Siri alternative for voice text?

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Siri alternative for voice text?

Currently, I have Siri and Dictation turned off because the privacy cons outweigh the pros for me. Is there an alternative to simply use a voice text feature?

iPhone 6 Plus, iOS 8.1

Posted on Oct 27, 2014 7:46 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 27, 2014 7:57 AM in response to AndroidX9

Any speech-to-text app may cause you privacy concerns. The iPhone is not a powerful enough computer to do natural language processing. It's all done on remote servers. This is why you need to give access to Apple or Dragon or whoever. It's also why the feature doesn't work if you don't have a data connection.

Dragon Dictation is a good app. I can't speak to whether you would be satisfied with terms of use, though.

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Answer 2

AndroidX9 Author

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Oct 27, 2014 8:02 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

Isn't the specs on par with Android? This is my first attempt at an iPhone. My last phone was an HTC EVO LTE that was about 2.5 years old. That phone and the one before it had its own built-in speech to text capability that I could use without relying on Google Now. So it is a little surprising to if the iPhone isn't powerful enough to perform this without Siri.

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Answer 3

Oct 27, 2014 8:05 AM in response to AndroidX9

All the Android phones I've had have also required a data connection for speech-to-text. They also have very similar privacy policies.

You should search the App Store for apps that may meet your needs.

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Answer 4

AndroidX9 Author

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Oct 27, 2014 8:08 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

You're referring to the Google voice to text, or Google Now. Multiple android phones that I owned had their own built-in ability to perform this feature for text messaging and other simple things like calling people. Pretty much all actions that didn't require the use of the internet to search for something.

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Answer 5

Oct 27, 2014 9:42 AM in response to AndroidX9

The iPhone has Voice Control which doesn't use data. However, it does not do speech-to-text. If you can't find an app in the App Store that meets your needs, you may want to consider an Android if they do what you need. The Android OS is not exactly legendary for its respect for privacy, though.

Best of luck.

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Answer 6

AndroidX9 Author

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Oct 27, 2014 9:54 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

I'd have to say the same for Apple. It actually appears worse. It appears easier to turn off any Android services that I have issue with. They are more spread out on the iPhone it appears. It was also shocking to learn of the "Recent Locations" feature that the iPhone uses. But this thread isn't to go into a debate. I'll see if there is a suitable app in the App Store that will allow me to use voice-to-text.

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Answer 7

Oct 27, 2014 10:17 AM in response to AndroidX9

AndroidX9 wrote:

I'd have to say the same for Apple. It actually appears worse. It appears easier to turn off any Android services that I have issue with.

You can disable services on a per-app basis in Settings>Privacy.

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