Hello,
I recently switched from an iPhone to an S7 and I can't manage to find a way to get a similar experience on my Android device to my iOS device regarding a very important feature, for me at least, Text-to-Speech.
For years now, iPhone owners have been able to simply select any text in any app and have it read out loud to them, feature that I found very useful for internet browsing. After switching I have been searching for a hidden button somewhere in Marshmallow that would allow me to enable this feature, but couldn't find any. I even went through the Play Store but couldn't find any app that had such features. There were some apps that claimed to do this, but they all looked outdated and didn't work all that well.
In the end I can only ask for assistance in here, because I find it hard to believe that such a handy feature didn't make it to Android.
Is there any way of getting anything similar to the iOS experience with Text-to-Speech in Android?
Related
Hello all - Got a brain twister for all you geniuses out there -
I'm running a NON_ROOTED Samsung Galaxy SII i727 Skyrocket on ATT
Currently running the ICS 4.0.4 ROM
A few months back - I lost the ability through Google Search to find anything located on my device. Google search is limited to only searching the web now.
The option to define ON-DEVICE SEARCH called "Searchable Items" located in Google Search Settings Menu - well, it is GONE.
After I decided to do a full factory reset and wipe the slate clean to start over again - thinking something got corrupted - I found it's still missing.
So, I spoke with Google and a rep there told me that there was some legal nonsense they could not discuss but it was removed from the official ROM - no other details.
I spoke to a Support Mgr at Samsung - who was surprised to learn that the removal is inconsistant accross the product line (works on one carrier but not the other - works on one device for one carrier but a different device for a different carrier)
Anyone have a work around for this? Preferably one not requiring me to root the device? It's never been very stable even running a factory rom so i'm not really looking to play with experimental ROMs and end up in crash central with a rooted cooked rom - it's my only phone, although frankly at this point I might reconsider my position on that...
Please help!
Regards,
Chris
I'm not sure what items you want to search, but I'm running embryo 6, android 4.1.2 and Google search does have some on the phone items that can be searched. Contacts, apps, etc. Is that what your trying to search?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
You can thank apple for that...
Basically here is what happened in a nutshell.
Apple sued Google's partners, Htc, lg, motorola, and samsung over there global search feature that is implemented in android. Before this, you could search the following things: Music, files, web, apps, pictures, and the like.
After the case, apple won. Which means the carries and companies had to "update" there phones to remove the global search feature found in android or the companies customization. This is probably why you can no longer do universal search on your phone. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find an app for you that would do what it used too. Google now allows you to search music in there music app, as well as youtube etc. But you need to be in the app for what your searching for. Universal search was nice, sadly apple won. The way I see it, they are losing the war.
If you really cannot stand not having universal search and want extra features, try a custom rom out.
Example: pcworldDOTcom/article/259828/samsung_removes_local_search_feature_from_galaxy_s_iii_as_patent_suit_nears.html[/url]
Hi ... I'm a n00b when it comes to phone hacks but not technology so please don't dumb your answers down on account of me.
We bought two Tmobile Samsung Avants a cpl days ago (one to use and one as a spare) because the price was right and I'm leaving a WM device for Android. HOWEVER I don't like the idea that Google, who has no personal or business relationship with me, has access to all my personal information just because I'm using a phone they've branded. So I'm looking for an Android ROM that doesn't have Google tentacles in it.
I've been researching this since we got the phones but I'm not clear on what ROMS are avail for my phone ... it doesn't look like cyanogenmod has one (although they have one for my gf's old Exhibit T599!! ) - is there a repository, website or thread I haven't found that has a list of what's out there? am I stuck rooting the phone and MANUALLY removing everything? The phones have Kitkat installed.
I saw a youtube vid where they've ported Lollipop to the Avant - would that come de-Googled?
Do Android ROMs from Android come without a Google footprint? Some users have posted that Android as an independent company is not necessarily Google and their OS is NOT a Google product so my thoughts are you can have one without the other.
Any help / info is appreciated. thanks!
master-richie said:
Hi ... I'm a n00b when it comes to phone hacks but not technology so please don't dumb your answers down on account of me.
We bought two Tmobile Samsung Avants a cpl days ago (one to use and one as a spare) because the price was right and I'm leaving a WM device for Android. HOWEVER I don't like the idea that Google, who has no personal or business relationship with me, has access to all my personal information just because I'm using a phone they've branded. So I'm looking for an Android ROM that doesn't have Google tentacles in it.
I've been researching this since we got the phones but I'm not clear on what ROMS are avail for my phone ... it doesn't look like cyanogenmod has one (although they have one for my gf's old Exhibit T599!! ) - is there a repository, website or thread I haven't found that has a list of what's out there? am I stuck rooting the phone and MANUALLY removing everything? The phones have Kitkat installed.
I saw a youtube vid where they've ported Lollipop to the Avant - would that come de-Googled?
