Control Windows Media Center with Your Voice [Video]

If you use Windows Media Center on your home theater PC you can configure it to run via voice commands using macros for Windows7's built-in Windows Speech Recognition software. The only additional cost is for a decent microphone if you don't already have one.

Gadget weblog Inspect My Gadget uses Windows Speech Recognition macros to create voice tags that link with keyboard shortcuts. If you say "stop TV" it will send the keystroke Ctrl+S. The AutoHotKey script used to make the system work waits for a predefined button press before listening for a command so that music or video dialogue cannot trigger a command. The button press also lowers the volume so that the system can recognize the user's voice from anywhere in the room. Finally, the author installed an arcade button in his recliner to trigger the voice command so no keyboards or mice are needed.

If you're interested in voice control this would be an interesting weekend project. Because the system associates audio tags with keyboard shortcuts you could also figure out a way to control XBMC using this method.

How-To: Voice control Windows Media Center | Inspect My Gadget

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Text by Voice for Android Reads Incoming SMS Messages Aloud, Sends Them Using Your Voice [Video]

By Alan Henry Oct 18, 2011 4:00 AM 9,471 39

Android: There are a lot of apps out there that can send text messages using your voice, including Google's own in-built Voice Actions. However, not many read your incoming messages out loud when they arrive. That's where Sonalight's new app, Text By Voice, comes in.

Once the app is running, Text by Voice is completely hands-free. It's similar to Vlingo in that it listens for a specific trigger phrase, and when you speak it the app jumps into action, acknowledges that you spoke to it, and waits for a command. Tell the app who you want to send a message to and what that message should say, and the app will send it. When you get a response, the app will alert you to the incoming message and speak it aloud as well, giving you the opportunity to reply right away or wait.

Text by Voice stands out because it makes the entire process of sending and receiving texts completely hands-free, which is perfect if you're driving and want to tell someone where you are or how long it'll be until you arrive without touching the phone. Even Google's own Voice Actions require that you tap the screen or long-press the search button to send a message, and it won't read your incoming messages to you. Some Bluetooth headsets include an app that will read incoming messages aloud, but you still have to tap the headset to respond.

Text by Voice is a solid addition to Google's own Voice Actions, but you have to have it running for the app to help you, so remember to start it every time you get in the car. For more voice-activated and hands-free Android utilities, check out our list of Siri-like apps for Android. Do you have a preferred app that will send and receive text messages aloud? Let us know in the comments below.

Sonalight Text by Voice

You can reach Alan Henry, the author of this post, at alan@lifehacker.com, or better yet, follow him on Twitter or Google+. Related Stories

Google Voice Begins Rolling Out MMS-to-Email Forwarding for Sprint Users [Updates]

By Whitson Gordon Oct 13, 2011 4:30 PM 10,480 38

MMS support has long been at the top of our Google Voice wish list, and it looks like Google's finally rolling out a workaround for getting MMS messages sent to your Google Voice number. Here's what we know so far.

Google hasn't made any official announcements, but a number of users—at the Google support forums, at the unofficial Google Voice forums, and Patrick over at the Plan8 podcast—are reporting that Google Voice now sends you a notification for incoming MMS messages. You won't get the message itself, but if you have "SMS forwarding" turned on in Google Voice's settings, then you'll get the MMS forwarded in your email inbox. It isn't full MMS support, but it's a heck of a lot better than what we have now.

At the moment, it looks like it's only working for Sprint users, and that it's rolling out gradually. So, if you're on Sprint, turn on SMS forwarding and get one of your Sprint-using friends to send you an MMS. If it works, be sure to let us know in the comments!

Update: Some of you have mentioned you have it working on Virgin Mobile and T-Mobile, so it looks like it's rolling out to users on other carriers as well.

Google Voice Just Got Catty MMS Images Forwarding To Email | The Plan8 Podcast

You can contact Whitson Gordon, the author of this post, at whitson@lifehacker.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and lurking around our #tips page.
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