Skip to main content

Google’s Area 120 releases yet another app, and this one turns speech into emojis

Just a couple days after launching Uptime, the app that allows you to turn your YouTube video-watching experience into a social gathering, Google’s startup incubator Area 120 has come out with yet another app. Meet Supersonic Fun Voice Messenger — it’s a mouthful but chock full of fun, as the real-time voice messaging app not only transcribes your speech into text to send to your friends, but also turns some of your words into emojis. Because who says that you’re not a descriptive speaker?

Unlike Uptime, which was, ironically enough for Google, an iOS exclusive release, Supersonic Fun Voice Messenger is available for Android users. To use it, all you need to do is press the microphone button, share your thoughts, and then watch in awe as the app transcribes what you’re saying. It won’t randomly add emojis to your message — rather, if you say something that has a corresponding picture message, it’ll be inserted. Then again, given the plethora of emoji that the Unicode Consortium has made available, you should probably prepare yourself for a very, very colorful transcription.

Recommended Videos

Once you’ve sent your message, the recipient will not only get the written copy, but also the audio version, so they can hear you narrate your own text. And taking a page from Snapchat’s book on ephemerality, once the message has been read or heard, it will disappear.

Of course, considering that the app is still new, it has a few kinks it needs to work out, and sometimes it isn’t the best at transcribing what you say. But still, it seems like a fun new communication app to try out, so if you’re an Android user, you can check it out for yourself now.

Lulu Chang
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Cost-cutting strips Pixel 9a of the best Gemini AI features in Pixel 9
Person holds Pixel 9a in hand while sitting in a car.

The Pixel 9a has been officially revealed, and while it's an eye candy, there are some visible cutbacks over the more premium Pixel 9 and 9 Pro series phones. The other cutbacks we don't see include lower RAM than the Pixel 9 phones, which can limit the new mid-ranger's ability to run AI applications, despite running the same Tensor G4 chipset.

Google's decision to limit the RAM to 8GB, compared to the 12GB on the more premium Pixel 9 phones, sacrifices its ability to run certain AI tasks locally. ArsTechnica has reported that as a result of the cost-cutting, Pixel 9a runs an "extra extra small" or XXS variant -- instead of the "extra small" variant on Pixel 9 -- of the Gemini Nano 1.0 model that drives on-device AI functions.

Read more
Does the Google Pixel 9a come with a charger? Here’s what’s in the box
A woman holding a purple Google Pixel 9a.

After much speculation in recent months, the Google Pixel 9a has finally been announced. Google's Pixel A series is an excellent choice for those seeking a reliable Android smartphone at a lower price point, and the latest model follows this trend. While it is undeniably part of the Google Pixel 9 series, it has fewer features than its higher-end counterparts.

One question you might have when considering the Pixel 9a is whether it comes with a charger. We’ve got the answer
The Pixel 9a does not come with a charger.
The short answer is that the Pixel 9a does not have a charger. This has become common practice for most smartphones today, including other models in the Pixel 9 series, like the Pixel 9 Pro. While this may be disappointing, it's not surprising.

Read more
Google Pixel 9a vs. Pixel 8a: should you upgrade?
Google Pixel 9a vs Pixel 8a.

Google has released a new budget phone, the Pixel 9a. How does it compare to its predecessor, the Pixel 8a? We've got the answers, and the changes are significant in some ways. In others, not so much. If you have a Pixel 8a and are considering upgrading, read this first.
Google Pixel 9a: vs. Google Pixel 8a: specs

Google Pixel 9a
Google Pixel 8a

Read more