Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: News - Cortana won't sound like Cortana in the UK

  1. #1
    HEXUS.admin
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    31,709
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    2,073 times in 719 posts

    News - Cortana won't sound like Cortana in the UK

    The Windows Phone personal assistant is set to arrive in the UK shortly - with a British accent.
    Read more.

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Newcastle Upon Tyne
    Posts
    936
    Thanks
    54
    Thanked
    105 times in 72 posts
    • Jowsey's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asrock H81M-ITX
      • CPU:
      • Intel Xeon E3-1230V3
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Corsair XMS3
      • Storage:
      • 256GB Crucial MX100 & 2TB Seagate Barracuda
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus GTX 770 DCUII 2GB
      • PSU:
      • EVGA SuperNova GS 550 watt
      • Case:
      • Phanteks Evolv ITX
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 64 bit
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media 100Mb

    Re: News - Cortana won't sound like Cortana in the UK

    Do you think Google will rebrand Google Now as a female avatar.

    Any guesses on the name? Lexi would be cool... but I think I've read too much sci-fi fanfic.
    Steam - ReapedYou - Feel free to add me!!

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Kingdom of Fife (Scotland)
    Posts
    4,991
    Thanks
    393
    Thanked
    220 times in 190 posts
    • crossy's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS Sabertooth X99
      • CPU:
      • Intel 5830k / Noctua NH-D15
      • Memory:
      • 32GB Crucial Ballistix DDR4
      • Storage:
      • 500GB Samsung 850Pro NVMe, 1TB Samsung 850EVO SSD, 1TB Seagate SSHD, 2TB WD Green, 8TB Seagate
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus Strix GTX970OC
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX750 (modular)
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster HAF932 (with wheels)
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro 64bit, Ubuntu 16.04LTS
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG Flattron W2361V
      • Internet:
      • VirginMedia 200Mb

    Re: News - Cortana won't sound like Cortana in the UK

    Quote Originally Posted by Jowsey View Post
    Do you think Google will rebrand Google Now as a female avatar.
    If you want a "female" avatar, rather than the Google microphone then surely there's stuff like Iris available in the Play store? That said, my Google Now speaks with a UK-female accent courtesy of SVOX and the "Victoria" voice pack.

    As a counterpoint to the Halo-fans I'm sure that there's a lot of UK folks who'd not be happy with a US accent on their text-to-speech. Maybe Microsoft could get a "transatlantic" accent - although if they're looking for a recommendation then Kim Cattrall would get my vote. Or if they're determined to have a sci-fi tie-in how about Amanda Tapping (Stargate SG1/Atlantis and Sanctuary).

    EDIT: possible QOTW Hexus? "Who would you want to voice Cortana in the UK version of WindowsPhone8.1?"

    Career status: still enjoying my new career in DevOps, but it's keeping me busy...

  4. Received thanks from:

    mtyson (25-07-2014)

  5. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Taichung City
    Posts
    898
    Thanks
    281
    Thanked
    172 times in 121 posts
    • mtyson's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte GA-B85M-HD3
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i7 4790T
      • Memory:
      • 12GB
      • Storage:
      • Sandisk 128GB SSD + Kingston 500GB SSD + NAS etc
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire Radeon RX 580 Nitro+
      • PSU:
      • Corsair 430W
      • Case:
      • Zalman Z9 Plus
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • AOC 31.5-inch VA QHD monitor
      • Internet:
      • 100MB Virgin fibre

    Re: News - Cortana won't sound like Cortana in the UK

    Just for fun I'd like Daily Mail readers and the residents of Grantham to get a Maggie Thatcher-like voice.

  6. #5
    OilSheikh
    Guest

    Re: News - Cortana won't sound like Cortana in the UK

    Joanna Lumley ?

    She used to do the AOL You have mail and Goodbye !

  7. #6
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Leicester
    Posts
    103
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    3 times in 3 posts

    Re: News - Cortana won't sound like Cortana in the UK

    They should allow for downloadable voice packs, so record/TV/movie/media people can do recordings by a set of standardised rules. Who wouldn't want a version of:
    Jazzer to be sarcastic to you
    Morgan Freeman you'll get it to read everything
    Sheldon (TBBT) to annoy the pants off you
    Emma Watson just so you can say I got Emma Watson in my pocket
    Emilia Clarke(GoT) that way it Cortana can be renamed to be Khaleesi
    Rose Leslie(GoT) She does have a seductive voice
    Sophie Turner(GoT) so she can tell you what a good little girl she would be.
    And those of us that are fans Dr. Who, Batman, Spock, etc.

