December 31, 2010
By Janine Gomes Rei

Roads are absolute chaos, the malls buzz with gladness and the kids are let loose to run wild. It’s the season of smiles, giving, milk and cookies. Dad, big brother or Uncle Joe, slap on that white beard, stuff pillows to their bellies and sing merry melodies as they hand out happiness in the shape of a box. The famous 2010 is coming to an end and what a spectacular year it has been, a year where Africa smiled at the rest of the world and they smiled back.

The ‘vallies’ hit the open road, heading anywhere, but Jo-burg, sucked like a magnet to the coastal comforts of our beautiful country, South Africa. Tightly squeezed in transit. Can you say Road trip? Holidays? Yes please its that time of the year again, where you travel to some of the most beautiful parts of our African continent. Blue seas, hot sands, sun-cream and of course your trip would not be complete without your Own voice to entertain the journey. Eye-spy with my little eye something beginning with ‘O’..Um..um, Own voice app?

Yes sir that is correct. It’s the new Own voice app from Nokia’s Ovi Store . Don’t you just love Nokia? They think of every small detail that counts.  Ok so how does it work? Simple. Click here to download the Own voice app and get the show on the road, in the pleasant sounds of your own voice or any of the accents or loads of voices you choose to download.  It’s the season to be jolly and jamming and there’s no way I’m taking instructions from another man or woman. Guys, another woman telling you what to do? Ladies, another man telling you what to do. Always being told what to do, who to be and where to go?

That stops now, record and share your own navigation instructions for Ovi Maps, directly from your Nokia. So what you waiting for? Get a move on and simply download the app to your device. Are we there yet? Can you say, “You have reached your destination” or “Turn right in 200m”? Find a quiet space to record, then let the app take you through each of the 53 required commands and you’ll have your very Own Voice pack for navigation. The Own Voice app gives you the opportunity to create a new voice pack, taking you through each step of the process. When you’re done recording, you simply add your name, hit save and the voice pack is uploaded to the Own Voice website.

You have reached your destination.

So whose voice will you listen to and in which accent?

Your own?