iDictate – Digital Voice Blog

With the announcement just over a week ago of the release of the MacSpeech Dictate Medical version, we now have the bundle packages that will be available in Australia and their pricing.

MacSpeech Dictate Medical v1.5 available from Dictate Australia

The medical version of MacSpeech Dictate has not yet landed in Australia but is expected any day ready for shipping nationally within the next week or so. Here at Dictate Australia we have already sold the first Australian copy of MacSpeech Dictate Medical to a doctor in Victoria.

More

Traditionally June has been the month for Olympus (and others) to launch their price list ready for the start of the next financial year. As we had already seen some price changes from Olympus Voice in February nothing much was expected in the annual June pricing updates and sure enough thats what has happened, not alot. Of note though are the following changes/additions annouced:

• Olympus DS-40 price reduced to RRP $595 incl. GST
• New model Olympus DS-55 priced at RRP $695 incl. GST
• Olympus DS-2300 price reduced to RRP $695 incl. GST
• New model Olympus DS-3400 priced at $795 incl. GST
• New accessory, RS30W remote for LS-10 recorders at RRP $195 incl. GST

So we see price cuts on the DS-40 (down to the old Olympus DS-30 price) and also a cut for the DS-2300. These models are facing their last few weeks/months of life before being discontinued in favour of the new models already here.

More

At 1am on Friday 19th June, 2009 Sydney time I set my alarm clock for an announcement coming out of the MacSpeech tower of power in the USA. I heard through twitter (@macspeech) that an announcement was coming and so close to the release of version 1.5 it could only be something else new, I was hanging in there for digital voice recorder support but alas it was something bigger, the MacSpeech Dictate Medical version. Official MacSpeech Press Release

MacSpeech Dictate Medical Version

Based on the very new 1.5 version (so the latest greatest Dragon voice recognition engine from Nuance), MacSpeech Dictate Medical version will be available as a stand alone product or if you have MacSpeech Dictate already a reduced price cross grade will be available. We have no info on avialability or pricing for Australia as yet, as soon as we do we will post.

More

As we discussed in our last post the Olympus DS-40 is on its way to being discontinued in Australia, to help things along Olympus Voice Australia have announced an immediate price cut for the DS-40 from RRP $695 incl. GST to RRP $595 incl. GST, in effect cutting its price to the same as the recently discontinued Olympus DS-30 model.

If you are looking for a bargain digital voice recorder which is ideal for large boardroom meetings, focus group, interviews, team meetings or even just your own notes then now would be a good time to jump in and grab one at this new low price. This model will be discontinued shortly but will still be covered by the Australia Australia 1 year warranty (just make sure you buy one from an authorised Olympus Voice Australia reseller).

It is with deep sadness that I bring to you the news of the demise of the Olympus DS-30 digital voice recorder. Here we go again, yet another recorder dumped by Olympus Australia this year. This model discontinued will very soon also be followed by the DS-40, Olympus are running out their remaining stock, so two excellent and very popular large meeting/focus group recorders bow out in favour of a new, sleeker, younger, fitter, better looking model, the Olympus DS-55 (release date yet to be announced in Australia).

New Olympus DS-55 Stereo Mic

Only two weeks ago we reported on the end of life for the DS-50 which has been superseded by the new Olympus DS-65. The DS-30 and DS-40 are going the same way with a new Olympus DS-55 model due to arrive in Australia we hope in the next few weeks. We hope because the DS-30 is a very popular recorder and to be left hanging with just a pricey DS-65 could cause some consumer pain. In usual Olympus style, they are starting to become the Apple of the voice recorder world with no leaks and just suprise announcements, we found out when we tried to restock some DS-30s and found out they were no more. No news yet either on the DS-55, we have no idea of its RRP or release date we just assume that it is coming soon. More on the Olympus DS-55 when we have more news on, as a teaser check out the beatiful image to the left of the sleek silver stereo mic topping off the soon to arrive DS-55.

News filtered through this week that on a flight from Japan a load of new Olympus digital voice recorders has arrived at the Melbourne headquarters for Olympus Voice, the Olympus DS-3400. This makes the past few weeks busy ones for the Olympus folks as they also took delivery of the DS-50 replacement the DS-65 (see this post).

New Olympus DS-3400 Digital Dictaphone

More