The new voice, Zoe, appears to be a TTS4 voice requiring yet another new voice engine. A more detailed discussion of Real Directions can be found in this FAQ. The best voice engine can be identified by terms like Real Directions and Real Voice and are known as TTS3 voices. A better voice engine is offered on devices like the nuvi 750, 8. The most basic voice engine is offered on devices like the nuvi 40 and 265. Note that each of three voice engines offer a voice named Jack, yet the filesizes and version numbers are different. It's therefore best not to simply copy voice files from one device to another, but instead to use Garmin's software to offer the appropriate voices and voice updates and to install them. Please note that each Garmin On-The-Road GPS device will use one of **three** voice engines and the voice engine available on the device determines which voices and voice updates your device will receive. There are also some alternate fun, celebrity or different voices offered by Garmin or others available and these are all non-TTS voices. If choosing a non-TTS voice, rather than hearing instructions like "In point two miles, turn right on Elm Street," you will just hear "In point two miles, turn right." Most Garmin On-The-Road GPS devices offer both TTS and non-TTS voices. These are known as TTS or Text-To-Speech voices. On any Garmin device, you must choose a voice that offers "Speaks street names" or "Speaks Real Directions" if you want street names to be voiced. This FAQ will attempt to keep current with the latest English language voice versions. Many new Garmin devices come from the factory with only two voices: Samantha and Michelle. Drive.Garmin On-The-Road GPS devices occasionally can receive additional voices or updates to voices. The Dallas based company is now the leader in custom GPS Voices and aims to make driving fun again by letting drivers give their GPS a "politically incorrect" and yet entertaining navigation voice. was founded by three friends in 2008 who were fed up with their boring GPS voice. People can listen to all the GPS voice samples and download their own favorite voices by going to: and taking advantage of their 4 year anniversary sale on Tom Tom and Garmin voices. prides itself on giving drivers more "laughs per gallon." "If someone doesn't laugh and immediately want one, then they must not have a GPS system or else they're missing a funny bone" the company president stated. It's just not worth it to drive into the wrong area unknowingly." I would love to hear him tell me how to avoid an unsavory neighborhood in a way only Jamal can. They keep me entertained during long days on the road," Walsh said. , which is no stranger to "off color" language, celebrity voices, and even cultural stereotypes.Īn offering like this would be especially valuable for drivers like Matt Walsh, a traveling salesman who often drives in unfamiliar areas. In the world of politically incorrect statements, one thing is certain: aims to make sure they are equal opportunity offenders. His explicit, but helpful directions are anything but politically correct. Jamal's voice can prevent drivers from landing in a heap of trouble, although some drivers might need to be hip to the slang in order to understand which directions he's actually giving.Ī sample of Jamal's voice can be heard here: Listen To GPS Voice Sample of Jamal in stands for 'Politically Incorrect GPS Tones" he continues. "So it's not politically correct…that's why the P.I.G. "His voice was designed to be a hilarious poke at overt stereotypes of what people think of in a ghetto pimp." "Jamal's voice was designed to be a hilarious poke at overt stereotypes of what people think of in a ghetto pimp" one of PIGtones cofounders states.
"Jamal" happens to be one of the most popular voices that consumers routinely download. is the leading provider of funny, celebrity and culturally relevant GPS voices for Garmin and Tom Tom. Microsoft recently took some controversial heat when it introduced a patented GPS technology that allows drivers to steer clear of unsafe neighborhoods, also known as "ghettos" pointing out areas with documented high crime rates.Īlthough it's uncertain if this technology will appear in the GPS systems of drivers, consumers can already get their very own "virtual ghetto tour guide" from who created the voice of Jamal - the Ghetto Pimp. The controversial new Microsoft patent regarding a GPS technology that allows drivers to navigate around "ghettos" has a new companion voice with Jamal, the Ghetto Pimp from GPS Voice creator.