iPad apps

[Xairbusdriver]

No, I'm not actually an iPad owner, but I play one on TV!

Anyway, with more of them showing up, I thought it might be nice to have a thread of good apps that you have heard about or use. Here's one I have never even seen in operation but it is one that should prove useful, especially if you also have an iPhone:

<iPhone to iPad> Although the name implies only two I-tems, it supposedly works to transfer stuff between the iPhone, iPad and a Mac to any of the other two. $25!

[Paddy]

I'm not an iPad owner yet, but one of the coolest apps I've seen for the iPad is the FREE Dragon Dictate. It works very well - I saw it in action. However, it's only free for a "limited time" whatever that means, so if you have an iPad or even an iPod Touch and think you might want to try it out, you might want to get it sooner rather than later.

[Xairbusdriver]

<!--Begin a short history of this software, as I remember it--> That program for the Mac was originally iListen by MacSpeech. It was always in competition with Dragon Speak, but they worked only on Macs and Windows, respectively. MacSpeech licensed the recognition engine from DS and later the two companies merged or MacSpeech was bought out(?). MacSpeech was an excellent program, just not enough market share to support the developers, I suspect. It certainly wasn't cheap, either. With the Intel cpu change, it may be that DS felt it could port its app and both companies felt the better support and growing Mac sales would be the best for all.

I still have a boxed version of the Mac program, including a Plantronics headset with mic that made the app work better. The company made a demo of the software at our MUG meeting several years ago and donated the package. Unfortunately, Tennessee law forbids any kind of raffles without approval, so we couldn't make anything of it that way. Nor was there any real interest my the rather small group for the specialized product.<!--End of history lesson-->

So, getting this app, even a limited edition(?) for free could be a very good investment, especially since many complain about the lack of an external keyboard! I assume that the headset and mic are not required, but they do help limit any background noise that can cause problems for the recognition engine. Of course, the thing won't be perfect, out of the box. The older versions, at least, had a tutorial exercise. The lessons weren't for the human as much as for the software! It has to 'learn' how the particular user pronounces several phonetic sounds before it can accurately convert your speech into words/text. It can be used by different people, but each person has their own 'dictionary.' All in all, a very impressive piece of software. It would be interesting to see it in action on the iPad.

[RHPConsult]

Additional history lesson(s) - 2

I bought MacSpeech at MacWorld - not cheap at all - and within a couple of weeks before I even had removed it from the box, they came out with a new version... for another 150 bucks (mol). To put it mildly, I was outraged. I wrote the company (naturally!) got zilch as an answer. They were in the process of that old business strategem . . .Take the money and run.

Not choosing to "cut off my nose" as they have said for centuries, it remains in the box - stuffed with rage-remmants.

Yes, Dragon then bought them, and they promoted another upgrade "deal" for well over 100 bucks. No thank you, except I do hear it's a nifty program.

So, very interested I went to this web page (which I thought Paddy was recommending after having seen it) only to read some very disquieting info about the EULA and Dragon expropriating one's contact list (as I read it) simply by wishing to look at the deal. WHAT!

Here - BE CAREFUL - read the Comments before proceeding

The EULA comes up so fast, you may be hooked before you know it.

Having been burnt (or nearly so) by these clowns in the fairly recent past, will somebody else look at the page and TELL ME IF MY ANXIETIES ARE JUSTIFIED!

I'd like to have it for my new iPad . . . for free, but the way they operate I'm VERY suspicious.

[Xairbusdriver]

I assume this is what you are referring to:"In order to improve recognition accuracy, Dragon Dictation will only upload names from your address book when permission is provided... no emails, addresses, phone numbers, or other personal information are uploaded. This information is not used for any purpose other than improving the usability of the application. Dragon Dictation will also utilize the data in spoken messages collected over time to continuously improve and provide high speech recognition accuracy. All data is stored in secure data centers according to stringent privacy and security standards. For more information, please view our end user license agreement http://www.dragonmobileapps.com/EULA-dict.html" But that's in the Privacy Policy of the description, haven't yet gone to the EULA. At any rate, it seems to be saying that you will be asked for permission (a dialog, I would assume) to upload the names in your address book. The second part refers to what you say into the app, nothing about specific words, however, and those could well be names, addresses. Of course, they could also be names from your little black book(s), overseas bank account numbers, etc. I have no doubt that these collected sounds and/or words would help them tweak the app. I wouldn't be surprised to find that they had the same EULA when they sold only Windows versions.

At least they publish the uploading of stuff.

And I would assume (being overly happy to do that, it seems!) that an app like LilSnitch could prevent that sort of transfer of info with no problem.

Secondly, Dragon Speek is not MacSpeech. Any dealings you had with MacSpeech should not be assumed to be the same as you would have with Dragon Speak. And, no doubt, there was considerable ship-jumping when the 'deals' were being hammered out. MacSpeech was never more than 15-20 people, at most. I doubt if any of them even 'went' to Dragon Speak, but, perhaps, DS would be kind enough to tell you.

Lastly, while this and many other apps run on the iPad, it appears to be an iPhone app that is compatible with iOS 4. Whether that means it will recognize the iPad and expand its screen to take advantage of the increased size or not, I have no idea. What I am hoping for here, are some compelling apps for the iPad that do not run on the iPhone, there are already too many iPhone apps to keep track of... "Yeah, you may have a neat phone, but we have way more apps! Wait, you don't even have a neat phone...sorry 'bout that."

[RHPConsult]

It looked to me that the "commenters" of the DL site were asserting that DS was (somehow) marching through their contacts immediately up the free download whether any other permission was accorded the process or not.

I thought the EULA was insinuating itself in a major way, early on, and lightning fast!

[Paddy]

Nuance has addressed the privacy concerns (back in December!):

http://www.tmcnet.com/news/2009/12/16/4535769.htm

[RHPConsult]

As usual, Paddy, you have the answer.

Thank you.

                     Sincerely,

                   Just another Privacy Zealot