    Microsoft should do this and allow them to sell these voices in the app/music store

  8. #7
    Seriously casual gamer KeyboardDemon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    London
    Posts
    3,013
    Thanks
    774
    Thanked
    280 times in 242 posts
    • KeyboardDemon's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Sabretooth Z77
      • CPU:
      • i7 3770k + Corsair H80 (Refurbed)
      • Memory:
      • 16gb (4x4gb) Corsair Vengence Red (1866mhz) - (Because it looks good in a black mobo)
      • Storage:
      • Crucial M550 SSD 1TB + 2x 500GB Seagate HDDs
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GTX 980 SC ACX 2.0 (Warranty replacement for 780Ti SC ACX)
      • PSU:
      • EVGA 750 watt SuperNova G2
      • Case:
      • Silverstone RV03
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus Swift PG278Q
      • Internet:
      • BT Infinity (40mbs dl/10mbs ul)

    Re: News - Cortana won't sound like Cortana in the UK

    Quote Originally Posted by Ksyruz View Post
    They should allow for downloadable voice packs, so record/TV/movie/media people can do recordings by a set of standardised rules. Who wouldn't want a version of:
    Jazzer to be sarcastic to you
    Morgan Freeman you'll get it to read everything
    Sheldon (TBBT) to annoy the pants off you
    Emma Watson just so you can say I got Emma Watson in my pocket
    Emilia Clarke(GoT) that way it Cortana can be renamed to be Khaleesi
    Rose Leslie(GoT) She does have a seductive voice
    Sophie Turner(GoT) so she can tell you what a good little girl she would be.
    And those of us that are fans Dr. Who, Batman, Spock, etc.

    Microsoft should do this and allow them to sell these voices in the app/music store
    If they did that, maybe that would give die hard Halo fans the chance to buy the Jen Taylor voice.

  9. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Kingdom of Fife (Scotland)
    Posts
    4,991
    Thanks
    393
    Thanked
    220 times in 190 posts
    • crossy's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS Sabertooth X99
      • CPU:
      • Intel 5830k / Noctua NH-D15
      • Memory:
      • 32GB Crucial Ballistix DDR4
      • Storage:
      • 500GB Samsung 850Pro NVMe, 1TB Samsung 850EVO SSD, 1TB Seagate SSHD, 2TB WD Green, 8TB Seagate
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus Strix GTX970OC
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX750 (modular)
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster HAF932 (with wheels)
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro 64bit, Ubuntu 16.04LTS
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG Flattron W2361V
      • Internet:
      • VirginMedia 200Mb

    Re: News - Cortana won't sound like Cortana in the UK

    Quote Originally Posted by Ksyruz View Post
    They should allow for downloadable voice packs, so record/TV/movie/media people can do recordings by a set of standardised rules. Who wouldn't want a version of:
    Jazzer to be sarcastic to you
    Morgan Freeman you'll get it to read everything
    Sheldon (TBBT) to annoy the pants off you
    Emma Watson just so you can say I got Emma Watson in my pocket
    Emilia Clarke(GoT) that way it Cortana can be renamed to be Khaleesi
    Rose Leslie(GoT) She does have a seductive voice
    Sophie Turner(GoT) so she can tell you what a good little girl she would be.
    And those of us that are fans Dr. Who, Batman, Spock, etc.

    Microsoft should do this and allow them to sell these voices in the app/music store
    I'd second that, and add Douglas Rain to that list. Just wish SVOX would do something similar - getting Jim Parsons (Dr Sheldon Cooper on BBT) to read my map directions would have the kids in stitches.

    Although I will have to (shamefully?) admit to having to look up what you meant my "GoT".

    Career status: still enjoying my new career in DevOps, but it's keeping me busy...

  10. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Kingdom of Fife (Scotland)
    Posts
    4,991
    Thanks
    393
    Thanked
    220 times in 190 posts
    • crossy's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS Sabertooth X99
      • CPU:
      • Intel 5830k / Noctua NH-D15
      • Memory:
      • 32GB Crucial Ballistix DDR4
      • Storage:
      • 500GB Samsung 850Pro NVMe, 1TB Samsung 850EVO SSD, 1TB Seagate SSHD, 2TB WD Green, 8TB Seagate
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus Strix GTX970OC
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX750 (modular)
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster HAF932 (with wheels)
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro 64bit, Ubuntu 16.04LTS
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG Flattron W2361V
      • Internet:
      • VirginMedia 200Mb

    Re: News - Cortana won't sound like Cortana in the UK

    Quote Originally Posted by Ksyruz View Post
    They should allow for downloadable voice packs, so record/TV/movie/media people can do recordings by a set of standardised rules. Who wouldn't want a version of:
    Jazzer to be sarcastic to you
    Morgan Freeman you'll get it to read everything
    Sheldon (TBBT) to annoy the pants off you
    Emma Watson just so you can say I got Emma Watson in my pocket
    Emilia Clarke(GoT) that way it Cortana can be renamed to be Khaleesi
    Rose Leslie(GoT) She does have a seductive voice
    Sophie Turner(GoT) so she can tell you what a good little girl she would be.
    And those of us that are fans Dr. Who, Batman, Spock, etc.

