New to Version 1.9.7: Smarter Predictions, a New Voice, and iPhone Duo Support!

Spoken 1.9.7 is here! This update brings a major upgrade to our predictive text, support for Apple’s new foldable iPhone Duo, a new voice option, and more improvements to make everyday communication easier.

Let’s take a look at what’s new!

Smarter Predictions to Help You Find the Right Words

Predictive text has always been at the heart of Spoken. As you type, Spoken suggests words you might want to say next, helping you communicate with less typing. With version 1.9.7, we’ve given those predictions a major upgrade.

Behind the scenes, we’ve put a more advanced language model to work, exploring thousands of possible ways conversations might unfold. By preparing these predictions in advance, we can bring some of the benefits of a much more sophisticated language model to Spoken without needing to run that model every time you type.

The result is more useful word suggestions that can make it easier to find what you want to say. The best part? You don’t need to learn anything new to enjoy this improvement. Just use Spoken the way you always have!

We’ve also significantly improved the predictions available when you change location context. If you’re unfamiliar with this feature, you should see our help topic, How do I get word predictions based on what I’m doing or where I’m at?

Basically, it tailors Spoken’s predictions to your current activity or whereabouts. You can either let it happen automatically using GPS to detect your location or set it manually in settings.

Now, the predictions it offers are greatly improved. So whether you’re ordering food at a restaurant, talking with a doctor, or shopping for new clothes, Spoken is better than ever at suggesting the most relevant words.

Meet Clover, Our New Voice

Clover brings another youthful-sounding option to Spoken, joining existing favorites like Dandelion and Violet. We know everyone has different preferences when it comes to finding the right voice, so we’re always happy to offer more variety!

We’ve also expanded our support for ElevenLabs by including access to the latest voice models: Eleven V4 and Eleven V4 Turbo. These new options are more expressive than ever and are both compatible with the awesome voice tags feature.

Spoken Is Ready for iPhone Duo!

Even when you put its ability to fold aside, Apple’s new iPhone Duo is a unique device. It features two very different displays, an unusually proportioned screen, and system UI elements outside of their usual locations. These differences have left some apps feeling less than compatible. That’s why we’re excited to announce optimization for the iPhone Duo.

Not only have we accounted for the Duo’s many quirks, but we’ve also taken advantage of its ability to fold by unlocking the orientation on the inner display for a tablet-style experience on your phone.

Ahem! There’s Something We’d Like to Say

Sometimes, getting someone’s attention is the first step in communicating.

Spoken’s attention sounds — which you can configure to play before you speak or at the tap of a button — were originally inspired by the simple act of clearing your throat. It’s a common way to politely signal that you have something to say, but not everyone who uses AAC can easily make that sound themselves.

Now, we’re taking that idea a little more literally with Ahem, a new attention sound that mimics someone clearing their throat.

It’s a small addition, but some users might prefer it over the less traditional sounds we offer.

Accessibility and Usability Improvements

We’ve also made several improvements to help Spoken work better for everyone.

• Better Large Print compatibility: We’ve improved how Spoken’s speak menu (accessed by long pressing the speak button) integrates with the Large Print setting, making the menu easier to read and tap.
• More reliable voices: We’ve fixed an issue that could cause the Lilac voice to produce unexpected sounds or utterances.
• Easier ElevenLabs setup: We’ve added clearer guidance for users connecting ElevenLabs to Spoken.

You can also expect several bug fixes and other small refinements throughout the app, as usual.

Try Spoken 1.9.7

Spoken 1.9.7 brings improvements both big and small. Whether you’re finding the right words, choosing a voice that feels like your own, or exploring Spoken on a new device, we hope this update makes everyday communication a little easier.

Make sure to update to explore everything new! Just look for Spoken - Tap to Talk ACC on Google Play or the App Store. We’d love to hear what you think.