I've done it, you've probably done it too: you've been waiting
for an important email or text message and it comes in while
you're motoring down the highway. What do you do? Most of us
would take a peek at our phones, a few of us might try to respond
while driving with our knees. But on today's tap that app, I've
got an app for you Android users that can help you handle your
messaging, while staying safe. It's Vlingo Voice with InCar beta.
InCar beta is a part of the larger Vlingo Voice command app for
Android. Vlingo works on Android version 2.1 or better, but the
InCar portion is optimized for version 2.2 devices. I know. It's
confusing.
A SafeReader function reads your text messages aloud so that you
don't miss a message, but you don't wreck your car to do so. But
it doesn't stop there.
Starting the InCar interface brings up a set of large, easy to
hit buttons that are optimized for an in-car environment. You've
got Call, Text, and Navigate all of which initiate voice
activated menus for their respective functions. But you're in
your car, right? You don't want to take your hands off of the
wheel or shifter and your eyes off of the road to initiate a
call. So Vlingo InCar has a neat feature called Wake-up Command.
The app can be set to always listen for a spoken command--in this
case, "Hey Vlingo"--that cues it to spring into action and accept
further commands.
"Hey Vlingo," "Text JT," "Meet me at 3rd and Folsom."
You can use Vlingo incar to send text messages, initiate calls,
and start navigation all without ever touching your phone. You
can even ask the app random questions:
"hey vlingo" "what's the capitol of south dakota?"
The app can be set to automatically launch when it senses your
car's bluetooth handsfree system, so you don't even need to touch
your phone to get started.
Vlingo with InCar is a free download in the Android Market. Paid
versions of the core Vlingo app are available for IPhone and
Blackberry, but the InCar beta interface and Wake up command
aren't yet available on those platforms.