Do Android ROMs from Android come without a Google footprint? Some users have posted that Android as an independent company is not necessarily Google and their OS is NOT a Google product so my thoughts are you can have one without the other.
Any help / info is appreciated. thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a project that doesnt have google stuff but you lose alot. Like no app store and things like that. Also Android is a google project. Like WP is by microsoft.
No there is no site like you are looking for.
Android is not a company but an OS like IOS, Windows, Linux and such.
The issue is mainly that if your device is not widely used then there may not be anything available for it. You also need to find out if the bootloader is locked or not and if kernel source is available for the device.
Google doesnt brand phones persay. The android operating system is theirs.
master-richie said:
Hi ... I'm a n00b when it comes to phone hacks but not technology so please don't dumb your answers down on account of me.
We bought two Tmobile Samsung Avants a cpl days ago (one to use and one as a spare) because the price was right and I'm leaving a WM device for Android. HOWEVER I don't like the idea that Google, who has no personal or business relationship with me, has access to all my personal information just because I'm using a phone they've branded. So I'm looking for an Android ROM that doesn't have Google tentacles in it.
I've been researching this since we got the phones but I'm not clear on what ROMS are avail for my phone ... it doesn't look like cyanogenmod has one (although they have one for my gf's old Exhibit T599!! ) - is there a repository, website or thread I haven't found that has a list of what's out there? am I stuck rooting the phone and MANUALLY removing everything? The phones have Kitkat installed.
I saw a youtube vid where they've ported Lollipop to the Avant - would that come de-Googled?
Do Android ROMs from Android come without a Google footprint? Some users have posted that Android as an independent company is not necessarily Google and their OS is NOT a Google product so my thoughts are you can have one without the other.
Any help / info is appreciated. thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google has not shown itself to be a malicious company. Is it a little creepy that they know everything about you? Yes. Will it make your user experience better? Probably. When you flash a custom ROM it removes all of the Google apps but the Google apps are really useful. Play Store, Maps, Gmail (can store all your contacts so if you get a new phone you can just import them), etc. are all very useful in my opinion. I don't personally need Google Music for example so I deleted that. All of my music comes through Spotify and Bandcamp downloads. But I can't imagine my phone without the Play Store and Gmail. It would make the experience very annoying. Cyanogen Inc. is looking into pushing their ROMs on to retail Android phones so the phone would come with Cyanogenmod and have their own equivalent to GApps. But, that won't happen for a while. The best bet to get Google out of your hair is to root it and delete the apps you don't need, or use SlimRom.
Edit: Make sure your phone is the same model as the ones that SlimRom is created for.
dictatorkara said:
Google has not shown itself to be a malicious company. Is it a little creepy that they know everything about you? Yes. Will it make your user experience better? Probably. When you flash a custom ROM it removes all of the Google apps but the Google apps are really useful. Play Store, Maps, Gmail (can store all your contacts so if you get a new phone you can just import them), etc. are all very useful in my opinion. I don't personally need Google Music for example so I deleted that. All of my music comes through Spotify and Bandcamp downloads. But I can't imagine my phone without the Play Store and Gmail. It would make the experience very annoying. Cyanogen Inc. is looking into pushing their ROMs on to retail Android phones so the phone would come with Cyanogenmod and have their own equivalent to GApps. But, that won't happen for a while. The best bet to get Google out of your hair is to root it and delete the apps you don't need, or use SlimRom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not true. Even without gapps there are still many google base system files that are built into the system. There is only one Google-less project that is being worked on but they do have issues as the OS is not built to run without them. Even Slim Rom still use alot of googles stuff.
zelendel said:
This is not true. Even without gapps there are still many google base system files that are built into the system. There is only one Google-less project that is being worked on but they do have issues as the OS is not built to run without them. Even Slim Rom still use alot of googles stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't say you can completely de-Google an Android device. But, you can make it appear to be de-Googled, although the system files you mentioned will still be there. But you can completely opt out of Gmail and the like.
dictatorkara said:
I didn't say you can completely de-Google an Android device. But, you can make it appear to be de-Googled, although the system files you mentioned will still be there. But you can completely opt out of Gmail and the like.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used to have an IT company not too long ago and I run a bunch of commercial grade servers in my house - My needs aren't the same as the typical phone user with respect to data redundancy, cloud computing, etc - I have that capability already. I pretty much use my phone to snap photos, internet browsing, texting, making calls and sometimes use the gps when driving. What I don't need is a copy of all my activity, contacts, calls, texts and browsing history stored on google servers to be sold or given to entities that I a. wouldn't consent to b. have no clue it's happening.
I don't really care if there is a Google footprint left in the phone, I just want to remove Google's ability to mine my personal data from my phone which also includes registering my device via a google+ account.
With respect to playstore, isn't Aptoid a suitable alternative?
