Audience's 'earSmart' Technology Explains Siri's iPhone 4S Exclusivity

[Spectrum Abuser]

If it's housed on the A5 chip then where is Siri for the iPa..

(Screaming heard in the distance followed by the sounds of someone being dragged away.)

 

[backinblack875]

oh god, as if it doesnt work bad enough as it is on the 4S, cant imagine it being any worse

i know i know its beta bla bla (for how much longer by the way?)

works perfect for me, must be your accent.

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If it's housed on the A5 chip then where is Siri for the iPa..

(Screaming heard in the distance followed by the sounds of someone being dragged away.)

haha funny but few reasons. How do we know this ear smart technology is in the a5 for the iPad 2? just because they share thew same name doesn't mean they are the exact same. And as others have pointed out, no dual microphone for noise cancellation.

 

[farmboy]

I think as a community, however, we would be well-served to examine the evidence that has been presented to us (Siri on iPhone 4 & earlier, working "well"), and realize that Apple simply wants to make an extra buck up-selling the 4S and call it a day.

-Clive

Almost all adults understand the concept of capitalism by now. So, don't you believe in free markets? Buy something else. Even if it was a conspiracy just to make money, so what?

 

[Shin3r]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)

While there are many Apple fanboys who argue anything for Apple, it seems to me that there are more of the two other types of people present.
1. Those who feel entitled to something, eve though it's a free market and have the unique right not to buy and go elsewhere. And...

2. The Anti-fanboy-fanboys who argue against Apple left and right, and specifically target Apple, even though this is an industry wide type of issue.

I'm not arguing that Apple did the right or wrong thing here, I'm just saying I'm not offended, and I made the decision to buy the 4S, nobody forced me to.

 

[Shin3r]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)

In other words, why Apple made the decision is irrelevant in a free market.

 

[Agent OrangeZ]

You know why only the 4S has Siri? Because Apple decided THAT'S THE WAY IT'S GONNA BE! Seriously. You people need to get off your high horse. Apple owes you no explanation.

#1. It's a smart business decision. They never said, "iPhone 4, 3GS, iPad 1/2 can't do Siri." They said it's only "available on iPhone 4S." I don't blame them. They want to make money. It is the reason businesses exist. Selling more phones = more money. As a consumer you can do 1 of 4 things.

A. Buy a 4S. Enjoy Siri.
B. Keep your iPhone 4, jailbreak it and install tweaks to enjoy Siri.
C. Keep your iPhone 4 and not use Siri.
D. Buy an Android, WP7 or Blackberry smartphone and still not use Siri.

#2. You can believe it or not believe it, but I think the 4S hardware may have SOME impact on the performance of Siri. The hackers had to work on their jailbroken iPhone 4's for a few weeks to get Siri hacks working just right. Apple has a reputation of having high performance standards. If it isn't working 110% to their satisfaction, they aren't going to put it out. If Siri on iPhone 4 wasn't good enough for Apple, then that's that. It's their product. It's their reputation. Until you happen to purchase 51% of Apple's stock, it isn't your decision.

 

[aristokrat]

The reason I continually end up leaving this site for months at a time some members down-vote my posts when I point out when Apple is doing something poorly and don't have the courage to REPLY with WHY they DISAGREE.

1) Tell me why Siri suddenly stopped working "well" after Apple bought it and shut it down.

2) Tell me why Siri isn't on the iPad 2 despite the A5 processor.

3) Tell me why you're down-voting me for pointing out that Apple's present incarnation is no more accurate than earlier versions?

Tell me why? Ain't nothing but a heartache...

 

[kalsta]

Yet another pathetic excuse to cover Apple ass. Sorry but it been proven time and time again how much BS there is. Siri is only on the 4S to force people to upgrade.

When you purchased an iPhone 4, you knew what features you were getting. Today the phone still does what it was advertised to do when you bought it, and actually a bit more, since you can upgrade to most iOS 5 features for free. So how can you be disappointed? Oh I see… someone else who bought an iPhone 4S has something you don't now! I think that's called coveting your neighbour Rodimus.

I will agree with one complaint people are making though… that users of the original Siri had that taken away from them. That wasn't good.

 

[vvswarup]

Yet another pathetic excuse to cover Apple ass. Sorry but it been proven time and time again how much BS there is. Siri is only on the 4S to force people to upgrade.

This has been proven time and time again.

How is Apple forcing people to upgrade?

