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I can't wait until I tell my 4s "pwn android fans on macrumors" and it then proceeds to slice and dice

and then it will respond with "own land steroids fans on mac mummer" and you'll have to repeat yourself.
 
The argument is that the new version is a big improvement over the previous one.

The improvements are purportedly in th AI. The speech recognition is still done on a remote server. But the AI handles the interpretation of the voice command locally, or so we've been led to believe...


and then it will respond with "own land steroids fans on mac mummer" and you'll have to repeat yourself.

Actually, even the old version of Siri gets "own android fans on mac rumors". It then looks for "mac" in my local area... I'd be curious to see how the new version interprets the command. But the speech recognition is, in my experience, exceptionally reliable.
 
I had forgotten that I had downloaded Siri when it first came out (I have an iPhone that it won't run on, but downloaded it just to see if I could get it to work anyway.) Well, I have an iPad now, and it should run on the iPad, right?

So I re-installed it, and....

"Retrieval Failed - Siri could not downloaded required information from the server." is all I get now.
 
Ahh...Apple....

You know, I have been with Apple for a very long time (IIC) and they are continually irritating the hell of me. SIRI was a free app and yes, it is a bit buggy but it is downright ****** they the would shut it down on my phone.

Now, before I get flamed, I know they are protecting their investment, but at least give it limited functionality.

BTW, if you think Apple is not being an ass lately, look into what they did with Logic 8 and Lion. They said it was not compatible and disabled the launch file. It actually works great in Lion but they wanted you to pony up and buy L9.
 
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seanfranklin said:
Thank god Siri was a free application or I can imagine people would be pissed it shutting down Oct 15th...

You think being free will stop people from being pissed? You're underestimating the innate capacity for indignation from cheapskates ;)

For fear of being called a cheapskate myself, I do find this to be an incredibly cheapskate-ish move by Apple. An A5 processor, improved antenna, and a piece of software is a truly lack-luster iteration. In the wake of S.Jobs' departure, Apple is frantic to do whatever they can to reassure stock-holders that they can still push units out the door. Forcibly obsolete-ing the iPhone 4 via software is a really low move, especially for Apple. People should be complaining about this, ESPECIALLY existing iPhone users, since we know the software isn't hardware-limited.

Down-vote away... *eye-roll*
 
It makes sense that they would. Protect the biggest selling point of the 4S over the 4.
It's pretty lame, but does make sense.

More likely, the backend has changed to support the version in the 4S and they don't want to run two versions simultaneously.
 
That's a big question - there seems to be no technical reason it wouldn't work on the iPad 2. If they cripple the feature to not work on that hardware, it's taking away a pretty nice selling point from the latest version of one of their biggest selling devices.

If I had to guess it would have something to do with Siri having to talk to a remote server or the results that it gives you. I'm guessing that the A5 does a lot of the local lifting but it still does some things on a remote server. It also appears that a lot of the results that Siri provides are things that revolve around having a data connection. Yes, the iPad 2 has the A5 and WiFi, but not all of them have 3G or are always connected via WiFi. I can see this limiting Siri's usefulness. If :apple: enables Siri on 3G iPad 2's but not others then I may be right. Time will tell...
 
Am I the only one who was sourly disappointed when I heard the voice of Siri? I thought there would've been atleast some progress on text-to-speech since the 80's.

Stephen Hawking much?
 
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For fear of being called a cheapskate myself, I do find this to be an incredibly cheapskate-ish move by Apple. An A5 processor, improved antenna, and a piece of software is a truly lack-luster iteration. In the wake of S.Jobs' departure, Apple is frantic to do whatever they can to reassure stock-holders that they can still push units out the door. Forcibly obsolete-ing the iPhone 4 via software is a really low move, especially for Apple. People should be complaining about this, ESPECIALLY existing iPhone users, since we know the software isn't hardware-limited.

