Use Google Voice Search v 2.0.1 to transcribe and archive voice memos

With the release of the new Google Voice Search available for Froyo comes some extremely powerful voice commands, one of which can be used to quickly record a voice memo, convert the message to text, and show up in your gmail inbox. Gmail's filter and labeling options can be used to do a number of things with the notes email. I've outlined a setup that works for me. This is just the start and I'm sure that other's will contribute to enhancements on this base setup.

NOTE: You need to be rooted and running a Froyo-based ROM for this function.

1] Update Google Voice Search

You will need to install or update Google Voice Search from the Market. If you are having troubles on a custom ROM you may need to unistall the current version in order to successfully update to 2.0.1. To do this, open a terminal on your phone and type the following commands.

$ su

# remount rw

# rm /system/app/VoiceSearch.apk

# reboot

Your system will reboot. Once it is back up and running install Voice Search from the Market.

2] Create Gmail filter

In Gmail, create a filter by going to Settings-> Filters and click on the "Create a new filter" button at the bottom of your filter list.

In the subject line, add the phrase "Note to self" without the quotes. Hit Next Step.

Check the first box Skip the Inbox. I do this so that I don't confuse them with incoming email and do not get a notification on my phone. If you want to see these appear as new email skip this part of the configuration. 

Because our notes will not be appearing in the inbox, we need a way to retrieve them. We'll use a label for this. Check the Apply labels box and in the drop down box, choose to create a new label with whatever name you would like. I chose Notes.

Click the Apply button and you should be done in gmail.

3] Add a shortcut to your homescreen

Create a shortcut on your phone to quickly access your notes. To do this, long press on the homescreen and select Shortcuts. Scroll and select Gmail label. Choose the account which you are using, then the label you created in the previous step. Give it a name and clock done.

Now you will have a gmail label icon on your homescreen. Whenever you need to quickly "jot something down", long press the search button to activte the Voice Search and speak "Note to self...blah blah blah". The application will open the email application, in the compose window with your email address, the subject "Note to self" and your translated text in the body. Just review the text, make any necessary modifications and click Send.

With the configuration outlined above the note will instantly be synced with your gmail Notes label, which you can easily access from the homescreen where you created the shortcut.

Got some other ideas? Please add them to the comments below.