    Microsoft should do this and allow them to sell these voices in the app/music store
    I'd second that, and add Douglas Rain to that list. Just wish SVOX would do something similar - getting Jim Parsons (Dr Sheldon Cooper on BBT) to read my map directions would have the kids in stitches.

    Although I will have to (shamefully?) admit to having to look up what you meant by "GoT".

    Funnily enough, this topic had me do a quick search online for alternate TTS voices for Android. As a result I just bought one from CereProc.

    Career status: still enjoying my new career in DevOps, but it's keeping me busy...

  11. #10
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Posts
    2
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: News - Cortana won't sound like Cortana in the UK

    I swear to god, don't make it "British Queen" posh ...

  12. #11
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Kingdom of Fife (Scotland)
    Posts
    4,991
    Thanks
    393
    Thanked
    220 times in 190 posts
    • crossy's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS Sabertooth X99
      • CPU:
      • Intel 5830k / Noctua NH-D15
      • Memory:
      • 32GB Crucial Ballistix DDR4
      • Storage:
      • 500GB Samsung 850Pro NVMe, 1TB Samsung 850EVO SSD, 1TB Seagate SSHD, 2TB WD Green, 8TB Seagate
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus Strix GTX970OC
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX750 (modular)
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster HAF932 (with wheels)
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro 64bit, Ubuntu 16.04LTS
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG Flattron W2361V
      • Internet:
      • VirginMedia 200Mb

    Re: News - Cortana won't sound like Cortana in the UK

    Quote Originally Posted by MysticalGoat View Post
    I swear to god, don't make it "British Queen" posh ...
    Could be worse - could be this one from Cereproc.

    BTW, got nothing against Glaswegian accents, just this particular one sounds like an extra from Trainspotting or Taggart. (probably the latter since TS was set in Edinburgh).

    Career status: still enjoying my new career in DevOps, but it's keeping me busy...

  13. #12
    Spreadie
    Guest

    Re: News - Cortana won't sound like Cortana in the UK

    Meh, another reason to stay with Android.

  14. #13
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Posts
    1
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: News - Cortana won't sound like Cortana in the UK

    If you want to convert text to speech with natural sounding voices, I suggest using the "Text Speaker" app. I use this app to listen to my files in natural sounding voices. Multiple female and male voices are available. Nice app.

  15. #14
    RIP Peterb ik9000's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    7,699
    Thanks
    1,839
    Thanked
    1,434 times in 1,057 posts
    • ik9000's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P7H55-M/USB3
      • CPU:
      • i7-870, Prolimatech Megahalems, 2x Akasa Apache 120mm
      • Memory:
      • 4x4GB Corsair Vengeance 2133 11-11-11-27
      • Storage:
      • 2x256GB Samsung 840-Pro, 1TB Seagate 7200.12, 1TB Seagate ES.2
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Gigabyte GTX 460 1GB SuperOverClocked
      • PSU:
      • NZXT Hale 90 750w
      • Case:
      • BitFenix Survivor + Bitfenix spectre LED fans, LG BluRay R/W optical drive
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Professional
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell U2414h, U2311h 1920x1080
      • Internet:
      • 200Mb/s Fibre and 4G wifi

    Re: News - Cortana won't sound like Cortana in the UK

    if I were them I'd make it Lily Savage just for the laughs.

  16. #15
    MCRN Tachi Ttaskmaster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Reading, UK
    Posts
    6,916
    Thanks
    672
    Thanked
    806 times in 668 posts
    • Ttaskmaster's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Aorus Master X670E
      • CPU:
      • Ryzen 7800X3D
      • Memory:
      • 32GB Corsair Dominator DDR5 6000MHz
      • Storage:
      • Samsung Evo 120GB and Seagate Baracuda 2TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Aorus Master 4090
      • PSU:
      • EVGA Supernova G2 1000W
      • Case:
      • Lian Li V3000 Plus
      • Operating System:
      • Win11
      • Monitor(s):
      • Gigabyte M32U
      • Internet:
      • 900Mbps Gigaclear WHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

    Re: News - Cortana won't sound like Cortana in the UK

    Quote Originally Posted by Ksyruz View Post
    Microsoft should do this and allow them to sell these voices in the app/music store
    The amount of time and work it takes to capture enough evenly spoken words, and thus just how much it costs, for just one workable voicepack for a small app would surprise you... VoiceAttack has done some for Elite Dangerous, as have TomTom, but only a few.

    Personally, I'd rather have Keeley Hawes (Lara Croft) or Jennifer Hale (every other iconic female character throughout gaming) voicing my stuff. Of course, if it's the computer talking, you'd need a good approximation of Majel Barrett, too, just for the sake of completion.
    _______________________________________________________________________
    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Tyson
    like a chihuahua urinating on a towering inferno...

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •