Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
So this article is basically saying the reason Cortana and Google Now are so great is they steal our privacy?
 
  • Like
Reactions: jajaja
Siri is useless. The only thing I use it for is to set reminders. I am appalled that Apple has allowed Siri to lag behind the competition by this much.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Soccertess
Care to elaborate?
Sure. This statement is wrong: Does Apple make money off collecting data? No, so that means they likely don't sell it to others and just use it to provide better service.

Apple does monetize collected data. Read the privacy policy. Apple tells you they do. If you care to read it, the privacy policy of Apple and Google are posted in this thread.
 
That's why Siri is poop..How is she supposed to be intelligent when she doesn't have enough data to access?

I think Siri is pretty good right now, but yeah it's annoying that it can't do some things, mostly because of lame reasons.

I think we are going to see that Watson is going to be working for Apple and Siri on Sept 9th.

I think Apple will announce that part of the recent IBM cooperation has been that Apple is going to get Watson.

As usual, Apple takes a little time to get things out to the consumer, but it's worth the wait.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jajaja
Siri is useless. The only thing I use it for is to set reminders. I am appalled that Apple has allowed Siri to lag behind the competition by this much.

I send all my text messages with Siri converting my voice into text and it's awesome for that.

I can do it while I am driving my car.

In fact I can get Siri to read messages to me when I have already started to drive the car and forgot to look at my iPhone.

I can use "Hey Siri" directly on my Apple Watch, so I don't even have to have the iPhone plugged in to use Siri in the car.

I also use it for Apple Music - "Play some Johnny Cash" and voila.

I do have a 2015 car, but it's not a big deal, the iPhone Siri voice goes through the car stereo system.

Siri is also great for finding phone numbers of businesses. Call Pizza Famoso and boom - Siri looks it up and suggests what it could be and I OK it and it calls it.

Siri is awesome and I can't wait to see how much they have improved it.

Probably with the Apple TV - Steve's last big thing I thought were the rumours. But I also hope it has to do with IBM's Watson helping Siri.

I mean - 2 or so years ago Watson played Jeopardy and won. It's about time we have this power with Siri on all iOS and Macs.


I have a question I just thought of.... You say Siri is lagging behind. Could you tell me in what ways it is lagging and who or what is it behind? I have to admit, maybe I could possibly be missing something good in the Android world - I have seen some Google stuff - is it better for real?

I guess my only experience lately with Google voices type stuff is with Google Translate app on iOS - it's awesome and finally it works as it should - listening to all voices and translating between the two languages without too much (or at least reduced) button pushing - it just listens and translates so 2 people can have a semi-natural conversation automatically. How is Siri lagging?
 
  • Like
Reactions: ErikGrim
About time. Siri is useless, and lack of offline features means that the iPhone 3GS's primitive voice controls are actually more useful when you want to make a call and you've got flaky 3G (when driving for instance). Why everything has to be bounced off Apple's servers is beyond me.

But hey, I guess little Easter eggs and sports news are more important to the Siri designers than practicality, function, or usefulness.

If it's "beyond you" then you should really read up on how Siri works...
 
It's common knowledge that Google's vision is to collect all the worlds data and that their business evolves around data collecting...

You just set the request up in a way that is impossible to answer. A credible source would be someone with insight in both companies. Someone like that wouldn't post an answer to thread like this, how convenient..

People who have to rely on things like "common knowledge" to make an argument don't have one.
 
That's why Siri is poop..How is she supposed to be intelligent when she doesn't have enough data to access?

Halfway decent voice recognition? That might be a good place to start!!! If you can't even get the service to understand what you're asking it to do then who cares what bank of information it looks to in order to fulfill that request? Siri can't even do basic talk to text right. Start there first!
 
Sure. This statement is wrong: Does Apple make money off collecting data? No, so that means they likely don't sell it to others and just use it to provide better service.

Apple does monetize collected data. Read the privacy policy. Apple tells you they do. If you care to read it, the privacy policy of Apple and Google are posted in this thread.
Apple is very clear about what they do and don't with your data. Here's Tim Cook:

Our business model is very straightforward: We sell great products. We don’t build a profile based on your email content or web browsing habits to sell to advertisers. We don’t “monetize” the information you store on your iPhone or in iCloud. And we don’t read your email or your messages to get information to market to you. Our software and services are designed to make our devices better. Plain and simple.

One very small part of our business does serve advertisers, and that’s iAd. We built an advertising network because some app developers depend on that business model, and we want to support them as well as a free iTunes Radio service. iAd sticks to the same privacy policy that applies to every other Apple product. It doesn’t get data from Health and HomeKit, Maps, Siri, iMessage, your call history, or any iCloud service like Contacts or Mail, and you can always just opt out altogether.
How is Google different? Let's see:

  • Good%2520to%2520Know%2520Google.jpg

    1. Combines Personal Information Across its Services
    Google may "combine personal information from one service with information, including personal information, from other Google services -- for example, to make it easier to share things with people you know."

