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Microsoft Launches New Cortana vs. Siri Ad Showing Off Context-Aware Reminders

I think it's a good ad that highlights one of the areas where Apple has been one-upped by its competitors. It's more similar to Apple's Mac vs PC ads than to Samsung's ads because it pokes fun at the product, rather than its users.
 
If Siri sucks so bad why isn't Microsoft comparing Cortana to the gold standard - Google Now?
 
Big deal. So Hal knows what you really want ... that should impress me? And why would I buy a phone that reminds me of how utterly idiotic Microsoft was to ever release Windows 8?

Siri is just a novelty and only occasionally useful to me, but I use the iPhone as my primary phone because it does everything I need it to do in an app-rich environment to support what I do.

Too little, too bad, and way too late, Microsoft. :apple:
 
These types of ads are stupid because nobody is buying a phone just for Cortana or Siri or Google Voice Search/Google Now. They're all gimmicks. People might talk to their phones once or twice to try it, but, in the end, it's meaningless.
 
Cortana is only one feature, though Siri does need a big update. Perhaps Apple needs a SVP & team who only focus on Siri and Maps.

Windows Phone seems generally confusing to use - someone asked me how to update a contact for them on their Windows phone and it was really unintuitive. I could not work it out and had to browse the web to find out how to do it.

I've never used Cortana, but if it's half as good as Google Now it will work better than Siri.
 
MS is so far off base with this advert and their products.

Voice assistants were hyped in the past as a big thing but now are considered a bit of a gimmick again as they were before because they are pretty much useless for everything!

No one is going to buy a phone solely based on a voice assistant, MS are selling their customers short if they think that the consumer isn't concerned with the apps, the ecosystem and all the other functions. MS thinks you're an idiot.

Picking one feature for a advert and some specific functions does not convince anyone you have a better phone.

I'm sure MS has some interesting things that people are doing with custom interfaces etc for projects that would make for far better general adverts, such as tablets controlling drones, making art etc. They should leverage the cool not this tit for tat non-sense. Leave this stuff up to Samsung they're you're real rivals Microsoft!
 
thekeyring said:
Cortana is only one feature, though Siri does need a big update. Perhaps Apple needs a SVP & team who only focus on Siri and Maps.
Click to expand...

Eddy Cue supports iCloud, iTunes, App Store, Siri, Maps and Apple TV. That's huge. Seems to me his role should be split into two - one for iCloud, Siri and Maps and another that just focuses on content and Apple TV. The real test of Cue's leadership will come this fall when iOS 8 and Yosemite go public and the new hardware gets launched. All this continuity stuff sounds amazing - as long as it "just works". Apple and "just works" when it comes to the cloud isn't always the case.
 
macsforever said:
Apple will have WATSON and we'll see what RISC can do haha. I wish Apple would go back to the RISC processor because they SPANK anything Intel or AMD offers.
Click to expand...

but I haven't got emotionally involved with no watson on an epic space battle across multiple worlds.
 
It'd be nice to see a big update to Siri. I only use it for low end stuff now like repeatedly telling it to remind me to take a drink out of the freezer in 45 minutes. Did I mean to phone Phil in 5 minutes? No I didn't. My favourite was when it set a reminder "To take Michael out of the freezer". Always good for a laugh is Siri.
 
The problems with ad's like these is the features are extremely easy for Apple to add, and most people don't use the AI/voice recognition features of their phones. So I find it funny that everyone is in a heated debate regarding one of the the least used features of their phone.
 
ok, but how many people in the word use Dragon Natural Speaking, or other Voice software?

What's the parentage? below 40% ?

This would determine regardless of how good Siri is, weather its really worth it, this would also be based or "speaking clearly", or "understand you" word for word, letter to letter.

I doub't any voice assistant can be that accurate, including siri, and will always be a problem.

Apple always has dictation anyway, why not just improve on that ? all the same local stuff that siri does, dictation can easily do... you just wouldn't have internet access for the stuff siri could otherwise handle with..

It's a battle of the voices.
 
Solomani said:
User to Siri: "I'm depressed today, Siri. Any advice?"

Siri: "Yes Dave, all humans go through depression at some point in their lives. May I recommend counseling, or perhaps a therapist? I could look one up for you."

User to Siri: "I dunno Siri. I don't really feel like seeing a shrink, don't really see how that's going to help. But thanks anyways."

Siri: "You're welcome Dave."

—


User to Cortana: "I'm depressed today, Cortana. Any advice?"

Cortana: "I found 4 shops that sell handguns in the vicinity. Go kill yourself."

User to Cortana: "Wow Cortana, you get right to the point, dontcha? Very contextual, huh?"

Cortana: "You're welcome Dave."
Click to expand...

more like something like this


User to Cortana: "I'm depressed today, Cortana. Any advice?"