What is SlimROM? where can I get more info on it? I saw the post you had linked to originally which prompted me to post my OP because I couldn't find any other info on it
master-richie said:
I used to have an IT company not too long ago and I run a bunch of commercial grade servers in my house - My needs aren't the same as the typical phone user with respect to data redundancy, cloud computing, etc - I have that capability already. I pretty much use my phone to snap photos, internet browsing, texting, making calls and sometimes use the gps when driving. What I don't need is a copy of all my activity, contacts, calls, texts and browsing history stored on google servers to be sold or given to entities that I a. wouldn't consent to b. have no clue it's happening.
I don't really care if there is a Google footprint left in the phone, I just want to remove Google's ability to mine my personal data from my phone which also includes registering my device via a google+ account.
With respect to playstore, isn't Aptoid a suitable alternative?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No Dont use that. They are all warez and are known for including data miners, Keyloggers and screen recorders.
Ill be honest. You picked the wrong OS for that then. GPS itself uses google software to connect to the satalites.
This is your best option
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1715375
Hi there!
I'm currently setting up a few Phones running CM 13 for my colleagues at work.
Now I'm not sure in which way this is managed best.
We don't use Google in any way at work so one Google Account for the Play Store would be enough.
These are the advantages I see in this:
- I only need to pay for payed apps once
- If I don't store the password on the phone nobody should be able to install anything unwanted. I could do installations by using the playstore website and push installations from there if neccessairy.
- Well and then theres no need to start many google accounts, remember passwords etc. I just seems easier.
- Better control over whats going on with these phones.
However I'm not sure if it is doable the way I think it should work.
Has anybody any experience with a setup like this? Help would be much appreciated.
In Android 6 it's also possible to set up multiple user accounts but I don't think that it supports "normal users" or "administrators". This would be a good thing.
Thanks for any hints on this!
AL
What's the best and more popular assistant for S7?
In my device I find S-Voice but it seems an old assistant.. Google Now maybe the most integrated with other apps and features... but what the new ones like Bixby and Google Assistant?
Does anyone use Google Now?
I don't use any assistant, in fact I've disabled all the info collecting settings for Google to the point the assistant won't work unless I turn them all back on again
Cortana from Microsoft is available on the play store too / apk install but as with Android, I kill that thing on Windows too, assistants are dumb and it's generally faster and more accurate to do everything manually anyway, and doesn't collect your data in the process
It's your choice, while I *need* an assistant driving my car to call, create reminders, send WhatsApp messages, SMS, etc
I'd like to perform only a few simple (hands-free) actions, you can easily do with Siri (iOS).
Google Now seems so poor.. so many times it doesn't understand what I say and put my request to google (web)... so frustating.. You too?
Yea, I've never found any voice recognition / assistant that can understand what I'm saying well enough for it to be any use, spend more time correcting and typing in the correct words than I would if I just did it myself in the first place
Siri is what you're looking for
Anyway Google Assistant (born inside Google Allo) should become the new modern virtual assistant improving the current Google Now. Unfortunately it's not available in Italian... have you tried it in English? (at first look it seems faster and more clever than Now)
Hello All!
My Samsung phone was not receiving RCS on the google messages app, despite google confirming rollout in most of the world. I suspect that my cell provider Lucky Mobile might have something to do with it, as it is one of the few carriers in Canada that does not provide RCS services. In an effort to activate it on my phone, I found a trick that I believe has not been posted yet. I tested this out on an unrooted Samsung Galaxy S10 running android 10 One UI 2.5, an unrooted Samsung Galaxy A50 running Android 10 One UI 2, and an Unrooted Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite running Android 11 One UI 3. These are all Samsung devices, so it may not work on other phones, but I have no way of testing that. The steps I took are below
On the Google Play Store, install Carrier Services from Google
Still on the Play Store, Install Google Messages
Open Google Messages and set it as the default messaging app
In the Messages app, open settings and check to see if chat features are available, they were not for me, but it is a good idea to check
Keep the Messages app open in the background but switch back to the Play Store and uninstall Carrier Services
Re-open the Messages App, then exit and close it from the Recents menu, and then open it again
You should now get a pop-up saying that you can use chat features, if not, then it should be available in the chat features section in settings
That’s it! I’m not sure how useful this will be to others, considering that my issue is something most people wont have, but I thought that someone might be looking for a way of activating RCS on their phone, with similar results that I had until now. I would also appreciate if people with phones from different companies (e.g. Google, Xiaomi, OnePlus) could try it out to see if it only works with Samsung phones or other companies’ phones as well.
Edit: You can join the Messages Beta program if you want after the steps are complete, as it keeps RCS enabled. Not sure why but I am not complaining
(P.S. This is my first post on XDA so I'm not sure if this is best format to post this, or the right place to post this in)
No luck for pixel 4 xl on Android 12