Product Description

Up to 99% accurate, and often more accurate than typing / Fully compatible with VMware Fusion

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #449 in Software
• Brand: Nuance Communications, Inc.
• Model: A109A-WC3-10.0
• Released on: 2008-08-11
• Platforms: Windows Me, Windows 2000, Windows 98, Windows XP, Windows 95, Windows Vista
• Format: CD-ROM
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 2.75" h x 8.00" w x 9.50" l, 1.00 pounds

Features

• Offers unprecedented speech recognition with unrivaled accuracy levels
• Dictate and edit in virtually any Windows application, including Microsoft Word, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and AOL
• Easily create and edit documents and spreadsheets, compose emails and instant messages, or surf the Web just by speaking
• Quick Voice Formatting commands allow users to issue a single voice command to make deleting and formatting text faster than ever
• Use the included high-quality headset, work with a Bluetooth microphone, or dictate into the included Philips digital recorder when away from the PC

Amazon.com
Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred Mobile gives small business and advanced PC users the power to create documents, reports and emails three times faster than most people type. All with up to 99% accuracy. Surf the Web by voice or dictate and edit in Microsoft Word and Excel, Corel WordPerfect, and most other Windows-based applications.

Talk to the computer and watch the spoken words instantly appear in documents, email and instant messages. Click to enlarge.

Quick Voice Formatting makes deleting and formatting text faster than ever. Click to enlarge.

New on-screen help and tutorials help users become experts in no time. Click to enlarge.

Users can easily create spreadsheets, or edit existing ones, simply by speaking. Click to enlarge.

New Dragon Voice Shortcuts collapse common multi-click tasks into simple voice commands. Or create custom commands to insert blocks of texts and images--such as name, title, and signature--with a single voice command. Format and delete text faster than ever with Quick Voice Formatting.

Users can dictate into the included digital recorder when they're away from the office for automatic transcription when it is synched with a PC.

Create Email, Documents and Spreadsheets--Even When You're on the Go

Accurate speech recognition for PC applications
Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred Mobile offers unprecedented speech recognition with unrivaled accuracy levels: up to 20% fewer speech recognition errors out of the box than Version 9, and about half the amount of errors that the product delivered just five years ago. Users gain the added benefit of avoiding spelling errors and typing mistakes. In fact, the product actually learns from corrections over time.

Works with the applications users already have
Dictate directly into Microsoft Word and Microsoft Outlook Express and most other Microsoft Office applications running on Microsoft Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Vista. Dragon also supports popular programs such as Corel WordPerfect, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and AOL. Navigate the desktop by voice: launch or switch applications, save or print documents, and more--even control menus and dialog boxes.

Create and edit documents and spreadsheets by voice
Users can easily create documents and spreadsheets, or edit existing ones, simply by speaking. Add custom words, such as proper names, to the system's vocabulary or create commands, such as "insert signature," so that pre-set text and images will automatically appear in email and documents. Plus, Dragon enables easy correction and proofing: with the "play back" feature, users can listen to their dictation while Dragon highlights the corresponding text on the screen for easy proofreading.

Quick Voice Formatting commands allow users to issue a single voice command, such as "Bold Quick Voice Formatting," to make formatting and deleting text faster than ever. In addition, the extensive set of Natural Language Commands mean users don't have to memorize complex instructions. In Microsoft Word, for example, a user can say, "make that bigger," and the font size increases instantly.

Dragon 10 introduces new graphical icons to enhance the DragonBar user interface, making the product even easier to use!

Send email, Instant Messages and Surf the Web--All by Voice
Users can browse the Internet with ease: search the Web, access information and navigate Web pages, simply by speaking URLs and links.

Dragon Voice Shortcuts to Perform Tasks Faster Than Ever
Dragon Voice Shortcuts for Web Search make searching the Web faster and easier. A user says a command containing his desired search words, such as "Search the Web for financial management resources," or "Search maps for Italian restaurants in Burlington, Massachusetts," and Dragon 10 will use the default search engine and Web browser to enter his dictated term(s) in the search field and return the results. A user may also search specific sites or search the Web for a specific type of information using commands such as "Search Wikipedia for George Washington Carver," or "Search eBay for Bluetooth headsets." Sites supported by Dragon Voice Shortcuts include Google, Yahoo, eBay, Wikipedia, YouTube and more.