 

[macbook pro i5]

That was my comment...

And, if you check the stats, not only does the iPad 2 run on the A5, it runs on a faster A5 with the same amount of RAM. So, where is the shortcoming that prevents Siri from running on the iPad?

perhaps the hear smart technology built in:roll eyes: I am literally in tears of laughter.

 

[jctevere]

Lol, this is just ridiculous. In my family (6 kids) we all have iPhones. 3 iPhone 4, 2 iPhone 4S. I had the SIRI app on my iPhone 4 before it was taken off the appstore and "broken" by apple - they forced it to stop working. I never had any problems with background noise, and the application always understood me. While the app was missing some features of the iPhone 4S siri, it also had other features that the Apple implementation is missing.

However, on the iPhone 4S it is so frustrating getting Siri to understand or hear me. Many missunderstandings, even without any background noise whatsoever.

This is the only thing that frustrated me. Why couldn't they have just left the application working to those that have already downloaded it?!?!

 

[jctevere]

When you purchased an iPhone 4, you knew what features you were getting. Today the phone still does what it was advertised to do when you bought it, and actually a bit more, since you can upgrade to most iOS 5 features for free. So how can you be disappointed? Oh I see… someone else who bought an iPhone 4S has something you don't now! I think that's called coveting your neighbour Rodimus.

I will agree with one complaint people are making though… that users of the original Siri had that taken away from them. That wasn't good.

I think you are implying that he feels he "deserves" Siri on his iPhone 4. However, all he pointed out was that apple was trying to "force" people with iPhone 4's to get a 4S if they want Siri - which they are.

Personally, I had the app, it was pretty good, but it was more of a cool factor. Even on the two iPhone 4S in my household, siri on it is buggy and not practical. It seems to give you more witty jokes than provide anything useful...

Do I think that people who have the iPhone 4 have been dooped by not being able to get Siri? - No, it wasn't an option when they bought the phone. Do I think it is a nice business practice? - No. I can understand their frustration. Typically with technology - like a computer (P.C.) in particular, when you buy it, you can upgrade to all the new features that the software brings. Heck, even computers built in 1990's can run windows 7.

On mac computers you can still upgrade to newer versions (albeit, not as long as windows based computers) - as you can see apple has "planned obsolesence" in its blood.

The main issue is: For something that is 100% software driven, it would ahve been nice to give as an update to current users and not treat them like a red haired step child. Nobody is complaining about not getting the newer cameras (because that is hardware). And if you say - "it doesn't have the chip - blah blah blah" then what about the iPad 2?

 

[kalsta]

Do I think that people who have the iPhone 4 have been dooped by not being able to get Siri? - No, it wasn't an option when they bought the phone. Do I think it is a nice business practice? - No. I can understand their frustration. Typically with technology - like a computer (P.C.) in particular, when you buy it, you can upgrade to all the new features that the software brings. Heck, even computers built in 1990's can run windows 7.

On mac computers you can still upgrade to newer versions (albeit, not as long as windows based computers) - as you can see apple has "planned obsolesence" in its blood.

The main issue is: For something that is 100% software driven, it would ahve been nice to give as an update to current users and not treat them like a red haired step child. Nobody is complaining about not getting the newer cameras (because that is hardware). And if you say - "it doesn't have the chip - blah blah blah" then what about the iPad 2?

I find myself agreeing with your comments. Perhaps that's because you write in more of a balanced, unemotional (not whingy) way. Yes, it would have been a 'nice' gesture for Apple to give iPhone 4 users Siri.

I think you are implying that he feels he "deserves" Siri on his iPhone 4. However, all he pointed out was that apple was trying to "force" people with iPhone 4's to get a 4S if they want Siri - which they are.

Well, that's one way of putting it I suppose… but when you add the all important conditional, 'if they want Siri' (which Rodimus didn't do), it's an odd use of the word 'force'. You're essentially talking about a choice. It's like complaining, 'If I want to surf, I'm forced to drive to the beach!' True enough I suppose, but then no one would find me very good company I think.

 

[bpeeps]

Longing for the days when MacRumors posts were filled with iPhone 4S new design vs no design rumors. This Siri wank is really LOL.

 

[Judas1]

I love how some people will cling to any excuse that makes Apple look good. The only thing clear in this article is that the once dedicated chip in the 4 became an integrated chip in the 4s. I don't buy that it got significantly better. After all, we all know how much better integrated graphics is to dedicated graphics.

