User Guide
dicto shows what you say (or type) as large, readable text. This page matches how the app works today.
When you open the app
You briefly see the dicto launch screen, then the main view. The first time you open the app after launching it, dicto may start listening for a short time so you can begin right away. Tap Stop or wait; you can always tap Listen when you are ready.
The first time you use speech recognition or the microphone, iOS asks for permission. If you previously denied access, open Settings, scroll to dicto, and enable the microphone and speech recognition there.
Main display
Your current phrase appears in the center and scales to stay as large as possible for the space. While you are listening, words update in real time. You can scroll if a phrase is long.
Listen: Tap the large microphone button at the bottom, or double-tap the main text area, to start or stop listening. VoiceOver users hear a hint on that area: double-tap to start or stop listening.
When the main area is empty, it shows short instructions. While listening with no text yet, it explains that about one second of quiet ends a sentence, about two seconds of quiet stops listening (or you can tap Listen or double-tap).
How listening behaves
After you speak, a pause of about one second can end the current sentence (a period or question mark is applied) and dicto keeps listening for what you say next. A longer pause of about two seconds ends the listen session and moves what you said into Earlier (see below).
A single listen session also ends automatically after a long stretch (about a minute and a half) so the microphone does not stay open indefinitely in a noisy room.
When you start a new listen while there is already text on screen, dicto saves that text to Earlier before clearing the line for your next phrase (unless it would duplicate what is already there).
Earlier
The horizontal strip labeled Earlier holds completed phrases. Tap a phrase to show it large on the main display again. Swipe sideways to browse chips when there are several.
Keyboard (type text)
Tap the keyboard button on the bottom left to open Type text. Type or paste what you want to show, then tap Done to put it on the main display. Cancel closes the sheet without changing the line.
Use Speak in the toolbar to have the device read the draft aloud (helpful to verify wording). Opening the keyboard stops an active listen and moves any current line into Earlier when appropriate so you start with a clean field.
Bottom bar
- Keyboard - open typing sheet.
- Listen (center) - start or stop the microphone.
- Trash - clear what is on screen and stop listening if needed. This does not add the line to Earlier.
Display options (top left)
Tap the menu button (three lines in a circle) for:
- Appearance - System, Light, or Dark (uses system colors).
- Color scheme - fixed high-contrast pairs: Black on white, White on black, Blue on yellow, Yellow on blue, Green on black, Red on cream.
- Language - speech recognition locale. Menu labels stay in English; choose the language you are speaking. Options include English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Cantonese Chinese, and Mandarin Chinese. If recognition is not available for a choice, try another or check Settings.
- About dicto - version, short description, and a link to this site.
Privacy and data
Nothing you say or type is sent to us. Details are in the Privacy Policy.