“It’s always been about the ecosystem for Apple,” Dan Moren writes for Macworld. “The company started out making its own hardware and software, and — with brief exceptions like the late, not-terribly-lamented clone program in the ‘90s — it’s only aimed to bring more and more of what it does under its direct control.”
“As the company moves into its fifth decade, its eyes are firmly planted on the future of that ecosystem,” Moren writes. “If the ‘70s and ‘80s were about the PC, the ‘90s about the rise of the Internet, and the 2000s and 2010s about consumer technology and the mobile revolution, then the 2020s are poised to be less about the devices we use and more about the seamless ecosystem that pervades every part of our lives.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Yeesh. We’re gonna need a better glue.
Well, now that Siri’s out from under Eddy Cue and into the capable hands of Craig Federighi, expect to see a much improved Siri with greater and more routine capability gains going forward!
MDN “Well, now that Siri’s out from under Eddy Cue”
i note that in 2015 the Mac App store was taken from Cue and given to Schiller.
I’ve long said that the best computer is the one you don’t see. That day is fast approaching.
Siri Should Be the Glue. If true, it would truly be a fortified, market-best ecosystem. After years, she just doesn’t seem to be a good learner…makes the same f’n mistakes.
I don’t see Siri as the glue. The ecosystem is the glue holding together computers, phone, tv, car, etc. think Dekard in Blade Runner. Calling Rachel. Plugs in his “device” and makes a call in a random “phone booth”. Didn’t have to think about it The ecosystem took care of everything.
She has learned to play Air when I ask for it, something as I have lamented on here she has failed to do this past 18 mths despite numourous attempts. Now she takes it in her Stride, glory be to Jobs.
It’s the secret sauce.
Siri doesnt work well recently, she keeps “I cant hear that”
It’s true that Eddy Cue may be part of the problem, but the issue is far more fundamental. This is also the case with iWorks, iLife — key Apple products that I learned were also under Eddy Cue for however many years now.
When Siri learns to “UNDERSTAND”, i.e., discern what is spoken by each owner (of an Apple gadget) not just the “correct English pronunciation” of a word, then Siri would truly make headway. Here, I am talking about, English as spoken by English speaking Americans, English, Hispanics, Australians, Filipinos, Indians (from India), Germans,French, etc.
But, that is only for the English speaking customers of Apple. If I understand correctly, most of Apple customers are non-English speaking — Chinese, Japanese, Spanish and Hispanics, Europeans, other Asians, Africans, etc.
As far as languages are concerned, Siri should understand also that “sentence structures” are different (i.e., the placement of nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.) for different languages. And, of course, the literal meaning of some words may be different from the native tongue to English (American or British or Australian).
For these and other reasons, some clueless English speaking people sometimes laugh at “initial” English automated translations of other languages.
Thus, until Siri learns to DISCERN and SPEAK, these other languages — where many of Apple customers live — then the author of the article and Apple are being delusional into believing that Siri will become THE glue of the Apple Ecosystem.
What truly made the modern Apple Ecosystem universal that started with the iPhone was the “digitization of the screen keyboard”. This revolution allowed the “screen keyboard” to be replaced with any alphanumeric or symbolic equivalent suitable for any language worldwide, where the iPhone, and later on other Apple products (iPads, Macs, etc.) were sold.
This is where basic artificial intelligence (AI) research is needed. I understand IBM and other tech companies are invested in these types of research. I am not sure if Apple is doing any such research. My initial impression with Siri suggests that Apple has not really invested in AI as it should, as far as languages are concerned.
CGC
The second to the last paragraph above (quoted below)
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What truly made the modern Apple Ecosystem universal that started with the iPhone was the “digitization of the screen keyboard”. This revolution allowed the “screen keyboard” to be replaced with any alphanumeric or symbolic equivalent suitable for any language worldwide, where the iPhone, and later on other Apple products (iPads, Macs, etc.) were sold.
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should be the last paragraph in the previous post.
CGC
I don’t think they have anything to worry about. The actual practical applications for what AI is going to end up being is probably not going to be significant for end users.
James,
Our ability or capability to imagine limits what we can (or can’t) do with a technology or invention. That applies to individuals, as well as companies, like Apple.
CGC
Yep. Till be like the butler that know what you like and expect.
Should I ask Siri or my girlfriend to get me the bee?
Yes, MDN could provide spell check.
No kidding. Considering I personally seldom, if ever, invoke Siri, I sure hope not.
The big advance wouldn’t be Siri being the ‘glue’ – it would be Apple simply making Siri not suck.
Hasn’t happened yet.
I don’t use it, when I do, it’s only for laughs.
Siri could really make a significant difference, for example for people with physical disabilities or those getting older losing their ability to perform certain tasks. Connect this customer base with an ecosystem that is able to voice activate gadgets at home or in the office, and those with disabilities and those getting older will able to live more independently.
I already outlined more vast applications above when it comes to day-to-day communications and translations.
CGC
Just a thought: before Siri can glue anything together, pepople actually have to use it. And people will use it when it understands what you are saying without the need to … speak … very … slowly … and … repeat. … everything … three …times … speak … very … slowly … and … repeat. … everything … three … times … speak … very … slowly … and … repeat. … everything … three … times. Oh forget it, I could have googled this by now.