Apple Exploring Ways to Let Developers Provide Custom Voice Synthesizers on iOS

[MacRumors]

Apple is exploring ways to let developers provide custom voice synthesizers on iOS by way of a new developer framework named VoiceProvider, which could debut as early as iOS 14, according to information obtained by MacRumors.

Voice synthesizer extensions would be bundled with apps from the App Store, and then could be offered to the system to replace the default speech voice, which could be important for languages and dialects that Apple does not support. This could potentially extend to an API for the HomePod, although this is not for certain.

The framework appears to be in the early stages of development, so there is a chance that it might not be ready in time for iOS 14.

Article Link: Apple Exploring Ways to Let Developers Provide Custom Voice Synthesizers on iOS

 

[cmaier]

My TI-99/4a had that in the 1980s.

 

[nicho]

So... we could replace the Siri voice feedback with Mr T?

 

[JosephAW]

So... we could replace the Siri voice feedback with Mr T?

Us trekies are hoping for Majel Barrett-Roddenberry computer voice or Brent Spiner.

 

[Jessica Lares]

It's most likely just for VoiceOver. Will be interesting to see how theirs compares to the others.

 

[cmaier]

Us trekies are hoping for Majel Barrett-Roddenberry computer voice or Brent Spiner.

The big demo for the TI-99/4a was the Star Trek cartridge with Spock’s voice.

 

[nicho]

Us trekies are hoping for Majel Barrett-Roddenberry computer voice or Brent Spiner.

Make it so!

 

[bryn0076]

I'd like a Scottish or Welsh Siri... Full on Glaswegian would be brilliant !

 

[CarlJ]

Us trekies are hoping for Majel Barrett-Roddenberry computer voice or Brent Spiner.

My standard for voice recognition for so long was, "get back to me when it can converse as well as the Enterprise's computer", but Jarvis changed all that, so now I'd totally go for Paul Bettany's (snarky in-character) voice.

 

[Hmm]

Bring back MacinTalk!

 

[Tech198]

This could to replace that boring speech type voice. Now a celebrity... well anyone would listen to that.

 

[Jandalf]

Wow a chance of my mom yelling at me again... 🤣

 

[lunarworks]

I'd like a Scottish or Welsh Siri... Full on Glaswegian would be brilliant !

I've got mine set to Australian, but if that were available I'd probably switch to it.

 

[mike...]

Please somebody make a Borg voice

 

[DeepIn2U]

Please somebody make a Borg voice

Lecutus of Borg?

Nah ... give me twikki of buck rogers

 

[macduke]

I second replacing Siri with "Computer" from Star Trek. I feel like I don't even say that word much so it would actually work well. I usually say my Mac, my iPad, etc.

Another fun choice would be The Doctor from Voyager, complete with sass.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Us trekies are hoping for Majel Barrett-Roddenberry computer voice or Brent Spiner.

Or Sigourney Weaver, her voice is used for so much. So calming.

 

[SergZzz]

I hope that Siri’s Neural Text to Speech will be improved. I use it to listen to books at work. I am on 💯 books a year goal.

 

[Double-A]

I’ve long thought it would be hilarious if there were a ”HAL” voice assistant. As in the HAL computer from 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Just imagine: you make a request the voice assistant is unable to understand or perform and the response is ”I’m sorry (insert user’s name), I’m afraid I can’t do that”. 😄

 

[DanBig]

Us trekies are hoping for Majel Barrett-Roddenberry computer voice or Brent Spiner.

Sadly, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry won't be able to do it. I would love to have had her 'Computer' voice.