“Since the iPhone 4S’s launch in early October, I’ve run into an increasing number of Siri users who are disenchanted with Apple’s voice-controlled ‘intelligent assistant’ that’s exclusive to its handset,” Dwight Silverman writes for The Houston Chronicle. “Their complaints – that it’s inconsistent in its performance and hampered by network outages – mirrors to some extent the experience I had on launch day.”
“Of course, the reason any technology company releases a beta is to watch ‘real’ users hammer on it. In doing so, developers can get a feel for how folks use a product. This gives them a chance to find and fix bugs, fine-tune the interface and, perhaps most importantly, see what users really expect of the product,” Silverman writes. “In this way, real-world usage drives future improvements.”
“Apple seldom does this. Public beta-testing amounts to a kind of giant focus group, which is the very antithesis of Apple’s developmental mindset,” Silverman writes. “Still, a product like Siri is going to a natural exception to that approach. More usage data for a voice-recognition-based product will improve it far more quickly than if it remained hidden in the lab.”
Silverman writes, “I think Siri serves two purposes for Apple. It gives the company the chance to hone what could be a hugely disruptive new product – an Apple TV – and it gives the iPhone 4S a real reason to live… The risk Apple runs by doing this, of course, is that Siri’s ‘rough edges’ taint the product to the point that it’s hard to market it as something magical when Apple TV finally hits, supposedly late next year. All it takes is for Siri to become the butt of late-night talk show hosts’ jokes, and suddenly Siri is the new Newton.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Silverman is overstating Siri beta’s issues along with their “risk” to Apple. Siri is amazing technology already – even in beta form. Siri alone has already sold millions of iPhone 4S units and will sell untold millions more Apple products in the future.
Horse shit.
Apple’s biggest problems are the ones pundits make up.
1
What is with this obsessive need by some tech pundits to invent another “crisis” for Apple? Apparently the rapid-fire developments in the tech world aren’t exciting enough, so they have to make up stories to write about?
Writers do NOT get paid because they write 6 damn good incisive articles a year.
Most have editors or publications they submit to who expect a continual stream of content.
Hence all the articles that may sound good on the first sentence but don’t hold together as noteworthy or, even more commonly, as being not true.
Absolutely Right!!!!
+ ∞ !!!!
+1
Agree.
Only problem I ever have had with Siri… Is when I’m using my bluetooth in my car. And that’s not really Siri IMO.
While I don’t think Siri sucks it does have flaws that are not normal apple. The fact that it is in Beta should mean that Apple should not be advertising it as incredible.
In my country we don’t have support for many of the services but outside of that it is spotty depending on the volume and noise in the background. It is also atrocious with Bluetooth making it virtually unusable in the car. All of my friends are experiencing the same thing. It cannot stay connected in the car to continue the conversation. Which makes it impossible to use one of the greatest strengths. Dictation.
Just give away that Lada you’re driving and get a decent vehicle.
Have you ever thought about using the headphones and mic instead of trying to dictate in a crowd or in your car or taxi?
Seriously, what kind of car/tires/year you drive also makes a difference in road noise and to say that Siri is useless in a car makes that comment moronic.
I suggest you use a mic or change your habits and not blame the phone. It’s a “beta” version, you always have the right not to use it.
Siri doesn’t work in my car via Bluetooth at all. It simply doesn’t hear the commands, so Apple needs to work on the bluetooth interface. Virtually all new cars have Bluetooth connectivity, which negates the need for a headset (and is much preferred to a headset). Why should we have to go backwards (using a headset) and not use perfectly valid and existing technology just to use Siri?
Bizlaw, you are talking about something else. How your audio is transmited to Siri, again is not Apple’s problem. Talk with the people who make your bluetooth/car/input or whatever and tell them to make their mic’s better or put them in a better location. Get it?!! That’s someone else, that’s not Apple!!!
OR, you can use what Apple gave you, the mic or talk in a more quiet location.
I use the mic and dictate texts all the time in my car. Also the background noise thing becomes almost non existent if you bring the phone up to your ear and talk into it to give the commands. When the phone is by your ear the noise cancellation kicks in. The iPhone has two mics, one you talk into and the other is for noise cancellation. When the phone is by your ear the second mic can cut out almost all other noise besides the noise coming from your mouth.
Took the words right off my fingertips. It’s the noise cancellation that’s built in to the iPhone (when held next to your ear) that makes all the difference in the world.
Unfortunately, here and other places if the police catch you holding a phone while driving, it’s a $150 fine. Hands-free (either dash-mounted, or mic) is technically fine.
sadly true.
I really don’t have much problem with Siri in the car, some stuff with the bluetooth though.
I found that with the bluetooth, speak a little slower and try to make sure don’t mumble, and use proper english. Siri can determine most mis spoken words like “tryin” instead of Trying. but over bluetooth, Siri has trouble if YOU are not speaking clearly/properly.
