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IVONA Text-to-Speech HQ

on 7/7/12 9:00 PM

Tested version: 1.0.15b
Latest version: 1.6.23.213
Requires Android: from 1.6

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Summary

While a stock text-to-speech feature is integreated on Android devices, we have to be honest and say that it doesn't really knock our socks off. And that's a pity, because text-to-speech is a useful feature if ever there was one, e.g. for the navigation feature when using Google Maps. The robot voice is a bit of a 'meh' at best.

That said, there's no sense complaining about any of this, as Android permits alternative TTS engines. IVONA Text-to-Speech HQ is a good example of such an alternative and we thought we'd shine our spotlight on it for you all today.

 

Features & Use

Section rating:

Test device: Samsung Galaxy S3
Android version: 4.0.4
Root: Yes
Modifications: None

Start up the app and you will be asked for your email address, seeing as you are no doubt dying to receive the latest INOVA updates. If you're not keen to received said updates, hit the link in the confirmation email. Next, a browser window pops up from where you must download a language pack, as well as some other data.

You will then be notified that IVONA is not your current TTS engine, and you must change this setting in order to use the app. Once that's done you're pretty much good to go, unless, of course, you wish to download more language packs.

There are several English speaking voices to choose from, or more specifically several accents, and the ones I tried out (US and OZ English) were very pleasant. The app then runs in conjunction with other maps, e.g. Google Maps for navigation.

Bottom line:

IVONA Text-to-Speech HQ is a viable alternative to the stock TTS engine. I've been using it for a few months and am satisfied with its performance.
 

 

Screen & Controls

Section rating:

This is where the app falls somewhat short—both the set up and controls are not ideal. There's no set up assistant, instead users are redirected to a website from where a second app must be installed in order to get IVONA Text-to-Speech HQ to run. However, to be fair we should mention that the app is currently still in beta phase, so lets hope for the best.

 

Speed & Stability

Section rating:

IVONA Text-to-Speech HQ performed well during our test runs. The voice always flows without lagging, which is great.

 

Price/Performance Ratio

Section rating:

IVONA Text-to-Speech HQ is free and can be found in Google Play.

 

Comparable Apps

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jon
Aug 8, 2012 11:53:30 PM

so l want you to write back to me through my Email Box ok,PLEASE CONTACT ME DIRECTLY WITH THIS EMAIL(jonesbella19@yahoo.com)So that l will give you my picture and for you to know who l am.hope to see your mail OK.
yours one in mind

Market Comments

FirdausHerlina, Oct 2, 2012
Blank Blank page, keep running even after closed and restart itself
Nathan, Oct 2, 2012
Awesome This app rocks.
mlevy8, Oct 2, 2012
Bug in latest update Keeps opening itself in background, interrupting running applications. Five stars once fixed, uninstalled for now.
A, Oct 2, 2012
Caused S3 to crash and OVERHEAT! Needed to do a full reset to clean my S3 to remove app. Could not access phone at all, full lock up when trying to access anything. It was like Ivona pocessed my phone and took it over. Phone got extremely hot.
ChemZ, Oct 1, 2012
Update killed it. As many other people have said, the recent update sucks the big one. Had to downgrade just to get it back to it's good ol self. App should start on demand, not constantly running in the background like some spyware. Fix please!
Stephen, Oct 1, 2012
Invasive now Keeps showing up on my recent applications screen, usually right after a long phone lag. Seems like it crashes other apps too. I like Ivona but not enough to put up with this BS. I'll wait a little bit longer for a fix and then I am outta here!! A fix will get a better review but better be soon.. UPDATE : UNINSTALLED!!!
Nosno, Oct 1, 2012
great app more voices needed took a while to get going on my galaxy s2 few restarts as no voice was working but all going good now best tts iv herd more voices needed though
brad, Oct 1, 2012
Good speech, but doesn't work with Navigation I only use TTS with navigation... Too bad.
Ignition-Images.co.uk, Sep 30, 2012
Great but... gwyneth the Welsh accent doesn't work with navigation. Once it's fixed ill fix the rating.
Tyler, Sep 30, 2012
Multitasking Shows up in the multitasking menu. Really annoying. Uninstalled.
Time, Sep 30, 2012
Bad outweighs good Ivona is probably the best natural sounding TTS voice app on the Play Store BUT the rest of the package pretty much blows. SVOX is one step down from this but way less hassle in the longer run. Dev: Just remember who won the VHS vs. BETA video cassette war - it wasn't the technically best product that won. Hint, hint.
Subomi, Sep 30, 2012
Google nexus 7 its good and helpful but all it really needs is a pause button and maybe rewind and forward . This would help a lot. PLEASE UPDATE!
Reviewer, Sep 30, 2012
Nice Pretty good for a freebie. Better than stock. I just hate not knowing when they'll suddenly stop the app working & start charging for it - I'd rather pay now & get it over with! Slightly over-complicated double installation required to get started, but once done it's worked nicely. It would be good to see resolved the constant running in the background that others have complained of, but it's not been a major issue for me.
amitabh, Sep 29, 2012
Best voice Please provide male us and uk voice
Color Man, Sep 29, 2012
Fail Constant task appears in task manager - in installing - tired of it. FAIL
Jeremy, Sep 29, 2012
Worked for 5 minutes Had it installed on my gs3 for over a month and it suddenly started working today then stopped again. Junk,
Alexandru, Sep 28, 2012
Annoying As Joe said, it appears like a blank page in recent apps. Very annoying indeed. Also not so many uses it a lot so you should stop making this service running all the time keeping the phone's memory occupied. It should be a service on Demand! Hope you guys are taking in consideration these comments.
Jerry, Sep 28, 2012
Good but bad I like the voice but having it restart automatically even when I am not using it is very annoying, which has led me to uninstall. Please fix this so that I can continue to use this great app
Alex, Sep 27, 2012
Best text to speech Love the realistic voices
tammie, Sep 27, 2012
Would not work. Uninstall
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