vlingo corporation

Siri voice assistant alternatives are being marketed to Android devices with alarming regularity. Since the Siri technology was first embedded into iOS 5 on the new iPhone 4S (even though a Siri app had been available for some time), a number of Android developers have brought similar apps to Android. There’s also been a number of voice assistant apps that have been available for quite a while. Google’s Android OS already has built-in voice commands. It may not be as personalized or sophisticated as Siri, or have captured the public’s imagination, but the technology has been around for a while. It can do things like search, call people, send text messages and so on. Still, it is a little devoid of personality and not always 100 percent accurate. So how do some of the new (and old) Siri alternatives for Android shape-up? Just released this week was Cluzee, which received one major media shout-out, but is being ridiculed by actual users. BGR wrote about this app, claiming it to be Siri’s first real competition. “We’ve spent the past day testing the app and it has worked quite well for us so far,” wrote Zach Epstein. “The scope of available commands is far more narrow that Siri’s, but there is plenty of functionality in this first public build of the app and we have high hopes for future versions.” Opinion within the Android Market, however, is much more critical. With just an average two-star rating from over 600 so far (including over 350 one-star rankings), clearly many Android users aren’t so convinced. Many user reviews claim that there’s definitely some potential here, but constant force-close problems and instability issues are evidently hampering things a bit. A Siri-killer it most certainly isn’t, but perhaps with a few more updates, things will get better. There’s also Skyvi, and so far, this has been received a bit more positively. It’s certainly not perfect, but is at least respectable. One thing that is interesting is that a lot of folks seem to be having fun with Skyvi. The results aren’t always right, but heck, at least they’re getting a laugh or two out of it. Once again, it doesn’t appear to be quite as competent as Siri yet, but it’s still a viable alternative for Android users to to download for free. It’s encouraging to see some Siri-like apps making their way to Android. The thing Read More

Posted 12/06/2011 at 9:20am | by Cory Bohon Will Siri be available on the iPhone 4? Or do we have to pay $200+? Unfortunately, Siri is iPhone 4S–specific, and won’t work on earlier versions of the iPhone. But there are other tools that you can use to get Siri-like functionality on your existing iPhone. For starters, Voice Control has been built into iPhones since the iPhone 3GS. Hold down the Home button for a few seconds, and speak simple commands like, “Call Cory,” or specify songs or artists to play from your music library. Voice Control can also answer simple queries like “What day is it?” or “What time is it?” Vlingo works similar to Siri. Just tap on the Press & Speak button and speak your message. However, that’s really where Voice Control’s functionality stops. To get more commands, we recommend Vlingo. This free app sends text messages, emails, finds locations, updates your social networks, performs web searches, and dials your phone. For replicating the dictation capabilities of Siri, try Dragon Dictation (free in the App Store). Speak your message, and then send it via text, email, or paste it into any other application. Using all three of these applications in conjunction will give your old phone some Siri-like capabilities. GOT A TECH QUESTION OR A HELPFUL TIP TO SHARE? Email ask@maclife.com or write to Mac|Life, 4000 Shoreline Ct, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080 Tags: Read More

