Speech Recognition integrated into Windows Phone 7 with Microsoft TellMe

TellMe Integrates Speech Recognition in Windows Phone 7

 

Microsoft Tellme’s speech recognition services are deeply integrated into the upcoming release of Windows Phone 7, you can easily use your voice to simplify everyday tasks—make a call, find a business, or open an application.

In a new video demo posted here, this integration is on display, showing how you can press and hold the start key to access the voice interface. Once activated, you can direct the phone to call a friend, search for local businesses and launch applications, all using simple voice commands (“Call john,” “open app name,” etc.)

The speech recognition feature takes advantage of the largest cloud-based speech platform in the industry for near real-time recognition and enhanced accuracy.

Tellme was also recently added to the new Ford Fiesta vehicles with SYNC, as a prior web video shows on this same page. 

(Source: Channel10 )

 

 

How to save time with Windows 7

Here’s a small video where Doug Thomas shows you a few ways to work with Windows 7 that will save you time with its great little features. This video is from ‘Office Casual’ series -

 

Office Casual: How to save time with Windows 7

Windows 7 Easter Eggs

I know these days Microsoft does not provide any Easter Eggs in its products as Easter Eggs or any hidden features present in an OS or other products are not legal. So one can’t expect Easter Eggs in Windows 7 also. But Easter Eggs used to add some Fun and the users just explored every nook and corner to find it. Now what I am talking of may not be any hidden feature of Windows 7 but kind of an Easter Egg and will try to explore it.

In the recent video at Channel10 - Progression of the Iconic Background ,  Larry Larsen talks to Denise Trabona to know about how the default Windows 7 background was designed. And in the end talks about the Easter Eggs. Those who have used Windows 7 Beta may be knowing about the 7 Bubbles of betta fish desktop background of Windows 7 beta.

Similarly there are such interesting tidbits in the Final RTM version of Windows 7 in its default theme in logon and default desktop background.So there are more such 7s to explore.

Above screenshots are of default Desktop theme and log-on screen of Windows 7 RTM.  So here you can find more of interesting 7s.

Like you can find 7 leaves on the branch, both in desktop and logon screens.

There are 7 light strands throughout in the desktop background. Count them.

There are 7 elements working in the 4 Quadrants.

I’m not sure how to name those elements but still you can count them as circle, tree , butterfly, grass, bird and what you call those glittery things, so make them 7 elements.

And similarly there are such 7s on logon screen, I hope readers will pick it up as I’m still trying to figure it out also correct me on the above said elements with exact names.

Here’s the Video of the same which just shows the Easter Egg part of the whole conversation.

If you want to view the complete video , you can do so at Progression of the Iconic Background

Its an interesting video. Watch it.

9 Touch Gestures in Windows 7 for Multi-touch Magic

The Touch Gestures are the basic actions you use to interact with Windows or an application using touch. If you have a touch-enabled monitor and Windows 7 installed, then virtually any program that works with Windows responds to your touch. These Gestures are built into the core of Windows, they are designed to work with all applications, even ones that were never designed with touch in mind. So Windows 7 is touch friendly throughout. Microsoft has come out, after lot of research with 9 gestures in Windows 7. Yes, there are just 9 Touch Gestures for Multi-touch. User can’t remember too many gestures easily and these 9 gestures are all natural ,whatever a user does in real world.

Let us see these 9 Touch Gestures required for Multi-touch magic in Windows 7-

Tap and Double-tap - This is the most basic touch action. This is what a click and Double click does. Works everywhere.

Panning with Inertia – This is for scrolling. Drag any part of page up or down with one or more fingers. “You’ll notice details that make this a more natural interaction: the inertia if you toss the page and the little bounce when the end of the page is reached”. This works in most applications that use standard scrollbars.

Selection /Drag –This is like mouse drag and selection. Touch and slide your finger on screen. This moves icons around the desktop, moves windows, selects text (by dragging left or right), etc. Works everywhere.

Press and Tap with second finger – This is like right click. Press on target and tap using second finger. Works everywhere.

Zoom – This is same as CTRL key + Scroll wheel. Pinch two fingers together or apart to zoom in or out on a document. Useful for photos or reading documents on a small laptop. Works in applications that support mouse wheel zooming.

Rotate - Touch two spots on a digital photo and twist to rotate it just like a real photo. Move two fingers in opposite direction or use one finger to pivot around another. Applications need to add code to support this.

Two-finger Tap - Tapping with two fingers simultaneously zooms in about the center of the gesture or restores to the default zoom – great for zooming in on hyperlinks. Applications need to add code to support this.

Press and Hold – Same as Right Click. Hold your finger on screen for a moment and release after the animation to get a right-click. This works everywhere. Same as the other Gesture of Press and Tap with Second finger. 

Flicks - Flick left or right to navigate back and forward in a browser and other apps. This works in most applications that support back and forward. This is also very natural gestures when one wants to flick.

As you can see these are the 9 Touch Gestures in Windows 7 required for Multi-touch magic. Here’s the chart for the same -

(click to enlarge)

And there are many Multi-touch enabled laptops which are are being launched and also some are already available in the market. You can also go just for a Touch enabled Monitor to experience this Multi-Touch magic in Windows 7. Such monitors cost about 20% more than a regular ones and will be available by end of the year. Microsoft has also created a Touch Pack with 6 different Multi-touch enabled apps which will only be installed by OEMs on Touch enabled  Laptops.

