Bixby pronunciation guide?
snurfle
Enthusiast - Level 2

Is there a pronunciation guide for the bixby commands?  It took me from when I bought the phone in May until Thanksgiving weekend just to get past the bixby setup screen to the sentences, then another week to get past the sentences. I've spent countless hours on tech support chat and email and phone calls and facebook chats and at the samsung counter at best buy since June, not to mention the literally thousands of times I had to say "hi bixby" over and over and over just to get to the sentences, all with no clear resolution.  It all came down to me not knowing exactly how to pronounce the words bixby was asking me to say, and it was only through trial and error that I was able to get the exact pronunciations to make it past the sentences.  But now, I am still not able to get bixby to actually do anything I ask it to.  I am sticking with the two sentences bixby asked me to say during the setup process: "open gallery and show me my pictures" and "turn on bluetooth."  I use those commands, because it doesn't know how to do any of the other commands I've used, and I figure if bixby is asking me to say them during the setup that they must be functioning commands, but I have not yet been able to figure out how to say them exactly right.  Having a pronunciation guide, or even some sample sound files that give the proper pronunciations would save people hours (if not MONTHS) of headaches trying to get it to work properly.

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Re: Bixby pronunciation guide?
vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

I'm sorry to hear about the trouble with getting Bixby to recognize pronunciation. I know that voice recognition is only as useful as what it can understand. There is no Bixby pronunciation guide that I've been able to locate. I see that there are also some posts about this on Samsung's forum pages. Unfortunately, the user guide for this device doesn't really provide much about how it works. Our understanding is that it should learn from the way you speak, gradually becoming easier and easier to use over time. Here's a pretty good workup I found when researching this service. http://bit.ly/2CqUU7w If you're certain that you're using phrases that should be accepted, and they are not working, I would try removing any case you have on the phone and check for performance changes. If the case is not a custom fit for your device, it's possible that one or more microphone could be impeded, thus reducing Bixby's performance. Keep us posted.

Verizon_Customer_Support

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If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response registry. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

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Re: Bixby pronunciation guide?
snurfle
Enthusiast - Level 2

No, no case.  Samsung had me get rid of the case in July or August because of constantly-dropping bluetooth, no wireless charging, and overheating.

I understand that bixby is supposed to build and tweak a library of my pronunciations as I use it, but I really think that a list of the initial pronunciations would make it easier to get to the point where bixby can start learning that I don't, for example, say "im-por-tAAnt" when I speak normally. Or when I raise my voice.

The microphone works fine for phone calls and sound recording. Okay google works perfectly after rebooting the phone, even in my cars, outside, just about anywhere, and with just a natural speaking voice and almost no misunderstood commands.

Bixby, on the other hand, won't work unless I find a room quiet enough to prevent being told "its too noisy" and issue commands loud enough to prevent "couldn't hear you" and then repeating the sentences for 2 hours until stumbling across the only pronunciation it would accept for a lot of the words. To be fair, after getting through it the first time about a month ago, the phone rebooted when I tried to use bixby, and I had to go through the training again.  Knowing how to pronounce the sentences the second time through only took about a half hour.  Knowing what pronunciations it requires to get it to recognize the commands makes a huge difference in getting through the training, without it I was never able to get through it even once - [removed], I only made it to the sentences at all after spending 6 months figuring out how to say "hi bixby" properly.

I posted this same question on samsung's facebook page, they told me to call again, then the phone room had me take it to the best buy samsung counter, then that guy told me to take it up with verizon.

Yesterday I posted the same question on verizon's facebook page and after first being sent back to samsung, then uninstalling all of the apps I've installed, and uninstalling a few samsung apps as well, was eventually told that with all the problems so far that I would just get a new phone (but just another S8+, not a different phone.)

So I guess I'll play with it when it shows up and post any results here.

Profanity removed as required by the Verizon Wireless Terms of Service​.

Message edited by Verizon Moderator.

Re: Bixby pronunciation guide?
jrh4054
Specialist - Level 3

Just remember that when VZW says a 'new' phone, they actually mean a reconditioned used phone.

Re: Bixby pronunciation guide?
snurfle
Enthusiast - Level 2

lol

Yeah, I know.

I look at it like this:  For over half a year, samsung played the "Wait for an update" game and the "Factory reset" game and the "Transfer you to someone else" game.  In all of that time, the only thing they said that seemed to make any difference was "Don't use a case with the S8+"  but that was for overheating, bluetooth, and wireless charging problems.  At the end of all of this, all that really changed is that I am using my tablet and my work phone for nearly everything important, the S8 either sits in the car's console, my coat pocket, or my dresser drawer.  It is a disappointment in nearly every aspect, and the absolute travesty that is the support network has cemented my belief that something changed with samsung's commitment to quality, or with their commitment to their customers.  Either way, it has really made us all consider what our future phones will be.

If my "new" phone is a scratched up and ugly as the one I currently have, it won't really bother me at all.  I have learned - rather been forced to - get along fine without relying on it for anything other than telemarketer calls and texting my wife and kids, I will continue using it the same way until I am able to get a different phone.

Re: Bixby pronunciation guide?
vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

snurfle, I understand this is important for you. I want to assist you further with this issue you are experiencing with the Bixby feature. I have sent you a Private Message so we can discuss this further. I look forward to hearing back from you.

GersonG_VZW

Follow us on TWITTER @VZWSupport

If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thank in advance for your help with this!!

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Re: Bixby pronunciation guide?
snurfle
Enthusiast - Level 2

Verizon sent me a new phone, I've played with it off and on for about a week.

I seriously wish they would have just sold me this one in the first place.

It is considerably smoother operating, the battery life is significantly better than the first one, bluetooth stays connected to the car for over an hour before it drops.  I might even try getting a case for this one to keep it looking nice; I didn't realize how much wear and tear I had on my first one until I had it side by side with the new one.

After over six months of runaround and 'try this no wait try this' and factory resets and all the other nonsense that I got from customer "service" I really wish there were some other way of getting support. I could have had a decent phone from the day I bought it rather than half a year later.

I haven't tried using bixby yet, but haven't been any where quiet enough to try. But based on the night-and-day difference between this phone and the one I got back in May, I am assuming it will work correctly as well.  I'll add an update as soon as I have a few hours to mess with it.