AP Photo/Steven Senne Oct. 14, 2011: Elliott Johns, of Boston, displays an iPhone 4S in front of an Apple Store location in Boston. The faster iPhone with better software and an improved camera went on sale in seven countries Friday as hundreds of buyers camped out for hours to be among the first to get one. The iPhone 4S and its new iOS 5 operating system offer a host of new features, including Siri voice control, a Cards app for sending paper greetings in the mail, Reminders that help keep you up-to-date, and Find my Friends for tracking people down.  But Android users don’t have to feel left out. There are a host of third-party apps that bring this functionality to Google’s mobile OS. Cards Alternative: Postagram The Cards app from Apple, which comes with iOS 5, will let you create digital cards directly on your iPhone or iPod touch—and after they’re complete, Apple will drop the physical missives in the mail for you. It’ll cost $2.99 for domestic delivery and $4.99 for international delivery. But Postagram, a free app that’s available in the Android Market, been providing this very service for quite some time now—and at a cheaper rate, too. For 99 cents per Postagram sent, you choose a photo to mail and the service prints the image out on thick, glossy photo paper at a 300 dpi resolution, which pops out of the card as a 3 x 3 inch print. You can even add a custom 140-character message along with the photo if you wish. Siri Alternative: Vlingo Android users often opine that newer iterations of iOS simply play catch-up to a cache of features that already exist in their phones. Vlingo Virtual Assistant for Android is a testament to that ethos, and it's the closest thing to Apple’s new Siri voice control. Tell Vlingo to “Text Chris; Where are you?” or “Find French restaurants,” then sit back and watch as it does exactly what you want. Get the app for free on the Android Market. iMessage Alternative: Whatsapp Messenger Ditch your carrier’s exorbitant SMS plans and send messages, pictures, audio notes, and video messages over 3G or Wi-Fi with the free Whatsapp Messenger. Like BlackBerry Messenger (and iMessage), the app lets you know when your note has been sent and exactly when the person on the other end has seen it. Whatsapp also sends push notifications for Read More

When you spend as much time behind the wheel as I do, you quickly develop a short list of must-have car tech apps. These days, I rarely hop into the driver's seat without Vlingo Voice with InCar Beta running on my handset. At its most basic, this voice command app allows me to initiate calls, fire off text messages, and perform a variety of other tasks with the sound of my voice. I know what you're about to ask me: "Can't Google Voice Search already do these things?" Sure it can, but Vlingo's got a few features and a custom interface called InCar that that is optimized for in-car use. A feature called SafeReader, for example, processes incoming text messages and reads them aloud, so I never have to choose between missing an important message and taking my eyes off the road. Another feature, called Auto Listen, allows me to interact with the app for simple functions, such as sending a text message or initiating navigation, without even touching my phone. I simply say, "Hey, Vlingo, navigate to In-N-Out Burger" or "Hey, Vlingo, text Wayne, I'll be there in 10 minutes." and the app takes care of the rest. Price: Free July 19, 2011 4:00 AM PDT Photo by: Screenshot by Antuan Goodwin/CNET | Caption by: Antuan Goodwin Read More

You made it to Friday of a short week. I’m proud of you. Rest up over the weekend because next week actually has five full workdays in it. While you’re laying low, browse through these fresh Android apps – Vlingo gets on the Magic Bus with an in-car interface; News360 arrives in a phone version; and Fieldrunners HD, a fanciful tower defense game, finally arrives in the Market. The free voice recognition app gets a major update in the Android Market. Vlingo offers a new UI that features a list format for using in your hand or a pumped-up In-Car mode for use on the road. The list format makes it easier to understand all the many things that the app can do with voice commands – including search the Web, dictate and send text messages, update Facebook, and much more. The In-Car mode provides hands-free safe access to sending or reading texts or voice navigation. This update also includes support for seven languages: French, German, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin, and beta for Japanese and Korean. This tablet news aggregator has just launched this new phone version. As a reminder, the service delivers news from over 4,000 sources in the formats of text, images, and video. “Semantic analysis” technology connects the dots between stories allowing you to gather dossiers on people, companies, or locations. The tablet version made excellent use of the large screen space and this phone version does the same, with a completely different layout, for smaller screens. Here search is emphasized and a toolbar lets you quickly find what you need. Individual stories or videos fill the screen. Unleash artists on a tower defense game concept and you get Fieldrunners HD. From the colorful landscapes, to the tricked-out towers, and the fantasy creature invaders, the game delivers a unique look. It’s won many awards on the iOS platform and this Android version includes updated graphics, over 400 levels on four different battlefields, seven types of tower, and a full music soundtrack. Note: the HD in this title does not refer to tablets, more that a fairly high-end device is required. The description says a tablet version is “coming soon.” Read More