Down-vote away... *eye-roll*

Rather than down vote, I'll offer counter point. The truth is that we DON'T know that the software isn't hardware limited. Based on information that's out there, there is reason to believe that this is a processor intensive app (see the article where the original developer of Siri talks about the corners they had to cut to get it to run on the 3GS). Now, we know that Apple has a track record of not allowing software to run on lesser hardware if the performance doesn't meet with their standards (Mac OS X's various hardware restrictions, iOS multitasking, etc.). Does that mean that Siri couldn't run on the iPhone 4, or even the iPhone 3GS, but it likely means that the performance of the new Siri doesn't meet Apple's standards. (The real question that isn't answered here is that of the iPad 2, which can't as easily be argued as a hardware issue).

Now, as to your other comment: "An A5 processor, improved antenna, and a piece of software is a truly lack-luster iteration." Here I'll level some significant criticism. So, you're saying replacing the internals with new and improved internals, changing the antenna to give better reception and introducing a new piece of software to provide some powerful new capabilities, and this amounts to a lack-luster update? Really? Then what would constitute a good update to you?

If there is one feature that you were hoping for that didn't materialized (like a bigger screen or a new body design), then say that. But just because it fails to deliver on one or two features that you wanted doesn't add up to it being a bad or weak or lack-luster update.
 
Apple reality check

Will SIRI run on the iPad 2?

Apple says the SIRI Personal Assistant to be included in iOS5 on October 12 will run on the iPhone 4S but not the iPhone4. The question is whether this is a real hardware limitation (the new SIRI requires the faster A5 chip to function properly) or an artificial barrier imposed by Apple to force iPhone clients to adopt the newer product.

One step toward resolving this question will be provided October 12 if SIRI runs on the iPad2, which uses the same A5 dual core SOC as the iPhone 4S. If it does, there will be at least a semblance of support for any claim that the faster processing was a requirement. If it does not, then Apple is running a cruel number on it's clients.

Guess we find out which it is on the 12th.
 
Will SIRI run on the iPad 2?

Apple says the SIRI Personal Assistant to be included in iOS5 on October 12 will run on the iPhone 4S but not the iPhone4. The question is whether this is a real hardware limitation (the new SIRI requires the faster A5 chip to function properly) or an artificial barrier imposed by Apple to force iPhone clients to adopt the newer product.

One step toward resolving this question will be provided October 12 if SIRI runs on the iPad2, which uses the same A5 dual core SOC as the iPhone 4S. If it does, there will be at least a semblance of support for any claim that the faster processing was a requirement. If it does not, then Apple is running a cruel number on it's clients.

Guess we find out which it is on the 12th.

The iPad 2 doesn't run the Voice command feature. So I presume that it won't run Siri, either.
 
Will SIRI run on the iPad 2?

Apple says the SIRI Personal Assistant to be included in iOS5 on October 12 will run on the iPhone 4S but not the iPhone4. The question is whether this is a real hardware limitation (the new SIRI requires the faster A5 chip to function properly) or an artificial barrier imposed by Apple to force iPhone clients to adopt the newer product.

One step toward resolving this question will be provided October 12 if SIRI runs on the iPad2, which uses the same A5 dual core SOC as the iPhone 4S. If it does, there will be at least a semblance of support for any claim that the faster processing was a requirement. If it does not, then Apple is running a cruel number on it's clients.

Guess we find out which it is on the 12th.
Wouldn't folks know that answer now since the GM Seed is out?
 
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mrelwood said:
Am I the only one who was sourly disappointed when I heard the voice of Siri? I thought there would've been atleast some progress on text-to-speech since the 80's.

Stephen Hawking much?

"Stephen Hawking much". That was a good one :p
 
The argument is that the new version is a big improvement over the previous one.

Yes but those with an iPhone 4 can no longer enjoy Siri AT ALL, as the improved version is only available on the 4S!
 
No

The argument is that the new version is a big improvement over the previous one.

That's not an argument. Sure the new one is a big Improvement over the old one, but it's lame to take away a perfectly working lesser version of the app from the millions with iPhone 4's and 3GS's.
 
If I had to guess it would have something to do with Siri having to talk to a remote server or the results that it gives you. I'm guessing that the A5 does a lot of the local lifting but it still does some things on a remote server. It also appears that a lot of the results that Siri provides are things that revolve around having a data connection. Yes, the iPad 2 has the A5 and WiFi, but not all of them have 3G or are always connected via WiFi. I can see this limiting Siri's usefulness. If :apple: enables Siri on 3G iPad 2's but not others then I may be right. Time will tell...

