[Android Apps and Games] brandall:
Thanks for all of the comments and support folks. For all of those eager to test something I'm going to knock up a configuration apk over the weekend. Nothing too exciting I'm afraid, but digesting the comments I've realised I really need to initially focus on the following:

1) Getting the very basic framework out so if you'd be so kind to test on your various devices I can catch early device, Android version, custom ROM/kernel bugs and get them right from the start. I need to make sure that if the correct voice data etc isn't already installed on your device I handle it correctly, depending on your location and other things.

2) Configure the app to be multilingual from the start - If I leave this until a later date, I know I'll end up putting it off with it coming second to bugs and fixes and enhancements etc. Thank you for all of the messages offering translation support, it's really appreciated.

3) A few of you have mentioned your accents not working well with other speech apps. This got me thinking that I need to be able to allow you to configure the raw voice data, rather than just keywords. So, for example, if you say 'load app cut the rope' and the voice data returns 'low dap cudder hope' (or something else just as random), then I need to be able to allow you to view the raw voice data and if necessary assign 'low dap cudder hope' to open cut the rope! That way it will be accent issue free for many of the functions.

So, I'll work on a simple test apk over the weekend then you can all have a mess with your raw voice data and let me know your findings depending on your language etc. Thanks in advance.

4) Build in a simple (at first) offline speech engine, that can be improved version by version. I'm looking at integrating Sphinx, but it's not going to be easy as there is limited documentation.

5) Create an option that can immediately change utter! to text interaction only, rather than having to abort what you are doing and adjust this in the preferences. So, a 'mute' button of sorts.

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Again, thank you for all of the suggestions, I do scan through them when I have time and it's really helped me prioritise what I should be doing to make utter! more useful to you.

Please keep the suggestions coming and perhaps let me know your thoughts on the following:

a) What voice engines do you use? I want to be able to refer users to a link on the market (or direct download) for a suggested engine. I know this is a personal preference, but if for a certain language there seems to be majority agreement, then I'll go with that.

b) Do I need to allow the default search engine to be configurable? Does anyone not use Google...?!

c) What are your experiences of other voice applications? What are your personal essential features that they include and what are they missing?

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Funding Update

I've spoken to many potential partners and a very long story short, they each have their own commercial agenda, all of which I believe detract from the biggest appeal of utter!

I want to be able to focus on utter! allowing you to use your own personal favourite applications, because that is the experience you have chosen, one which I want to enhance. I do not want to 'team up' with a limited number of selected commercial partners to provide your results in the hope you will then use their services.

So, how can I achieve this?

I'm going to go down the kickstarter route to raise as much funding as I can for the application. Briefly, every time I think of a function I wish to include, I think of a hundred eventualities and adjoining functions, I simply cannot do this to its full potential alone, so the funding will go towards the cost of outsourcing the Java development to assist me to build the application to the highest standards and quickly (without cutting corners)!

Most importantly, I can focus on building the application based on its appeal, rather than a steered commercial angle.

At the point the money I raise runs out, I will have the amount of downloads and popularity (hopefully) of the application to entice commercial partners and go from there.

Having assessed all of my options, I think this is the best way forward all-round.

Once I've written up the kickstarter brief (so much to do!), I'll post the link here. Just to clarify, you are not in any way expected to donate and never would be. If you do donate, you will of course have my gratitude and that of others. When the link appears, you all have the power of social media at your fingertips, so if you could share it on twitter, G+ etc that would be absolutely fantastic...

Right, I best stop waffling and get coding!

brandall