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I don't get it... What's the point of the Virtual Assistant?

Assistant + Watson is going to be amazing.

Imagine a day where search engines don't return webpages - they return answers.
 
boss.king said:
As nice as this sounds, I don't see what massive improvements it could have over voice commands already offered by Android, which can run on a 1GHz processor just fine. If this has some magical feature that I can't conceive of, then it's fair to limit it to the iPhone 5 only, but if it's just a polished up version of what Android does then I'll be a bit disappointed.
Click to expand...

It's Apple. They always have something new that the public has never seen before or wouldn't have thought of. Usually though, Apple works on a particular part of the phone and maximizes its efficiency. For example, the Retina Display. Apple made the display so clear and so beautiful that pixellated screens today are now frowned on. It wasn't a new feature, they just made it important enough to be recognized.

It's true when people say that Apple takes awhile to catch up, but when they do, they get it done right (most of the time)
 
marksman said:
"Phone, I need to let my wife know I can't pick up billy after karate tonight and not to wait for me for dinner. Also confirm my appointment Thursday with Edward Jensen and cancel my appointment Friday with Esther. Also remind me I need to pick up some milk at the store on the way home and pick up a prescription as well."

From this your phone sends a text to your wife telling her "I can't pick Billy up from Karate and do not wait for me for dinner." It will then go in your calender and check your Thursday appointment with Edward Jensen and send him and you a confirmation email. It will also check your calendar for Friday and send a cancellation request to Esther and make a note of that in the calendar. As you get near the store on your way home your phone will signal an alarm and alert you to go to the store and to pick up milk and your prescription.

I understand it is possible YOU would find no use for that kind of service, but I can assure you a lot of people would.

Can you at least understand how this is significantly different then search voice commands?
Click to expand...


Really?

How do you want to "let my wife know": txt, phone, email?
Likewise” confirm appointment": via txt, e-mail, calendar?

The software recognises speech, it doesn't read minds.
 
wackymacky said:
Really?

How do you want to "let my wife know": txt, phone, email?
Likewise” confirm appointment": via txt, e-mail, calendar?

The software recognises speech, it doesn't read minds.
Click to expand...

Exactly. No matter how well it can recognise speech and sentence structure, it still needs you to give it all the information first
 
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wackymacky said:
marksman said:
"Phone, I need to let my wife know I can't pick up billy after karate tonight and not to wait for me for dinner. Also confirm my appointment Thursday with Edward Jensen and cancel my appointment Friday with Esther. Also remind me I need to pick up some milk at the store on the way home and pick up a prescription as well."

From this your phone sends a text to your wife telling her "I can't pick Billy up from Karate and do not wait for me for dinner." It will then go in your calender and check your Thursday appointment with Edward Jensen and send him and you a confirmation email. It will also check your calendar for Friday and send a cancellation request to Esther and make a note of that in the calendar. As you get near the store on your way home your phone will signal an alarm and alert you to go to the store and to pick up milk and your prescription.

I understand it is possible YOU would find no use for that kind of service, but I can assure you a lot of people would.

Can you at least understand how this is significantly different then search voice commands?
Click to expand...


Really?

How do you want to "let my wife know": txt, phone, email?
Likewise” confirm appointment": via txt, e-mail, calendar?

The software recognises speech, it doesn't read minds.
Click to expand...

That is an example of a trained discussion. The assistant can learn so all those things have been previoulsy established.
 
I drive a stick shift (because I am a lot more manly than you) and I can see myself using an Assistant feature to respond to text messages on the go or to take a quick note. Most of my good ideas come to me while I'm in the shower or driving.
 
b166er said:
I drive a stick shift (because I am a lot more manly than you)
Click to expand...

In the same boat here. I detest driving autos. All my cars are manual. I even went through the trouble of converting one of them from auto to manual specifically because I hate autos that much. :eek:
 
boss.king said:
As nice as this sounds, I don't see what massive improvements it could have over voice commands already offered by Android, which can run on a 1GHz processor just fine. If this has some magical feature that I can't conceive of, then it's fair to limit it to the iPhone 5 only, but if it's just a polished up version of what Android does then I'll be a bit disappointed.
Click to expand...

most android stuff is messed up

this is Apple

android blows
 
jca24 said:
most android stuff is messed up

this is Apple

android blows
Click to expand...

Great factual points you've made there :rolleyes:

The true fact of the matter is that Android voice controls are excellent, so Apple will really have to pull out something great to top it, and I hope they do.
 
complexcommunic said:
Why would I talk to my phone when it has a perfectly nice high-tech capacitive touch screen?
Click to expand...

I can see how it's a useless feature to some people but I for one am very excited about it. I spend 2+ hours a day in the car and powerful, accurate voice command software would be a godsend.
 
I'd be happy if I can simply ask what time it is, or where the phone is.

"Where are yoooouuuuuu?"

"Over heeeeeeere."

:D
 
I am sorry but it's only useful for people who are driving or people who are unable to use their hands due to a medical condition. I can't see a situation for me to be using this ever. I'd rather trust my fingers to do the job and let the phone try to figure out what I am saying. I am sure we are gonna see many more smashed iPhones after the introduction of Assistant :p
 
boss.king said:
Exactly. No matter how well it can recognise speech and sentence structure, it still needs you to give it all the information first
Click to expand...

Actually from the rumors it sounded like it could communicate back and ask for the information it needs.

Once you tell it to do all that it will ask what number you want it to text, etc... over time it learns your preferences.
 
This is how Apple is going to generate interest in iPhone 5. Since it won't work on any other iPhone (from what I've read) then I can see Apple slamming this Assistant thing down our throats.
 
RafaelT said:
Actually from the rumors it sounded like it could communicate back and ask for the information it needs.

Once you tell it to do all that it will ask what number you want it to text, etc... over time it learns your preferences.
Click to expand...

That's still you giving it information before it does something though, even if you give it in steps. I'd be interested to see how well the learning thing would go though, that could either be very good or very bad depending on how they implement it. I guess we'll see what tomorrow brings
 
TheSacredSoul said:
I am sorry but it's only useful for people who are driving or people who are unable to use their hands due to a medical condition. I can't see a situation for me to be using this ever.
Click to expand...

So true. And given the tiny percentage of iphone owners who do things like, you know, "drive cars" - I have no idea what they're thinking.

It's absurd, really.
 
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