Story Details

  • Personalized voice recordings by Elwood "You've got mail!" Edwards

    Posted: 2025-01-14 08:28:06

    Elwood Edwards, the voice of the iconic "You've got mail!" AOL notification, is offering personalized voice recordings through Cameo. He records greetings, announcements, and other custom messages, providing a nostalgic touch for fans of the classic internet sound. This allows individuals and businesses to incorporate the familiar and beloved voice into various projects or simply have a personalized message from a piece of internet history.

    Summary of Comments ( 14 )
    https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42695005

    HN commenters were generally impressed with the technical achievement of Elwood's personalized voice recordings using Edwards' voice. Several pointed out the potential for misuse, particularly in scams and phishing attempts, with some suggesting watermarking or other methods to verify authenticity. The legal and ethical implications of using someone's voice, even with their permission, were also raised, especially regarding future deepfakes and potential damage to reputation. Others discussed the nostalgia factor and potential applications like personalized audiobooks or interactive fiction. There was a small thread about the technical details of the voice cloning process and its limitations, and a few comments recalling Edwards' previous work. Some commenters were more skeptical, viewing it as a clever but ultimately limited gimmick.