Intrigued by HomePod....but who actually uses Hey Siri??

[sam2428]

Call me an Apple fanboy and usually an early adopter. I am intrigued by the HomePod but not fully sold.

Have been wanting to upgrade my super old desktop speakers for my iMac, but who actually uses Hey Siri? I don’t and have literally never seen anyone actually use it. I just find It so much easier and quicker to just look up or do things manually on my phone (which I usually have with me 99% of the time)...

Maybe it is just me....

 

[Bradleyone]

I know where you're coming from. I don't think I've ever seen or heard anyone say Hey Siri in the wild either, or even OK Google, which would have higher probability given the % of Android users.

It's could be the company you and I keep, or possibly the environment -- maybe talking to your Assistant is more a private thing.

Maybe it'll slowly come into fashion for the public space. I remember a few years back being freaked out walking past people in the CBD who suddenly started talking on a Bluetooth headset. Now it's very common to see someone chatting into their wired EarPods, even in a suburban supermarket.

In private, I do use a Hey Siri on my Watch about once or twice a day. Like you, though, I prefer to pull out my phone/watch for most things. Even if my hands are wet while washing up, I'll tap the Watch with my nose!

 

[The Game 161]

Not in public but regularly use it on my Apple Watch and when the HomePod arrives I will be saying it daily now I have HomeKit for my lights.

 

[44267547]

Call me an Apple fanboy and usually an early adopter. I am intrigued by the HomePod but not fully sold.

Have been wanting to upgrade my super old desktop speakers for my iMac, but who actually uses Hey Siri? I don’t and have literally never seen anyone actually use it. I just find It so much easier and quicker to just look up or do things manually on my phone (which I usually have with me 99% of the time)...

Maybe it is just me....

It's just you, I use Siri every single day for the iPhone with dictation with queries, notes, messages, etc . Siri is extremely useful for me with for my iPad, AirPod controls, Apple Watch commands and the HomePod will obviously have its intended uses. I find Siri to be an integral part of Apples ecosystem that does make it user friendly when you take advantage of how it makes things quicker and more convenient for me.

 

[JBaby]

I say, “Hey Siri” every day. I have HomeKit devices. I ask Siri to turn on/off my fan all the time, but usually in the middle of the night when I get hot or cold. The tv is what got me to use Siri. I never used it much before 2015.

 

[Julien]

.....I just find It so much easier and quicker to just look up or do things manually on my phone (which I usually have with me 99% of the time).....

Have your iPhone locked and do the following:

A: Hey Siri define tertiary
B: Unlock iPhone>open Notes>type tertiary>tap on/highlight tertiary>select Lookup

or

A: Hey Siri what is 38692x78541
B: Open Control Center>Click on Calculator>Type 38692x78541=

or

A: Hey Siri what time is it in London
B: Unlock iPhone>open Safari>type in what time is it in London in the search field

or

A: Hey Siri set main floor thermostat to 70º
B: Unlock iPhone>open Home or your thermostats' app>select main floor thermostat>adjust settings to 70º

or

A: Hey Siri directions to 123 East Covington St, Anywhere, TX, 40303
B: Unlock iPhone>open Maps>type in 123 East Covington St, Anywhere, TX, 40303 search> tap Directions

So you are saying B is "..so much easier and quicker.."????

 

[Q-Dog]

I just used Siri to unlock my back door. We are doing some remodeling, and looking at some homekit compatible switches to replace the wemo stuff we have. And I am about to replace my wifi thermostat with a homekit thermostat, so I suspect we will use Siri a lot more in our house.

 

[OllyW]

It's just you

It’s not just him.

I’ve found using Siri a totally frustrating experience. It’s ok for really simple instructions but struggles to understand my accent a lot of the time. It does seem to pay attention when I swear at it though

 

[cardfan]

I'm fine using "hey siri." But I never know which device will respond. That ipad laying on table? My watch? The iphone that I'm actually trying to use it with? And now there's the homepod.

 

[J.Gallardo]

I'm not a heavy "hey Siri" feature user... but I keep it "on" 'cause I find VERY USEFUL in some circumstances .
Just to name the most essential one for me: when I'm driving & my phone is paired in Bluetooth with the car, I can ask Siri to play "my favorite music" or a chosen playlist , etc. It's faster, safer, and LEGAL (while fiddling with phone when driving is heavily punished here in my country).

 

[Julien]

....I’ve found using Siri a totally frustrating experience. It’s ok for really simple instructions but struggles to understand my accent a lot of the time. It does seem to pay attention when I swear at it though

I'm fine using "hey siri." But I never know which device will respond. That ipad laying on table? My watch? The iphone that I'm actually trying to use it with? And now there's the homepod.

Can't disagree with these statements. However I gave examples of very simple things that Siri works well at and MUCH faster than typing. BUT.....

1st Siri needs to become a singularity across all devices and not a collection of different apps with different levels of abilities that 'sound' the same.
2ed Siri needs much better contextual awareness and needs to be completely understanding (or as well as the average human) and complete control from any device of ALL devices and functions. You say it and Siri can understand and do it.

 

[AFEPPL]

It's very rare I use Siri, so it's not just you...
I like the amazon assistant better, it's more proficient and useable with 3rd party support too,

It's a thumbs down no from me.

 

[bruinsrme]

Who uses hey Siri?

Who uses Alexa?

Siri is pretty good.
Send a text while driving
Map out a destination
Play music
Weather
Appointments/calendar
Home kit
Reminders
Sports scores

That’s what I use it for.

 

[The Game 161]

Who uses hey Siri?

Who uses Alexa?

