Siri

A Helpful Explanation of How Siri Works and Why a Port Can’t Be Released

Alex Heath ∙ November 22, 2011

Ever since rumors of an impending Siri port started circulating, non-iPhone 4S owners have been wondering why Siri can't be made available on older iDevices. We've seen video of hackers running Siri on the iPhone 4, iPod touch 4G, iPhone 3GS, and even video of Siri controlling random devices, like a thermostat.

While these specific instances show that Siri can indeed run on non-4S devices, publicly distributing Siri poses a whole other set of problems. The complex system that Apple's servers use to authenticate with Siri on the iPhone 4S is one of the main reasons that a Siri port can't be made available to everyone at the moment.

Siri Can Tell You If a Plane is Flying Above Your Head

Alex Heath ∙ November 22, 2011

File this one under "crazy things that Siri can do." Apparently, thanks to the magic of Wolfram Alpha, Siri on the iPhone 4S is able to give you flight path trajectories. The real kicker is that Siri can use your iPhone's GPS data to determine if there are planes currently flying about your area.

Now you have a new way to see if your friend is ready to get picked up at the airport!

Siri Hacked to Control on All Kinds of Non-Apple Devices, Thermostat Included

Alex Heath ∙ November 21, 2011

A hacker that goes by the handle of plamoni has created a Siri proxy server that anyone can use to make the voice-based technology control a range of non-Apple devices. A development firm by the name of Applidium recently hacked the Siri security protocol and detailed the process for anyone to implement.

Since then, plamoni has taught Siri new commands that allow it to communicate with any standard, Wi-Fi-capable thermostat. With the server's source code available for free online, anyone with access to an iPhone 4S unique identifier and a good understanding of networking standards can hack Siri in a similar fashion.

OmniFocus Gains Siri Support and iCloud Syncing

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated February 19, 2018

For those that really take todo systems seriously, the OmniFocus app is often at the top of the list for getting things done. With a suite of apps that covers the Mac, iPad and iPhone, OmniFocus creators The Omni Group have created a real powerhouse of applications that many swear by.

In the latest update for the iPhone version of their OmniFocus app, the developers at The OmniGroup have taken Apple's lack of a Siri API and gone all Chuck Norris on it. Instead of waiting for Apple to give them permission to use Siri to create tasks, they have linked OmniFocus with iCloud, which in turn gives the app full access to reminders created using iOS 5's built-in Reminders app.

The end result? You can now tell Siri to create reminders in OmniFocus...

Use Siri to Dictate Text on Your Desktop With this Workaround

Cody Lee ∙ November 20, 2011

Even though Siri has received mixed reviews, a majority of the public seems to like the digital assistant. Folks are chomping at the bit for the feature to be ported to the iPhone 4 and other non-approved devices. And some are even hoping it finds its way to the Mac.

While we wait for Siri to arrive on the desktop by way of either Apple or hackers, this workaround might help fill the void. It allows users to dictate text on their desktop computers (Mac or PC) using Siri. It doesn't cost any money, and it's actually really easy to do...

Make Siri Jealous with Alfred as Your Personal Assistant

Alex Heath ∙ Updated February 19, 2018

Today I'm reviewing a personal assistant for the iPhone, and its name isn't Siri.

Alfred is your intelligent assistant for wining, dining, and generally having a good time. The app answers questions like, "What should I eat?" and "Where should I party?" Alfred learns over time, and pretty soon you'll find that the charming little robot knows more about yourself than you do.

Siri Security Protocol Cracked, Third-Party App and Non-Apple Device Support Now Possible

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 3, 2018

Ever since Apple unveiled Siri last month, hackers have been hard at work trying to free the technology from the company's iron grip. Like most things in iOS, the digital assistant's abilities are limited in order to maintain security and stability on the platform.

But, as with jailbreaking, hackers have the power to loosen Apple's grip, and they are. The folks over at Applidium have reached a major milestone with the iPhone 4S-exclusive feature. They've apparently cracked Siri's security protocol...

Siri Mind Control Hack Proven to be Fake

Alex Heath ∙ Updated February 24, 2017

We recently told you about Project Black Mirror, a seemingly-ambitious attempt to control the iPhone's Siri technology with only mind waves. When we watched the original video of the project demonstration, we all — including the rest of the internet — got excited about the possibility of futuristic mind control.

It appears that the "hackers" behind Project Black Mirror were only controlling all of our minds, not Siri's. Several sites are now reporting that the project is fake...

Meet the Man Who Sold Siri to Apple, Dag Kittlaus

Cody Lee ∙ November 11, 2011

Since the iPhone 4S debuted last month at Apple's "Let's Talk" iPhone event, everyone has been talking about one feature: Siri. Apple's digital assistant has become extremely popular, even outside the tech world.

Unlike most inventions that make their way into Apple's iOS products, Siri wasn't made in Cupertino. It was actually acquired in a deal rumored to be worth close to $200 million, making a handful of men instant millionaires. Meet Dag Kittlaus...

Hackers Are Able to Control Siri With Their Minds

Alex Heath ∙ Updated March 18, 2019

The geniuses behind Project Black Mirror have created a way to control Siri with their minds. By constructing an elaborate system involving the Arduino prototyping platform, a MacBook Pro, and ECG pads to capture analog brain waves, these hackers can have Siri make a call by merely thinking.

Yeah, we're not kidding.

Voice Actor Behind the British Version of Siri Speaks Out

Alex Heath ∙ November 10, 2011

An interesting story in The Telegraph this morning features the voiceover artist behind the British version of Siri. The actor was recently contacted by Apple and told to not talk publicly about Siri, but the real kicker is that he didn't know that he was the voice of Siri in the first place!

In an interview with the actor, Jon Briggs, you get a look into the world of voiceover recordings and some of the history behind how Siri's voices came to be.

A Closer Look at the iPhone 4S Proximity Sensor and Siri

Alex Heath ∙ November 9, 2011

Apple recently stated in a support email that it has no plans to bring Siri to older iDevices, and many are wondering why. If it's just a matter of software, then Apple's decision to not bring Siri to non-4S devices can be seen as a simple marketing gimmick. If other devices can run Siri like the iPhone 4S, then why not make it available for everyone?

Porting Siri to other iDevices involves more than just software, as there are some noticeable hardware differences in the iPhone 4S.