The radical iSiri gadget idea by designer Federico Ciccarese may be the ultimate iWatch concept conceived to date. Falling somewhere in between this eerie-looking Matrix-ified gadget and another conceptual time piece with a FaceTime camera on it, iSiri seems so obvious and inevitable. If only Apple didn’t replace the rectangular iPod nano with a tall one… Read More
Ryan Petrich releases his own Siri inspired Google voice search tweak
By Jeff Benjamin on Nov 8, 2012
Hot on the heels of another jailbreak tweak that allows you to search the new Google Search app using only your voice, comes Activoice — a similar tweak from Ryan Petrich.
Like the NowNow tweak that we covered yesterday, Activoice allows you to easily invoke the new voice portion of the Google Search app similar to the way that you using Activator. Take a look inside for our hands on video coverage of the tweak in action. Read More
New jailbreak tweak supplants Siri with Google Search
By Cody Lee on Nov 7, 2012
Well that didn’t take long. Just a week after Google’s revamped Search app with new voice technology made it into the App Store, a jailbreak tweak has been released that will allow users to supplant it for Siri in iOS.
The voice recognition tech in the new Google Search app has received a lot of praise for its speedy response times and accurate results. And now, thanks to the new tweak NowNow, you can access it from anywhere… Read More
Showdown: Google Voice Search v. Siri speed test
By Christian Zibreg on Nov 5, 2012
Google’s recently updated Voice Search iOS app is simply amazing as it demonstrates just how speedy Siri should be. Unfortunately, Apple’s digital secretary remains reliant on network connectivity for voice recognition. Heck, this time last year some folks were even convinced only the iPhone 4S was fast enough to run Siri. That couldn’t be farther from the truth because Google’s iOS app comes with real-time voice recognition. So, how speedy is Siri compared to Google’s refreshed app? Check out this clip by Gizmodo and meet us down in the comments. It’s a couple days old but definitely worth watching… Read More
Siri to gain movie ticket purchasing in iOS 6.1
By Cody Lee on Nov 5, 2012
Apple seeded the first beta of iOS 6.1 to developers last week. The firmware should be the next update we see for iOS, and we’re expecting it to include at least a handful of new features.
In fact, we’ve already found a couple of new additions in the beta, including changes in the Maps app and new Lock screen music controls. And another discovery was made last night… Read More
Why Eddy Cue is the right guy to fix Maps and Siri
By Christian Zibreg on Oct 31, 2012
Senior Vice President Eddy Cue is known as the fixer at Apple, a reputation he built back in 2008, when Steve Jobs appointed him head of iTunes and online services after giving Apple’s cloud team a serious dressing down over the MobileMe(ss) debacle. This 23-year Apple veteran immediately retired the flaky service, built iCloud from the ground up and took control of Apple’s iTunes and App Store infrastructure.
Last September, CEO Cook appointed Cue Apple’s new SVP of of Internet Software and Services, the role that encompasses the iTunes Store, App Store, iBookstore, as well as the iAd advertising platform and iCloud services.
Monday, Cue assumed Maps and Siri responsibilities after Cook fired iOS chief Scott Forstall for shipping buggy software prematurely, clashing with his peers and refusing to apologize personally for Mapgate (it was Cook who eventually signed the public apology instead). We, of course, already knew all of the above. Today, CNET runs an interesting profile which reveals a couple previously unknown tidbits about this able exec… Read More
Shake ups and shufflings: some thoughts on the new Apple
By Sebastien Page on Oct 30, 2012
If there’s one thing that really came as a surprise this month, it’s certainly not the iPad mini, or any other product announcement, but the executives shake up and shuffling at Apple. SVP of Retail John Browett is gone, and that’s a good thing, and really, hardly a surprise. The biggest surprise was that he was hired in the first place. The real bombshell in yesterday’s abrupt announcement is the departure of SVP of iOS Software, Scott Forstall.
Although it was the biggest kick, Apple’s press release also told us that Ive would now be in charge of Human Interface (aka everything design), iOS and OS X groups are now one, Maps and Siri are now part of the Internet Services unit, and Mansfield will lead the new Technologies group.
Now that we’ve gathered a little more information about the news and that I’ve had time to really soak it in, I’d like to share my thoughts on the situation, and what it all means for the new Apple… Read More
Siri, where’s the nearest Wi-Fi hotspot?
By Cody Lee on Oct 25, 2012
Have you ever found yourself looking for a public Wi-Fi hotspot? Maybe you were nearing your monthly wireless data cap, or were on a laptop or some other non-cellular device.
How’d you go about finding it? Sure there are websites you can look at, and apps that you can download. But if you’re looking for an easier way to do this, you can just ask Siri… Read More
Yes, the iPad mini includes Siri
By Jeff Benjamin on Oct 23, 2012
I’ve been asked a few times about Siri’s presence of the new iPad mini. Yes, Siri will be included out of the box on the new iPad mini. Apple even has screenshots of Siri in action on their iPad mini page.
Check after the break for a few more screenshots of Siri in action for the iPad mini… Read More
Apple patents Airplay mirroring for touchscreens, putting Siri in context
By Ed Sutherland on Oct 18, 2012
Apple’s patent attorneys are busy again. The Cupertino, California company has filed two patent applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, related to extending AirPlay mirroring to iPads and iPhones, as well as describing how Siri scans through databases to match searches.