True, but even the 4s may not always get reception so in that case it gives an error. You're right, they could enable it just on the 3G iPad but that seems unlikely since they've specifically said it can use wifi.

The iPad 2 doesn't run the Voice command feature. So I presume that it won't run Siri, either.

That's with iOS 4. No reason that couldn't change with iOS 5.

Wouldn't folks know that answer now since the GM Seed is out?

Good point although it's possible they could include the software but have it disabled until the 4s ships (or make it an additional download later). If they did support it on iPad 2 they'd still want to make sure nobody was playing with the feature before the 4s release.

Yes but those with an iPhone 4 can no longer enjoy Siri AT ALL, as the improved version is only available on the 4S!

If apple considered that performance not up to snuff, they wouldn't want people still running the old version and assuming that's how it works on 4s.


That's not an argument. Sure the new one is a big Improvement over the old one, but it's lame to take away a perfectly working lesser version of the app from the millions with iPhone 4's and 3GS's.

You may not agree with that argument but that doesn't mean it isn't one. Apple probably doesn't consider it "perfectly working" and doesn't want people dismissing the new version based on impressions with the version that makes compromises.
 
You may not agree with that argument but that doesn't mean it isn't one. Apple probably doesn't consider it "perfectly working" and doesn't want people dismissing the new version based on impressions with the version that makes compromises.

Siri is a feature added to help sell iPhone 4S to people who normally wouldn't get one because it is "the same as the iPhone 4." Chances are very good that it would run on the iPhone 4 just fine. But there has to be more differentiation between the devices so it was made to be iPhone 4 only.

The Siri assistant is being disabled because Apple doesn't want people saying "well I could save myself some money and just download the app..."
 
I have an iPhone4 that isn't eligible for upgrade until 2013. So instead of continuing to have access to the basic functionality of Siri (Which I use all the time) Apple has to kill it? That makes a whole lot of sense.
Anyone have Tim Cook's Email address?
 
If apple considered that performance not up to snuff, they wouldn't want people still running the old version and assuming that's how it works on 4s.

Performance has *ZERO* to do with it. Siri Assistant (the independently-developed software that Apple later bought,) run just fine on an iPhone 3G. It was officially supported (by Siri, when it was an independent company) on an iPhone 3GS. All of the actual speech recognition and processing is done by a central server somewhere. Siri (both the independent app and the iPhone 4S implementation) requires an active internet connection. Even to look up local-stored-on-your-phone information.

Apple isn't just "adding more to the 4S", they're completely removing access to existing users using the existing app. It's not a "the old phones aren't fast enough" issue, it's an "Apple wants it to be special for the new phone" issue.

Siri is being released as a beta, though. It is possible that they could release it to older phones after it leaves beta status.

What would happen if you bought a Ford Focus. Then, later, you got a Tom Tom GPS unit for your car. Tom Tom updates its GPS maps, traffic, and directions over the internet. Let's pretend that unlike in real life, the Tom Tom was paid for with ads instead of you having to pay for it. Then one day, Ford buys Tom Tom. They announce that they are going to integrate Tom Tom GPS into their new-and-improved Focus! Hey, great! Then you find out that when this new Focus comes out, your old Tom Tom will just cease working completely.

Lame.
 
The iPad 2 doesn't run the Voice command feature. So I presume that it won't run Siri, either.

I could imagine Siri would be far more suited for tablets than phones, given the usage difference of the two. If Siri isn't coming to the iPad then Apples made bit of a crappy move there, but I guess that'll be answered next week.
 
Planned obsolescence

You know what? **** you, Apple, for this planned obsolescence ******. I am really tired of it.

My iPhone 4 is 1 year old. I rarely used the Siri application (Google Voice and Dragon Go! are better), but why discontinue an application for other iPhone users? To intice us to buy a new iPhone? This has the opposite effect on me: After my first-generation MacBook Pro is abandoned for Mac OS X 10.7 Lion for no apparent reason (the betas would run on it with a easy hack), I'm starting to get really p---ed at Apple. When my contract is up in 1 year, I am seriously going to consider an Android phone for the first time.