With Google I/O this week, there was a noticeable focus on productivity and phone navigation apps, all enhancing the Android experience. The yearly event was also an opportunity for Google to flex its muscles, revealing a new Music app that takes the personal cloud to the next level. The combined efforts of Google as a platform owner, and developers in the Android Market, make Android devices all the more competitive with Apple iPhones, and this week’s updates bring hope of Android’s tablet potential, perhaps one day toppling the iPad reign. Google I/O, the yearly event for innovative products and services, took place this week in San Francisco, giving the search giant a fine platform for launching a highly anticipated app for music. Dubbed Music Beta, the app is a cloud-based service that grants you instant access to your personal music collection from any connected Android device. The good thing about the Music app is that it circumvents wire plug-ins or syncing, making the app more competitive with Apple iTunes and its family of music-happy devices. Though Music Beta was a long time coming, it still falls short compared to other cloud-based services, as Google has yet to settle royalty payments and methods with the major labels. That means Music Beta has no store accompanying its player, restricting it to a personal cloud storage and management tool, absent of a competitive market. The free app is currently in private beta for U.S. users only. Springpad is also dedicated to the personal cloud, with an upgrade to its bookmarking and organization app. Now with a tablet version, Springpad’s extending its access points to more Android devices. Tablets were an important focal point at Google I/O, with the launch of Honeycomb 3.1 and the unveiling of new tablet devices. Springpad’s staying ahead of the curve, pushing through this major upgrade to appeal to the flexibility of its users. The first smart note app optimized for Android tablets as well as e-readers, this Evernote competitor offers custom home screen widgets, seamless syncing, note-sharing and alerts. Adding to its flexibility, Springpad also added offline access to its service through a Chrome web app, ensuring you can access and manage your saved content even when you’re not connected. Wave Launcher also has an app for better navigating your Android phone, with a gesture-enabled action bar for quick access. From any app, you can pull up the Launcher Read More

Americans and Britons both speak English. But talk to someone from New York, USA and someone from Yorkshire, England, you’ll notice that there are clear differences between each brand. Android users in the United Kingdom will be happy to know that Vlingo has recognized this and introduced localization for accents in the UK. The latest version of Vlingo does a better job of recognizing speech patterns, which will produce more accurate results when using Virtual Assistant to perform voice searches for EPL fixtures or posting to Facebook. (Ed note: based on my experience with America’s many different accents, I’m guessing the same will hold true and someone from Liverpool may experience different results from someone from Cardiff.) Vlingo is a popular Android app that can “turn your words into action.” Using voice commands, users can search the web, start a Google Maps Navigation, send text messages, or even post to Facebook without ever having to touch the phone other than to confirm the speech-to-text. The app also has a SafeReader function that will read incoming email or text messages out-loud and allow you to respond to text messages with your voice. It’s basically a stronger version of Google Voice Search. UK Android users can download Vlingo for free from the Android Market. A phone running Android 2.0 or higher is required to use Vlingo. (Note: Vlingo also powered the Samsung Galaxy S II voice recognition feature demo’d at Mobile World Congress). Read More