For all these to be seen in action , check this video which demos all the 9 Touch Gestures, all the applications of Touch Pack and also interviews Amish Patel –PM Windows Experience Group , who explains all about Multi-Touch in Windows 7. This is a must watch video to see the Multi-Touch Magic in action. The apps in the Touch pack are so good to interact.

  http://on10.net/blogs/larry/Defrag-Windows-7-Multitouch/

Also, for more details on Multi-touch in Windows 7, please check these links -

Engineering Windows 7 _ Touching Windows 7

Introducing the Microsoft Touch Pack for Windows 7 - The Windows Blog

ShutterSpeed Episode 02

Check out the ShutterSpeed episode #2, an excellent series on Photography and Cameras. This 40 min. video edition covers Photosynth,Microsoft Pro Photo Tools with Geotagging ,What is Metadata and why is it important for photography and Hands-On: Using Windows Live Photo Gallery to import digital photos directly from the camera and much more... Get the opinion, tips from the experts. If you are interested in Photography then do not miss the ShutterSpeed Series. Even if you are not interested watch it to get interest.

ShutterSpeed Episode 02

ShutterSpeed - Digital Photography and Imaging Show

Channel10 has started a show called ShutterSpeed,  a Digital Photography and Imaging Show for photo enthusiasts. It provides lots of tips straight from the experts which will help you to understand your camera and other photographic accessories so that you can take better photos. You will know better ways to edit, share and display your images.

In the first episode, it talks of principles of photography and what to look for in a digital camera, also there’s a discussion on online video storage and photo editing tools. Also there is a visit to the home studio of award winning photographer Phil Borges. Phil shows the equipment he uses in the field - including his home-made lighting rig - and talks about some of the techniques he uses to capture his magnificent portraits. Such tips from experts are very useful. 

ShutterSpeed is expected to be a regular series on Channel10. If you have any suggestions for future episodes or want to ask some tips,  please email at shutterspeedATon10DOTnet.

Earlier I had also compiled various Photographic resources provided by Microsoft: Microsoft's Photography Resources.

Silverlight Rehab

Silverlight can lead to an addiction. Whether you are just a web junkie or a 'deviner' (find out what it means in the video),there are people who can get addicted to Silverlight. So check out what happens when such Silverlight addicts meet in a - Silverlight Rehab. You have to see Dan, Adam, Laura, Nic, Monica and Scott share their experiences. You can also share such stories.

Silverlight Rehab - You're not alone

Automatically Display latest video from TechNet EDGE on your blog

Here's a cool tip for displaying automatically the latest video from TechNet EDGE on your website or blog. Just embed this code into your blog/website:

I think it should work for channel 10 also as I have tried it for Channel 10 videos by putting it on the sidebar of this blog, so it''ll display the latest video from Channel 10. I am putting this on trial basis and hope it works else ask channel10 to implement.
I just replaced 'edge URL with 'on10.net'. Also made adjustment to height and width as it was not being accommodated in the sidebar so also made it scrollable. Just check the sidebar for how it looks.

So display the latest video from Channel 10 / TechNet EDGE on your Blog or website. And of course, you should have installed Silverlight.
(Thanks to David Tesar )

Zune, iPod, PSP and other formats at Channel 8, 9,10 and Edge

What I am posting is not new, it has been there for some time. Those who know about Channel8, Channel 10 and TechNet Edge know about it. I am talking of various download formats available at these sites. I am a regular at these sites and these are among my most favorite sites.

It all Started with Channel9, when it was the only site to provide such technical videos, even now its a great site providing the latest Microsoft technolgy related videos, Technical interviews with Microsoft greats talking about the latest technology and demoing it.

Channel 9 provides these videos/downloads in wmv format- High and Low res., wma and MP3 format.

And Channels like Channel10, Channel8 and TechNet Edge goes a step further and provides these videos/downloads in -

-iPod Fomat Video (MP4)

-MP3 Audio

-PSP Format Video (MP4)

-Windows Media Audio (WMA)

-Windows Media Video (WMV)

-Windows Media Video High Quality (WMV)

-Zune Format

That's great!

Watching these Crystal clear, crisp videos on Zune is a different experience, Try it. Watch it on your iPod or Zune and PSP. I am sure you will enjoy it.

Not only format wise, but content wise also they are providing the best. I almost daily visit these sites to know what's new. I have a large collection of these videos.

Teams, Well done !!

I think they are the only channels providing download content in such wide variety of formats.

Apart from that, these sites have gone Silverlight recently which makes them equally visually appealing. And one can easily embed these videos in their blogs , sites if one want to share or put it on their blog.

Earlier there were MSDN and .NET shows providing such videos where they used to provide the Transcript also, of any interviews carried out. So if such Transcript - just the text is also provided with Channel9 interview videos , that will also be very helpful. So one can just read these transcript text and can know what the interview is all about, reading the complete transcript where some people may not have provision to download large size videos due to bandwidth restriction. And by the way these transcripts can also be converted as e-books to be read on your Zune. (Read E-books on your Zune)

If one hasn't checked these sites, one should do it now.

Bill Gates interview on 10

Check out the Bill Gates interview on 10.

"This is an important night for Bill Gates, after 15 years and 11 keynote addresses, this will be his last as he begins the transition from Microsoft FTE (full time employee) to being a full-time Gates Foundation employee.

Bill was kind enough to sit down with us this morning and talk about the state of consumer electronics, what he thinks is important, and where this is all going."

Check the video here:


Bill Gates @ CES 2008