iPad Mini Supports Siri, iPad 2 Still Doesn't

[MacRumors]

Apple's iPad comparison page shows the spec details between the iPad mini, iPad 2 and iPad with Retina Display. Of interest, the iPad mini supports Siri while the iPad 2 does not, despite sharing the same Dual-Core A5 processor as the iPad 2.

Before the launch, there was some speculation that there may have been technical reasons why the iPad 2 was not capable of supporting Siri. The new iPad mini does have internal improvements over the iPad 2 but does share the same A5 processor. It may also be possible there could have be microphone improvements with the new device, but Apple hasn't specified.

Article Link: iPad Mini Supports Siri, iPad 2 Still Doesn't

[notjustjay]

I think that headline should read "iPad Mini Supports Siri, iPad 2 Still Doesn't".

[Avatarshark]

I think they want the customer to buy the Mini or the new one instead of the 2 that is why don't allow Siri on the old iPad.

[mdelvecchio]

Originally Posted by Avatarshark

I think they want the customer to buy the Mini or the new one instead of the 2 that is why don't allow Siri on the old iPad.

yeah man! its a CONSPIRACY! C-O-N-spiracy!

nevermind that apple still offers and sells the ipad2 as part of their product lineup...

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Originally Posted by a0me

Maybe so, but the old new iPad does support it.
No, that's not confusing at all.

"third-generation"...whats so confusing or difficult about that? we've been referring to ipods and macbooks by similar nomenclature for a decade.

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Originally Posted by FloatingBones

It seems as if Apple is doing all they can to discourage the purchase of an iPad 2. They want people to go with the Mini or the 4. Keeping Siri off of the 2 seems consistent with that plan.

rubbish. if apple didnt want customers to buy the ipad2, they wouldnt continue to sell the ipad2!

seriously people. brains, use em. they continue to offer a mid-level product because they want to capture the mid-level market in addition to the upper and lower markets.

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Originally Posted by jmpnop

This. People giving reasons are just defending Apple's planned obsolescence.

what a joke. iOS has the longest supported lifespan in the mobile industry. you want to talk about PO take a look at android -- how common is it for a given android handset to support *no* future OS updates?

i read these posts and i wonder what its like to live in such a dark shadowy world where everyone is out to get you....its the stuff of X-Files.

if apple didnt want to support the ipad2, they would simply stop supporting it. like google/motorola. they wouldnt continue to manufacture and sell them.

[iHenry]

I posted this already on a different thread but some of the questions remain unanswered:

Should there not be a decrease in performance, having the same A5 processor but taking care of the higher resolutions of both cameras, the higher pixel density screen, but with a smaller battery? Even if the screen is smaller?

Will they retrofit the iPad2 to have Siri with an update?
After the iPad mini introduction people are starting to shout out loud for a fair explanation as the situation can be easily seen by the consumers as an abuse they can't technically understand.
Does the same thing happen with the personal hotspot that iPad2 users can't have? Does the iPad mini have it?

Why would they not let the iPad2 have Siri then?
A business decision instead of a technical one?

[ArcaneDevice]

Originally Posted by mdelvecchio

if apple didnt want to support the ipad2, they would simply stop supporting it. like google/motorola. they wouldnt continue to manufacture and sell them.

You mean like the continuing support for the iPod Classic?

Apple supply older hardware only until a product has been released that fills the same niche. Unless it's a professional product in which case they will drop it like a hot rock just because.

Apple are just acting like pricks here and no amount of anti-Android rhetoric masks that fact. Siri could work on an iPad 2. People have got it to work on an iPad 2. Apple can very easily allow it to work on an iPad 2.

They choose not to purely for sales and marketing purposes. They've done it before and they will continue to do so. Restricting a feature purely to give a newer product a minor marketing advantage is Apple MO.

The other fact worth noting here is that Siri is borderline useless on an iPad and just a novelty act. It has limited response information as it is on a phone and serves mainly as a hands-free system. On the iPad, a device which always sits in your lap, voice control is pointless.

[FloatingBones]

Originally Posted by mdelvecchio

rubbish. if apple didnt want customers to buy the ipad2, they wouldnt continue to sell the ipad2! seriously people. brains, use em. they continue to offer a mid-level product because they want to capture the mid-level market in addition to the upper and lower markets.

I categorically disagree with characterizing the iPad 2 as a "mid level" product. After the latest announcement, it is 2 generations old, and it has an obsolete dock connector.

Apple would continue to sell the iPad 2 -- if they wish to clear out their inventory.

IMHO, Apple has one too many sets of SKUs in their iPad line, and the 2 is the odd man out. It will be gone in early 2013 -- if not sooner.

[Aidan5806]

Ummmmm....."iPad mini Supports with Siri"......

I believe that is an improper use of words.

[maccompatible]

I'd say it's a licensing issue. Only devices created after acquisition of the siri company can have the feature, due to legal reasons.

[RoboCop001]

Originally Posted by maccompatible

I'd say it's a licensing issue. Only devices created after acquisition of the siri company can have the feature, due to legal reasons.

Regardless of how likely it is, that is the most un-neurotic explanation I've heard about lack of Siri on a device. Well done!

[hh83917]

Um Apple will probably tell you it's the microphones in the iPad2 being not good enough to do voice recognition or something...

[adder7712]

Originally Posted by hh83917

Um Apple will probably tell you it's the microphones in the iPad2 being not good enough to do voice recognition or something...

I though the iPad mini and the iPad 3/3.5 have the same mic assembly?

[andrewlgm]

Originally Posted by hh83917

Um Apple will probably tell you it's the microphones in the iPad2 being not good enough to do voice recognition or something...

