Filed under: Software, Software Update
Let your Mac take dictation
MacSpeech Dictate has now been upgraded to version 1.5, giving the application more accuracy and a new vocabulary editor. The update also includes a new English profile option, allowing you to indicate if your speech has North American, Southern North American, or a Latino North American accent.The software also includes the addition of the top 100 websites to the "Jump to" command option.
This is the first update of MacSpeech Dictate since last February.
As I did in my last post on this software, I dictated this article completely by voice. It appears that the software is more accurate in recognizing my speech. Although I upgraded from an earlier version, the software did require me to retrain, which involves reading a short story that takes about five minutes. In my dictation for this post the software missed the word 'and' once and typed 'hand'. I used the 'scratch that' command, re-tried the word, and it worked well.
As I dictated some other documents using both Microsoft Word and Pages from Apple, I was impressed at the large vocabulary of the program. It even recognized the word O-ring, which is pretty technical, and could have been easily misinterpreted.
If you're already an owner of MacSpeech Dictate, it's probably worth update for the new features. If you haven't tried dictating into your Macintosh, and have a need to do so, the program is worth a try. The developer has licensed the Dragon recognition engine from Nuance Communications, which is the premier voice recognition software on the PC. This newest version of MacSpeech is available for US $199, or as a US $54.95 for current owners of the application. To run it, you'll need to be on Leopard version 10.5.6 or above.
Get a WordPress.com Blog
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ken Cohen said 3:16PM on 5-22-2009
Another US$55 to upgrade? I still haven’t been able to get this software working properly on my iMac. No matter what I do, it will not accept commands, either in command mode or dictation mode. Yes I’ve had plenty of emails back and forth with tech support. I’ve tried it in a clean user folder. I’ve reinstalled several times, redictated the training many times. I speak clean clear Canadian English and the software accepts dictation without problems. I had numerous issues with the early versions too - they should have been classified as betas. IMHO I’m not sure that this software is ready for the market yet.
Reply
Chris said 4:10PM on 5-22-2009
New English profile option?
How about an option for those of us whose English has an English accent???
I've had run ins with speech recognition packages in the past where the only way to get some words accepted was to put on a fake American accent.
I love my American friends but I shouldn't have to do that. Aside from anything else my American accent is terrible! ;-)
So come on guys how about a little love for the country where English originated?
Reply
Martin said 4:17PM on 5-22-2009
I'll trade you my American accent for your English one? :)
VanillaSpice said 9:56PM on 5-22-2009
"So come on guys how about a little love for the country where English originated?"
Yes, show a little love for Germany, please. Oh, sorry - did you mean, the country whose people developed the grammatical structure for English?
Yes, show a little love for Denmark, please. Oh sorry - did you mean, the country which provided a sufficiently encompassing vocabulary for the English language?
Yes, show a little love for France, please. Oh sorry - did you mean, the country which (later on) protected and kept the English language alive while the French destroyed it in England?
Yes, show a little love for Wales, please. Oh sorry - did you mean, the country which rationalised and developed the language, and promoted it to the point of its current near-ubiquity?
Yes, show a little love for the United States of America, please.
Heh, okay, so that is a bit harsh, but one of the great ironies of the English language is that it has been everyone else but the English that has been mostly responsible for it.
Maxwell Ash said 9:30AM on 5-23-2009
I think that the job of promoting it to ubiquity was probably also something to do with the British Empire.
jim said 6:27PM on 5-22-2009
I can't believe that they are charging for an incremental upgrade. This patch is just performance and bug fix updates and they are charging for it. Not a very good way to treat customers if you ask me. I think it was a poor decision to charge for this and the way their PR (or lack thereof) has handled customer outcry is even more shameful.
That said, it doesn't really matter because they have a monopoly on the mac... Go figure.
Reply
jackleboul said 6:27PM on 5-22-2009
Seems like a good uppgrade but, silly to charge people 55 USD for an uppgrade, considering current economic circumstances. Looks like software companies are not really living in the real world.