    In other words, by combining search data with other data -- say, what videos you're watching on YouTube -- it can learn more about you. As before, this is with opt-in consent.


  • e38d1ddf.jpg

    2. Integrates Your Accounts
    "If other users already have your email, or other information that identifies you, we may show them your publicly visible Google Profile information, such as your name and photo."

    You may have noticed this change when the new Gmail rolled out -- your profile picture and a link to your Google+ account. Google may use that information across all platforms that require an account.


  • 8c8ca4f4.jpg

    3. Tailors Advertising
    "Using your information can make our products even more useful. For example, if you search for golf, are you looking to work on your drive or drive a Volkswagen? If you previously searched for information about a caddy, we can take this as a hint that you mean the sport, not the car, and we can show you the most relevant results."

    Google's video on privacy principals describes how it tailors advertising for you, which also makes it easier for advertisers themselves.

    This is nothing new, but the fact that your data will now be spread across all Google products has broader implications for the advertising and content you'll see when searching and browsing.


  • b85cfe4e.jpg

    4. Aggregates Large Quantities of Anonymized Data
    "We may share aggregated, non-personally identifiable information publicly and with our partners -- like publishers, advertisers or connected sites."

    While Google won't be sharing your personal data with any third parties, its massive quantities of anonymized will be. This is so partners and advertisers can analyze larger trends and make their products more effective.


  • 9f5af98e.jpg

    5. Stores Your Information - Indefinitely
    "When you use our services or view content provided by Google, we may automatically collect and store certain information in server logs."

    Google stores anything from Google Voice data (such as phone number, calling party number, duration of calls) to device event information (like crashes, system activity and browser type). The company then uses this data to keep track of any bugs and overall trends in user experience.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nt5672 and CB1234
So while it is true in the most basic sense that both companies do collect and monetise data, there is a vast practical gully in the amount of data they collect, what they do with it and how it is being monetised.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kingtj and CB1234
You're 100% right. That questions is framed to be impossible. Completely unfair. Bad H2SO4.:mad: There no way to know what type of data each comp... oh wait... you could compare this: http://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww/ to this : http://www.google.com/policies/privacy/

Spoiler alert: you're going to find basically the same information. Google even adds pop overs to further explain some of the terminology both companies use. Apple uses your data to, among other things, serve ads. :eek: Just.Like.Google. I know this to be true because Apple says so.
LOL, Nicely put.
It wasn’t unfair - it was worded in a way to make you see that there isn’t as much difference between these two companies as the FUD in this forum would have you believe.
You got it, hence the privacy links.
Crzyrio almost got it hence the third party links.
Subsonix missed it completely hence the blind defence with no back up.

Really the privacy policy of all of these companies is written so as to give them as much legal wiggle room as possible. That is not as bad for a company that openly tells you that it needs to market you but not so good for those that pretend they don’t.

Who cares how much data Google collect. So what if they know that lots of people in my area like Cheesecake, at around 18:30 on a Tuesday.
If they tell them that I like cheesecake and I live at 1. Paper Place, in Cardboard City only then it’s a worry.
But really the Google bashing has gone over the top, especially from all of the SAME Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest etc etc users that upload pictures with location data, (that they then tag with not just their names!!!!), and post full profiles and life histories to them also. It’s odd that they cannot make this connection.
 
I have a question I just thought of.... You say Siri is lagging behind. Could you tell me in what ways it is lagging and who or what is it behind? I have to admit, maybe I could possibly be missing something good in the Android world - I have seen some Google stuff - is it better for real?

Google now started out being what Siri proactive is going to try to be. These moves just make it seem that Apple is lagging in some areas and this can be interpreted as a reaction to what their competitors are doing, and following there lead. This isn't a bad thing as Apple creates great products and will stay competitive.

In this case, Google spent a portion of their last developer conference in May speaking about advancements they have made in machine learning. Also - both Google and Microsoft are using machine learning in there photos apps.

Here is what one analyst had to say:

"I think Google is way out in front of everybody, including Microsoft, but probably furthest out in front of Apple," Van Baker, a Gartner research analyst, said to Business Insider when asked about Google's accomplishments in machine learning. "Microsoft is going in that direction, and I think calling [Apple] behind is very fair."
http://www.businessinsider.com/google-machine-learning-miles-ahead-of-apple-2015-5

And now Apple is reacting.
 
Last edited:
I'm sick of this whole 'privacy' push. I want Siri to be able to access all my stuff, how else is it meant to be useful. Who cares if a computer goes through your data. It should at least be an opt in feature.
Well, enterprise and business users for one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bobob
AI does not mean 100% Siri as Voice commands.

