Web Worker Daily

We’re all so used to completely free and beta Web 2.0 services that it’s a bit of a shock when one grows up and actually releases a paid version. The latest on this front is Jott, the voice-driven service that interfaces with email, Outlook, Twitter, Remember the Milk, I Want Sandy, and many more. We liked Jott as a free service; the question is whether enough people like it enough to pay for continued service. There’s still a free service level, but it’s now ad-supported, limits your recording to 15 seconds, and does not include connectivity with any of the productivity services or note integration with your email.

For paying users, you can choose between a $3.95 per month plan that gets you back all the services and adds Outlook integration, or $12.95 per month for one that also brings in Blackberry connectivity and a 30-second recording time. If you’re a current Jott user, you have until September 8 to decide whether you’re ready to pay, forgo the premium services, or look at less-functional (but free) alternatives like Dial2Do.

Reckon the Blackberry is only good for email? Maybe when it’s fresh out of the box. But if you want to bump it up a few notches, here are seven powerful applications that can transform the way you use and interact with your BlackBerry.

Jott for BlackBerry

In a previous article, I covered tips for getting more from BlackBerry email. One application I didn’t mention is Jott for BlackBerry, which is an extension of its main service that lets you reply to messages using your voice. Jott transcribes your verbal message to text before sending it on to the recipient and includes a link in the email to hear the voice recording in case of transcription errors. The Jott voice recognition engine is amazing - even my laid-back Aussie drawl, which is usually a challenge for anyone out of the country to understand, let alone a machine, was transcribed with 100% accuracy.

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With this entry, Chris Poteet joins the WWD team as a contributing writer. Look for his posts every week. Welcome, Chris! -Ed

Every once-in-a-while I find an application like Jott that truly revolutionizes the way I organize my life.

We all write notes on pieces of paper, napkins, etc.; but they often get lost in the shuffle. Jott comes along and helps you consolidate your tasks, notes, and events into one spot. All you do it call the Jott number, and you hear a voice that says: “What do you want to Jott?” You then give the folder name you’ve created, contact, or application and simply speak your message. Jott translates voice into text and then, based on your preferences, either e-mails you or adds the event. It also stores the message for historical purposes on the Jott website.

The premise is simple, the sign-up is easy. After signing up you can then call the Jott number to record messages instantly.

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