Jack
Reply
paul turner said 7:04PM on 5-22-2009
I just got my "new" 1.5 copy - The interface is a little slicker, the recognition? Not that much better (20% better is a stretch) - and the fact that you have to re-train it (3 full sessions for best accuracy) is a nightmare for someone like me who uses dictation software to try to save time. I am using a very expensive Logitech USB headset and it's pretty weird what some of the things it "thinks" I'm saying are. Let's just say when it does not understand you, it's interpretation is gibberish. To me there is nothing worse than this because it derails any train of thought to an annoying halt. Also the launch times with a recent 2.6ghz, 7200rpm HD, 4 gig of ram MBP are surprisingly, painfully slow. On a bright note I did get an email from customer service touting exceptional customer service and that was a nice toot your own horn move - but as a user from the iListen days I have bought the marketing hype and upgraded to each new version (three purchases so far). Each upgrade promises basically what the last did in the new version. The most recent $55 upgrade was a hard pill. I guess MacSpeech just counts on customers like me who have now purchased 3 versions of basically the same product, to keep buying hope in the "this is the one that works" marketing. Bottom line is you can add all the bell's and whistles to software like this but it's the recognition that is so key to the end user. Otherwise it turns into slow load bloat-ware. It pains me to say this because I really wish this software would perform up to what the marketing claims. If I were MacSpeech I'd get a handle on my existing customer base before hitting them up for another PAID upgrade. Oh and please no more email's guys telling me how great your customer service is...
Reply
Wheels said 9:31PM on 5-22-2009
I just upgraded my father's MacBook to Leopard so that he can partake of this upgrade. He purchased Dictate back in January, and the application has just been a frustrating nightmare. We are on a first name basis with just about all the technical support people working at MacSpeech because support calls are almost on a weekly basis. I've installed it, including on a new user account, five times. When we heard of the upgrade, and the issues it supposedly fixes, we were hopeful. But that hope was soon dashed when we learned that it was paid upgrade.
My father dictated an email to MacSpeech outlining all the trouble we've been though, and stated that he thought that he shouldn't have to pay for the upgrade. He dictated it without correcting it. And, as paul turner said, when Dictate doesn't understand you, it produces absolute gibberish, and this email had shining examples of this. But one apropos mistake that was included was when Dictate turned the sentence "I called MacSpeech Dictate's technical support and asked them why that is." to "I called MacSpeech Dictate's debacle support and asked them why it is.". With all due respect to all the tech support people at MacSpeech, changing "technical support" to "debacle support" is just a perfect and apt piece of comedy.
But it's sad, too, because the frustration of Dictate is that it's so close, but it's just not there. My father purchased Dictate because he had a stroke that effected his typing abilities, but not his speech. He writes professionally, so dictate seemed to be a godsend. I hope it will turn into one sooner than later.
Reply
Steve Levitan said 10:12PM on 5-22-2009
I agree that it's pretty ridiculous to charge $55 for this upgrade. They are not taking care of their customers!
Reply
Tim said 11:42PM on 5-22-2009
I have been using Macspeech for over 12 months almost daily and prior used Dragon on PC. Macspeech is not up to speed with the PC equivalent. Notwithstanding it is an extremely serviceable program that has significantly increased the quality and volume of my written work.
I have found the company to be supportive, diligent and honest. I have no hesitation recommending the program on the basis that it is the best available for Mac.
The shortcomings are not significant and do not hinder the speed and usablity to the extent that, in my opinion the shortcomings do not warrant the effort or electricty required to fire up my PC.
I have ordered and paid almost $200 Australian ( with postage) for the upgrade and am confident that I will receive a superior product and that my purchase will contribute to encouraging those at the company to continue their efforts in improving the product.
Reply
Doctormark said 1:42PM on 5-23-2009
Tim, MacSense in Australia is distributor, and upgrade including postage is a more sane $A91. I've had a few emails asking for serials and telling me 1.5 is on the way.
BTW, I've found the program (ESP after first free update) extremely good except for it's oddly random/arbitrary of retaining some trained vocabulary and not other. I bought this upgrade because it seems to have a way of forcing acceptance of my technical vocabulary. Fingers crossed!