Jailbroken ipad 2 runs Siri as well as the ipad 3. The reason why it's not available? Simple answer. It is because apple does not give the most exciting new feature to older hardware. Simple. If you want it, then buy a new iPad.

[tylernol]

Originally Posted by hh83917

Um Apple will probably tell you it's the microphones in the iPad2 being not good enough to do voice recognition or something...

I believe the iPad 2 does not contain the background noise suppression technology, initially a standalone DSP by Audience, now integrated into the ARM SOC. So Siri could work , but nowhere near as well, on an iPad 2. The iPad Mini probably has it.

[KojiH]

I think the choice by Apple to continue to leave the iPad 2 and iPhone 4 without Siri is mostly for marketing reasons as others have suggested.

As for the arguments that the microphone is not good enough or that the processor or wireless data is not fast enough on the iPad 2 or iPhone 4, how does this explain why the new Google App voice search function works flawlessly on these older devices. Adding insult to injury it is even noticeably faster than the Siri on my iPhone 5.

[WatchTheThrone]

Of course it doesn't....Apple needs people to upgrade duh....

[madhatter61]

Originally Posted by WatchTheThrone

Of course it doesn't....Apple needs people to upgrade duh....

On a technical viewpoint (not getting into opinions with likes and dislikes).

While iPad2 has the same A5 chip and graphics ... they do not have the higher performance LTE radio combo chip, nor the cameras, nor the microphone quality. Siri is an iCloud service, and depends upon high speed interface with Apple servers. I have dictation apps from Nuance that work quite well, but doesn't have the search features offered via Siri.

I noticed another comment mentioned something about licenses, as well.

As Apple continues to upgrade, they (like everyone else) do not upgrade the hardware that has already been sold. It is just the way it is. (it is not just a software issue).

Hope this helps.

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Originally Posted by ArcaneDevice

You mean like the continuing support for the iPod Classic?

Apple supply older hardware only until a product has been released that fills the same niche. Unless it's a professional product in which case they will drop it like a hot rock just because.

Apple are just acting like pricks here and no amount of anti-Android rhetoric masks that fact. Siri could work on an iPad 2. People have got it to work on an iPad 2. Apple can very easily allow it to work on an iPad 2.

They choose not to purely for sales and marketing purposes. They've done it before and they will continue to do so. Restricting a feature purely to give a newer product a minor marketing advantage is Apple MO.

The other fact worth noting here is that Siri is borderline useless on an iPad and just a novelty act. It has limited response information as it is on a phone and serves mainly as a hands-free system. On the iPad, a device which always sits in your lap, voice control is pointless.

Strong opinions ... not much for the facts department though ...

As for function, voice dictation is quite handy on an iPad2 (which I have and use all the time). I really don't care for the on-screen keyboard ... I use a blue tooth Apple keyboard when I want to do a lot of typing. Great keyboard.
But, maybe you could go EZ on the strong opinions ... not worth much to me.

[adnbek]

Originally Posted by madhatter61

On a technical viewpoint (not getting into opinions with likes and dislikes).

While iPad2 has the same A5 chip and graphics ... they do not have the higher performance LTE radio combo chip, nor the cameras, nor the microphone quality. Siri is an iCloud service, and depends upon high speed interface with Apple servers. I have dictation apps from Nuance that work quite well, but doesn't have the search features offered via Siri.

Bullcrap. The 4S doesn't have LTE either.

There's no technical limitation, so stop trying to find one. It's a marketing decision, pure and simple.

[Galatian]

Originally Posted by adnbek

Bullcrap. The 4S doesn't have LTE either.

There's no technical limitation, so stop trying to find one. It's a marketing decision, pure and simple.

Agreed. I keep my iPhone 4S on Edge most of the time to save battery (I only turn on 3G when using the personal hotspot) and Siri feels just as snappy. Siri uses VERY little bandwidth.

[musicpenguy]

Originally Posted by adnbek

Bullcrap. The 4S doesn't have LTE either.

There's no technical limitation, so stop trying to find one. It's a marketing decision, pure and simple.

I stand by that it is a licensing issue with Nuance - the iPad 2 debuted before Siri was introduced and Apple cannot have some iPad 2s Siri capable and others not - if the iPad 2 debuted after the 4S it would have it.

Apple I'm sure would love to include it, but its a bigger issue than what may appear on the surface to observers like ourselves.

[Coastercraze]

Siri was fun the first time I messed with my iPhone 5. After that, I don't see myself using it that much. If you want Siri, just get an iPhone and you won't care either that it's not on your iPad 2.

[adnbek]

Originally Posted by musicpenguy

I stand by that it is a licensing issue with Nuance - the iPad 2 debuted before Siri was introduced and Apple cannot have some iPad 2s Siri capable and others not - if the iPad 2 debuted after the 4S it would have it.

Except you said nothing about licensing issues. You talked about LTE, the mics and the cameras,

Originally Posted by musicpenguy

Apple I'm sure would love to include it, but its a bigger issue than what may appear on the surface to observers like ourselves.

I think you give Apple too much credit.

[golosin2]

Originally Posted by madhatter61

As for function, voice dictation is quite handy on an iPad2 (which I have and use all the time). I really don't care for the on-screen keyboard ... I use a blue tooth Apple keyboard when I want to do a lot of typing. Great keyboard.
But, maybe you could go EZ on the strong opinions ... not worth much to me.

How do you use Voice Dictation on an iPad2, if it has not Siri...?

PS: im on ios5, dont know if ios6 comes with voice dictation on an ipad2.

[TMar]

If they didn't hold back features then how could they dupe so many people into upgrades every year,

[jmpnop]

Originally Posted by TMar

If they didn't hold back features then how could they dupe so many people into upgrades every year,

This. People giving reasons are just defending Apple's planned obsolescence.