Wow, It’s Wednesday: Whose Voice Do You Want Guiding You?
Photo Credit: Kevin Lim
First of all, mama’s memory ain’t what it used to be, so I can’t recall which one of my Facebook friends posted this cnet.com item about Bob Dylan being in negotiations w/ two car companies to voice their in-dash nav systems. If it was you, please let me know, so that I can give you credit.
Second of all, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, in-dash navigation systems suck. We just got a Garmin to do the job that the shitty in-dash nav in our otherwise wonderful hybrid does so very poorly that it drives us crazy (and gets us lost!). I’ve never met an in-dash system that does a better job than Garmin. And if you know my IRL job history, you’ll know why that’s saying a lot. Actually come back at 1pm, b/c Justin Time from “Technically Geeking” makes an even better argument against in-dash systems than I did.
Third of all, though I wouldn’t want Bob Dylan guiding me — I’ve just never cared for him or his music — I think this is an awesome idea. Except I would want my nav voice to belong to Ms. Tina Turner or James Earl Jones — ooh, ooh, or better yet, someone I know IRL like my pre-GPS direction giver, CH; or my pre-CH direction giver, Karen F; or my pre-Karen F. direction giver, Dad.
Yes, I need a lot of direction.
But if you were able to choose, whose voice would you want guiding you through traffic? Sound off in the comments.
[Source: cnet.com]
I'd want Angelina Jolie or Morgan Freeman in my GPS… That would rock!
On the geek side, you can make your own voice files for the Garmin and overwrite the existing. It doesn't work for the Text To Speech voices, but will work for the slightly more generic voice sets.
Check out this forum thread I found about it: http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=23568
(Download at your own risk)
I'd want Angelina Jolie or Morgan Freeman in my GPS… That would rock!
On the geek side, you can make your own voice files for the Garmin and overwrite the existing. It doesn't work for the Text To Speech voices, but will work for the slightly more generic voice sets.
Check out this forum thread I found about it: http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=23568
(Download at your own risk)
Give me a sexy European like Sting, Clive Owen, Rob Pattinson…
Ooh, I wouldn't mind Patrick Stewart or David Tennant or Sir Ian McKellan!
Give me a sexy European like Sting, Clive Owen, Rob Pattinson…
Ooh, I wouldn't mind Patrick Stewart or David Tennant or Sir Ian McKellan!
YES! I was going to use Kim's Clive Owen suggestion.Although I may get into an accident with my attention being diverted to that sexy Brit telling me to turn left, turn right….so on second thought, let's go with Simon Pegg. Still British, but a different kind of sexy.
I agree w/ Clive Owen being too sexy for traffic, but not sure I would trust directions given by Simon Pegg. He'd be like "Turn right" and I'd be like, "Are you sure turning right won't land me in some hijinks?"
YES! I was going to use Kim's Clive Owen suggestion.Although I may get into an accident with my attention being diverted to that sexy Brit telling me to turn left, turn right….so on second thought, let's go with Simon Pegg. Still British, but a different kind of sexy.
I agree w/ Clive Owen being too sexy for traffic, but not sure I would trust directions given by Simon Pegg. He'd be like "Turn right" and I'd be like, "Are you sure turning right won't land me in some hijinks?"
Is it weird that I want Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin giving me directions? (Not the crazy, old puffy racist Jerry Lewis, more the young, slender, Nutty Professor JL) It might lighten my mood if I get lost and the voice said "recalculating" about 80 times.
Is it weird that I want Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin giving me directions? (Not the crazy, old puffy racist Jerry Lewis, more the young, slender, Nutty Professor JL) It might lighten my mood if I get lost and the voice said "recalculating" about 80 times.
I would probably change it up periodically. I've heard the Yoda GPS voice, Mr. T, Christopher Walken, and all would be suitable. Any non-Elmo muppet would be fun. Kitt from Knight Rider would be the most appropriate, of course.
There actually is a Knight Rider GPS that uses Kitt's voice. I understand it isn't the best as far as GPS functions go, though.
I would probably change it up periodically. I've heard the Yoda GPS voice, Mr. T, Christopher Walken, and all would be suitable. Any non-Elmo muppet would be fun. Kitt from Knight Rider would be the most appropriate, of course.
There actually is a Knight Rider GPS that uses Kitt's voice. I understand it isn't the best as far as GPS functions go, though.
A fun story, but inaccurate about Dylan being a voice for GPS. Tom Waits would be even better! For history of these false media stories, see http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2116927/… Bob Dylan Joke About GPS Using His Voice Fools Media Again
Ah, I did not know that. Thanks for pointing out that this story is totally fake. Will def post in tomorrow's "best of" comments. But, considering how much response this story has gotten, I think whatever car companies should definitely consider celebrity GPS systems. They would definitely sell!
A fun story, but inaccurate about Dylan being a voice for GPS. Tom Waits would be even better! For history of these false media stories, see http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2116927/… Bob Dylan Joke About GPS Using His Voice Fools Media Again
Ah, I did not know that. Thanks for pointing out that this story is totally fake. Will def post in tomorrow's "best of" comments. But, considering how much response this story has gotten, I think whatever car companies should definitely consider celebrity GPS systems. They would definitely sell!