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Siri Dictation Now Available For Free On the iPhone 4, iPod touch 4G, iPhone 3GS [Video]

IDB Staff ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Hackers have been trying to port Siri to older iDevices since the virtual assistant was announced alongside the iPhone 4S. Siri doesn't technically require the new handset's A5 processor and increased memory, so limiting the technology to the 4S is clearly a marketing maneuver.

We've already seen Siri running on an iPhone 4, so we know it's possible. But those instances required special circumstances, and we didn't know if we'll ever see a public release. Siri's dictation feature has now been made publicly available in Cydia for the iPhone 4, and it actually works.

Meet Romo, the iPhone-Powered Robot

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

We've seen multiple iOS-controlled helicopters and other robotic accessories over the last few months. Apparently, using your iDevice to remotely control a bite-sized vehicle is becoming quite popular.

But even though the RC market is getting crowded, there is still tons of room for innovative products. Romotive proves that with Romo, the first iPhone/iPod touch-powered (and controlled) robot...

Dev Team Working on “Very Promising” iPhone 4S Unlock

Alex Heath ∙ November 27, 2011

Dev Team frontman and unlock guru MuscleNerd has given an update on a new unlock for the newly-released iPhone 4S. According to MuscleNerd, a "very promising" unlock for the new handset is "in the works."

While iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 owners with older basebands have been able to unlock after jailbreaking for awhile now, there's a whole set of newer basebands waiting for an UltraSn0w update.

HTC Loses Money Thanks to Struggling Economy and Competition From Apple and Samsung

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Out of all of the Android manufacturers, perhaps no other company has benefited from Google's mobile operating system more than HTC. The Taiwanese handset-maker created some of the world's first smartphones, and the company has really taken off since Android hit.

In fact, HTC has been nearly unstoppable since it launched the first Android handset back in 2008, experiencing a sales growth streak that spanned nearly two years. But in the face of stiff competition and an ailing economy, its streak has finally come to an end...

Create Your Own Fake Siri Conversations with iFakeSiri

Oliver Haslam ∙ November 26, 2011

Since Siri is turning into the biggest thing to hit the internet since cats playing pianos, it was probably inevitable that someone would get around to making an easy way to fake Siri screenshots, and it has finally happened.

By offering a simple interface, the iFakeSiri web app allows self-professed comedians to enter their imaginary Siri conversations and have a fake screenshot created. This is perfect for, say, anyone that needs to write blog posts about Apple's fancy assistant technology!

An Inside Look at Apple’s New In-Store Pickup Service

Cody Lee ∙ November 25, 2011

A few weeks ago, Apple updated its retail store app with multiple new features. The two that really stood out were the EasyPay self-checkout option and the new in-store pickup service.

The New York Times got a glimpse of the latter feature in action yesterday during the Black Friday sale at a SoCal Apple Store. Utilizing customer tracking software, the service is actually quite interesting...

EA Offers Up to 80% Off iOS Games For Big Thanks Sale

Cody Lee ∙ Updated November 13, 2019

Add Electronic Arts to the list of developers that are offering up big discounts on iOS apps this week. We've already seen major holiday sales from Sega and GameLoft, and now we're taking a look at some of EA Mobile's deals.

The game-maker is responsible for some of the App Store's most popular titles, including FIFA, Madden, Need for Speed, and The SIMS. And for a limited time these games, as well as several others, are up to 80% off...

Siri vs. Microsoft’s Tellme Voice Control Feature

Cody Lee ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Microsoft and its chief strategy and research officer Craig Mundie have been taking a lot of smack over the past couple of days. Mundie made some controversial comments regarding Apple's new Siri feature during a recent interview with Forbes Magazine.

The executive claimed that Microsoft has had Siri-like technology on its Windows Phone platform for over a year, and that Apple's success with it has been the result of "good marketing." But the two systems are miles apart, and here's a video to prove it...

China Telecom Gearing Up for iPhone 4S Launch

Cody Lee ∙ November 25, 2011

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently gave the iPhone 4S the go-ahead for a launch in the largest nation on earth. The decision gave the green light to several major Chinese carriers to start offering the device, including China Telecom.

With over 120 million mobile subscribers, China Telecom is bigger than any single US carrier, and it's never had the iPhone. So, you can see why anticipation is building for the operator to start carrying Apple's latest, and most popular, handset...

iPhone Owners Are More Loyal Than Android Owners

Oliver Haslam ∙ November 25, 2011

We love our iPhones here at iDB, and even if we do play with an Android or Windows Phone 7 device here and there, we always come back to our iDevices without fail.

According to a new study by research firm GfK, we're not the only ones captivated by our fruity phones. The report claims that of the survey's 4,500 participants across Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, China, the United States, and Japan, 84% of current iPhone owners said they would buy another iPhone in the next twelve months.

That number drops to a comparatively low 60% for Android users...

FastPdfKit: First Siri-Controlled App Hits the App Store

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Apple's Siri is certainly the hot property these days, and it is at its best when in the hands of hackers who create tools like SiriProxy. Offering a way of making Siri interact with pretty much anything on a network, SiriProxy has opened doors left and right, and now app developers are getting in on the action.

FastPdfKit, an app now available on the App Store, claims to be the first to offer Siri integration using SiriProxy. More accurately, FastPdfKit's developer, MobFarm, is the first to spend the time to create the commands required to interact with its app, but we'll let them off with their bold claim just this once.

The result is the ability to ask Siri to complete in-app tasks, such as paging forward or searching for text. The app even has a party trick, with Siri on an iPhone 4S being able to control the FastPdfKit app on an iPad...

Siri Proxy Makes Starting Your Car With Your Voice a Reality

Oliver Haslam ∙ November 25, 2011

A few days ago we told you about one clever fellow who had found a way to create a 'Siri proxy,' allowing him to intercept Siri commands. This, in theory, makes Siri compatible with just about anything with an API, and the original proof of concept demonstrated Siri controlling a thermostat.

Now it seems that proof of concept has become something of an arms race, with likeminded individuals now making Siri connect with all manner of things, the latest being an automobile.

Using a Viper car system, an individual was able to instruct Siri to lock and unlock the car's doors, as well as start and stop the engine. Super cool, indeed...