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You forgot iOS 8
That is their Windows ME

I don't have an iPhone at the time of iOS 8 but I have read about iOS 8.0.1 Update withdrawn due to an issue that impacted cellular network connectivity and Touch ID on iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus... Other than that I think iOS 8.x is better than iOS 7.0.x
 
I think the bug may be related to the fact that Apple moved Siri all to in-device instead of sending it to the cloud.

probably Apple forgot about moving the missing commands to on device.

Either way, most likely going to be fixed in further release of 15.1 beta. (Final release is planned for November)
 
Apple seriously need to get a grip of the bugs that are being discovered every day and regain the "it just works" reputation.
I don't know if they want to get back this reputation.

They haven't used this motto in a while.
And for the sake of being truthful, they shouldn't use it anymore... at least for the next 5 years.
 
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iOS 11, iOS 13, iOS 15 are Apple's version of Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows 8.x and Windows 11
iOS 9 was also something, at least on the developer side.
iOS 15 is OK so far, I'd never compare it to Windows ME. Windows ME was buggy for everyone. Not to diminish its usefulness, but let's face it, not that many people use this specific Siri feature. While we're at it, not that many people use Siri. Because it's bad. It has only barely evolved since Forstall introduced it now exactly 10 years ago.
 
While we're at it, not that many people use Siri. Because it's bad. It has only barely evolved since Forstall introduced it now exactly 10 years ago.
I continue to try occasionally. I want it to work. However, so often even simple requests end up being a battle.

EDIT: To be fair, most digital/AI assistants so far are reasonably concluded as less than helpful beyond one or two tasks.
 
Thankfully a user on the AppleVis forums spoke to Apple support and was told that Apple is aware of the issue, so it is to be expected that this functionality will be re-introduced.
What about beta testing? Could one become aware BEFORE the new release or making changes? What is the point of pre-release testing if the loss of crucial functionality goes undetected? For a company with the finanical health and wealth of resources of Apple, this is simply inexcusable.
 
I still haven't placed an order for my new iPad. There's just no reason for me to be in a hurry.

It's not just boneheadedness coming out of Apple lately with iCloud picture searching and now them reducing Siri from an 8th grade level to kindergarten. It's WORSE than that and I've put my MBP plans on hold indefinitely.

I'm also thinking that my iPhone 12 just might need to be the end of the line for me. Get excited about new products from Apple? Why should I when Apple isn't excited about me as a user and potential developer with lots of opportunity to get into the Apple ecosystem even deeper than I already am?

With every "pants on head" decision that makes MORE friction in my relationship with Apple's products and ecosystem, I find myself thinking seriously about moving to the android/Google ecosystems while also solidifying my participation even more in the Microsoft Windows ecosystem. Windows 10 has been rock solid for me on PC and Android has matured in all the years since my iPhone 5.

This is all in Apple's control, too. Really, it feels more and more like I'm in a bad marriage with a partner who just wants to have her freedom on Fridays and Saturdays, and I'm lucky if I see her by Sunday night. And the "I can't do that" from Siri just already has me asking Alexa for simple stuff like how to spell words while I'm typing into forum responses.

Doesn't Apple realize just how BAD that is? For YEARS, since iPhone 5, I've been asking Siri for spelling and reference help. But THIS YEAR, here in 2021, I've started asking Alexa. Because Alexa RESPONDS. Maybe Alexa just takes shorter lunch breaks?

Apple, why you gotta do us like this? Making me think Google might be the direction I need to go in? How did we get to this point? Have I done something to make you angry with me? Or is my $1,500 every couple years for a new phone not enough for you?

Edits: Speelng and grimmer. 🤭 🤪
 
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That’s terrible.
It's worse than terrible, it SHOULD be a fire alarm over at 1 Spaceship Circle.
Thankfully a user on the AppleVis forums spoke to Apple support and was told that Apple is aware of the issue, so it is to be expected that this functionality will be re-introduced.
It NEVER should have gotten that far.
So...about that iOS 15 adoption rate...
I don't know where one would even adopt. My phone is on 14.8 and there's no nagging for me to upgrade.
Apple seriously need to get a grip of the bugs that are being discovered every day and regain the "it just works" reputation.
I think it's worse than mere bugs. I think Apple is moving away from us; moving away from the user base.
What is going on with the software team at Apple’s?
I'm not blaming it on any "software team". This goes all the way up to Apple's executive leadership team. They need to LEAD.
I think a lot of this is because it's all getting a bit too complicated, and Apple's insistence of running like a 'collection of startups' is causing breakdowns in communication. There are many critical bugs that just aren't being fixed and things like this being removed without any consideration to the implications of their removal.
Breakdowns in communication happen because of breakdowns in communication. One symptom of that is too many meetings and not enough time to complete actual WORK.
I almost want to say, Siri is the cause of the breakdown in communication because they can't draft emails with Siri or check their Voicemail with Siri... but that'd just be snarky ;)
Well, if you ask me, Apple is deserving of some snark. Some very loud, very public, very mocking, very condescending snark.

Apple needs to get off its high horse and spend some time with the "little people" who pay exorbitant prices and have to live with stupid decisions.
My theory, could this be a side-effect of the processing most requests on device vs sending to the server?
Yeah, you raise a great point there.

Hey Siri! What's the weather like?