By Rene Ritchie, Monday, Feb 7, 2011 | Switching from Droid or another Android device like the Samsung Facinate to the iPhone — maybe the new Verizon iPhone? — and curious which are the best, most must-have apps you need to make yourself feel at home? Well read on for TiPb’s top 5 most recommended, most must-have apps to get your Android experience maximized on iPhone. Unlike Android, iPhone doesn’t (yet) have broad and deeply integrated voice features in iOS. While there’s some Voice Control commands for making calls and playing music, that’s about it. Enter Google Mobile which not only adds voice search but also bundles in Google Goggles functionality. From location and maps to contacts and the web to most anything you can say or point your iPhone 4 camera at, Google Mobile gets you answers and fast. [Free - iTunes link] Also check out: Yes Google Voice is finally available for the iPhone. MInd you, it’s still US only but if you want the app you probably have an account already. It’s not as deeply integrated as Android but it has all the features you know and love, including push notifications for new SMS text and voicemail messages, listen and/or read voicemail, Google Voice number displayed as Caller ID, access to your iPhone contacts, and it will run in the background under iOS 4 or later. [Free - iTunes link] Also check out: You can access your Gmail account via IMAP or with full push via ActiveSync right from Apple’s built-in Mail app and while you’ll get unified inbox and threaded messages you won’t get Stars and you won’t get labels. Likewise Gmail.com won’t give you the ability to access contacts or view attachments. Enter Mailroom, essential the Gmail.com webapp inside a native iPhone app wrapper that gives you most of the best of both worlds. (See our tip on using Mailroom for a better iPhone Gmail experience.) [$2.99 - iTunes link] Also check out: Google hasn’t yet made a version of their free Google Navigation app for iPhone but Waze provides a free crowd-sourced alternative. It’s full on voice, turn-by-turn directions that learns as you drive and will even let you munch tokens and reward you for your contributions. Yes, it’s navigation gone social. [Free - iTunes link] Also check out: Apple’s iTunes App Store is curated and Steve Jobs says that’s to protect you from porn. Read More

Vlingo for Android has been updated today – they’re calling it “Oyster” and it adds even more integration with some of Android’s top applications. Speaking queries like “Find hotels for next Friday in San Francisco” will take you into Kayak to give you a listing of – you guessed it – Hotels in San Francisco on December 24th. Likewise, “Where is Tangled in 3D playing” will bring up local showtimes and locations for Tangled 3D. OpenTable integration has also been added. Finally, the ActionBar is like an expanded Google Search where Vlingo will show you their recommended results alongside Google’s or anyone else’s. Typing “find Italian” will bring up a list of Italian restaurants near you, and that’s where OpenTable comes in: you can book reservations right there. All this and more can be found in the Android market now. [via Androinica] Vlingo is your very own Virtual Assistant. Simply speak to Vlingo and it will help you do more stuff, faster and easier than before. Try saying "Text... Read More Downloads >250,000 Read More

Psst... Come close. There's something I need to tell you, and there's no easy way to say it: Your Android smartphone might not be living up to its full potential. I know, I know -- you've loved it. You've cared for it. You've cradled it while watching "Frasier" reruns at night. But despite all the tender nurturing, there's a decent chance your smartphone has hidden pockets of power you haven't yet unlocked. To continue reading, register here and become an Insider. You'll get free access to premium content from CIO, Computerworld, CSO, InfoWorld, and Network World. See more Insider content or sign in. Psst... Come close. There's something I need to tell you, and there's no easy way to say it: Your Android smartphone might not be living up to its full potential. I know, I know -- you've loved it. You've cared for it. You've cradled it while watching "Frasier" reruns at night. But despite all the tender nurturing, there's a decent chance your smartphone has hidden pockets of power you haven't yet unlocked. Much of Android's aptitude, you see, comes from its flexibility. Thanks to Google's open approach to applications, there's practically no limit to the ways you can expand your phone's functionality and customize its existing features. It doesn't take much time or effort to crank up the dial on what your device can do, either; you just have to know where to begin. So get ready to make your smartphone stronger and more versatile than ever. You can download these apps quickly from your Android smartphone from the Android Market if you scan the QR image code shown for each -- but if you want to scan them using your Android smartphone, you have to read it on InfoWorld's mobile-friendly website; unfortunately, our regular website doesn't work on mobile devices. (Also if the images don't display properly on your desktop browser, go to the original article at InfoWorld.com.) 1. Extend your connection with PdaNet We've all been there: You're sitting at some public place -- say, an airport or a favorite lunch spot -- and you need to hop on your laptop to catch up on a few items. But alas, the scoundrels who run the joint have the nerve to charge you for Wi-Fi access. Well, put your wallet away, compadres. With your Android smartphone in tow, you'll never need to pony up an extra penny Read More