Cortana: "how about an epic space adventure across multiple worlds battling aliens before we settle down for a beer and a well deserved supper."

User to Cortana: "Wow Cortana, what times the space ship leave, wheres my rifle and smoke me a kipper!"

Cortana: "spaceship ready to go, weapons locked and loaded, kipper is smoking... here we go...."

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Arran said:
I see usability issues:

  1. When the person calls, instead of letting you to talk, the OS distracts you with a reminder popup. That could be quite annoying.
  2. What if that person never calls you?

Why not just call them first - if it's that important? And if it's not that important, why are you creating reminders?

I think there's a reason Apple left this out.
Click to expand...

it only has to show a reminder next to their face when they call. You then have the choice of looking at it or just answering the call, or answering the call and then looking at it, or just because you saw theres a reminder you remembered what it is anyway.
 
alexgowers said:
MS is so far off base with this advert and their products.

Voice assistants were hyped in the past as a big thing but now are considered a bit of a gimmick again as they were before because they are pretty much useless for everything!

No one is going to buy a phone solely based on a voice assistant, MS are selling their customers short if they think that the consumer isn't concerned with the apps, the ecosystem and all the other functions. MS thinks you're an idiot.

Picking one feature for a advert and some specific functions does not convince anyone you have a better phone.

I'm sure MS has some interesting things that people are doing with custom interfaces etc for projects that would make for far better general adverts, such as tablets controlling drones, making art etc. They should leverage the cool not this tit for tat non-sense. Leave this stuff up to Samsung they're you're real rivals Microsoft!
Click to expand...

Is it only Microsoft that is off base or was Apple off base as well with all their Siri ads?:rolleyes:

As for your suggestion for Microsoft to do an ad for their interesting things:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaOvHKG0Tio

They've already done that.
 
Merode said:
Siri is that feature that every new iPhone user tests for 10 minutes and then forgets about it. Not only doesn't it support my native language, but it also has issues with slavic accent when speaking English. Anyway, I should be glad we're getting dictation support for Polish this fall. Besides, there's not much to do with Siri. You also look creepy talking to it on the bus etc.

As to Cortana - it seems better, except it doesn't support A LOT of languages. I also doubt it can really do anything more than Siri where I live. I bet it won't be used much as well.

As to the ad - it's not bad. Apple did the same thing a few years ago and world didn't mind. Don't be upset - it's much better than what Samsung does and Microsoft has a point here. Of course they're showing parts where Windows Phone is better. The problems start when you go to Nokia's website just to find out what can you get to replace your iPhone 4S. It turns out all their phones except huge ones are rubbish (bigger = better there, duh).
Click to expand...

siri is great for replying to text messages whilst walking the street. You can look down texting oblivious to everything around you or hold iPhone to your ear like your on a call and listen and reply whilst looking at everything around you. The experience is truly better than looking down.
 
saboteur said:
It is never good when you feel the need to prove yourself against another competitor. When apple did the I'm a Mac and I'm a PC commercial they where smart enough to never use actual products, they where about the "cool" factor not features.
Click to expand...

Apple's lawyers probably told Apple no actually competitor's products in the ads is better from a legal point of view.
 
Arran said:
I see usability issues:

  1. When the person calls, instead of letting you to talk, the OS distracts you with a reminder popup. That could be quite annoying.
  2. What if that person never calls you?

Why not just call them first - if it's that important? And if it's not that important, why are you creating reminders?

I think there's a reason Apple left this out.
Click to expand...

I wonder what the reason is for leaving other things out?

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Plutonius said:
For the iWatch to be a success, Apple needs to improve Siri.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, I don't understand, but I could search the web for it. :D
 
Arran said:
I see usability issues:

  1. When the person calls, instead of letting you to talk, the OS distracts you with a reminder popup. That could be quite annoying.
  2. What if that person never calls you?

Why not just call them first - if it's that important? And if it's not that important, why are you creating reminders?

I think there's a reason Apple left this out.
Click to expand...

I see logic issues.
  1. You set up the reminder. Why would you be annoyed when you specifically set it up?:confused: It's not like it's going to pop up on every call.
  2. Pretty sure you're only going to set that type of reminder for a person you know you're going to speak to. I don't think people are going around setting random reminders for Bill Gates. You know, just in case he calls.:rolleyes:

You're making up problems where they don't exist. People create reminders for things all the time. Some important, some trivial. Sometimes things pop into your head while you're doing something else.

There could be a number of reasons Apple left this out. They didn't think of it, Siri wasn't capable at the time, or any number of other reasons. As others have said, the more capable each PA becomes, the more they will all incorporate the same features.

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the8thark said:
Apple's lawyers probably told Apple no actually competitor's products in the ads is better from a legal point of view.
Click to expand...

What?!?:confused: Not sure if serious. There's no legal issues with showing a competitors product.
 
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