Siri: You'll need to unlock your iPhone first.

uses FaceID*

Siri: Sorry, I can't help you with that.
I know, right? 😣

What are they smoking in Cali?
Is Apple using mostly contractors these days? Contractors don’t seem to be as accountable as regulars.
I really have to call you out on this one. I have a long experience with contractors; more than 20 years, actually. That includes being, working with, and having them work for me at various times in my career.

Most importantly, contractors are humans. Consequently, you can expect to get excellence, crap, or anything in between in pretty much the same ratios with contractors as you do with any cross-section of the human population.

Having contractors is often thought of as cheaper. That's not a guarantee, especially if they muck up the works and you have to hire somebody else to redo the work. It also does not guarantee failure. I know of several instances where a full-time employee screwed something up, broke something, lost something else, and it was a contractor who saved the day by knocking out some complicated code all day and all night for nearly a week straight.

No. Apple's problems are coming from executive leadership missteps. There's no doubt in my mind of that.
Maybe they need to rethink what kind of workforce executive leadership they hire, one that is more accountable and has way more to lose if they screw up as much as they seem to be doing these days. Plus Apple needs to rethink the bosses as they seem unable to deliver decent software any more. They are rotten to the Apple core now a days!
Fixed it for you. ;)
I really have to think that working remotely has caused issues.
Yeah, probably not. I've worked with teams who are completely remote. Again, see my cross-section argument above. Some do better, some don't.
I wish Apple would just kill off Siri and create an API that would allow Google, Amazon, or Microsoft to use their voice AI's. I personally do not use Siri anymore since it always misunderstands what I am saying to the point it is useless.
I love your idea. Or make Siri open-source, and let's have people with real dedication work on her. Hmmm, I wonder, are there ANY open-source examples of smart assistants?
 
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It's not an issue to them. They want it swept under the rug just like any other feature they silently kill... I see little reason why these features were removed, and I hope enough people inquire to make them re-add it.

And everyone forgot about CSAM, didn't they. Funny how that is. Keep it hush hush and after a while no one will remember enough to care.
No we haven’t forgotten about CSAM, we‘re paying very close attention & ready to disable iCloud photo sharing the moment it’s released.
 
I almost want to say, Siri is the cause of the breakdown in communication because they can't draft emails with Siri or check their Voicemail with Siri... but that'd just be snarky ;)

---------------------------------

My theory, could this be a side-effect of the processing most requests on device vs sending to the server? Since it's an issue Apple is aware of, perhaps it's just a software fix in the near future. Alas, this is something that even if a small number of users are affected, still causes issues.

With all that said, does Apple specifically state that there is this functionality for low vision/blind people? or is it something they just came to rely on? Either way, hopefully it gets fixed very soon.
This is definitely a side effect of Siri all being on device, rather than over Apple’s servers. Siri was never smart, but it’s worse now than any point I can remember (except possibly the introduction of Siri).
 
With every "pants on head" decision that makes MORE friction in my relationship from Apple, I find myself thinking seriously about moving to the android/Google and just solidifying my participation even more in the Microsoft Windows ecosystem.
I know the feeling, however, be careful about the "grass is greener" mentality.

I’ve used almost every version of Windows since 95, I skipped Windows 8 and some Server versions. It has improved, but there’s still way too much clumsiness. Just one example, Windows now has Settings, Control Panels, and managers, plus they’re going to route of simplifying things for users and a lot of options have been removed, only possible (if at all) via registry hacks and command line.

I also purchased a Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet within the past year — my first Android device. It’s running Android 11 and Samsung One UI 3.1. Admittedly, there are a few features, etc that I do prefer — for example, I like the default keyboard layout overall better than Apple’s. Nevertheless, there are indeed some "what were you thinking?!” functions. Top gripe, I much prefer using a gesture to go the Home Screen or app switcher rather than the nav bar, which either uses space or requires that extra tap to show. An interesting observation was seemingly how much more than on iOS third-party developer choices can lessen and worsen these annoyances. Another plus to iOS, force/coercion of developers to use Apple’s APIs (i.e., most apps include a consistent video control set) — skip back or forward is the most noticeable for me. On Android, very few have such a consistency.

“Your milage will vary” as is said.
 
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let’s just face it, iOS 15 sucks.

They went Microsoft-complicated with fixed things that weren’t broken and broke things that weren’t fixed.

Since it is all software I’m sure that 15.1 will fix a lot, but it is inexcusable that this POS was released.
 
For every new feature they remove another one discreetly. The release notes only mention the additions, not the removals, not very transparent, nor ethical from Apple. In this way we don’t have a way to make an informed choice about “updating” iOS, nor even about hardware. Like when they removed Force Touch discreetly, or the headphone jack, etc. (The public “discovered” that removals but Apple did not communicate them, just avoided to mention about those changes. Supposedly for our own benefit. Or maximize profit. You decide. But I LOVED force touch. Loved it. Or at least should tell us that they removed core functions, like edit a number in the dial pad!, which is impossible in an iPHONE and the removal of the UpNext widget and a long list or mistéricos decisions by the powers that be (development cost, a wise guy making decisions for us inside Apple, about what customers don’t use or don’t like, etc.).
Anyway, waiting for the presale in my country this Friday to buy a device with more and less features at the same time than my current 11pro max. Weird, “more and less a the same time”.
 
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let’s just face it, iOS 15 sucks.

They went Microsoft-complicated with fixed things that weren’t broken and broke things that weren’t fixed.

Since it is all software I’m sure that 15.1 will fix a lot, but it is inexcusable that this POS was released.
This is not iOS 15 specific. It’s on Apple’s server side as it affects people with older iOS as well.
 
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