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Google's Nexus One Censors Cuss Words in Voice-to-Text Feature
With all the buzz surrounding the debut of Google's new Nexus One phone, it seems there was one feature that mostly went unnoticed. This mobile device might not be ideal for sailors -- or for people who talk like them. According to Reuters, the phone's voice-to-text feature censors certain four-letter words by inserting '#' signs in lieu of the offending letters. It's true, no bull####. Still, Google claims it isn't trying to clean up your filthy mouth."We filter potentially offensive or inappropriate results because we want to avoid situations whereby we might misrecognize a spoken query and return profanity when, in fact, the user said something completely innocent," a representative told Reuters.
In other words, better safe than sorry. That's probably a smart approach. Nobody wants to accidentally send an expletive-filled text message to his or her boss because the Nexus One misinterpreted what was said. However, it would be nice to be able to toggle this feature on or off (of course, you could always just type the words into the message). Call us crass, but sometimes, you just need those words for a little ####-ing emphasis. [From: Reuters, via: CNET, and Engadget]
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Comments
24
Subscribe to commentsJoaniJan 25th 2010 7:53PM
BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING!!!!
zzzzzzzzzzJan 26th 2010 6:27AM
next they will filter our actual phone calls...then our thoughts right before we speak them
numerwanJan 25th 2010 3:06PM
So whats all the drama with them not wanting to censor in china??
isnt this a little bass ackwards?
Bill VaughnJan 25th 2010 9:19PM
While I certainly agree people have become more crass, neither Google nor anyone else in America has the right to stifle free speech. Google seems to forget people actually have RIGHTS in this country. And I think Google's new "toy" is going to be a bust for them - no one likes to have a corporate "mother".
EmilyJan 26th 2010 7:50AM
Google certainly has the right to determine what their product will or won't do. Then you have the right to accept it or not. It's not spying. It's not censorship. It's called choice. Make yours. Google made theirs.
killerJan 25th 2010 9:30PM
Hey w.t.f., they are spying us.?, whom gave u permission to snoop on o.p.p., g.t.f.o.
pd39Jan 25th 2010 10:15PM
OMG!
How are kids today, products of our edumacation system, every going to communicate now!!
Mike QJan 25th 2010 10:44PM
I don't cuss, but this is WRONG!
phoneJan 27th 2010 12:11PM
If people want to put a lot of profanity on their phones, perhaps they should just not by the google phone. There must be others that will allow people to gutter talk.
KatJan 25th 2010 11:11PM
Yeah
A phone parents can give to their children and they won't receive foul language. Now how can we teach people there is a time and place for the foul language? Which mean not all the time.
Claygirl77xxJan 25th 2010 11:25PM
Just don't buy the FXXXER if you don't want them censoring your speach. I sure the FXXK won't buy it.
thundercat1945Jan 25th 2010 11:40PM
Well Big Brother can just watch, as far as Big Brother goes he stick it where the sun don't shine or any other orfice.
jadams.hiJan 27th 2010 10:22AM
I can understand why they did this, they need to in order to protect from lawsuits. Most people will use this feature for work, business, etc. There is NO WAY you want the wrong text to be sent. What is it picked up someone swearing in the background. People shouldn't whine and snivel, BUY A DIFFERENT PHONE!!! Most of us that work hard, work a ton of hours, need all the help we can get!!
capwhanJan 25th 2010 11:59PM
Call me an old fa*t but I don't text. It's for young kids. I only get and receive calls.
KatieJan 26th 2010 12:54AM
It would be nice if just once, someone would defend "free speech" when it concerned an intelligent arguement. Instead, "free speech" is claimed as a right to be rude, coarse, and disrespectful. The media also uses it as an excuse to slam people by misquoting them or taking their words out of context. The author is correct about one thing - he is crass.
ChrisJan 26th 2010 5:01AM
Freedom of speech DOES mean the right to be all of those things. If you don't like what someone else is saying, you make an argument against it. If you hear garbage on television, radio or on a website, turn it off.
Another thing: I'd hardly call the author crass just because he might cuss in texts to people he knows well. I think you need to lighten up a little.
tnicJan 26th 2010 1:11AM
So don't buy the phone.
It's called capitalism, and a certain product/service doing something that "you," the consumer, doesn't agree with. When that happens, "you," the consumer, shouldn't buy it.
Simple? Yes. Conspiracy theory by retards? Yes, as well.
Use your rights, people. (And by rights, I mean buying or not buying a product) And be smart about it, instead of bitching about how a random company is taking them away by offering a service you don't agree with.
dhayescharlotteJan 26th 2010 6:04AM
HALLEJUAH! At least someone knows trash when it appears. FREE SPEECH does not mean having to listen to someone who is so illiterate they can't think of intelligent words to replace the 4 Letter words. NOW let's do it to the PATHETIC music blaring from car radios... thump, thump, thump.....
etchstoneJan 26th 2010 7:02AM
You poor things ! Can't use your gutter talk.
jbjg24mJan 26th 2010 8:51AM
AOL must have helped design this phone ! oh., ****!