Use High Contrast
AAPL459.68  chart+4.56
2012-02-03 16:00

Update – New iPod shuffle Does Not Require Third-Party Voices for OTher Languages

11 March, 2009 @ 2:39 pm by Lioncourt

We were able to confirm with APple that the new iPod Shuffle with the VoiceOver feature does not require third-party voices to make use of the fourteen different languages. The process used to generate the speech is different, though we do not have specifics on what the new process is. Apple confirms, however, that no additional purchases are required to make use of the different languages.

Posted in Apple Inc., Apple News, iPods and iTunes, Text-to-Speech, VoiceOver | 4 Comments »

4 Responses to “Update – New iPod shuffle Does Not Require Third-Party Voices for OTher Languages”

  1. bertp001 noted:

    I am guessing that a downloaded playlist from iTunes 8.1 to a third generation IPod Shuffle includes a text-to-speech audio file along with the playlist audio files in a bundle. The text-to-speech audio file would include the playlist name, song titles, and other information within the playlist. There may be a version of VoiceOver technology on the third generation iPod Shuffle to provide limited navigation of playlist names, allowing the user to switch to a desired playlist after hearing the playlist name. The user can also request the song title of the current song being played.

    March 11th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
  2. bertp001 expressed:

    I found some additional information about Voice Over on the third generation iPod Shuffle by Prince McLean on Appleinsider.com. He clarifies somewhat the new process.

    March 12th, 2009 at 2:54 am
  3. bertp001 interposed:

    I saw another source (Macworld) about the new VoiceOver process. Basically, iTunes 8.1 does most of the work. If VoiceOver is activated in iTunes 8.1 (via a Device Summary tab or iTunes setup), and if iTunes 8.1 is synchronizing with a third generation iPod Shuffle for the first time, iTunes 8.1 will install a VoiceOver Kit onto the iPod. Then, iTunes 8.1 will generate VoiceOver messages and pass them to the iPod for storage. The VoiceOver Kit will interpret these messages. The user can change languages, if necessary, by going to the iTunes 8.1 info window. I presume the VoiceOver messages are text-to-speech audio files.

    March 12th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
  4. bertp001 commented:

    Correction to my previous comments: iTunes 8.1 will install a new VoiceOver Kit on your computer, not the third generation iPod Shuffle. iTunes 8.1 will generate TTS via the VoiceOver Kit, then synchronize with the iPod.

    March 15th, 2009 at 1:30 pm

Post a Response

You must be logged in to post a comment.