'Dragon Dictation' Brings Voice Transcription to the iPhone

[guzhogi]

Can we use this for remote wipe?

"Computer, initiate auto-destruct sequence, authorization Picard 4-7 Alpha Tango."

"Jean-Luc, blow up the damn ship!"

"No! They invade our space. And we fall back. They assimilate entire worlds. And we fall back. Not again. The line must be drawn here! This far and no farther! And I will make them pay for what they have done."

"see you around Ahab."

Gotta love Star Trek: First Contact. One of the best Star Trek films made.

 

[Cleve]

Warning!

There has been some concern about the application uploading contacts from your iPhone

 

[snarton]

What would be more useful to me is a voice recorder app that interfaces with MacSpeech Dictate on a Mac. You record as much as you want on the iPhone, then when you get back to your desk the app transfers the audio file and the software transcribes it. You can't do this now because MacSpeech Dictate doesn't transcribe audio files like Nuance's Dragon NaturallySpeaking product for PCs does. Although this would be more expensive because you have to buy the software, this would allow you to record longer files, avoid privacy issues, and avoid censorship.

 

[Kabeyun]

Has anyone read the Agreement (which you must accept before use)? It's a little concerning! Boldface is mine:

1. "You acknowledge and agree that Nuance may collect the names of individuals and companies that appear in your address book and the Speech Data as part of the Service and that such information shall only be used by Nuance or third parties acting under the direction of Nuance pursuant to the confidentiality agreements as identified above."
- FYI, the "Speech Data" is defined as anything you say or transcribe, and all generated log files.
- Your data may be available to any third party entity with which Nuance chooses to business.
- There is no confidentiality agreement identified above. Check.

2. Nuance, "to meet legal or regulatory requirements," will turn your information over to a "government institution" or, "in the event of a sale, merger or acquisition of Nuance," to whoever takes control of Nuance. They will also turn over your information to your wireless carrier simply "if so requested."(!!)

3. Per the Agreement, it is in effect when you download the software, before you even use it or tap the Agree button.

4. Deleting the application does not explicitly terminate the Agreement. Only Nuance may terminate the Agreement.

Screw that! I'll type my own texts, thank you very much. Unfortunately, since the "Agreement" is apparently in effect upon installation, I have no way of knowing if my contact information was already acquired. Anyone else bothered by this?

 

[nickXedge]

Not available in the Canadian app-store. Lame.

I wonder what the reason for this is. It's not tied to any broadcast or print media that have country restrictions.

Someone should make a really kickass app and not make it available to the Americans. I wonder what the reaction would be.

Yes, because it is our (Americans) fault that many apps are only available here. Complain to the developer, don't post silly, ignorant comments.

 

[Pravda]

Read the "ACCEPT" text carefully. It's not only contacts but "SPEECH DATA" that are saved. That data includes transcripts of everything you ever dictate. They are very explicit that these transcripts may be available to the government upon subpoena. It says "speech data means the audio files, associated transcriptions and log files".

At first I found this shocking - and I didn't press "ACCEPT". On second thought, this is exactly the same as using Gmail, etc. which have records of all your emails. I'm still wrestling with it, but I think I'm ok with it.

I agree with you, Gmail and the internet as a whole is not secure, anything you say, type, search, can be used against you. I never reveal sensitive info over the phone/computer.

My biggest concern is that my or my contacts info (email/phone numbers/address) will not be stored/used/sold.

 

[Berio]

I'm going no where near it. My contacts trust me not to sell them out for an app.

if your contacts trust you not to relay info about them, you probably should stay away from gmail, yahoo etc in fact: email altogether. Oh, and destroy your mobile phone.

A even better question, why did Apple approve this? Sigh

maybe you should not rely on apple to babysit you..... it's up to you to read before you tick 'accept'

 

[iNtrigued]

phew!!!!!

Has anyone read the Agreement (which you must accept before use)? It's a little concerning! Boldface is mine:

1. "You acknowledge and agree that Nuance may collect the names of individuals and companies that appear in your address book and the Speech Data as part of the Service and that such information shall only be used by Nuance or third parties acting under the direction of Nuance pursuant to the confidentiality agreements as identified above."
- FYI, the "Speech Data" is defined as anything you say or transcribe, and all generated log files.
- Your data may be available to any third party entity with which Nuance chooses to business.
- There is no confidentiality agreement identified above. Check.

2. Nuance, "to meet legal or regulatory requirements," will turn your information over to a "government institution" or, "in the event of a sale, merger or acquisition of Nuance," to whoever takes control of Nuance. They will also turn over your information to your wireless carrier simply "if so requested."(!!)

3. Per the Agreement, it is in effect when you download the software, before you even use it or tap the Agree button.

4. Deleting the application does not explicitly terminate the Agreement. Only Nuance may terminate the Agreement.

Screw that! I'll type my own texts, thank you very much. Unfortunately, since the "Agreement" is apparently in effect upon installation, I have no way of knowing if my contact information was already acquired. Anyone else bothered by this?

I'M glad I read this before downloading it!! LMAO

 

[rwilliams]

Is there a voice speaker on the touch? That might be why.

The headphones that come with the Touch have a built-in microphone. I record voice messages with Voice Memos and Evernote all the time.

 

[BoMo]

Has anyone read the Agreement (which you must accept before use)? It's a little concerning! Boldface is mine:

3. Per the Agreement, it is in effect when you download the software, before you even use it or tap the Agree button.

4. Deleting the application does not explicitly terminate the Agreement. Only Nuance may terminate the Agreement.

Screw that! I'll type my own texts, thank you very much. Unfortunately, since the "Agreement" is apparently in effect upon installation, I have no way of knowing if my contact information was already acquired. Anyone else bothered by this?

