Own Voice is an add-on for Ovi Maps, letting you update the voices you hear when navigating. Unlike rival products, which only let you download specific voices, Own Voice also lets you record yourself, or get other people to offer directions, offering a truly personal slant. To find out how Own Voice works, join us after the break…
Own Voice installs itself on your Nokia as a completely separate application from Ovi Maps. It gives you the opportunity to use existing voice packs, or to create a completely new one, with either the voice of you or your friends giving directions.
The existing voicepacks are quite varied, currently made up of an aircraft pilot, alien, Frank the northerner, radio star James Waters, Mickey Mouse and several other random voices. Although amusing for short periods of time, they quickly become tiring on longer journeys of if you use Ovi Maps a lot.
Making your own voicepack is a lot more fun, as you can get a loved one to record their voice and tell you where to go. It takes roughly five minutes to record all the directions necessary, with a simple wizard in place to get you going.
To start with, make sure you’re in a quiet place. The instructions are all easy to follow – it’s simply a case of pressing the record button, and pointing out instructions like ‘Turn Left’. Obviously you can deviate from the norm if you so desire, but be warned whatever you say will be used the next time you’ll have to turn left!
Overall, voicepacks bring a lot of fun to the sat-nav market. We’re already used to hearing familiar voices on rival sat-nav products, but it’s the ability to use your own voice or get a loved one to record theirs that really makes a difference here, and you’ll never need to listen to an annoying robot-like voice again.