Siri

Apple posts new “Hey Siri” and “Ridiculously Powerful” iPhone 6s adverts

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 19, 2018

Apple has posted two new advertisements on its YouTube channel to highlight features found on the iPhone 6s. The first spot, entitled "Hey Siri", is a 30-second clip aimed at showcasing the revamped hands-free voice assistant functionality. The second spot, entitled "Ridiculously Powerful", is a longer 1-minute ad that shows off the speed and power of Apple's latest flagship phone.

Both new spots can be found over at Apple's YouTube channel, or you can continue reading to check out the embeds. What are your thoughts on the ads? Do you find them effective?

iPad Pro doesn’t support untethered ‘Hey Siri’

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 12, 2015

Although Apple's iPad Pro Tech Specs webpage states in black and white that the device's A9X system-on-a-chip includes an embedded 'M9' motion coprocessor, just like its A9 counterpart powering the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, the tablet doesn't support untethered 'Hey Siri' functionality when not connected to power, AppleInsider discovered yesterday.

How to preview flight information and track flights on iPhone, iPad and Mac

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 20, 2018

Owners of an iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, or Mac can quickly look up flight status information found in Notes, Messages, and Mail using a rich interface with flight trajectory, flight status, arrival times and other information.

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to quickly preview the current status and other information pertaining to an airline and flight number, with or without leaving the context of what you're currently doing.

Siri gains Apple Music support on Apple TV, now can search and play music on latest beta

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 19, 2018

Siri has apparently gained some new functionality for Apple TV, at least on the tvOS 9.1 beta. You can now direct the remote assistant to play any song or album directly from Apple Music, even if the song or album isn't in your library. Siri can even search for songs on Apple Music, play Play Beats 1 radio, and more.

This makes Siri a lot more useful on Apple TV, and means that you don't have to look at the interface to start playing a song that you want to hear. The lack of Siri integration for Apple Music has been a popular pain point for early adopters of 4th-generation Apple TV.

I'm running the 9.1 beta on my Apple TV. For the record, Siri search for music was said to come as an update early next year, so it's highly likely that this could be a beta-only feature. Other iDB staffers have tried to replicate this functionality on tvOS 9.0 boxes to no avail.

Watch our video that shows Siri integration for Apple Music on the Apple TV...

iOS 9.2 to bring Arabic support for Siri

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

According to a new report by 9to5Mac, Apple’s upcoming iOS 9.2 software update will enable support for Arabic in Siri.

With last year’s iOS 8 update, Apple has paved the way for Siri in Arabic with Arabic support for iOS’s Dictation and QuickType keyboard features.

The full support for Arabic will allow local users not only to converse with Siri in Arabic but search for local places and businesses and more.

Here’s why Siri on Apple TV only supports eight countries so far

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 4, 2015

The new Apple TV ships with the same remote everywhere but Siri on the set-top box is only supported in these eight languages and countries: English (Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, German (Germany), French (France), Spanish (Spain) and Japanese (Japan).

Why is that? After all, Siri on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad support the most basic features in a total of 29 countries, as per Apple's iOS Feature Availability webpage.

Based on an interview that the German-language blog MacPrime conducted with several Apple TV project managers, it's all about the differences in the pronunciation of actor names, films and directors in various countries. But rest assured, Apple is already hard at work on training the Apple TV's Siri for additional countries.

Bloomberg: Apple’s penchant for secrecy slowing down its AI development efforts

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 30, 2015

According to a new report from Bloomberg, Apple's artificial development efforts are being hampered by the company's legendary penchant for secrecy as the company is finding it difficult to hire top engineers in the field.

While Apple researchers attended an artificial intelligence industry conference in Montreal last year, they kept a low profile and “didn’t say who they worked for unless asked.”

New Apple TV lacking Siri search for Apple Music and App Store apps

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 29, 2015

As the new Apple TV is scheduled to hit Apple's retail stores tomorrow, first reviews are now in. Journalists who were given a chance to spend some quality time with review units are praising evolutionary improvements to the living room experience while highlighting untapped potential for the refreshed $149 device.

One of the common complaints focuses on Siri and its inability to search apps for the Apple TV in a dedicated App Store. In addition, reports are noting that users won't be able to search Apple Music with their voice at launch, the omission Apple claims will be addressed with a software update due at the beginning of next year.

Apple posts hilarious new iPhone 6s ad with actor Bill Hader

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 3, 2016

Apple on Tuesday posted a new iPhone 6s commercial, highlighting the hands-free capabilities of the just-released smartphone. The ad stars Bill Hader, the long-time Saturday Night Live actor who appeared in Apple's "Backstage" video at WWDC this year.

The spot demonstrates how users can tap Siri to read and respond to emails using voice commands, with a bit involving the well-known "foreign prince wants to help you get rich" scam. As you can imagine, it's pretty entertaining. Watch the 30-second clip below.

New television commercials highlight iPhone 6s camera upgrades and hands-free Siri

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 25, 2015

Less than two weeks following its iPhone 6s commercial that focused on 3D Touch, Apple's begun rolling some new ads for the handset.

Adopting the dynamic and to-the-point format inaugurated by the previous ad, a trio of new commercials—titled “Crush,” “The Camera” and “Flip a Coin” and all starring actor and singer Jamie Foxx—showcase other iPhone 6s capabilities, like hands-free 'Hey Siri' and a variety of camera features.

iPhone 6s conserves power by disabling untethered ‘Hey Siri’ when face down or in your pocket

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 23, 2015

Apple's iPhone 6s has introduced an untethered 'Hey Siri' feature which allows for always-listening functionality even when the device isn't charging, by utilizing the power-efficient M9 motion coprocessor to always listen for voice commands.

But as AppleInsider finds out, the handset automatically switches off untethered 'Hey Siri' when it's in your pocket or face down on a table.

This is another trick in Apple's arsenal of technologies to extend battery life.

Apple acquires AI startup Perceptio

Cody Lee ∙ October 5, 2015

Following news last week that Apple acquired UK-based voice technology startup VocalIQ, Bloomberg reports that the company has also recently picked up AI startup Perceptio. A spokesman for Apple has confirmed the buyout with the usual boilerplate statement of “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.”