Android does not support Japanese text-to-speech (TTS) out of the box. However, said support can be installed as third party applications. We have identified three such apps - DTalker, SVOX Classic and AquesTalk. All are present in Google Market.
Once you set up a third party voice engine, you have to explicitly enable it in Android settings so that JISHOP can use it. See below.
Setting up DTalker
DTalker exists as a paid full version and as a free demo. For the purposes of TTS in JISHOP, we found no difference. So start by downloading the demo:
DTalker Japanese TTS Demo DTalker Japanese TTS Demo (free)
Once you do, run the app called "ドキュメントトーカ". Wait until the "Dictionary Loading..." notice disappears.
In DTalker, you can switch between male and female voice. To do so, run Settings, navigate to Voice input&output/Text-to-speech settings/DTalker TTS Demo. The topmost line (音声) is the voice. The two choices are "太郎" (Tarō, male) and "花子" (Hanako, female).
DTalker requires Android 2.2 or higher. In case there are problems with the demo after all, here's a link to the full version: DTalker Japanese TTS DTalker Japanese TTS.
Setting up SVOX Classic
SVOX Classic consists of two apps - the TTS engine itself and the Japanese voice. First, download both from the Google Market:
Classic Text To Speech Engine
Classic Text To Speech Engine (free)
SVOX Japanese/日本 Misaki Voice
SVOX Japanese/日本 Misaki Voice (paid)
Once you install both, run SVOX Classic. In the list of national flags, find the Japanese one (that's the one with a red circle on a white field), tap on it. The voice name - "Misaki" - comes up. Tap on "Activate".
SVOX Classic requires Android 2.1 or higher. Of the listed TTS engines, this is the only one that runs on Android 2.1.
Setting up AquesTalk
Download AquesTalk from the Market:
AquesTalk TTS AquesTalk TTS (paid)
Run it. On the first run, it'll ask "Download Dictionary?" Tap "Yes", and wait till the data are downloaded.
AquesTalk requires Android 2.2 or higher.
Enabling the Japanese voice for JISHOP
Once you install the engine and the voice, you must enable it so that other third party apps (like JISHOP) can take advantage of it.
On Android 2.2 and higher:
- Open Settings, navigate to Voice input&output/Text-to-speech settings
- Place a checkmark next to your new TTS engine (one of the listed ones)
- When asked for permission, tap on "Yes"
On Android 2.1 and below:
- Download from Google Market a free app called Text-To-Speech Extended Text-To-Speech Extended
- Run it (the icon on the Launcher screen is called "TTS Extended")
- Place a checkmark next to your new TTS engine (one of the listed ones)
- When asked for permission, tap on "Yes"
Conclusion
If you find another Japanese-capable TTS engine, JISHOP will use it if you set it up as the default engine. Also, please let us know what's it called.