In the first application, entitled “Gesture Visualization and Sharing Between Electronic Devices and Remote Displays,” Apple talks of protecting technology allowing a touch screen device to share its screen with a second, larger display. Because the patent application mentions a touch interface, reports suggest the patent is limited to the iPhone and iPad… Read More
Apple poaches a prominent Amazon search technologist to improve on Siri
By Christian Zibreg on Oct 15, 2012
According to a new report by AllThingsD, Apple has nabbed an Amazon search specialist William Stasior, who also held a senior position at AltaVista and Oracle. Stasior has reportedly landed the top job: Apple basically has charged him with running its Siri unit.
In hiring a new tutor for its underachieving digital secretary, Apple has indicated intentions to double down on enhancing Siri’s skill set, per Tim Cook’s promise a few months ago.
It also might signal a broader search agenda down the road that might give birth to an Apple-branded, more natural version of the traditional web search.
At any rate, the iPhone maker is interested in expanding Siri’s scope, which in its current incarnation focuses on voice-activated artificial intelligence, leaving search queries to specialized search engines and data bases such as Wolfram Alpha.
This could change down the road, however, especially as Apple continues to lessen its reliance on Google technology for some software features of the iPhone… Read More
Two months later, Apple still hasn’t approved Google Search update
By Cody Lee on Oct 10, 2012
Back in August, Google showed off an update for its iOS Search app that included its new Google Now digital assistant technology. It’s the same tech it uses in Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean).
During the showing, the company said that it had submitted the update to Apple and was awaiting approval. But more than two months have passed now, and we haven’t heard a peep… Read More
Brazil approves iPhone 5 for sale, may see Portuguese support for Siri
By Cody Lee on Oct 9, 2012
In addition to this morning’s story that the iPhone 5 will launch in India at the end of the month, another report has surfaced regarding international availability of Apple’s latest handset.
The report claims that Brazil’s telecommunications regulatory authority has just approved the iPhone 5 for sale in the country. And word is, Siri has learned how to speak Portuguese… Read More
How to install Siri on iOS devices running iOS 6
By Jeff Benjamin on Oct 9, 2012
Would you like to use Siri on your old iPod touch 4th generation or iPhone 4 running iOS 6? The first thing you need to do is jailbreak your device, and then install Cydia.
Once you’ve jailbroken your device and installed Cydia, you can then add the necessary Cydia repo to install the package needed to configure Siri on these devices.
Check inside for our full tutorial. Read More
Things updated with iPhone 5, iOS 6, Siri support
By Jeff Benjamin on Oct 3, 2012
One of the best task management apps available on iOS or the Mac, just received a fairly substantial update.
Things, a darling app among many Apple enthusiasts and the Getting Things Done crowd, receives support for the iPhone 5′s larger display, support for iOS 6, and the ability to create new inbox items using Siri. Read More
The iOS Maps song
By Christian Zibreg on Oct 1, 2012
The song-a-day man Jonathan Mann can be funny as hell, even more so considering he’s been able to write a song a day for more than two years straight without ever running out of inspiration. He’s back at it again with a new song about Apple’s mapping woes. If you like it, check out his birthday song to Siri from last week (part one from last year is here). Joy of Tech also has a nice take on what happens when Apple Maps meet Siri… Read More
Maps says sorry
By Christian Zibreg on Sep 27, 2012
And the iOS Maps bashing saga continues… Wanna know how it ends? Go past the fold for the remaining three tables. Joy of Tech also has another funny take on Mapgate, by the way… Read More
Jonathan Mann wishes Siri a happy birthday
By Christian Zibreg on Sep 26, 2012
Musician and songwriter Jonathan Mann made a name for himself by writing a song a day and sharing it on YouTube. He’s been doing it for over a thousand days straight, every single day. The song-a-day man scored big with fans of Apple when he posted the amusing Antennasong on the eve of Apple’s hastily organized presser two years ago to deal with the aftermath of the iPhone 4 antenna debacle.
Steve Jobs even played that song to kick off the presser. And now, John’s back with a new song celebrating Siri’s first birthday, though nine days early. More clips right after the break… Read More
Law student sues Apple over Siri sponsored responses
By Christian Zibreg on Sep 17, 2012
Apple’s Siri digital secretary, now a feature present on the iPhone 4S/5, the new fifth-generation iPod touch and third-generation iPad, is infamous for Apple’s over-the-top advertising, availability issues and inaccuracies.
Still in beta, Siri in iOS 6 is more reliable and faster. It can now display sports scores, help you make restaurant reservations, discover showtimes, watch movie trailers in-line and more. It is also tightly integrated with Apple Maps and more broadly available.
A law student is taking issue with how Siri responds to questions like “what’s the best smartphone/tablet ever”. As you know, based on web customer review average scores, Siri briefly used to name the Lumia 900 the best smartphone ever unitl Apple recalibrated her to favor the iPhone (with responses like “the one you’re holding”), much to Nokia’s disgust… Read More
Co-creator of Siri Adam Cheyer reportedly leaving Apple
By Cody Lee on Sep 11, 2012
As we all know, Siri, Apple’s now popular voice assistant, started out as a third-party iOS app. The story goes that Steve Jobs personally called up Siri co-founder Dag Kittlaus one day and made an offer to buy his work and team. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Shortly after the iPhone 4S launched, Kittlaus left Apple for personal reasons, but a majority of his team stayed on. Today, however, it’s being reported that Adam Cheyer, another co-founder and member of the Siri team, has also recently decided to leave the company… Read More
