Virus definition update "voice" has changed...

Hi. Well, this is a new one. Ever since the last program update, Avast AV hasn’t worked properly. Update notification is hit and miss, with the pop-up box sometimes announcing that the definitions have updated successfully. More often than not, the pop-up just has an advertisement about upgrading Avast or similar and no voice confirmation I don’t really mind as long as the AV part works correctly, which it seems to be. Now though, something new has occured.

The last update (a few moments ago) was announced over my speakers by what I can only describe as an old middle-aged British female voice. I normally wouldn’t care but it was and ALWAYS has been the default “young” female americanized voice that gave the announcements. Has there been some sort of program change or something? I don’t like it when things just change by themselves with no warning. It’s unsettling!

Has anyone else noticed a change at all?

Yes, there have been several topics about this and it was announced on the Avast Blog over a week ago.

http://blog.avast.com/2013/12/20/avast-2014-brings-a-familiar-voice-to-british-users/

What you have described is also being reported by others.

Disabling the update announcements entirely by unchecking [ ] Show notification box after automatic update solves all the issues. No voice, no ads.

-Noel

Thank you very much for your swift replies guys! Most appreciated. I did search for a while but didn’t see anything that sounded similar straight away.

What I don’t appreciate is the way they’ve implemented this change. Just doing it without my permission left me wondering if there was a problem. What would’ve been better is a notification in one of their little pop-up boxes to just ‘say’ that a new voice is available IF I’d like to change. I’m not one to whinge at silly little things - it’s just I don’t like it when things happen that weren’t my doing or something I didn’t agree to. Anyway, at least I now know where it came from.

I like to see the notification pop-ups, personally. I will leave as is, for thr time being as it’s a nice “peace of mind” that the updates are being done - even if it’s not working quite correctly. I do appreciate the heads up about disabling them though.

Thanks again and best regards,

Pix.

She sounds like marvin the depressed android from The hitchhikers guide… I am offended that Avast consider her to be a British voice…Put her out of her misery now.

Couldn’t agree more. I don’t think many people in England speak with that very old-fashioned and upper-claaars accent. Perhaps the yanks like to hear it - but it is truly awful!

I’ve seen comments about reverting the voice to the American one, but I’m still trying to find out how.

+1.

I’m british and britains don’t speak like that…

To change it back to before…

avast UI > Settings > Appearance > Language > [select] English > [next] > let it complete changes > reboot.

Make sure after reboot to change the language to “English” and NOT "English (United Kingdom)

Thanks - I saw the language setting, but assumed that it meant “language setting” (as in the language that was used for Avast) and not “voice setting”.

I don’t know who did the voice, but it is truly awful.

http://blog.avast.com/2013/12/20/avast-2014-brings-a-familiar-voice-to-british-users/

Thank you Avast for catering for devotees of mature upper class English ladies. I have enabled sounds just so I can tremble with anticipation then excitement as her smooth tones announce an event.

:-*

Hi…

Well, as a Brit, I absolutely hate this new voice.

Can’t believe anyone thinks this is a “posh” voice. It sounds dead common to me.

I liked the American one. It was bright - almost cute… The Brit one sounds kinda provincial… The great thing about American voices (yes, I love US drama and comedy), is that, as Brits, we don’t classify US accents - unless they sound dead slow and hokey. With a Brit accent, our class-consciousness and accent judgement gets in the way… and boy, do I hate this woman’s voice… You’ve traded that transatlantic feeling of belonging to something bigger and global, to the sound of a local office down the road… Am glad to know that you can change these voices - and I will look for alternatives…!!

Like another writer here, I’m offended that you think this is any way, a “good” or “typical” British voice…! And no, I’m not an upper class snob - rather a Brit who speaks neutrally - but not like this woman, thanks…!!

Honestly, I don’t know what all the fuss is about. The voice is pleasant and the diction is clear - I’m not bothered if there is any accent or not as long as I can easily understand what is being said and in this case, I can. Surely there are more important issues - if you don’t like the voice, turn it off.

Well, thank you Avast but I have to say that I prefer the American man, mainly because I am a British woman who thinks that the, so called, British voice, is quite ghastly!
Let’s have Yogi Bear instead!

She sounds as if she’s speaking with an Estuary accent. It’s fine with me, and I’m from the North. ;D