Google Now's Text-to-Speech Gets a More Human Sounding Voice Update

[dgstorm]

For the longest time, Google Now voice search has been superior in capability to Apple's Siri, Microsoft's Cortana, and Amazon's Alexa; however, there is one area where all three of those have Google Now voice search beat. The sound of the voice in Google Now is artificial, whereas Siri, Cortana and Alexa all have a more natural sounding and human-like voice response. Google has apparently changed that.

It looks like Google's latest update to Google Now gives it a vastly improved voice that sounds like an actual person instead of a stilted computer mimic. So far, the only change will be to the U.S. English version. There is no information when/if any of the other languages will get a similar update.

Another thing that is interesting about this "update" is that it must be server-side, because the Google Play Store does NOT include a new update for the app. If you don't have this change already on your Android device, you can manually switch to it by going to Settings > Language and input > Text-to-Speech output > Settings (the gear icon) > Language and choose English (United States) instead of Use system language.

We found a video below that gives a demonstration of both voices as a comparison.

 

[dgstorm]

Here's that video:

 

[PereDroid]

A) I never had a problem with 'her' voice
B) No new voice for me yet.
/EDIT/
Listened to the video. It's better.

 

[Sajo]

It does sound a little better. I just checked the English option and Unchecked update over WiFi only, hopefully the new voice will update soon.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[PereDroid]

I tried UK English to see if she had an accent. No.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[Jonny Kansas]

Is it strictly Google Now? Because I just got an update for Google text-to-speech...

I tried UK English to see if she had an accent. No.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Are you sure you're doing it right? She had an accent the last time I tried it. I prefer for her to be British (or Australian), but I've had trouble getting phones to actually use the voices with accents. When you play the preview, it's there, but then when you navigate or something, it's American.

 

[Jonny Kansas]

Hmm...Even though I got a TTS update, she still sounds robotic.

 

[wicked]

No update here yet.

 

[Sajo]

I noticed that when I go into the Settings for Install Voice Data > English US there is no download arrow like there is for other languages. Maybe thats normal, but also maybe why we are not hearing the new voice? Will it download automatically if the Auto Update option is checked?

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[Jonny Kansas]

It should...

 

[Sajo]

I should be a millionaire by now also.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[johnomaz]

I've always had issues with text to speech getting some rather complex words pronounced correctly but simple/common words pronounced wrong.

 

[Mustang02]

No update here.

Lots of words make my GPS voice stumble, I laugh.

 

[Jonny Kansas]

Tell me about it. This area is such a melting pot. There are towns and streets named from Native American, Swedish, French, English, and God knows what other languages all cobbled together. Not to mention folks here pronounce a majority of the stranger ones in a way that you'd never guess by reading it anyway...

 

[dgstorm]

Sorry my post didn't seem to make it clear folks. It's not an update to the app. It's a server-side update, and it is probably already on your phone. You just need to follow the instructions I added in the story: Settings > Language and input > Text-to-Speech output > Settings (the gear icon) > Language and choose English (United States) instead of Use system language.

Of course, it's possible that if you aren't on a Nexus device, you may not have the option that is different, so YMMV.