Dictation / Verbal note-taking on iPhone?

> I am thinking to shop around for a replacement (maybe ~ $150. or
>so?).

For $190 or less you can get an 2G 2GB iPod nano and a recording
attachment. If the iPhone won't do it for you, that would be my
advice.

--
=Alex Hoffman
Leadership, Policy & Politics
Teachers College, Columbia University

>>>Many thanks, Alex,
>>> I am thinking to shop around for a replacement (maybe ~ $150. or
>>>so?).
>>
>>For $190 or less you can get an 2G 2GB iPod nano and a recording
>>attachment. If the iPhone won't do it for you, that would be my
>>advice.
>
>This is clearly a wait-and-see situaiton, but iPod nano would seem
>to have much greater utility than simple digital voice recorder
>(although I am not, so far, an iPod person).

I am the 'go to' person in my too large department for technical
questions, and I've been advising people writing grants to take this
approach. It is an easy and flexible approach. Plus, they have an
iPod at the end of the project (which can be used as a bonus for
research assistants).

I know of someone who did this a few years ago to get an iPod under a
grant, as a 'portable data storage device.' This is a bit more
legitimate.

--
=Alex Hoffman
Leadership, Policy & Politics
Teachers College, Columbia University

On Jun 12, 2007, at 12:41 PM, John Orban wrote:

> I have an Olympus Digital Voice Recorder (DS-330) most of time. It is
> small, lightweight and allows me to take verbal notes, while
> otherwise doing something else - like walkding down the streer. It
> has a shell of cheap plastic and after a number of drops has become
> not dependable: works sometimes, doesn't work sometimes.
>
> I am thinking to shop around for a replacement (maybe ~ $150. or
> so?). but I am also (of course!) planning to get an iPhone. I'm
> wondering if anyone may have a clue about whether the iPhone could
> somehow eliminate the need of a digital voice recorder by having
> voice recording capabiltiy in the phone or in the apps that will be
> in it.

To take verbal notes I call my cell phone number and leave a message.
It works fine, and saves lugging another device around. At least with
my provider, you're not billed for the time you call or retrieve the
messages. I don't take hours worth of notes at a time, however.

Marilyn

On Jun 15, 2007, at 6:13 AM, Marilyn Matty wrote:

> To take verbal notes I call my cell phone number and leave a message.
> It works fine, and saves lugging another device around. At least with
> my provider, you're not billed for the time you call or retrieve the
> messages. I don't take hours worth of notes at a time, however.

Now that's a really cool suggestion! Thanks Marilyn!

Here is a similar one, still free, but not quite as ingenious:

Jott (free)
http://www.jott.com/

Call a number, speak, get an e-mail with your recorded voice and
*transcribed* text.
Hands free messaging and transcription from your cell phone for free!

___________________________________________
Randy B. Singer
Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions)

Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance
http://www.macattorney.com/ts.html
___________________________________________

> On Jun 15, 2007, at 6:13 AM, Marilyn Matty wrote:
>> To take verbal notes I call my cell phone number and leave a message.
>> It works fine, and saves lugging another device around. At least with
>> my provider, you're not billed for the time you call or retrieve the
>> messages. I don't take hours worth of notes at a time, however.

A lot of phones already have rudimentary voice recording functions. It
wouldn't be that big a deal for Apple to include it so I wouldn't be
surprised if it is.

Bruce

On 6/26/07 2:48 PM, "Bruce Sherman" <bruceoz.net> wrote:

>> On Jun 15, 2007, at 6:13 AM, Marilyn Matty wrote:
>>> To take verbal notes I call my cell phone number and leave a message.
>>> It works fine, and saves lugging another device around. At least with
>>> my provider, you're not billed for the time you call or retrieve the
>>> messages. I don't take hours worth of notes at a time, however.
>
> A lot of phones already have rudimentary voice recording functions. It
> wouldn't be that big a deal for Apple to include it so I wouldn't be
> surprised if it is.

Would you be surprised if it isn't?