I know they want to sell as many computers and phones as possible, but stop doing obvious things to try and make things obsolete! I am a former Apple stock holder (just sold last month at $400+) so I understand how profit margins work and planned obsolescence. However, this is just disgraceful. Pulling the Siri app from the App Store is one thing. Adding an "update" to tell us that Siri is getting pulled from existing users... **** you, Apple. :mad:

----------

Anyone have Tim Cook's Email address?
tcook@apple.com -- I already emailed him on this topic earlier today. :mad:

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The Siri assistant is being disabled because Apple doesn't want people saying "well I could save myself some money and just download the app..."
They removed it from the App Store, which I have no problem with. My problem is that they disabled it for existing users.
 
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For fear of being called a cheapskate myself, I do find this to be an incredibly cheapskate-ish move by Apple. An A5 processor, improved antenna, and a piece of software is a truly lack-luster iteration. In the wake of S.Jobs' departure, Apple is frantic to do whatever they can to reassure stock-holders that they can still push units out the door. Forcibly obsolete-ing the iPhone 4 via software is a really low move, especially for Apple. People should be complaining about this, ESPECIALLY existing iPhone users, since we know the software isn't hardware-limited.

Down-vote away... *eye-roll*
I believe that the contrary is actually true; it has been reported in the JB community that Siri (at least in the iP4S iteration) will not run on a jailbroken iP4.

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You know what? **** you, Apple, for this planned obsolescence ******. I am really tired of it.

My iPhone 4 is 1 year old. I rarely used the Siri application (Google Voice and Dragon Go! are better), but why discontinue an application for other iPhone users? To intice us to buy a new iPhone? This has the opposite effect on me: After my first-generation MacBook Pro is abandoned for Mac OS X 10.7 Lion for no apparent reason (the betas would run on it with a easy hack), I'm starting to get really p---ed at Apple. When my contract is up in 1 year, I am seriously going to consider an Android phone for the first time.

I know they want to sell as many computers and phones as possible, but stop doing obvious things to try and make things obsolete! I am a former Apple stock holder (just sold last month at $400+) so I understand how profit margins work and planned obsolescence. However, this is just disgraceful. Pulling the Siri app from the App Store is one thing. Adding an "update" to tell us that Siri is getting pulled from existing users... **** you, Apple. :mad:

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tcook@apple.com -- I already emailed him on this topic earlier today. :mad:

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They removed it from the App Store, which I have no problem with. My problem is that they disabled it for existing users.
Apple is very careful about perceived dilution of the value of its core technologies. This is partly why Apple is so aggressive in attacking look-alike products made by other companies. In the case of Siri, Apple does not want its flagship natural speech recognition technology to be confused with the considerably inferior app that was previously available.

I suppose Apple could have re-branded the pre-existing App and maintained its functionality, but that would have required Apple to maintain two separate server systems for voice recognition, since one would need to have much more limited functionality than the other.
 
You know what? **** you, Apple, for this planned obsolescence ******. I am really tired of it.

My iPhone 4 is 1 year old. I rarely used the Siri application (Google Voice and Dragon Go! are better), but why discontinue an application for other iPhone users? To intice us to buy a new iPhone? This has the opposite effect on me: After my first-generation MacBook Pro is abandoned for Mac OS X 10.7 Lion for no apparent reason (the betas would run on it with a easy hack), I'm starting to get really p---ed at Apple. When my contract is up in 1 year, I am seriously going to consider an Android phone for the first time.

I know they want to sell as many computers and phones as possible, but stop doing obvious things to try and make things obsolete! I am a former Apple stock holder (just sold last month at $400+) so I understand how profit margins work and planned obsolescence. However, this is just disgraceful. Pulling the Siri app from the App Store is one thing. Adding an "update" to tell us that Siri is getting pulled from existing users... **** you, Apple. :mad:

----------


tcook@apple.com -- I already emailed him on this topic earlier today. :mad:

----------


They removed it from the App Store, which I have no problem with. My problem is that they disabled it for existing users.

I heard the new version of Siri requires 1 GB or RAM which the iPad 2 does not have... Question is... Does the iPhone 4(S) have 1GB or RAM?
 
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