renamed to the Android Sensor Hub. Google has confirmed that this feature didn’t actually end up making the cut into the final product, instead the company opted to use a double tap of the power key to quickly launch the camera, which certainly sounds more practical.
The feature to launch the camera via double-twist of the device was replaced by double tap of the power key. The name Context Core has been changed to Android Sensor Hub. – Qualcomm
A closer look:
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Google has not provided a detailed explanation about the decision, other than to say that it tried them both and opted for the power button option.
Perhaps it would have be nice of Google to offer users the option between the two? Fans of the double-twist feature will just have to hope that there’s a way to re-enable the feature, perhaps through a custom ROM.
Here’s another BlackBerry Priv hands-on, full hardware specs too
If you haven’t had your fill of BlackBerry Priv hands-on time yet, UK high-street retailer Carphone Warehouse has just uploaded its own quick video, offering a look at some of the handset’s features.
The video gives us a nice view at the QHD curved display, physical QWERTY keyboard and a very brief look at some camera samples too. BlackBerry also seems to have made a few tweaks to the Android OS, including a tile based app history menu. BlackBerry’s DTEK security app also comes pre-installed on the smartphone. Check it out below.
The Carphone Warehouse also has a product web page up for the smartphone, which gives us a quick run down of the hardware specifications. Here’s the list:
- 4-inch QHD (2560×1440) dual-curved AMOLED display, 540ppi
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor
- 3GB of RAM
- 32GB of internal memory, with microSD card slot for up to 2TB
- 18 megapixel rear camera
- 2 megapixel front camera
- 3,410 mAh battery
- 4G LTE connectivity
- 147 (184 opened) x 77.2 x 9.4 mm, 192g
- Android 5.1.1 Lollipop operating system
The BlackBerry Priv is clearly a high-end flagship smartphone, although the single limited internal memory option and poor front facing camera resolution might be a let-down to some.
If you like what you see, pre-registration for the BlackBerry Priv is already live on the company’s official website. UK customers can also now pre-order the phone from Carphone Warehouse, with contract offers available from EE, O2 and Vodaphone in the region of £50 to £70 per month, putting the handset a little on the expensive side.
Are you excited for the retail launch of the BlackBerry Priv?
AIVAnet 