Siri is pretty good.
Send a text while driving
Map out a destination
Play music
Weather
Appointments/calendar
Home kit
Reminders
Sports scores

That’s what I use it for.

Same here

Think people overrate the importance of google assistant and Alexa. I wouldn’t ask either of those anything different than I do Siri.

For basic tasks Siri does just fine. Guess it depends on a persons voice and being clear when you speak to her. I guess if somebody mumbles that’s where it might not understand somebody.

 

[daijholt]

Have your iPhone locked and do the following:

A: Hey Siri define tertiary
B: Unlock iPhone>open Notes>type tertiary>tap on/highlight tertiary>select Lookup

or

A: Hey Siri what is 38692x78541
B: Open Control Center>Click on Calculator>Type 38692x78541=

or

A: Hey Siri what time is it in London
B: Unlock iPhone>open Safari>type in what time is it in London in the search field

or

A: Hey Siri set main floor thermostat to 70º
B: Unlock iPhone>open Home or your thermostats' app>select main floor thermostat>adjust settings to 70º

or

A: Hey Siri directions to 123 East Covington St, Anywhere, TX, 40303
B: Unlock iPhone>open Maps>type in 123 East Covington St, Anywhere, TX, 40303 search> tap Directions

So you are saying B is "..so much easier and quicker.."????

Basically this. Siri can do so many things, so much faster than the normal way. You need to find the way that Siri can augment your daily routine for it to be effective, but Siri is an underused feature in my eyes.

Hey Siri, good morning - Lights turn on in the morning.

Hey Siri, hows the traffic to work? - brings up traffic info and directions

Hey Siri, add X to my shopping list - adds to a shared shopping list between myself and my girlfriend

Hey Siri, remind me to do X at X time or when I get to X place - this is the biggest use case for me.

Hey Siri, message John "I'm on my way" - send a quick message when getting in the car

Hey Siri, remind me about this in 1 hour - when reading an email in the apple mail app, Siri will create a reminder for later with a hotline directly to that email within the mail app. This works for a tonne of different apps too.

Hey Siri, set a timer for X minutes - while cooking

Hey Siri, open X app - makes opening an app easier since I've got boat loads in a mess of different folders on my phone.

Believe me, the list goes on, but these are some of my main uses for Siri across my phone, watch and Mac.

 

[robgendreau]

It IS something you've gotta get used to. I once only used Siri in the car, and it was helpful.

Now that I have an Echo and Google Home, and a lot of controlled devices, I find I'm using voice on all devices, including Siri, more.

Sort of like deciding whether you'd use a finger, touch pad, mouse, keyboard or other input device. Sometimes voice is just the best, like when you're up to your elbows in junk and want Siri to do something, or Alexa or Google. With improving AI I expect it will be getting closer and closer to the Star Trek ideal in no time....

 

[Plett]

I use it for really only a few things, set reminders, calendar events, weather, and now news in the AM, and start workouts on my watch (the last one is only outdoor workouts when I have gloved hands. All that being said anything other than those easy functions I find the experience to be crap.

 

[sam2428]

Yea... I think one of the reasons i have not gotten used to it because of the inconsistencies and the basic nature of Hey Siri. I am sure once it can start to handle more complicated tasks (and once i start feeling more comfortable using it) I will get more use out of it.

I still think the percentage of users who actually take advantage of Hey Siri is very much so in the minority...granted that is just my guess.

 

[DoubleFlyaway]

I think it’s partially generational. I think teenagers use it a LOT. Like in terrible ways... dictating homework instead of typing it.

Personally, I like it a lot for HomeKit and while driving or on long runs.

 

[maflynn]

I use Siri more and more, and my kids use Siri all the time.

 

[nebo1ss]

It’s not just him.

I’ve found using Siri a totally frustrating experience. It’s ok for really simple instructions but struggles to understand my accent a lot of the time. It does seem to pay attention when I swear at it though

Apple had a head start with SIRI but but made such a mess of it that Alexa and Google have just taken over the space.

 

[maflynn]

Apple had a head start with SIRI but but made such a mess of it that Alexa and Google have just taken over the space.

They were indeed first out of the gate, but I'd not say they made a mess of it, but more that they didn't do anything with it. imo, they completely missed the boat on integrating Siri with home automation. Look how it took Apple to add Siri to the Mac. Siri was first to be sure, but then Google, and Microsoft leaped frogged Apple years ago, and even then Apple didn't seem to care (or at least improve Siri).

Now that Amazon shocked both Google and Apple with the Echo, Apple seems more serious, but is it too little too late?

 

[sam2428]

I think it’s partially generational. I think teenagers use it a LOT. Like in terrible ways... dictating homework instead of typing it.

Personally, I like it a lot for HomeKit and while driving or on long runs.

I totally agree...not that I am very old myself (30 years old)...I see younger teens / kids using assistants more often for sure as they are growing up with it.

I think that is part of my problem is that I do not use homekit enough as I have been waiting to upgrade my house with various smart devices. I am sure once I start to spend the money on smart locks, cameras, outlets, etc I will have a lot more use out of Siri. But for now....still really necessary for me.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I use Siri all the time! I mainly use it on my AW3LTE but still use it in the 8+ occasionally. Great for reminders, keeping up with ballgame scores, converting metric and on and on.

 

[deeside81]

I’ve preordered the HomePod hoping that Siri will understand me better. Even when I say “hey Siri” it only picks up a third of the time. Quite often I have to shout and I even have the iPhone X. If I put on an American accent or English one it picks up most of the time. I’m Scottish. If Siri hasn’t improved I’ll have to put it back. I really hope the 6 microphones will help it understand me.