Cause it's not. :)

--
Shawn King (sent from my iPhone!)
Host/Executive Producer
Your Mac Life
http://www.yourmaclifeshow.com

>> A lot of phones already have rudimentary voice recording functions. It
>> wouldn't be that big a deal for Apple to include it so I wouldn't be
>> surprised if it is.

Some of you have iPhones, now. Do the ipod recording attachments work
with them?

--
=Alex Hoffman
Leadership, Policy & Politics
Teachers College, Columbia University

On 29-Jun-2007, at 08:21, Shawn King wrote:
> On 6/26/07 2:48 PM, "Bruce Sherman" <bruceoz.net> wrote:
>>> On Jun 15, 2007, at 6:13 AM, Marilyn Matty wrote:
>>>> To take verbal notes I call my cell phone number and leave a
>>>> message.
>>>> It works fine, and saves lugging another device around. At least
>>>> with
>>>> my provider, you're not billed for the time you call or retrieve
>>>> the
>>>> messages. I don't take hours worth of notes at a time, however.
>>
>> A lot of phones already have rudimentary voice recording
>> functions. It
>> wouldn't be that big a deal for Apple to include it so I wouldn't be
>> surprised if it is.
>
> Would you be surprised if it isn't?

I'm surprised that voice dialing is not included. Seems very odd to me.

Google Kreme wrote:
> I'm surprised that voice dialing is not included. Seems very odd to me.
 
But it can likely be added via a software update. I'm sure they took the approach of make it WORK first, fill out the feature list later.

David Ross

On 7/2/2007 1:48 PM, "Alexander Hoffman" wrote:
>>> A lot of phones already have rudimentary voice recording functions. It
>>> wouldn't be that big a deal for Apple to include it so I wouldn't be
>>> surprised if it is.
>
> Some of you have iPhones, now. Do the ipod recording attachments work
> with them?

Nope; we covered the larger topic of accessory compatibility, as well:

<http://www.macworld.com/2007/07/firstlooks/iphoneipodaccess/>

On Jul 2, 2007, at 1:48 PM, Google Kreme wrote:
> I'm surprised that voice dialing is not included. Seems very odd
> to me.

It's not surprising that fully-phone-based voice dialing isn't
included, since AT&T likes to sell switch-based voice dialing for a
"small monthly fee". I don't know whether AT&T supports that feature
with iPhone, and I'll let someone else find out.

   --John

--On July 2, 2007 1:48:15 PM -0700 Google Kreme <gkremegmail.com> wrote:
> I'm surprised that voice dialing is not included. Seems very odd to me.

I have to pay to add this to my corporate blackberry. Just another reason I
despise phone companies.

On 7/3/07 08:40 AM, "David Ross" <drdavidrossconsultant.com> wrote:

>> I'm surprised that voice dialing is not included. Seems very odd to me.
>
> But it can likely be added via a software update. I'm sure they took the
> approach of make it WORK first, fill out the feature list later.

Or they realized that it's actually not a really common function outside of
handsfree rigs. As much as people can be silly with cell phones, I don't see
a lot of people standing around going "Call Bill". When they want to call,
they punch in the number, or the speed dial entry. You can easily go for
decades sans voice dialing, and not care one way or the other.

--
John C. Welch Writer/Analyst
Bynkii.com Mac and other opinions
jwelchbynkii.com

On 7/2/07 4:48 PM, "Google Kreme" <gkremegmail.com> wrote:
> I'm surprised that voice dialing is not included. Seems very odd to me.

Apparently it's because Jobs doesn't think Voice Dialing works smoothly
enough for the iPhone.

--
Shawn King (sent from my iPhone!)
Host/Executive Producer
Your Mac Life
http://www.yourmaclifeshow.com

On 7/3/07 10:07 AM, "Shawn King" <shawnyourmaclifeshow.com> wrote:

>> I'm surprised that voice dialing is not included. Seems very odd to me.
>
> Apparently it's because Jobs doesn't think Voice Dialing works smoothly
> enough for the iPhone.

Or it's just not all that common, considering most carriers make you pay for
it.

