This is a review I wrote for another forum
This is my personal review of the Jott for BlackBerry software.
BlackBerry 8130 Pearl
Platform: 3.1.0.51
Application Version: 4.3.0.97
Jott for BlackBerry version 1.1 (beta)
This is a voice transcription program for email/SMS, used with the native BlackBerry Message program.
Currently only supported for 8100 series, 8300 series, and 8800 series.
I came across this application almost by accident, and thought it sounded like a tool that could be useful, so I gave it a shot.
The download and install wasn't hard, and is only available OTA at
Jott for BlackBerry . You do have to change the application permission, or it may lock up your device, but this isn't too uncommon for 3rd party apps. It does require you to sign up for the Jott service and verify both your e-mail and telephone number. In this current beta version, this is free, but this will be a pay service once the final release is done.
There are a couple of ways to Jott. Once the installation is complete, you can simply go to any email or SMS in your message folder, press the menu key, and you have the option now to "reply with Jott" and "reply all with Jott." Once selected, just press any key to start recording, speak your message, and press and hold any key to send. It sends and email with your recorded voice as an attachment out, transcribes it to text, and forwards it to the desired recipient. I used this option the most by far. The default setting is speaker phone on, but this can be changes to off, or to use your BlueTooth headset.
The other option is to set up contacts and groups through the website. Once you have set up contacts, you can call the toll free number Jott provides you with, and use spoken commands to send Jotts to specific people or groups. You can also set up To Do lists, or Jott yourself with reminders that will send you an email or SMS at whatever time to designate. Through this phone service, you can also get information sent to your email from a variety of websites, including Amazon.com. Simply call the Jottline (This is a NickfromIL orignal nickname) and say, for example, you call, say "Amazon", it beeps, and you say "Blackberry Pearl," it will send you an e-mail of the search results in HTML format. Not the greatest tool for BB users without a 3rd party email viewer, but that is only one of the web service feature it has.
From my experience with this, here are the Pro's and Con's.
Pro's
Smooth integration with the default BB Email client - simply adds menu options
Convenient - Now I can email while driving (Jott does not recommend this) or other times I may be able to talk, but not type.
Sends a confirmation email back to you, exactly how it appears to the recipient. I found this comforting to be able and see that what I said was transcribed correctly. This option can be disabled by changing your account options online.
Seems to understand basic grammatical rules. Inserts commas and periods when you pause your speech.
Includes a link in the sent emails for people to listen to what you said, in case the transcription isn't accurate.
Jott myself feature worked nicely, and the reminders came at the time specified, but with the nice calader that it native to the BB, I wouldn't use this much.
Works with BlueTooth headsets.
Current (beta) version is free.
Con's
Reply with Jott feature (through device) has a 30 second limit. Not sure if dialing the toll-free number has the same cutoff time.
I experienced an average delay of 8 minutes from time sent to time received. Not necessarily bad, but as BlackBerry users we are spoiled with instant/near instant email.
Transcriptions often not 100% accurate. "Alan" transcribed as "Ellen", sometimes is would drop "a" out of the sentence, "of" turned to "if". It would often enter a comma where a period should be, and vice versa. This issue may be resolved with some practice of annunciating more clearly, and you can always spell out words that you think it may not get, like proper nouns.
So when all is said and done, I love the concept behind this, but I would only use it in a pinch. Hopefully, with some time they will enhance the speech recognition software, and then it would be a great product. This is still only a beta version, not a final release, so I will be sure and try it again once it is released. Others may have better luck, depending on how clearly they naturally speak, so go ahead and give it a try while its free.
Jott for BlackBerry
Jott.com and Jott are trademarks of Jott Networks Inc. - Get more done with hands free mobile email, text/sms and to do lists.
©Copyright 2007 Jott Networks Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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8130 Pearl on Verizon Wireless
PIN: 31926C5C
For a good time call...Verizon Wireless PDA Support!
