The voice recently changed from the classic Google Assistant voice to one I presume is associated with the Gemini crap I’ve been doing my utmost to avoid. If I’m right, and this voice is associated with Gemini, then Google is doing themselves no favors with this switch because the voice sounds like a snotty bitch & I can’t stand it. I’ve switched to another English-speaking voice (I alternate between UK & Australian), but - here in America, at least - the American voice is the only one that gives detailed instructions like what lane to be in.

Is there any way to change this crappy voice back? Preferably without changing the voice for every fracking device in my household, which is the only instruction I can find on Google?

TIA.

EDIT: just so happened that someone asked for a “Revanced” version of Maps over on lemmy.ml (unfortunately, since I try to avoid tankies raising my BP). I know what Revanced is, but not sure what they were looking for.

Anyway, one commenter mentioned the project Vela Maps, which grabs the useful stuff from Google while minimizing your data exposure (unless you choose to use the live traffic updates, which can’t avoid telling Google where you are - but that’s it. I figure Google knows that anyway, and since most of my traveling is for work it just serves to polute their data on me anyway). It’s got some minor issues, but a lot of good features as well - including extensive voice options. Yay!

  • kepix@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    4 days ago

    try this if you just want to change the voice: https://f-droid.org/packages/org.woheller69.ttsengine/ has a gazillion english voices

    as for the app, vela is indeed quite good. good offline set up, built in special voice option as well, flock camera placements, etc. my only problem is that even if i set up the domains, it doesnt open google map links on lineage. maybe it does on graphene.

    if you dont want live traffic go with comaps: https://f-droid.org/packages/app.comaps.fdroid/

  • sbird@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    3·
    7 days ago

    I would use CoMaps, it’s awesome, offline maps are clutch when there is poor network, almost all the shops, restaurants, and sites are marked (and can be self-marked if they are not there, it’s OSM after all! Shouldn’t be a big problem in most cities though), and it has all the bell and whistles (autoupdate route when you make a wrong turn, metro support, TTS directions, everything!)

    No traffic though, but I’m fine with that since I mostly commute on foot and by metro anyways.

  • frongt@lemmy.zipEnglish
    4·
    7 days ago

    What device/ROM? Tried downgrading the app? Have any AI or TTS system components installed?

    I was using Google Maps yesterday and noticed no new behavior.

    • WhoIzDisIz@lemmy.todayOPEnglish
      2·
      7 days ago

      Pixel 7 Pro, A16. No “AI” if I can help it. No TTS outside of Google’s own (that I’m aware of). I’ll see what I can do about downgrading, but I was hoping just to fix the voice & not have to deal with that.