--
John C. Welch Writer/Analyst
Bynkii.com Mac and other opinions
jwelchbynkii.com

At 8:07 AM -0700 7/3/07, John Welch wrote:
>On 7/3/07 08:40 AM, "David Ross" <drdavidrossconsultant.com> wrote:
>
> >> I'm surprised that voice dialing is not included. Seems very odd to me.
>
>Or they realized that it's actually not a really common function outside of
>handsfree rigs. As much as people can be silly with cell phones, I don't see
>a lot of people standing around going "Call Bill". When they want to call,
>they punch in the number, or the speed dial entry. You can easily go for
>decades sans voice dialing, and not care one way or the other.

Maybe you can for for decades, but it is a must-have feature for me. I make very few calls while driving the car, but when I do, I don't want to have to look at the phone.

Craig

On 7/3/2007 8:07 AM, "John Welch" wrote:
>>> I'm surprised that voice dialing is not included. Seems very odd to me.
>>
>> But it can likely be added via a software update. I'm sure they took the
>> approach of make it WORK first, fill out the feature list later.
>
> Or they realized that it's actually not a really common function outside of
> handsfree rigs. As much as people can be silly with cell phones, I don't see
> a lot of people standing around going "Call Bill". When they want to call,
> they punch in the number, or the speed dial entry. You can easily go for
> decades sans voice dialing, and not care one way or the other.

Some people can, others can't For some people, voice dialing is an essential
feature. Heck, my wife, who's not a techie type and dislikes
gadgety-for-the-sake-of-being-gadgety features, uses it.

I'm assuming this is one of the features we'll see added via a software
update -- and it wouldn't surprise me if Apple makes the feature more useful
and accessible than on most phones -- but considering that it's a standard
feature on phones you can get for free these days, I think it's a glaring
omission from a $500-$600 phone.

Adding voice dialing by software updates is not as easy as one may think. It needs the device to have a good microphone to start with and I am not sure iPhone has a good one. Then comes the processing needs for voice recognition especially if you can have an unlimited number of contacts that can be enabled by voice.

On 3-Jul-2007, at 09:07, John Welch wrote:

> Or they realized that it's actually not a really common function
> outside of
> handsfree rigs. As much as people can be silly with cell phones, I
> don't see
> a lot of people standing around going "Call Bill".

No, that's because they do it when they are SITTING around in their
cars.

That's the only way I call anyone whilst driving, and it's the only
time I ever use the voice dialing feature. Because, really, standing
around saying "Call Bill" is stupid, and with the background noise of
wherever you are standing, it doesn't work 80% of the time anyway.
Works a treat in a car with the windows rolled up and the ipod on
'pause' though.

> When they want to call,
> they punch in the number, or the speed dial entry. You can easily
> go for
> decades sans voice dialing, and not care one way or the other.

It's an absolute deal breaker for me. I've never had a mobile
without it and I never will. I use it rarely (a couple of times a
month), but when I do, I absolutely have to have it.

On 7/6/07 08:33 AM, "Google Kreme" <gkremegmail.com> wrote:

>> Or they realized that it's actually not a really common function
>> outside of
>> handsfree rigs. As much as people can be silly with cell phones, I
>> don't see
>> a lot of people standing around going "Call Bill".
>
> No, that's because they do it when they are SITTING around in their
> cars.
>
> That's the only way I call anyone whilst driving, and it's the only
> time I ever use the voice dialing feature. Because, really, standing
> around saying "Call Bill" is stupid, and with the background noise of
> wherever you are standing, it doesn't work 80% of the time anyway.
> Works a treat in a car with the windows rolled up and the ipod on
> 'pause' though.

Right...it's a feature used in one specific situation. Features like that
are what you save for updates after you deal with the ones that the vast
majority of users need.

>
>> When they want to call,
>> they punch in the number, or the speed dial entry. You can easily
>> go for
>> decades sans voice dialing, and not care one way or the other.
>
> It's an absolute deal breaker for me. I've never had a mobile
> without it and I never will. I use it rarely (a couple of times a
> month), but when I do, I absolutely have to have it.

I don't make calls while driving, and I try to avoid answering them while
driving as well so it's "bloat" from my neck of the woods.

--
John C. Welch Writer/Analyst
Bynkii.com Mac and other opinions
jwelchbynkii.com