Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred Mobile

by Nuance Communications, Inc.

Product 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

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001B5FM7E
• Item model number: A109A-WC3-10.0
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 16, 2008
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,901 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #25 in Software > Business & Office > Communication > Voice Recognition

Product Description

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	•

Product Description

DRAGON NATURALLYSPEAKING

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Customer and Tech support are horible, January 27, 2009

By 

R. Cargill (New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred Mobile (DVD-ROM)

Product is Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred Mobile.
Purchased this product here and it arrived quickly. It came with the Philips Digital Voice Tracer 7655. Before I installed the Dragon software, I tried the Digital Voice Tracer (recorder) and it did not work. Checked the batteries and they were fine. Made sure they were in right, still a dead recorder. So now the fun begins (sorry this might be long). I contact Customer Support via email (I had to register on their web site to do this). They say that I must contact technical support "as they will try to determine if you have a defective/damage recorder. If it is indeed damage then they will be the one to replace it for free."

So I call technical support. They tell me that I must contact Philips to verify that it really doesn't work! Of course, I'm thinking that they're going to pass the buck. They will send me an email and I can reply to that after I talk to Philips. Unfortunately, there is no phone number to contact Philips in the package materials. I check their web site and after getting transferred 3 times to different Philips divisions, a voicemail says that I should contact the people that sold it to me for technical support!

So I email customer service and let them know that 1) I never received an email to reply to and 2) Philips said to contact them. I get a response: "We really do apologize for the miscommunication with technical support. However, technical support department is actually the correct department that will handle your issue, kindly contact them again at 1-407-241-1822, so that they can determine if the recorder is defective, if it is, then they will replace it."

Now this is turning into a major waste of my time. But I dutifully call technical support (again). I have to run through the whole thing again (they want to be very sure that they can't charge me for this call after all) and they tell me that I should send a copy of the receipt in response to an email and they would send me a replacement. So, I do that as well and get the following response: "Thank you for sending the requested file. We will be endorsing this to Customer Service and they will provide you an RMA number so you can return the recorder to us for repair/replacement. Thank you." and another email from Customer Service with a link to the RMA form.

So, here's where I am:
1. I haven't installed the software yet, so I don't know how it works.
2. I have to pay to send the recorder back to them even though they sent me a defective product.
3. I feel like I'm treated like a nuisance to them and they're making me jump through hoops. This is unacceptable customer support.

41 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Amazing, Given a Few Flaws, March 26, 2009

By 

Cymry (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred Mobile (DVD-ROM)

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.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It Works Very Well for Me, January 6, 2009

By 

Victor J. Maddox "Pastor, Advent Praise & Wor... (South Florida, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred Mobile (DVD-ROM)

The program does everything I need it to do. It actually works better than I thought it would. Slows my computer a bit, but the time I save dictating makes it worth it. I know the instructions say to talk normal volume and speed, but I get 99% correct dictation when I slow it down just a bit. Great program. Would highly recommend it to anyone needing this program's ability.