How would it possibly acquire your contact info when being downloaded? Is that possible? I would think you'd have to actually run the app for that happen.

I downloaded it, but I think I will wait a little before actually using it.

 

[Sedulous]

if your contacts trust you not to relay info about them, you probably should stay away from gmail, yahoo etc in fact: email altogether. Oh, and destroy your mobile phone.


maybe you should not rely on apple to babysit you..... it's up to you to read before you tick 'accept'

It is quite thoughtful of you but I don't store confidential information on the internet. Can I still keep my phone? Apps that steal your information should be illegal; it is akin to a phone tap.

 

[design-is]

Sucks that it's only in the US store....

^ What he said

 

[UngratefulNinja]

The headphones that come with the Touch have a built-in microphone. I record voice messages with Voice Memos and Evernote all the time.

I don't know why then You could send a comment to the devs, maybe they'll add that in the future.

 

[nickXedge]

It is quite thoughtful of you but I don't store confidential information on the internet. Can I still keep my phone? Apps that steal your information should be illegal; it is akin to a phone tap.

While I don't entirely disagree with you, I find it difficult to take you seriously when you're avatar is a picture of Carl. Don't get me wrong, it's great, it just makes me laugh every time you post.

 

[iNtrigued]

Has anyone read the Agreement (which you must accept before use)? It's a little concerning! Boldface is mine:

1. "You acknowledge and agree that Nuance may collect the names of individuals and companies that appear in your address book and the Speech Data as part of the Service and that such information shall only be used by Nuance or third parties acting under the direction of Nuance pursuant to the confidentiality agreements as identified above."
- FYI, the "Speech Data" is defined as anything you say or transcribe, and all generated log files.
- Your data may be available to any third party entity with which Nuance chooses to business.


Screw that! I'll type my own texts, thank you very much. Unfortunately, since the "Agreement" is apparently in effect upon installation, I have no way of knowing if my contact information was already acquired. Anyone else bothered by this?

Let's just hope NUANCE doesn't sell out all the info they've attained. I mean, there's no way to know until something or nothing happens. What if NUANCE is bought by another company and they do decide to use the info with 3rd party people.
I guess there's just no way of knowing. I'll just stay on the safe side and not download. You guys let us know what happened, ok? It won't be long when your contacts will be getting phone calls and emails from 3rd party people. (LMAO just joking on that last line)

Anyway, does NUANCE use this same procedure for their software, too?

 

[Kabeyun]

How would it possibly acquire your contact info when being downloaded?

It couldn't. But it certainly could after you install it. And it most definitely could after you launch it and are slogging your way through the legalese "Agreement" which is apparently in effect before we've agreed to it.

Good luck, everyone. I'm off to text with my finger.

 

[Shasterball]

I wonder if this can be used to reduce driver distraction when, e.g., texting.

 

[nagromme]

I won’t dictate my social security number, just to be on the safe saide But it works pretty well, as long as I’m close to the mic. Very cool!

EDIT:

Mostly accurate except, I find:

* Little words like the, to, and but get confused or omitted sometimes. Best to speak them slowly.

* It doesn’t know WHAT to make of the British sitcom Peep Show.

 

[AgingGeek]

Hey guys, perhaps the contacts name will be used for future voice dial or something for iPod users or for people that don't own a 3GS....??

who knows............

Well just in case, I'm removing my "Tiger W" entry first...

 

[RoboCop001]

Can we use this for remote wipe?

"Computer, initiate auto-destruct sequence, authorization Picard 4-7 Alpha Tango."

No you'll have to use....


Code 000, Destruct, 0.

 

[BoMo]

It couldn't. But it certainly could after you install it. And it most definitely could after you launch it and are slogging your way through the legalese "Agreement" which is apparently in effect before we've agreed to it.

Good luck, everyone. I'm off to text with my finger.

So you are saying that simply installing it is enough? How would it happen before launching it? I didn't think iphone apps installed any background processes and only worked when launched.

Maybe I should just go ahead and delete it.

 

[itsthenewdc]

Shouldn't the picture read.. "Hi <comma> John.." Not after John..

 

[Lightbrazer]

My guess as to why this app will store your contacts is mostly on the practical side rather than the nefarious one. Once the app is paid they'll probably add features, and wouldn't it be great if after dictating a message you could just say something like, send as text to so and so, or send as email to so and so. And the only way for this to work would be if they knew the person and the contact info for that person. I don't like talking on the phone when driving because I can often get stuck on the phone for a long time, and I never text while driving, so the ability to dictate a text AND SEND IT while never taking my eyes off the road is perfect and probably what they have in mind down the road.

Oh and as far as them releasing info upon a subpoena, just about everything from your email provider to your bank would do that, it's the purpose of a subpoena, to mandate that anyone holding your info release it to the authorities, I'd be less concerned with them disclosing it, and more concerned with what on earth do you do that would have people getting subpoena's on you???

 

[SolRayz]

haha...it censored the word piss.

 

[z4n3]

Not available in the Canadian app-store. Lame.

I wonder what the reason for this is. It's not tied to any broadcast or print media that have country restrictions.

Someone should make a really kickass app and not make it available to the Americans. I wonder what the reaction would be.

Completely agree with you on this one!, it is getting a bit tiresome trying to download certain apps, then getting the pop up that it is ONLY available in the U.S.A.