34 7 - 20August 2019
Best Free AppsNEWApp of the FortnightCOMMUNICATION
Voicepop
bit.ly/voicedroid481
bit.ly/voiceios481
(varies) 10Messaging apps suchas
WhatsApp offer a number
of waysto communicate
with others, such as sending
text messages, making voice or
videocalls and more. One easy
way to get in contact with
someoneis to record a brief
voice or videomessage. To do
this in WhatsApp, for example,
you simply hold downthe mic
or camera button while
speaking, then release the
button to send your message.
While dictating amessage
may be easier for the sender
than laboriously typing out a
text, it’s not alwaysconvenient for the recipient. When
you’re in a meeting, a library or a doctors’ waiting room, for
example, you can probably get away with checking your
texts but playing an audio message out loud is much less
appropriate. That’s where Voicepop comes in.
The app is very easy to use. It basically transcribes any
recorded speech fromaudio or
videomessagesyou receive in
WhatsApp andother messaging
apps (includingLine,Signaland
Telegram) into a text message
that you can read quietly.
Once installed, Voicepop
works as an extension to your
messaging app, so it’s very easy
to use. It’s also fast, accurate and
can processvoice messagesthat
are up to two minutes long. The
tool encrypts your messagesto
ensure their contents remain
private, andthe developers state
that no humanemployees have
access to your data.
The app andtranscription
services are currently free,
although that could change
in the future. The only real
catch is that you
needto be online
for Voicepop to transcribe your voice
messages, because the speech-recognition
technologyit usesis based in the cloud.Our rating HHHHH1To set upVoicepop
as anextension in
iOS, launch the app, then
select ‘Set it up’. In the Share
panel that slides up,^1 swipe
the upperstrip of apps^2 to
the left untilyou see the
More button.^3 Press this,
then scrollto theVoicepop
extension and tap theswitch
to enable it. Ifyou prefer,
you can dragVoicepop
to thetop of the listfor
quicker access.2Press Done, then
Cancelto returnto
the app.Tap Next, then Done.
To useVoicepop, launch
WhatsApp, long-pressa
voice message^1 and select
Forward.^2 Now tap the
Share button (bottom right)
and press theVoicepop
icon. Selectyour default
language(or press the plus
sign in one of the other
boxes to choose a different
language) andVoicepop
will transcribeyour voice
message intotext.3In Android,
Voicepop is
addedto theextensions
list automatically. Open
WhatsApp and long-pressa
voice messageto select it,^1
then tap the Share button.^2
In the Share panel that slides
up, tap theVoicepop
Transcribe icon. Selectyour
default language^3 (or tap
the plus sign in one of the
other boxes^4 to choosea
different one) andVoicepop
will transcribeyour voice
message intotext.MINI WORKSHOP
Transcribe voice messages using
Voicepop1
2
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