 

[haruhiko]

Ah,

This strategy of buying technology, "innovating" it (aka rebranding) and summarily closing and crippling of the technology to only operate inside their tight parameters is typically Apple. A great business decision, but not so great for the end-user.

We all know, except die-hard technology illiterate fanboys, that siri would have worked without any issues had apple committed themselves to the task.

Of course, it is ultimately up to YOU the end user to decide if Siri is a compelling enough reason to upgrade, or to simply wait out your contract and receive the 4S in your next upgrade cycle.

Sadly the latter seems to be true. Of 50+ people I know who have a device older than the 4S, Siri is not a compelling enough reason to upgrade out of pocket.

Do you mean Motorola buying out Zumocast and made it unavailable for the iOS platform anymore?

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Quote:
Originally Posted by jctevere Heck, even computers built in 1990's can run windows 7.

Are you sure? Do you remember the spec of your computer in 1999?

it was worse than your iPhone 4S!

 

[kalsta]

Are you sure? Do you remember the spec of your computer in 1999?

it was worse than your iPhone 4S!

You're quoting the wrong guy… That was jctevere's quote:

Heck, even computers built in 1990's can run windows 7.

 

[haruhiko]

You're quoting the wrong guy… That was jctevere's quote:

Oh Sorry! I messed up with the quoting, I didn't remove your name on the quote, I'm sorry for that.

I really don't understand why the heck everybody is complaining about Siri... Apple has a history of not adding or (very) slowly adding additional functions (i.e. iOS 4.2 for iPad 1...) to older devices, but take a look at the Android side of the world, this can only be worse.

 

[BobbyRond]

"Thend my thstaff a meeting reminder for Wedthsday"

*Siri* ?

"Thunofabitch!"

Tell me why? Ain't nothing but a heartache...

These two posts made me laugh. Thanks.

And Apple is FAR better at keeping older phones updated with new features than other smartphone makers are. FAR better.

Why are the current Samsung (i.e. Galaxy) phones not integrated in this chart? Sounds a bit skewed towards Apple...

The reason I continually end up leaving this site for months at a time some members down-vote my posts when I point out when Apple is doing something poorly and don't have the courage to REPLY with WHY they DISAGREE.

1) Tell me why Siri suddenly stopped working "well" after Apple bought it and shut it down.

2) Tell me why Siri isn't on the iPad 2 despite the A5 processor.

3) Tell me why you're down-voting me for pointing out that Apple's present incarnation is no more accurate than earlier versions?

1. Apple wanted the 4S to have more leverage to sell, I agree with you. Pulling it from the App Store, I get that.
As for making it unavailable for the people that already had it, maybe they did it because they changed the server side infrastructure, but I agree, that's not a nice thing to do.

2. Hardware based noise cancellation. Maybe another sales boost for the rumored iPad 3. Maybe an iPad users won't use Siri as much (iPhone exclusive feature?). Maybe the fact that iPads have Wi-Fi versions that are not always connected.

3. I have down-voted you on some posts, mainly because you write in a very attacking way. If you were more like jctevere and address some issues in a more calm way, people would be more inclined to read and discuss.

That's funny, I'm pretty sure the title of this article wasn't "iPad 2 doesn't have Siri because it lacks 2nd microphone." But if it was, that STILL doesn't explain why the iPhone 4 lacks it.

This is one example. You ask about the iPad 2. Someone gives you a proper answer and you end up telling him off because of the thread's title...

Look, I know Apple can be greedy. I call them on it when they are. But this...holding Siri back and hoping it'll make people upgrade...that's more 'crazy' than 'greedy.' And Apple is many things, but crazy is not one of them.

Here's to the crazy ones?

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

earSmart isn't that 'smart'. Siri constantly gets my attempts to coax her to do things wrong. Usually ending in a bizarre question if I was asking her in some alien language. It was so bad that I turned it off to see if I'd get better battery life, which didn't work as I think it actually got worse.

Well, either that or someone needs to come up with a list of the way to talk/command Siri to do things. (She's behaving like a surly ex-wife )

 

[Mad-B-One]

Since you wonder, you might have not read the thread:

How do we know this ear smart technology is in the a5 for the iPad 2? just because they share thew same name doesn't mean they are the exact same.