Dragon Voice Shortcuts for Desktop Search introduce commands to search the computer as directly as the Web, by dictating the word(s) to find documents, emails and Web browsing history. For example, a user can say, "Search computer for launch plans," and Dragon will complete the search using Google Desktop or Windows Vista desktop search. In addition, commands such as, "Find an email about the Robinson report" directly open the top email containing the dictated keywords. Searching the computer has never been faster--or easier.

Dictate into a handheld recorder for later transcription
Be productive on the go. Users can dictate into the included Philips digital recorder when they're away from the office for automatic transcription when it is synched with a PC.

User Benefits

Faster than Typing
Most people speak more than 120 words per minute but type less than 40 words a minute. That means users can create documents and email messages more than three times faster using Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred. The software never makes a spelling mistake, and it actually gets smarter the more it's used.

More Productivity on the Go
Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred Mobile includes everything users need to get started in minutes, including a compact and lightweight Philips digital recorder that holds up to 33 hours of recorded speech.

Easy to Use--Get Started Right Away
Dragon NaturallySpeaking installs quickly and requires no special script reading. New on-screen help and tutorials help users become experts in no time. Users can dictate letters and emails instantly! A comfortable, high-quality headset is included.

Bluetooth Support
Use Dragon NaturallySpeaking with a Nuance-approved Bluetooth wireless headset for great dictation results--without the wires.

Avoid Repetitive Strain Injuries
By using voice to control the PC and create documents, users reduce their risk of developing repetitive strain injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Key Feature Differences Between Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Professional and Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred	Dragon 10 Professional	Dragon 10 Preferred
Create documents, emails, reports and spreadsheets simply by speaking; surf the Web by voice	•	•
Up to 99% accuracy--right out of the box	•	•
Words appear on the screen faster than ever	•	•
No enrollment required--get started instantly	•	•
New on-screen help and tutorials--be an expert user right away	•	•
Dictate directly into virtually any Microsoft Windows application and control menus and dialog boxes by voice	•	•
Dragon Voice Shortcuts to speed Web and desktop search	•	•
Automatically transcribe recordings from Nuance-approved handheld recorders or Pocket PCs	•	•
Wireless microphone support, including Bluetooth	•	•
Play back your dictation for easier correction and proofing	•	•
Natural commands for Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Excel	•
Dragon Voice Shortcuts to speed email and calendar entries	•
Create custom voice commands to automate complex or repetitive document creation tasks	•
Fully network compatible for multiple users	•
Central network administration tools for installation and user profile management	•
Security features for enterprise deployments	•
Support for Citrix environments	•
Section 508 certified to give people with disabilities complete hands-free use of the PC	•

Customer Reviews

Beware the Bluetooth, and the treacherous Tenth Dragon.
I have just upgraded from Dragon Naturally Speaking 9 to 10. I am happy to report that so far, after a couple of days trial, this upgrade seems to have been well worth it in terms of increased accuracy. (BUT SEE LATER!) At the same time I was tempted into purchasing the alleged integrated Calisto Bluetooth microphone, attracted by the special price, the convenience of a wireless headset, and the promise of increased accuracy.

However, I have run into two problems, either of which makes the Calisto currently useless. In the first place, the Bluetooth insert device for the USB port cuts out after an hour or two of usage. Its function is only restored after completely rebooting the computer.

The second problem is far more serious. Once the Plantronics Calisto is activated, Dragon Naturally Speaking demands that you " prepare this user for dictation". You would probably be encouraged to note that the accuracy level of the new Calisto is rated very high. You are then required to read a passage from a selected text. When Dragon is satisfied with your reading, it will present you with a dialogue box telling you to wait while your user files are being adjusted for your reading. In my case my computer then simply hung up, and could not be started up again without a complete reboot. Two different Dragon phone techs attempted to solve the problem unavailingly, the second one promising I would get a call back from a top expert capable of solving the problem. No reply over the last two days, and similarly no reply yet to an email I sent them yesterday informing them of the Bluetooth insert failure.

I started dictating this review with DNS 10, but, sadly it first began reverting to a habit Id seen before with DNS 9, that is, starting up a new sentence or phase one letter too early. Finally, it gave up altogether and refused to accept any dictation from my old and otherwise commendable Plantronic DSP 400 mic.

So I can hardly recommend purchase of any of this Nuance equipment right now unless you're willing to pay good money for what amounts to a rather unpromising Beta version. But if they had waited to get the bugs out first, they might well have something really to get excited about. Maybe wait six months, a year?

Lesson: I should have paid attention to earlier negative Amazon reviews. (I trusted Nuance on the basis of good experience with earlier versions.)