Who knew Siri would force people to actually speak better.
again, it’s really not Siri…
I don’t think it’s a problem on the iPhone 4S side in terms of Bluetooth. I use it all the time in 3 different cars. One of them is a convertible, and it works great even with the top down while driving on the freeway.
The only reason why poseurs are buying the iPhone 4S is because they can stand in the elevator and say, “Siri, what floor is a douche like me going to?”
Otherwise the 4S being an identical twin to the 4 is a nonentity.
Wrong.
Camera alone makes the 4S a must-have upgrade for anyone with an interest in photo-video.
yeah you’r right…. except for the dual core processor (nearly twice the speed) advanced graphics chip, amazing new camera and it being a world phone, it other words completely different. Yeah, I guess except for being completely different it’s the same.
Blah blah blah.
Sorry, meant this as a comment on the Ballmer nut lameness.
Yeah, I agree BLN has become increasing lame and troll-ish, I wonder what’s up. (or was he just a stealth troll all along)
Recent converts like BLN tend to show more enthusiasm and are more opinionated than we “been there, done that” types. You always remember your first. ; )
^^ This worm has turned ^^
I don’t know why poseurs are buying the 4S, but I got it for the camera, HDR, and overall brilliant photography.
However, Siri, with instant look-up, reminders / wake me, etc., is very quickly something critical and amazing.
Nonentity?? I never sought out the iPhone 4. My 3gs was fine for what I then needed–video capture for editing with Final Cut, but no stills. I had a Canon PowerShot when I needed it.
But the 4S has much better video capture, and HDR at 8 MP blows a 10-12 MP Canon out of the water.
And Ballmer’s Left Nut could ask it, “Why am I such an ignorant twit that I totally ignore the faster processor, much faster graphics and insanely great camera?”
Hey loser, I would still be thrilled with my new 4S even if there were no Siri.
He won’t be happy until it has a huge screen and doesn’t fit in his pocket anymore. My 4S has an insanely huge 52″ screen whenever I want it, hanging on my living room wall via HDMI or AirPlay mirroring.
That’s certainly what YOU ask Siri. And Siri would KNOW and address you as “douche.”
“The only reason why poseurs are buying the iPhone 4S is because they can stand in the elevator and say, “Siri, what floor is a douche like me going to?”
Otherwise the 4S being an identical twin to the 4 is a nonentity.”
Douche. Only a complete nonentity whines like a little girl about the 4S looking like a 4 just because people won’t rush up to them all breathless and excited saying ‘wow, man, is that an iPhone 4S? Damn, they’re so rare, I never thought I’d ever see one in my lifetime!’
Unlike you, I couldn’t give a flying fuck, the phone spends most of its time in my pocket, unless I have a specific need to use it. I don’t have a need to encourage some lowlife pikey scumbag who might want to relieve me of it.
Keep in mind the nick of the person posting above:
“Ballmer’s left nut”.
IOW: Expect Ballmeresque statements to come out of his scrotum.
Siri doesn’t get more then 2 sentences right usually for me. I hope and I’m sure it’ll get better. I do like her reading my text while I’m working through my headsets
When she hears a word wrong, make sure you manually correct it by clicking in the box that shows what you said. If you correct what she thinks you said, she gets better at understanding you over time. Also, if you’re in the UK or AU make sure you have it set to that region.
Didn’t Apple release OS X 10.0 as a public beta?
Yeh, thought so.
This article is filler. Nothing more, nothing less.
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Yes, and it too was thrilling.
B.S. Siri works well, better than any other voice system (by a country mile). Moreover the software “finish” doesn’t seem beta , as a matter of fact it is better than what google (or MS) deliver as finished software.
And yes, Siri IS -straight up incredible.- (all Mactacular’s friends notwithstanding, of course)
I notice a large proliferation of “talking points” and “buzzwords” in Dwight’s spew. Could this “siri backlash” just be another “constructed event” like “antenna-gate”. Those astute enough to keep track might have noted (as I) that every (and I mean EVERY) iPhone release is “plagued” with a “disaster” a “flaw” that makes it “almost unusable”. And yet after the smoke clears it always turns out the “critical flaw” was construct and not a real problem at all.
Yep, that’s about the size of it. One could almost think these stories are plants by ____________ (fill-in your favorite Apple enemy). Just saying.
Of course the stories are planted. Maybe not this particular one; but FUD is a business tactic employed by a number of ruthless companies in several industries, as a lateral assault to protect value.
Exactly.
Apples “beta” is always better than anyone else’s released software.
Just watch the video of ms’s voice stuff a week or so ago… Didn’t it try to search for teen porn or something?
“Straight up”—a phrase that should shame the deniers. You just feel that they are lying outright—that they haven’t even tried the 4S with Siri.
Keen observations, Holmes, about the language patterns. It’s worthy of a monograph.
The Internet is a sociological minefield.
Well, he did use “taint”.
dumber than a bag of dicks.
siri works great and hands free texting saves lives.
