Windows 8.1/10/11

Latest windows store releases:

Voice control on XBox, can be done via digital assistants such as google/alexa, as cortana is no longer available.

On XBox to quit the App when you change the theme, follow the instructions at this webpage - Close Xbox App

Windows 10 version supports handwriting in the textbox if you have the relevant tools like a tablet for your pc or using a ms surface device.

No updates to older windows phone 8 versions.

Note if installing from windows store to Windows 8.1, that you may not see Robot Talk on the start screen, however on your start menu it will appear under the group labelled 'Modern UI Applications'. Also on the start screen if you goto the bottom left corner of the start screen, a downward arrow will appear. Click on the arrow and a full list of all installed apps will appear. Next find 'Robot Talk', right click on it, and an options menu will appear, with the option to pin the app to the start screen.

Whilst running Robot Talk, take the following steps:

  1. Click on the Help button, or use the shortcut keys, this should display an options menu.
  2. On the options menu, select the option 'Change Theme', this should then display the 'Change Theme' dialog.
  3. In the 'Change Theme' dialog, select the alternative colour using the switch option labelled 'Dark', and then click Close.
  4. This will save any change made, and close the dialog; but not change the theme immediately.
  5. Next close the application, and then run application again, the theme should have changed.

Please note to use this, you will require a Windows 11 device with a working microphone

First, you need to enable Voice Access (see Use voice access to control your PC & author text with your voice).Once enabled, and Voice Access is not in Sleep Mode, then you can use Voice commands like "Open Robot Talk", "Close Robot Talk"

The following is a list of Voice commands that work with Robot Talk, using the english(united states) model.

  • "Open Robot Talk"
  • "Close Robot Talk"
  • "click on Clear" - clears the textbox
  • "click on Play" - plays the text in the textbox or tells you to enter some
  • "click on Pause" - pauses the playback
  • "click on Cast" - displays the Cast dialog
  • "click on Share" - displays the Share dialog (once a file has been saved)

To enter text you can say "click on Text", followed by the text for example you could say "Hello my friend, how are you today?"

To save to a file, you can say "click on Save", then say "click on filename", them say for example "RTtest" as the filename. Finally say "click on save" (this displays numbered options, here you say "2") to save the file (followed by "click on Closed" on the file saved dialog) or "click on cancel" to abort the save

To change voice, you need to say "show numbers", then when numbers are shown you say "13". for example if you want to select Microsoft Mark, you would say "click on Microsoft Mark". As you may have a long list of voices you can also use the scroll voice commands (see Voice access commands List).

To change pitch, you need to say "show numbers", once the numbers are shown , you say "14". for example if you want to select High, you would say "click on High"

To change rate, you need to say "show numbers", once the numbers are shown, you say "15". for example if you wantch to select Fast, you would say "click on Fast"

To change range, you need to say "show numbers", once the numbers are shown, you say "16". for example if you want to select Very High, you would say "click on Very High"

To change volume, you need to say "show numbers", once the numbers are shown, you say "17". for example if you want to select Loud, ou would say "click on Loud"

To check/uncheck the preferred voice checkbox, you say "click on Voice", this gives you numbered options, here you say "2".

To change the textbox text font size, you say "show numbers", once numbers are shown, you say "19". for example if you want to select 48, you would say "click on 48".

To change the theme, you would say "click on help", then "2". Next, you would say "click on Change Theme", then say "show numbers" , then say "4" to change slider position. Finally, you would say "click on close" to close the dialog.

To change the preferred voice, you would say "click on help", then say "2". Next, you would say "click on change preferred voice", then say "show numbers", then say "5". for example if you want to select Microsoft Mark, you would say "click on Microsoft Mark". Finally, you would say "click on Save" to save the change , or "click on cancel" to close the dialog. You can also use the Voice Access scroll commands (see Voice Access Command List)

To view the About dialog, you would say "click on Help", then say "2". Next, you would say "click on About". To close, you would say "click on Close".

To Check for updates, you would say "click on help", then say "2". Next, you would say "click on check for updates".

To View the Support Site, you would say "click on help", then say "2". Next you would say "click on Support Site", followed by saying "click on Yes" to continue loading, oe "click on No" to cancel..

To View Privacy Policy,you would say "click on help", then say "2". Next you would say "click on Privacy Policy", followed by saying "click on Yes" to continue loading, oe "click on No" to cancel..

  • Help button - Alt + H
  • Save button - Alt + V
  • Share button - Alt + R
  • Clear button - Alt + C
  • Stop button - Alt + S
  • Play/Pause button - Alt + P
  • Cast button - Alt + T

Playto - to view more info on howto use a device with playto please go here

Casting - casting allows you to send the audio to another device such as a bluetooth speaker. The cast button in the app will list any capable device to send the audio to.
To add a new device you need to goto Settings, followed by the devices option. To send to a bluetooth speaker for example you need to turn the bluetooth option on.
Plus you can add a new bluetooth or other device via the add button. Also on the devices screen, you should see a list of all your other devices.
I got the bluetooth working with a various Bluetooth devices new/old. Was unable to Cast to a Smart TV.

Windows 8.1 Firstly, goto control panel.Under Clock,Language, and Region, click on the link labelled 'Add a language'. This will open a new screen called 'Language'. On the top part of the screen, click on the option labelled 'Add a language'.This will display a screen containing a list of languages available. Here click on one to add, then click on the add button at the bottom of the screen. This will then take you back to the 'Language' screen, here you can see the language you selected has been added to the list. Next, select the recently added language and click on the options link on the right-hand side.This will open a new screen labelled 'Language options', on this screen click on the link labelled 'Download and install language pack'. Repeat this operation, per language you wish to install. Please note for some reason, that certain languages such as Dutch, are not supported under Text-To-Speech. see this list - supported TTS voices before downloading

Windows 10 Via the start button click on settings.Next, click on 'Time & Language'.Next, click on 'Region & Language'.Then, click on 'Add a Language'.Next, click on a language to add. on the next screen select the same language again,then click on options.next, click on 'Download'.

Windows 10 v21h1 Via the start button, click on Settings. Next, click on 'Time & Language'. Next, click on 'Speech', on the left-hand side. Next, scroll-down to the option labelled 'Manage Voices', click on the button labelled 'Add Voices', to see a list of countries that you can add voices for. Below the 'Manage Voices' area, you should see a list of countries that you already have voices installed for.

Windows 11 Via the start button, click on the Settings icon in the Apps list. Next click on 'Time & Language' option on the left-hand side of the settings screen. Next on the main area of the screen, click on the option labelled 'Speech'. On the main area of the screen, scroll down to the area 'Manage Voices'. This area via the 'Add Voices' button, allows you the ability to select countries that you wish to add voices from. Also, below that area, you can see a list of those countries that you already have voices installed for.

Main screen at startup on Windows 8.1
Main screen at startup

Main screen - changing Preferred Voice - Windows 10/11 - Dark Theme
Main screen - changing Preferred Voice - Windows 10/11 - Dark Theme

Main screen - changing Preferred Voice - Windows 10/11 - Light Theme
Main screen - changing Preferred Voice - Windows 10/11 - Light Theme

Main screen at startup on Xbox - Light Theme
Main screen at startup on Xbox - Light Theme

Main screen at startup on Xbox - Dark Theme
Main screen at startup on Xbox - Dark Theme