Works great with bluetooth and Atom netbook
I finally received by new Dragon 10 and the Bluetooth bundled ear piece. It took a long time as nuance did not send me any kind of tracking number so I missed the shipment. However, it was well worth the wait. I have to admit I've only had this for a few days so I have not experienced the failure of the USB inset the previous viewer has, perhaps I will over time. However, I was thrilled to see how well Bluetooth worked since I was never able to get it to work very well with version 9. Even more impressive, instead of running this on a quad core processor like I did on version 9 I am running this on an Acer netbook with the Atom processor and it works flawlessly, I am very satisfied so far. I wish that I could buy plantronics Bluetooth earpiece separately so that I would have a spare, I never thought Bluetooth would work so well after all the problems I had with various Bluetooth devices in version 9.

Pretty Amazing, Given a Few Flaws
First off, this product installed on my Vaio desktop Vista Home machine without a glitch.

But after the installation, I realized that Dragon's software did not include the Philips "Voice Tracer" software. So it took me about 45 minutes to hunt down where I could download the Philips software (while I was on infinite hold, and infinite phone menu loops, for support from Philips -- none of which ever got me anywhere other than television remote control support).

Nuance/Philips, get your acts together. I don't care if you don't send me a CD for the Philips software. Just give me a SPECIFIC url to go get it. Print it on a little piece of paper in the delivered product! Why make your customers go hunt? Come on, you can do better than that. It's a no brainer. What you do now is nothing short of lazy -- at my -- your customer's -- expense.

Another gripe. Dragon requires the files it transcribes to be in .WAV format. But the Philips 'Voice Tracer' voice recorder -- which Philips calls a "digital note taker" if you're ever looking for support for it on their incomprehensible website -- records audio in its own file format: .ZVR

Okay, so the hard-to-find downloaded Philips software will convert .ZVR files to .WAV files so that Dragon can translate them...

...But only one at a time!

For the love of Pete, people! I thought you (Dragon and Philips) coordinated on this.

So I spend a full day recording my thoughts on the Philips voice recorder, creating, overall, 14 voice recorder files -- (a new one is created each time I click 'stop' on a previous one, and then decide to continue with a new one -- BTW, if I opt not to do that, the recorder stays on 'pause' mode, eating up battery life).

Now I have to manually convert 14 files, one by one, to .WAV format? If I try to select them all, the Philips software says, "Select ONE file."

This is beginning to get stupid.

Dragon, why don't YOU do the work for ME and just work with .ZVR files? Isn't your job to make this easy for me?

OK, I do the 14, separate, individual file conversions while I could be doing something else like fixing dinner, and the rest goes smoothly.

Well, almost. The Dragon software, after about a page an a half of transcribed text, tells me that I have exceeded the amount of text it can track re corrections. Sigh. It gives me no further clues. Good thing I've been twiddling with computers since 1984!

I dived into Dragon's configuation menus and tweaked the memory available for transcriptions by a factor of 10. I wonder how many new users could figure that out.

Again, Dragon... give more thought to user experience. How many people are going to pay in the hundreds of dollars for software that will only allow them to transcribe a page and a half of thoughts before giving them an uninformative error message?

Is there an executive awake there?

This stupid BS ruins customer ratings, including mine.

Once past all that, my impressions are generally positive.

The Philips voice recorder is small and adequate, with good audio quality. You get 6 hours of audio at the max quality -- which is what Dragon wants. The AAA batteries seem well coordinated with that.

Dragon does a pretty amazing job of transcribing voice. It even lets you select transcribed text, play it back, and correct it if it's wrong. It learns. Excellent.

In fact, amazing. I wrote four pages of text today while I was driving around doing erands. It only took me about an hour to edit and clean up -- much less time than it would have taken me to write it at my desktop. Plus, the added productivity time while I was out-and-about doing what would otherwise be unproductive, was a clear win.

For my purposes, this software/hardware combo is a winner.

It will be even better when Dragon/Philips get the customer experience together more re getting started.

I don't plan to return this product. At the end of the day, I think it's amazing.

This is a product at the beginning of its practical usefulness, like the spelling checkers of the 1980's. Before long, it will be a commodity.

For example, today I spoke into the microphone: "The Tao Te Ching, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna."

Dragon transcription: "There she be punished by the school and she crashed."

Now we're getting somewhere. ?

In a few years, this technology will rock and we'll all take it for granted. Right now, it's getting useful... in a 'getting there' sort of way.

Worth the price at the end of the day, but not without unnecessary effort.