Changing Google Maps Voice?

[space_burglar]

You can go to settings->App Manager-> All-> google-text-to-speech and disable it. It asked me if I wanted to restore factory voice and I said 'OK'. So now the Samsung TTS is being used. Apparently once you've done that you can reinstall 'google-text-speech', if you need to. A but weird to need to do this given you've selected Samsung elsewhere, but this does work.

 

[bottlerocket]

I got the Google Now voice to change to the high quality British voice I downloaded/selected, but it doesn't change during navigation for some reason.

 

[plumcrazy]

had no trouble changing it but i prefer to shut the voice off all together. i find it very annoying.

if waze had the ability to use the google maps "Stars" or places you input, id only use waze

 

[BJDeriso]

I'm having the same problem, but it's more widespread than just Google Maps & Nav. It started when my Note 4 was reading all my calendar alerts out loud in an obnoxious, tinny female voice. It took a lot of digging, but I finally found where to disable that, but while I was mucking about in the TTS settings, I started playing with the various voice options. I have downloaded high quality voice files for both the Google and Samsung TTS engines, and made every possible adjustment to set them as default, but I have yet to see a single app on this platform actually respect the defaults I specify.

I know the HQ voice I downloaded is set correctly, because I set the system language to English (UK), installed the English (UK) male and female voice files, and when I set one, the TTS settings page tells me the language I chose is "fully supported", and the playback sample confirms it is applied correctly.

Still, Google Now, Navigation, and the Calendar app insist on using their own low quality defaults, no matter how many times I reset their data, wipe the caches, or reboot the device. As a final straw, I uninstalled all the Samsung TTS updates and HQ voice files, force-stopped, and disabled the engine in the app manager, and the calendar alerts STILL use the Samsung default. How the holy EFF is that even possible???

This is entirely too much brain damage for such a simple feature. If there is an entire settings sub-menu dedicated to assigning a default TTS engine, then every flippin' app that offers TTS output had better flippin' USE IT!

 

[varunaX]

I tried Ivona as well and it does seem to work. Thanks.

I downloaded IVONA but still hear the same old voice in maps navigation. Is there anything you did after downloading IVONA to get it to work with maps?

Has anyone on their note 4 successfully managed to get street names to be read when using navigation in google maps?

 

[Arr U Gaetu]

I agree. I am rather puzzled that one of an app's primary functions, speaking directions, is so poorly implemented. Would it be that difficult to have the app use the phone's default voice?

For that reason, as well as its simplicity and price, I prefer "Here". It's always 100% free, advertised as "Maps for life" and has NO ads. You can download a hi-quality voice from a long list to insure a good pronunciation and something you can tolerate over a long drive (free, too). Works great, I prefer to have various distinct voices for phone and apps; it definitely reduces confusion.

In addition, you can download COMPLETE maps of states/provinces/whole countries for offline use (save mem space by downloading just the maps you need) in 100 countries for FREE, too. This is great when you don't have service for a bazillion different reasons, you can still get a map with verbal turn-by-turn directions. I tried it with all data connections turned off - works great. It's awesome going to farms in areas where I can't retreive data service any other way (wrong provider, no cell towers, no McDonalds for WiFi, etc.). No excuse for getting lost… unless your battery dies.

It's perfect for anyone without a data plan (my original reason), just download the maps from your computer or any WiFi connection.

All I get from Google Maps is a sea of grey the moment I cross state lines.

(No, I do not have any connection to the people at "Here".)

 

[varunaX]

Hey thanks for the reply and tip. Just wondering though, we're you ever able to successfully switch the voice of Google maps ever before you switched to 'here'? I'm just trying to see if anyone with a note 4 has ever done it, if not I can stop trying all together

 

[varunaX]

The lack of replies makes it seem like no one has been able to successfully change the voice in Google maps on their note 4.

Must be a Samsung thing/bug because I heard a friend's nexus 5 pronounce street names just fine

 

[leerandall]

The lack of replies makes it seem like no one has been able to successfully change the voice in Google maps on their note 4.

Must be a Samsung thing/bug because I heard a friend's nexus 5 pronounce street names just fine

I looked, but found no way to change it on my Verizon Note 4.

 

[RenoD2010]

Try Waze. It's vastly superior to Google Maps for navigation. Google paid close to a billion -- yes, billion -- dollars for it a little over a year ago. The female navigation voice is so much better.

It truly is. Google's voice pronounces "Pts" as P T S. Waze says "points".

 

[migi_meep]

All of google's apps use network TTS. Your best bet is to downgrade to an earlier version of Maps (9.1.x), where the option to change voice is still available.

 

[daiwolf]

I like my tinny voiced female direction giver. I tried the high quality voice and it freaked both me and my fiancee out. Sounded like some lonely hooker trying to seduce you by giving you directions in a sultry/whispery voice.

What was even scarier was the transition in between robotica and sexotica! First half of the directions was given old voice and new sounded like she got posessed by a sex demon!!!

Made me want to call a priest!

Hahaha sorry but that made me crack up laughing

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Muhd Firdaus]

Please give me the URL?

how do you download that apps?i've search it but i can't find it..can you give me the url to download?can you?

 

[Ronald Brown]

You can find the Here Maps at the google play store.

Here Maps

 

[Peanutaxis Sellotape]

So far no one has posted the correct answer.

You have to make all of these changes to tts and maybe to phone language as well. BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO OPEN THE NAVIGATION APP, GO TO SETTINGS, LOG OUT AND THEN LOG IN AGAIN.

Why? Because AI is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo far away.

 

[Lucifia DeSade]

Try Waze. It's vastly superior to Google Maps for navigation. Google paid close to a billion -- yes, billion -- dollars for it a little over a year ago. The female navigation voice is so much better. I haven't tried the male navigation voice. There are other, very weird navigation voices available, too. You want Elvis? You got him. How about Terry Crews? Him, too.

Both Waze and Gmail have publicly admitted that neither lived up to claims.....Waze in that their customization didn't really work and Google that they don't monitor Waze for accuracy, it's "user based" and therefore not subject to the same regulations. Google staying they aren't willing to "substantiate claims made by Waze"..."when it comes to user capabilities and promised functions".

 

[B. Diddy]

These are steps that work to change the language/accent that Google Maps speaks to you:


1. First, go to Settings>Language & Input>Languages, and select the one you want. Make sure it's listed as Default (or move it to the top of the list).
2. Next, go to Settings>Language & Input>Text-To-Speech Output, and tap the gear icon next to Google Text-To-Speech Engine, then Language, and select that language.
3. Go back one menu level, and tap Install Voice Data. Make sure the language data is installed.


Google Maps should now be speaking to you in that language/accent.