Apple’s new iPhone 4S offers “speech recognition. Crazy good, transformative, category-redefining speech recognition,” David Pogue reports for The New York Times.
“Siri is billed as a virtual assistant: a crisply accurate, astonishingly understanding, uncomplaining, voice-commanded minion. No voice training or special syntax is required; you don’t even have to hold the phone up to your head. You just hold down the phone’s Home button until you hear a double beep, and then speak casually,” Pogue reports. “You can say, ‘Wake me up at 7:35,’ or ‘Change my 7:35 alarm to 8.’ You can say, ‘What’s Gary’s work number?’ Or, ‘How do I get to the airport?’ Or, ‘Any good Thai restaurants around here?’ Or, ‘Make a note to rent ‘Ishtar’ this weekend.’ Or, ‘How many days until Valentine’s Day?’ Or, ‘Play some Beatles.’ Or, ‘When was Abraham Lincoln born?'”
Pogue reports, “In each case, Siri thinks for a few seconds, displays a beautifully formatted response and speaks in a calm female voice. It’s mind-blowing how inexact your utterances can be… It’s even more amazing how Siri’s responses can actually form a conversation. Once, I tried saying, ‘Make an appointment with Patrick for Thursday at 3.’ Siri responded, ‘Note that you already have an all-day appointment about ‘Boston Trip’ for this Thursday. Shall I schedule this anyway?’ Unbelievable.”
Read more in the full review here.
Related articles:
USA Today’s Baig reviews iPhone 4S: Apple takes world’s finest smartphone to even loftier heights – October 12, 2011
WSJ’s Walt Mossberg reviews Apple iPhone 4S: Siri artificial-intelligence has to be tried to be believed – October 12, 2011
Believe it.
Anyone care to guess how we’ll be controlling the next Apple TV?
With your tongue, literally.
‘Ishtar’? I’m surprised Siri didn’t gripe about that choice.
Siri: I cannot find that movie, David.
Pogue: What? It’s got to be in there somewhere? Try Rotten Tomatoes.
Siri: Actually, I was trying to avoid the movie altogether. It’s in your best interest. Your time would be better spent stuck in traffic.
Pogue: Fine. Map me a route to an Apple Store on October 14th.
Siri: Done.
How ’bout ‘Plan Nine from Outer Space’?
That’s another one of Hollywood’s greatest.
How about “Gigli” for my generation?
Oh you missed a golden opportunity to say, Sorry but I can’t do that Dave.
exactly
I don’t know what’s worse. Worrying about the long lines at Apple stores with a possibility of walking away empty-handed
OR
having already ordered the 4S with expected delivery in 2 days while AT&T’s order status shows it hasn’t even been shipped and having to hear others rejoice at how great their new iPhone is.
Just a little jealous is all…………
Patience young Jedi, patience….
I am astounded just how few have seen the impact of this. The saddest thing for SJ must have been that he left the World as stupid as he found it despite all his great work to make people think different.
Steve didn’t do anything about the stupidity in the World, but he did make it a little more livable.
agreed…
I would love to have Siri use Steve Jobs digitized voice. Kinda like reinforcement messages all day long by a famous humble and inspiring servant!
If Siri had the voice of Steve Jobs, it would not have been the “uncomplaining” and “calm” voice described in the article!
LOL exactly right. Maybe that could be motivating though. I’ve heard stories about Steve exploding and yelling at folks but I’ve heard he could be just as imposing and “motivating” when speaking calmly and evenly.
Pogue: “Open the ‘Pod, play the Doors, Siri.”
Siri: “I’m sorry Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
But ITS NOT AN IPHONE 5!!! Where is the 4 inch screen? How can Tim Cook live with this disaster? He should resign today.
Why do I want a big a## phone? Men need something big, I guess, when other “things” they have ‘are small.
This has to be troubling for Google.
🙂
“Siri, Call Steve Jobs.”
“Sorry, I can’t do that.”
“That’s okay. I just had to ask. Play me some Beatles instead.”
“….and it doesn’t have a keyboard, which makes it not a very good email machine.”
Say it with Monkey Boy………”Siri” BITCH!!!