VITO Voice2Go v1.51 (Review)

Introduction

With all of the software, buttons and menus that are featured on todays mobile devices, the possibilities for use in our personal and business lives are almost endless. Have you ever wished that you could just speak to your device, and have it obey your every command? Well, now you can, with VITO Voice2Go!

Tapping on the screen, and pushing buttons can now virtually become a thing of the past. Using the latest in "Voice Recognition Technology", speech becomes a powerful task manager, allowing anyone to control most functions of their hand held devices, in any language!

Supplier	ViTo Technology
Product	Voice2Go v1.51
Cost	$29.95
Supported OS	2003 through WM6
Supplier Web Site -	ViTo Technology
Product Web Site -	ViTo Voice2Go

Feature Highlights

• Start & stop applications with voice control
• Open and/or dial contacts in address book
• Custom announcements for incoming calls
• "Magic Word" function to activate program
• Understands any language
• Today Plugin for easy access/control
• Macro Recording for customized control

Installation & Setup

Installation of Voice2Go is very simple. I had no problems installing to my SD card, and no issues or slowdown in its function or voice response. The included help file is very informative in guiding you through installation and setup of each of the included functions.

The help file is in an html format, so navigation is quick and easy. Activation is accomplished with your device connected to the internet, while your activation code is typed in and confirmed. In case no internet is available, there is also an included procedure to activate without connecting. This will just take a little more time.

The help file then gives a quick summary of each of the included features, to give you an idea of what they are for. The settings section gives a bit of detail on the few choices available. The main menu section gives the most detail, as most of the functions that Voice2Go uses is located here.















Today Plugin

Voice2Go contains a Today Plugin that I did not find very useful at all! The plugin took up valuable Today screen real estate that is much better used for almost anything else.

There are two buttons on the plugin. The small "GO" icon on the left of the screen, does nothing but open the main menu. The program needs to be running to work, so this button will just maximize the menu screen into view. I use a program that displays my running programs on the top task bar, so the plugin button was useless to me!

One additional button on the plugin, is the one to enable or disable the "Magic Word" function (explained in more detail below). Simply said, if you are using Magic Word, then this button will always be on. If not, then you will have the activation mapped to a hardware button, so the plugin button will be disabled.

The icon on the far right of the plugin does nothing more then turn green when the Magic Word is understood, or act as a hardware button to activate when pressed. Some may find the plugin useful if screen space is not important, but I myself need the additional space!












Main Menu Controls

The Main Menu that displays when Voice2Go is run, is rather simple. Choices and a quick description of each are as outlined below:

* Magic Word Button - This does nothing more then to turn the Magic Word "listen" function, on or off. The same result can be accomplished with the button on the Today screen plugin.

* Manage Commands - This button will allow you to enter the screens where setup for Magic Word, Application control, Contacts control and Macro recording is accomplished.

* Recognize Command - A screen will appear when this button is pressed, where voice commands can be checked, accepted or changed.

* Settings - This button displays a single screen where just a few preference choices are given. Looks like there is room for expansion. There is also a "Menu" soft key available when the Main Menu screen is displayed. The few choices here include Backup & Restore Voice Tag settings, Hot Button setup, the About screen, Help file access and the ability to Exit the program.









Manage Commands

Contained in this section of the program, are four main windows. Magic Word, Contacts, Applications and Macros. Their functions are as detailed below:

* Magic Word - This window is where a word(s) is setup and recorded, that will enable the "listen" function of Voice2Go. When this word is spoken into the device, a sound will be played, letting you know that the device is listening. You will then speak the command relating to the action that you want to perform. For example, my Magic Word is "Axim". If I want to open my calendar, I will say "Axim (wait for sound) Calendar". The word 'Calendar' is the command that I issued to my calendar application, as setup in "Applications" (as detailed below).
Additional recordings can also be setup in this window. "Correct" - approval for performing a recognized command. "Wrong" - cancels performing a recognized command. "Turn Off" - turns off the Magic Word function.

* Contacts - A list of available contacts as setup in your address book will be displayed in this window. Simply tap on a contact, and then tap record. Speak a word(s) that you want to use as a command to perform. I simply used the contact name as my command recording, and when I want to dial this contact, I would just say "Axim......John Smith", and this contact would be called.

* Applications - Much like the Contacts window, the Applications window will display all programs installed on your device. Simply assign a voice command to each program that you want to run, and that program will open when the command is spoken.

* Macros - This is the part of Voice2Go that I enjoyed the most. Here you can create custom commands through a series of screen taps, to create a Macro file. For example, I created a macro that would start my mp3 player program, then load the playlist containing my classic rock songs. I named this macro "Classic Rock". To setup, i just started the macro recorder and proceeded with screen taps to open the player and load the playlist. The recorder "remembered" my screen taps along the way, and I simply tapped the "red square" in the center of the screen when done. After that, I gave my macro a name, and I was ready to use! Sweet!





Program Settings

The "Settings" window is accessed from the button on the Main Menu screen. This is a single window with just a few choices. I'm not sure why the "Start after soft reset" was disabled and not usable, but maybe this is for future expansion. I sure would have liked to use this option! My favorite setting in this window is "Detect incoming calls". When enabled, this will repeat the voice command (if recorded), for the contact that is calling. Very useful, as you don't even have to look at the device when a call comes in, as long as the caller is on your contacts list. However, if using a Bluetooth headset, the contact command is not repeated in the headset, but is at the device itself.

Voice2Go has the ability to issue voice commands without the use of a Magic Word. By tapping the soft key menu from the Main Menu screen, you can choose to setup "Hot Buttons". Here, you can choose any hardware button on your device to activate the "listen" function, and then follow up with the command that you would like to use.

There seems to still be plenty of space on the Hot Buttons window, as well as in the main Settings. I would imagine that future editions will fill this space, as some more detailed settings would make Voice2Go even better, and possibly expand the available uses!












Command Recognition

There isn't a lot that can be said about this function of Voice2Go. The primary use of this window is to test the voice commands entered, and ensure that they are understood by the program. To do this, simply open the window, and then tap the "check mark" button. The program will then listen for you to speak one of your recorded commands. In return, the action that the command initiates will be displayed at the top of the window, the command will be repeated and confirmed, then the command will be executed. If the command is not understood or already recorded, the words "Not Recognized" will appear at the top of the window, followed by a unique sound which lets you know that the command is not understood.

While testing Voice2Go in a noisy environment such as a car or loud room, recognition is still pretty good, but you will need to hold the device closer and speak directly into the microphone.

In addition, I let my wife try to initiate commands that I had recorded, to see if Voice2Go would still understand. Depending on her tone of voice, the commands were only recognized about half of the time! It seems that others may be able to control your device, if they can closely match your voice!








Pros
Highly customizable with macros.
Can activate most functions / programs on the mobile device.
Incoming call announcement feature.
Easy installation & setup.
No voice training.
Can recognize any language or accent.
Today plugin for easy program access


Cons
Price is a little high.
Could use more detailed settings.
Incoming call announcement not transfered to Bluetooth headset .
Incoming call contact announcement must be individually recorded .


4WM Rating 95%


Conclusion

In our busy lives, we all try to "multi-task" so that we can get more done in a shorter amount of time. On my mobile device, the ability to run programs, open contacts or files with the power of my voice, while still typing away at the keyboard of my pc, is a great help for me. Once setup, Voice2Go is very easy to use, and very efficient in its ability. Having used other voice recognition software in the past, the most difficult thing about it was to "train" the software to recognize your voice. The fact that Voice2Go needs no training, and can understand any language or accent, made it a winner for me!