AI could be many things - similar to iOS9. Computers could pull out more useful data to present to you when you interact with the OS.
Can mean intuitive and adapting interactions with the user or even adapting interfaces.

Of course many things may seem futuristic but eventually some of these may end up in our devices.



On a side note:
Somehow this technology turned us into sad people. I sound like an old grandpa - but it really did.
10 -15 years ago technology was something fun and we had access to it - it was limited and we knew how to enjoy it.

AI, GUI, Saturated BeachBalls spinning, Translucency, Transparency, Siri and Cortana saying stupid jokes, whatever....

I trade all these any time for a beer and a fun chat with friends while I can.
Soon we will have romantic dinners with AI Siri???
No thank you. :)
 
AI does not mean 100% Siri as Voice commands.

AI could be many things - similar to iOS9. Computers could pull out more useful data to present to you when you interact with the OS.
Can mean intuitive and adapting interactions with the user or even adapting interfaces.

Of course many things may seem futuristic but eventually some of these may end up in our devices.



On a side note:
Somehow this technology turned us into sad people. I sound like an old grandpa - but it really did.
10 -15 years ago technology was something fun and we had access to it - it was limited and we knew how to enjoy it.

AI, GUI, Saturated BeachBalls spinning, Translucency, Transparency, Siri and Cortana saying stupid jokes, whatever....

I trade all these any time for a beer and a fun chat with friends while I can.
Soon we will have romantic dinners with AI Siri???
No thank you. :)


Since you mention 'grandpa', I thought I will post this picture....

IMG_3199.jpg
 
I'm hoping we're going to see some SIRI improvements on Wednesday given it's rumored that Apple TV will now have SIRI too.
 
I use Siri literally every day for multiple purposes, with the new update it will be able to do more regarding music and photos. Of course it needs improvements but in my opinion it's not bad, at all. It just needs more work and that's what happens all the time. I think the problem is that people demand perfection and complexity without thinking all that took to get to the stage we are now. If you want Siri to do things like: "Siri change my dinner reservation an hour before, add Ben Smith to our table and notify him and my partner, also get an uber so we arrive 10 minutes before dinner time. Make sure The Great British Bake Off is downloaded when we are back and send a £50 flower arrangement and a happy birthday card for my mother's birthday" well, it will take some time mate...
 
I'm sick of this whole 'privacy' push. I want Siri to be able to access all my stuff, how else is it meant to be useful. Who cares if a computer goes through your data. It should at least be an opt in feature.

Perhaps if you folks down unda cared a bit more about issues like this, you wouldn't have such a ****** government trampling all over your civil liberties (yes, even worse than ours.)
 
Siri only works well with very simple commands like "Remind me to..." or "Set an alarm for..." or "Play some...". Beyond that it's pretty poor. Driving directions are hit and miss for instance and she clear doesn't take context into account.

For instance I live on the east coast of Canada and I was on a local road called Rocky Lake Road the other day looking for a business. I knew the business was on that road but I did know where exactly (I hadn't been there before). And it's a very long road. So I said "Give me driving directions to 325 Rocky Lake Drive" to make sure I didn't drive past it (saying "Drive" by mistake). Without asking any followup questions Siri immediately gave me driving directions to the other site of continent in Washington State. That's beyond dumb. If I'm actually LOCATED at 300 Rocky Lake Road and I ask for directions to 325 Rocky Lake Drive you'd think she might realize that maybe I'm talking about an address 300 meters away with a name and number range that almost exactly what I asked for... rather than a 100% perfect match 6,000,000 meters away. Furthermore, if you're asking for an address without specifying a Province, State or Country, if would be safer to assume that what's being asked for is a local address.

Another directions example happened a couple weeks ago. I was meeting a friend at a place called Finbar's Irish Pub. There are 2 locations of this bar in my municipality. I was looking for the one in Portland Hills. So I said "Give me driving directions to Finbar's Pub" and she found both results and said "One option I found is Finbar's Irish Pub on 1595 Bedford Highway, is that the one you want?". Instead of simple saying "No" and letting her go on to the next option I tried saying "No, I want the Portland Hills locations please". Her response? "Sorry David, I don't know what you mean by 'No, I want the Portland Hills locations please'".

One of the things Apple raved about with SIRI was first launched was it's ability to handle not just natural language, but conversational flow and context. So yah. It has a long way to go before you can just talk to it like a person and get meaningful results. Right now it's just one step beyond the old school system of having to use specific speech commands.
 
Last edited:
Perhaps if you folks down unda cared a bit more about issues like this, you wouldn't have such a ****** government trampling all over your civil liberties (yes, even worse than ours.)
Don't know if this us true or not, but if it is, we Americans won't be behind for long. This is one area where our current government is very motivated to catch up. I think many American's would not mind being chained to a bed in a 10 foot square room as long as the food, internet, cable TV, cell phone, utilities, Amazon account, and cleaning were provided free by the government.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.