Android Users: looking for new messaging app

[sam_gordon]

I've been using Message+ for years. I like that it automatically senses when I'm driving and turns off notifications. I definitely want to keep that feature, but I'd like to add a feature that will do a "speech to text", especially in Reply. I'm pretty sure I could do it through "OK Google, Text 'Jon', heading home", but there's got to be an easier way.

Any suggestions?

 

[GreatLakes]

Check your keyboard settings. I have an LG and use the Gboard instead of the built in LG keyboard. In settings I can turn on "Google voice typing" at the keyboard level which makes it available in anything that surfaces the keyboard including messaging apps.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I've used Handcent for many years, many phones. I think it is great, very customizable. Not sure if it will do the car thing you like. It does have voice to text, though I do not use that. My car will do text to voice, so if a text comes in while I am driving, the car display screen will tell me who it is and if I want, push a button and listen to it.

Handcent

 

[sam_gordon]

I've used Handcent for many years, many phones. I think it is great, very customizable. Not sure if it will do the car thing you like. It does have voice to text, though I do not use that. My car will do text to voice, so if a text comes in while I am driving, the car display screen will tell me who it is and if I want, push a button and listen to it.

Handcent

My car will read texts to me, but I can't reply back (except for 10-15 pre-arranged responses).

 

[sam_gordon]

Check your keyboard settings. I have an LG and use the Gboard instead of the built in LG keyboard. In settings I can turn on "Google voice typing" at the keyboard level which makes it available in anything that surfaces the keyboard including messaging apps.

I just looked and I have Gboard and it was turned on, along with voice typing, but the Samsung Keyboard was selected. I think you solved my problem. Thanks!

 

[Imzadi]

Do you have Gboard as your keyboard? It's Google's own keyboard and it has the same speech to text function as "Okay Google." Download it from the Play store. I don't use the latter, but tapping the microphone on the Gboard and using Google's speech to text function is like sliced bread. It uses ALL the vocabulary from Google's search function, including proper names and popular terms & phrases. I always think, "No way is it going to know this word," but it searches the phrasing and I've seen it correct itself.

I've been looking for a free similar app for my Windows laptop. The closest is using the Chrome browser, which I don't care to do.

 

[GreatLakes]

I just looked and I have Gboard and it was turned on, along with voice typing, but the Samsung Keyboard was selected. I think you solved my problem. Thanks!

You're welcome and I'll close your ticket.

 

[_19disnA]

Do those speech to text things work well on phones? My car uses voice for the GPS system and it is TERRIBLE. Never seems to understand the location or whatever I am trying to enter regardless of how slowly/loudly/clearly I say it. Rather use the keyboard to enter GPS locations.

 

[sam_gordon]

Do those speech to text things work well on phones? My car uses voice for the GPS system and it is TERRIBLE. Never seems to understand the location or whatever I am trying to enter regardless of how slowly/loudly/clearly I say it. Rather use the keyboard to enter GPS locations.

Yea, I'm not impressed with my car's audio pickup. It seems off WAY more than on. Not just for directions, but for "Call <insert name>".

 

[DLgal]

We just use the built in messaging app (on the Samsung galaxy) or WhatsApp in our family. Both work well for voice texts.

 

[Imzadi]

Do those speech to text things work well on phones? My car uses voice for the GPS system and it is TERRIBLE. Never seems to understand the location or whatever I am trying to enter regardless of how slowly/loudly/clearly I say it. Rather use the keyboard to enter GPS locations.

Yes, the one built into the the Gboard works fantastic. I almost never have to stop and type into my phone anymore. It will even add commas & periods when I tell it to.

 

[_19disnA]

Good to know since the spellcheck on my Android text app built into my phone always seems to guess the wrong word. If I don't stop to re-read the message before sending, it almost certainly will have jumbled words/phrases. I found a way to turn off spellcheck, but it automatically comes back on the next time I power up the phone. Obviously, the designers have a different idea of what the defaults should be.

 

[Imzadi]

Good to know since the spellcheck on my Android text app built into my phone always seems to guess the wrong word. If I don't stop to re-read the message before sending, it almost certainly will have jumbled words/phrases. I found a way to turn off spellcheck, but it automatically comes back on the next time I power up the phone. Obviously, the designers have a different idea of what the defaults should be.

The Gboard uses ALL the vocabulary from Google's search function, including proper names and popular terms & phrases. I always think, "No way is it going to know this word," but it searches the phrasing and I've seen it correct itself. I do have to correct every once in a while. But, rarely now.

There is also a feature one can select where it can "learn" the way one speaks as we usually use the same words or phrases over and over. For instance, if I'm late, it already knows that I previously texted, "Running 10 min late. Subway delays." So, if I'm out and about and there's a lot of ambient noise that will garble up what I'm saying into the microphone, Google will make a best guestimate, if it hears a few of my words, that that's what I'm likely saying. It won't mess up "subway delays" with "submarine deals" for instance.

I play a couple video games with friends, and the Gboard knows this now. It will automatically know the name & correct spelling of the names of the characters as I say them.

 

[_19disnA]

Makes me wonder if they can't get my car software to recognize speech for simple voice commands but somehow magically they can write software for autonomous driving that will always work perfectly?

 

[kdonnel]

If you are looking to improve your in car experience, look at adding an aftermarket radio that includes Android Auto. I don't have direct experience with Android Auto but I do with CarPlay the Apple version.

If they are at all similar, and I imagine they are, it makes it so easy to interact with my phone. To place calls, listen to texts, reply to texts, play music, get directions, etc all hands and eye free.

I know adding an aftermarket radio is not so easy on many cars now where the air conditioner controls and more are integrated into the radio or dash but It might be worth a look.

I was able to add CarPlay to my 2005 F-150 for less than $300 and to a 2011 Kia Sorento for $700. I was going to add it to a 2006 Honda Accord but decided I didn't care for either solution offered for reconfiguring the dash to accommodate the aftermarket radio and screen.

Android Auto should be able to be added at a similar cost. The radios I bought all support Android Auto and CarPlay.