TomTom and Garmin add Yoda, KITT voices
updated 06:30 pm EDT, Thu July 8, 2010
TomTom adds Yoda, Garmin gets KITT voice
As promised, TomTom has made Yoda's voice available for download for its compatible portable navigation devices. The speech pack is the third in a series of Star Wars character voices already on tap, joining C-3PO and Darth Vader. Han Solo's voice will be added in August.
Samples of what Yoda says include "Help you I can, hmm, Take you to your destination I will," "After 700 hundred yards hmm, keep to the right then take a sharp left. Control, control, if a Jedi you wish to be" and "Turn around, when possible. Rebellious, you are." Yoda's voice can be purchased now, for nearly $13. A free Yoda wallpaper is ready as well.
At the same time, competitor Garmin brought the voice of KITT out, from the popular '80s TV show Knight Rider. It can be programmed to call the user by his or her name, so long as the name is in a database of nearly 700. Otherwise, it will call the driver Captain or Lady, depending on their sex. The voice prompts, brought by NavTones and performed by the original actor William Daniels, are randomized as well. A sample saying includes "If you're not going to listen to me, just turn me off."
The KITT voice download is priced at about $10 and is compatible with some newer Garmin nuvi GPS units. The KITT voice is also available for TomTom devices, for $13.
