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Dragon Dictation For Mac Review10/23/2021
Dragon Dictate for Mac 3 recognizes my dictation faster, has more advanced. According to Nuance, the software has become 15 more accurate than its predecessor, and I do believe that’s no marketing hyperbole. Dragon Dictate for Mac 3 is the first version that understands what I’m saying 99 of the time.
![]() Dragon Dictation Review Download A FreeThere are a few more goodies in terms of having better control over your customizations on specialized vocabulary, too, so that every time you say a word you've taught Dragon, like "Android," it will always be capitalized, for instance.Dragon in ActionWhen I fired up Dragon Dictate for Mac 3 for the first time, I relied on my past experiences with the previous version of the program and therefore didn't face as steep a learning curve as I did the first time I ever touched dictation software.Once I had the app installed and configured appropriately for my voice, I used it to compose a few emails in Gmail and then start a draft of this very article. If you don't have a digital voice recorder that works with Dragon, you can download a free app for iOS that ultimately serves the same purpose, called Dragon Recorder. There's also now support for importing audio files from a digital voice recorder and transcribing them in the app, although it takes a fair amount of setup on the first go. The tool for editing and correcting text now has a window that helps guide you through the steps for making the correction more easily, and Dragon learns from these mistakes and fixes. You can also select your accent from a range of choices, such as American, Southern American, British, Indian, Latino, and so on.Aside from being slightly faster and more accurate than the previous version, Dragon Dictate for Mac 3 comes with a few other upgrades.![]() ![]() Similar to the editing controls, command mode comes with its own series of menus that you can display on screen to help you learn what to say.Other visual cues that are front and center include the microphone going into sleep mode (a picture of stars and a moon) and turning the microphone off (red circle).In dictating, every utterance appeared before my eyes with only a little lag, and version 3 seems a little more responsive than the previous Dragon for Mac apps. For example, you can navigate a Web browser without using the mouse and keyboard if you learn the Dragon commands. The editing controls, like correcting a word, are less intuitive than some of the other functions in the program, but a few on-screen menus that pop up when editing help guide you toward the right replies.In Dragon Dictate for Mac, you can manually switch between a few modes, such as "dictation" and "command," the latter being the one you use to operate your computer. I ran into some difficulties editing, but generally caught on to the commands, like "end of line," and "new line" pretty quickly. Script-writing couldn't benefit more from an application like Dragon Dictate, in which you are forced to "write" as you speak. A good one is included with the shrink-wrapped software, but if you buy the digital download, you'll have to buy a mic separately.Good to know: Apple's OS already comes with voice-control features of this kind called Speech Recognition that's pretty powerful. Using a USB microphone, Dragon nailed nearly every word I said, even with a good deal of ambient noise, including a jackhammer pounding away at the sidewalk outside my window. When you set up the software, the dialog boxes tell you multiple times that you'll get the best results with a microphone, and it's no joke. Alternatively, you can try this neat little trick with an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch (fourth generation): Download the Dragon Remote Microphone app (free) to use your phone's mic, or the mic attached to the earbuds, to dictate to Dragon via WiFi.Speak to Your MacDragon Dictate 3 for Mac has the potential to transform your productivity if you write often, but only if you're willing to invest some time to learn the system and train the software. If you buy the digital download version of Dragon for Mac (also $199), plan to invest $20 to $30 for a simple USB headset with mic because, without it, you're wasting your money on Dragon. You'll also need an Internet connection to register the product, and a DVD-ROM drive to install it if you buy the shrink-wrapped version.As mentioned, you do need a microphone (which is included with the $199 boxed product). Dragon's may be more rigorous, although you'll have to surmount a modest learning curve first.RequirementsDragon Dictate for Mac 3 requires an Intel-based Macintosh running Apple OS X 10.7 Lion or OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, as well as 4GB free hard disk space and a recommended 2GB RAM. (Hey, you've already paid for it.) It's very possible you'll realize you don't need Dragon. Dropbox downloading for macIt's really the advanced dictation that makes Dragon Dictate worthwhile, as its name perhaps suggests. For basic voice controls, you can always use Apple's own Speech Recognition, which is included in the Mac operating system at no additional cost. There are even specialized (and expensive, at $599) versions of Dragon products for professionals in the medical and legal fields.If a compelling use case for your work doesn't jump to mind, perhaps Dragon Dictate is not a tool you need. For educators and students (a discounted Student/Teacher edition is only $129.99), writers, professional speakers, anyone with mobility or vision issues, and so many others, Dragon offers a multitude of uses. The $199 baseline price keeps Dragon Dictate for Mac from being an impulse buy—as it should—but if you've been seeking a product for voice commands and real-time transcription, Dragon can be a worthy investment.
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