+1
I’m so tired of the apple haters ,just move on to something else and leave us 300 million plus users alone .heres a tip ,if you dont like it ,don’t buy it ,write about or discuss it .we won’t miss you .see ya
I frankly have been disappointed with Siri. She often does not hear commands correctly (regardless of environment), and trying to get it correct takes more time than doing the task Siri-less anyway. The same goes for my wife’s 4S, so it’s not my phone or Slickwrap case. However, I see the value and hope Apple gets Siri working better because it would be absolutely wonderful to use via Bluetooth in my car (which doesn’t work at all right now).
You guys wouldn’t happen to be Scots would you? I heard it was having trouble with the Scottish accent. Other then that, I find it works much better when you put it up to your ear like you’re talking to someone. Holding it out in front of your face and yelling at it, like in the commercial has been less effective for me.
Siri is Apple’s first stab at a search engine. It will take some time (and they NEED all users, hence the public beta) to INDEX THE WORLD.
Has anyone bothered to see the complaints on the static noice and also the pathetic battery life?
never heard of the static noise FUD.
the battery life… Turn off the location services for what you are not using for one, and 99% of it has been fixed in the last patch. those still with issues have a patch coming.
Mine runs about the same as my 4 did.
in Fact i’m sitting at 75% right now… and I have used my 4S quite a bit so far today.. Siri, calls, and a lot of web.
Actually, I had a 4s that my wife put through the wash 🙁 and it had no battery problem. However, apple replaced it free :), but the new one does have the battery problem.
Don’t know what to say about that.
Get a new wife
LMAO
Last I heard the iPhone 4s had a 96-97 % satisfaction rating. Wow. Siri must really have major flaws.
Dwight Silverman relies on the tried and tested “Diss Apple to get noticed” playbook. Ho hum. Poor guy! I’ve got Siri & I love her. To call her anything but incredible or magical because she’s still in Beta would be stupid.
I loved Siri at first. But when the novelty wore off and is started using it for real searches, it became frustrating. I have since abandoned it when i NEED to find something. I’ll give it a shot occasionally when the results aren’t urgent or important, but that is becoming less frequent with every passing day.
One caveat, I live in a very small Montana town, if I still lived in Chicago or a major metro area i think Siri would be far far more useful. There just aren’t that many things around here to search for.
So be one of the people who instead loves the iPhone 4s for its unmatched ability to capture the most spectacular photographs of bitterroots. Ask Siri about that, instead of playing the wasteland card.
The douchebags are out in force. Siri is decimating the other lame phones. So they have to come up with something to take it down.
Jizzmodo is at it again too.
Wave after wave.
Sure it’s flawed, but Siri for reminders is a godsend.
Siri isn’t floored is the lack of education in the younger generation. Everyone talks like a fucking idiot nowadays, of course it doesn’t work properly.. Yeah man dhats phat dat dis.. TWATS
Well, an amazing thing happened when I turned Siri off for an international trip I’m on — my battery life went from half a day to about what I was getting with my old 3GS. When I get back to the states, I’ll try to figure out what part of Siri was causing the problem, but it looks like Siri (possibly the IR detector, I don’t know) has something to do with my poor battery performance. I can live without Siri if it drags the battery down so fast.
Lots of investigation to do still…
Normally, people who code in C++ don’t advertise the fact. Try a different username, like “Troll++”.
Hey, I used to chat with somebody who had the username c++ in the pr0n chatrooms of AOL back in the 1990’s. Wonder if it’s the same person.
“…All it takes is for Siri to become the butt of late-night talk show hosts’ jokes, and suddenly Siri is the new Newton.”
Yeah, right. When was the Newton the butt of late night jokes?
And for those having Siri problems while in your car… might I suggest that (unless you’re using your iPhone while being a passenger) you stop trying to multi-task and just keep your attention focused on what what you should be doing.
Driving.
the real question that matters is how soon and how extensively Apple updates Siri. going 9 months total in its current state until WWDC would be too long. graduating from beta 0.x to V. 1.0 in March with the launch of iPad 3 makes a lot of sense. the big leap will be enabling 3rd party apps to use it.
wait and see …
The engine behind Siri may receive periodic updates, but the real buzz will arise from Apple licensing new databases and hence, to the public, new reach. Each new licensing agreement is another nail in the coffin being prepared for Google, Inc. Thanks for nothing, Eric Schmidt.
And your point about third-party developers is key, as well.
Ahh the ol’ Newton arguement again. Anyone who has ever used a Newton (w/ an OS newer than the first iteration) can tell you that it did a more than acceptable job. There are still some things I could do (can do. Still have it and it still works) with my Newton that I wish we’re available in the iOS.
Siri is garbage!! I’m an apple fan in Australia and it screws up every single thing I say. Plus apple have cut Siri down to be very useless like disabling web search and businesses.
Technology jokes are made in the first 72 hours. It is too late for Siri to become one of those. The PCjr was a joke the morning of introduction (besides the product itself there was the fact it wouldn’t be available for months).
Siri is disruptive and if nothing else it is the crystal ball of the future in that it defines what we will expect from our digital devices going forward.
You have the last word on this, CitizenX. and the correct one.