Tim Thorpe said 4:22PM on 5-24-2009
Sup work for the company much. It is interesting that your comment does not reflect the consensus even remotely accurately. My guess is that if someone ran your IP address you'd show up in the ARIN database and not the AURIN...Blatantly full of crap.
Timbo said 6:14PM on 5-24-2009
In response to those questioning the veracity of my comments.I do not work for the company nor do I have any financial or other association with them. I suggest that Tim Thorpe lay off the lattes and harden up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh6pZQX22CQ
Bakari said 10:41PM on 5-23-2009
Please also add that this is not a download upgrade. The upgrade has to be sent to you on disk, and you have to pay postage! Seriously archaic. Also, it would be better to make a video of your dictation using the 1.5 upgrade to show how it's has or has not improved.
Reply
paul turner said 6:37PM on 5-23-2009
I just dictated my earlier post into 1.5 below. If this is acceptable to you then 1.5 is for you...
I just got my "new" 1.5 copy -- the interface is a little slacker, the recognition? Not that much better [20% better is a stretch] -- and the fact that you have to train it's [3 final sessions for best accuracy] is a nightmare for someone like me uses dictation software to try to save time. I am using a very expensive Logitech USB handset and it's pretty we heard some of the things looks "things" I'm saying on. Let's just say when it does not understand you, its interpretation is gibberish. To me there is nothing worse than this because it derails any train of thought to annoying Holt. Also the launch times with the recent 2.6 GHz, 7200 RPM HD, low heat of RAM MBP are surprisingly, painfully slow. On that note I did get an e-mail from customer service talking exceptional customer service and that was a nice tutor your own hormone -- but as a user from the iListen days I about the marketing hype and upgraded each new version [3 purchases so far]. Each upgrade promises basically looked the last one did in the new version. The most recent 55.upgrade was a hard pill. I guess MacSpeech just counsel customers like me when I purchased three versions but basically the same product, to keep buying the hope in the "this is the one that works" marketing. That online is you can add all the bells and whistles to the software like this but it's a recognition that is so key to the end-user. Otherwise it turns into a slow load love -- where. It pains me to say this because I really wish this software will perform up to watermarking planes if I'm a MacSpeech either handle on existing customer base before hitting them up for another paid upgrade. But and please no one e-mails guys telling me how great your customer service is.
Reply
dennis said 12:38PM on 5-24-2009
"That online is you can add all the bells and whistles to the software like this but it's a recognition that is so key to the end-user. Otherwise it turns into a slow load love -- where. It pains me to say this because I really wish this software will perform up to watermarking planes..."
ROFL, That's rich, and they want my clients to pay for this drivel?
I've got two users who are keeping Parallels and WinXP with Dragon. I'll refer to this link and advise against changing to MacSpeech.
Too bad.
Mike said 11:28AM on 5-24-2009
Hi -I'd like to add my voice to the chorus of complaints about this egregious rip off. We are really being charged for a bug fix for a program that worked well for very few people. Not only that, but those of us outside the United States will have to pay outrageous S&H charges by the company, as they are not making the update downloadable.
I'm now torn. Send more money to these rip-off artists? My answer would be no, except, (and they know and are taking advantage of the fact), that they are the only game in town.
This is like a hostage taking situation.
Reply
Maddy said 2:16AM on 5-25-2009
Seems like a good uppgrade.
Reply
Lauram said 12:28PM on 5-25-2009
Me too on the frustrations with the earlier version and the indignation about the hefty upgrade fee. Basically, they released a beta version of the thing at full price, and now they want to charge us for a version that 1) is less buggy and 2) does some but not all of what the software should have been able to do when first released. It's better than iListen, but that ain't sayin much. The problem for me isn't even really with the recognition part -- it's with the strange and baffling malfunctions of the software itself, like the fact that it has to "warm up" for about 15 minutes of use, before which there's a lag of minutes between dictation and the time when words actually appear on the screen.
Dragon Naturally Speaking works so well that for most of my dictation needs it's actually easier for me to reboot in a Windows partition and use DNS instead. I'm lucky in that I don't need Dictate to actually operate my Mac, and feel great sympathy for people who have access issues and no better alternative than this not-ready-for-prime-time product.
Reply