Two cool iPhone apps: one you want, one you need

Tech Blog ^ | 12/8/2009 | http://blogs.chron.com/techblog/archives/2009/12/two_cool_iphone_apps_one_you_want_one_you_nee_1.htm

[Swordmaker]

Got an iPhone? If so, you download some apps because they're cool and useful.

Others, you get not because you necessarily want them, but because you really do need them.

Here's one of each.

Dragon Dictation - Free, Nuance. PC users know about Dragon Naturally Speaking, considered one of the best voice recognition programs available. This app uses Dragon's technology to turn speech into text very quickly.

It's drop-dead simple: Launch the app, tap a button and start talking, then hit Done. A sound file is sent to a remote server, converted and the text sent back to your phone. You can then transfer it into a text message, e-mail or the iPhone's clipboard, where it can be pasted into other apps, including Facebook or your Twitter client.

It's fastest if you have a good Wi-Fi connection, but you'll still get your results quickly on 3G - within a few seconds. It's certainly faster than painstakingly tapping on the iPhone's virtual keyboard.

. . .

For sending quick messages, this is a great app, and one I'll use quite a bit.

[Spotted at TUAW.]

Mark the Spot - Free, AT&T. For iPhone users, whining about AT&T's congested network is the new national past-time. Now, you can actually do something about it.

Mark the Spot lets you report problems with your iPhone's service directly to AT&T. If you have a dropped call or failed call, problem with a download, poor voice quality or no coverage at all, you can send a notification to AT&T.

[JaguarXKE]

I just downloaded the Dragon Diction today. It works “pretty good” but not much use for complex stuff. Good for short, simple notes. Still kinda cool - and its free.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"I say we bring back 'Groovy'"

That would be bitchen.

[publiusF27]

I haven’t tried a voice to text recognition program in years. It was starting to work OK last time, but not ready for prime time. I’ll try it on the iPhone, where it only has to complete with that awful touchscreen keypad and not my real keyboard. With the technology is better and the competing keyboard worse, it could be very useful. Thanks for the heads up. Is there an app to tell me which apps I would like? ;)

[ZinGirl]

i like the "no coverage" option. "I get absolutely NO COVERAGE right here"...then hitting 'send'...and waiting and waiting and waiting.

;)