Here is your answer which related to another claim that they are different which you could have read before posting:

Do you have any proof of that? They run on different speeds, iPad 1GHz, iPhone 0.8GHz which is just related to battery life. Other than that, if I remember correctly, at the teardown, the pictures showed identical part codings and no new element on-die which was not there on the iPad. It even tells the clock speed as 1GHz on the iPhone even though it is clocked at 80%... [...]
Teardown iPhone 4S at ifixit.com shows "A5 processor is the APL0498"

Teardown iPad 2 at ifixit.com shows APL0498 in the picture (it is upside-down but I figure you can read it).

...in other words, it will be hard for you to back up your claim that they are different.

Did that help?

 

[Mad-B-One]

earSmart isn't that 'smart'. Siri constantly gets my attempts to coax her to do things wrong. Usually ending in a bizarre question if I was asking her in some alien language. It was so bad that I turned it off to see if I'd get better battery life, which didn't work as I think it actually got worse.

Well, either that or someone needs to come up with a list of the way to talk/command Siri to do things. (She's behaving like a surly ex-wife )

You talk about Siri, not earSmart...

You might mix up background noise reduction with speech interpretation. These are two different animals.
earSmart is reducing the background noise so that the processed speech is free of noise coming from your office printer or your co-workers while you tell Siri what to do. It probably is quite complicated but I guess it works the way that the hardware-based earSmart can somehow compare the input from both mics and find out if the noise is in close proximity - hence you speaking - or far away - hence your child banging the sheet metal drum. This has several advantages. The first advantage is that the probability of recognizing your speech correctly goes up. The second advantage is that less data has to be sent to the server to calculate. Then there is probably also less calculation involved on the Siri server site. Beside licensing issues, the latter two are a good reason for Apple to not allow other devices to access the server. Sure, Siri worked as App before the 4S. Now that it is integrated into a native function, it has to comply with quality standards of Apple and if it is not second-to-none, it is not offered. We can be angry about this all day long. It was not advertized for my iPad 2 or my iPhone 4 therefore I don't really bother about it.
There are other things which bother me more like the crappy notification center on the iPad having no stock market, no weather, hanging somewhat lost in the middle of nowhere on the top screen. This could have been a top feature on the iPad but Apple butchered it big time.

 

[roadbloc]

What was Apple excuse for not putting Siri on anything but the iPhone 4S? Still waiting. Apple has been silent on the matter and mostly we have seen the Apple appligetic crew coming up with excuse after excuse for it. They go to weaker and weaker ones as each one is proven to be BS.

So other than providing a BS excuse to upgrade to a 4S from a 4 what is it?

Chill. Just do what everyone else who wants Siri on the 4 or 3GS has done. Jailbreak, Spire, £10 for a proxy. Works a treat. For everyone else, a 4S is waiting for them in the Apple Store or they don't need the feature.

I'm sure this earSmart stuff helps, but since Siri has been pretty good at not picking up background radio or general chitchat in my experience, I'm happy with my jailbroken 4.

 

[mjtomlin]

What was Apple excuse for not putting Siri on anything but the iPhone 4S? Still waiting. Apple has been silent on the matter and mostly we have seen the Apple appligetic crew coming up with excuse after excuse for it. They go to weaker and weaker ones as each one is proven to be BS.

So other than providing a BS excuse to upgrade to a 4S from a 4 what is it?

BETA

Do you understand the words coming from my mou... er, keyboard!

And what exactly has been proven? Where is this proof you speak of? Like you said, Apple has been silent about it. The only real proof is what Apple says and does. Your whining isn't proof and all these excuses aren't proof either. All Apple has said, is that the service is in beta, which usually means limited release and functionality.

Get over it man.

 

[mjtomlin]

I think as a community, however, we would be well-served to examine the evidence that has been presented to us (Siri on iPhone 4 & earlier, working "well"), and realize that Apple simply wants to make an extra buck up-selling the 4S and call it a day.

I think as a community we shouldn't jump to conclusions and make assumptions. How about we simply agree that Apple knows more about the technology behind Siri than any of us do. And even though some enterprising hackers got the software to run on older hardware, Apple wanted to limit its release to the iPhone 4S for whatever reason.

Not to FORCE people to upgrade, but to give people an up sell option. The iPhone 4S is $100 more than the iPhone 4, having Siri as a stand-out feature might make that extra $100 seem well spent.

Why don't we all wait until Siri is out of beta and see what Apple decides to do with it? The sense of entitlement and the ensuing hissy fit is rather childish.