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References to Siri for Apple TV Found in iOS 7.1 Code

So, does this bolster rumours of the redesigned box AND REMOTE... press and hold the home button on the new remote to voice activation via Siri?

Personally, I'd like that... I hate when I'm in the living room at my folks and we're talking about something on the TV and the damn thing turns on or starts trying to listen for commands.... admittedly, it is a samsung ;)

Word + command in quick succession = OK UX... push to talk is hardly the end of the word, with accessibility options that allow you to change how it's triggered would be the right balance.
 
Cuban Missles said:
Apple has bought companies before, but usually very small companies. Buying Nintendo I think would be a problem, especially from a corporate culture perspective. Having said that, Apple does seem (based on rumors) to be headed towards a device that would allow game playing and movie watching in the livng room. So it does seem that the two will compete.

My crystal ball (which is often dirty and clouded, so what the hell do I know) tells me that Apple will put out a new device that will allow you to store apps on the device which mean more than the RAM currently in the ATV -- something like the iphone. This means that you will be able to buy 8, 16, 32, etc gig configurations. they will continue to improve the MFi to get controllers for the games. I would not see a big investment in remotes when the iphone app works great. Since they bought the Kinetic company some thing will come of that as well. Of course siri integration makes sense. But the touch ID is not something I see happening here of course.

Okay, time to go clean my crystal ball :D
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I actually really like the idea. I was imagining something similar, like a real console like PS and XBox, just smaller, nicer and in every aspect faster and better. Which switches easily between menus like as if u switch between apps on your phones. You will be able to switch between TV which is completely streamed over the internet like some providers already offer, there will be packages and single channels to subscribe to for a premium per month or year, you can surf the web, use iTunes on your TV, switch to gaming, etc. you will be able to wirelessly connect any controller to the system such as PS or XBox controller, etc.

And probably the biggest addition to the Apple TV set, is a camera or dual camera system that detects your movement, but integrated into the same box, including the voice commands which is a must anyway...

Ok so that was my take on that thing, and I sure hope it'll get close to it ;)
 
I think Siri would be a great addition to Apple TV as a way to look up all kinds of information outside of having a keyboard.

More than just locating movies and tv shows... maybe maps, maybe online search engines with maybe a web browser working in concert with Siri.

Basically, why stop at movies, tv shows, and music for your tv. Open up all the information you currently have on your iPhone.
 
Sky Blue said:
Siri, play the latest episode of the Walking Dead.

"Sorry, I can find a show called Wrouton Ted. Would you like me to search the internet?"
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In all seriousness though, Apple really needs to step up on the actual recognition of words. It's not to the point yet where you can completely speak to it naturally, so Apple shouldn't advertise it as that.
 
unplugme71 said:
I'm going to take a guess that it will be part of the 'Remote' app on the iPhone/iPad and maybe for the rumored 'iwatch'.
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All of these "just use our iPhones or iPads" answers never make sense unless you are single living alone. As soon as the "good remote" leaves the house with the family member who owns it, the rest of the family/roommates don't have a "good remote".

Secondly, it doesn't make sense to sell a little box for $99 with a dependency on a remote for $199* (with contract) or $600+ (contract free).

Making the remote app work with :apple:TV makes great sense. Making anyone depend on an iDevice as THE remote, doesn't. A new :apple:TV will need to come with a dedicated remote that can cover any special innovations that motivates us to want a new :apple:TV. If that's a Siri microphone, then it needs to come with a dedicated remote with a microphone. Sure, our iDevices can cover that too but they shouldn't be the ONLY way.
 
HobeSoundDarryl said:
All of these "just use our iPhones or iPads" answers never make sense unless you are single living alone. As soon as the "good remote" leaves the house with the family member who owns it, the rest of the family/roommates don't have a "good remote".

Secondly, it doesn't make sense to sell a little box for $99 with a dependency on a remote for $199* (with contract) or $600+ (contract free).

Making the remote app work with :apple:TV makes great sense. Making anyone depend on an iDevice as THE remote, doesn't. A new :apple:TV will need to come with a dedicated remote that can cover any special innovations that motivates us to want a new :apple:TV. If that's a Siri microphone, then it needs to come with a dedicated remote with a microphone. Sure, our iDevices can cover that too but they shouldn't be the ONLY way.
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I agree and you also don't want to alienate folks who simply don't own an iPhone. It actually would prohibit sales.
 
Siri

Odd. I use Siri almost exlusively for everything that it's set up for. I would guess my success rate is above 95% easy. Reminders. Calendar. Text messages. Phone calls etc.

IMHO...the majority of the problems I've witnessed with Siri usage has been due to people just activating and then rambling aimlessly. Usage is better if you take a second and organize what you will say mentally. Takes little time to get used to.

WannaGoMac said:
I hate Siri and turn it off. It's so much slower to use than just performing the task myself as manually I get it right every single time. The only use case for Siri is probably driving.
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Last edited:
Does the Apple TV have a built in microphone?
Seems like you will need your phone to speak to Siri to control the Apple TV.
Maybe that's more efficient than typing on the keyboard but I'm not so sure.

Need to see the demo.
 
GenesisST said:
Yet, it always work when I give up and say "**** you, Bitch"
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Speaks more of your anger issues more than anything.:p

diegogaja said:
Odd. I use Siri almost exlusively for everything that it's set up for. I would guess my success rate is above 95% easy. Reminders. Calendar. Text messages. Phone calls etc.

IMHO...the majority of the problems I've witnessed with Siri usage has been due to people just activating and then rambling aimlessly. Usage is better if you take a second and organize what you will say mentally. Takes little time to get used to.
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Preaching to the choir. But, as the saying goes, "haters gonna hate"!
 
hlfway2anywhere said:
Probably referring to the fact that you said this will enable it on 1st-3rd gen apple TVs, where Apple notoriously withholds new features from older devices in order to push the latest product.
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This is an absurdly cynical statement. The fact that they ever add any increased functionality at all to older devices is deserving of huge kudos. To turn this practice on its head as you have is a very deliberate attempt.
 
I think adding Siri to Apple TV, for example with use of your iPhone/iPad, would be great! Even though Apple really should integrate Dutch as a language for the voice assistant, but actually I'm quite fine with English. :p

For those who think Apple should bring Siri for Apple TV to the remote control (I mean, not everyone might have an iPhone or iPad): that's not a bad idea as well, as I'm honest!

Btw, I don't use Siri on a daily base, but sometimes it becomes very handy if I only want to know whether it's gonna rain or not. xD
 
unplugme71 said:
I highly doubt there would be a microphone on the Apple TV. Most people store it in an entertainment cabinet behind a glass door.

I'm going to take a guess that it will be part of the 'Remote' app on the iPhone/iPad and maybe for the rumored 'iwatch'.

This will enable all 1st-3rd gen aTV's to work with it.
Click to expand...

This makes sense to me. If this feature was going to require new hardware, and only compatible with a new Apple TV, why have the code show up in iOS 7.XX now? Surely any new hardware in the fall will launch with iOS 8.0, so there must be plans to support the older aTV's on older iOS versions.
 
darkslide29 said:
This makes sense to me. If this feature was going to require new hardware, and only compatible with a new Apple TV, why have the code show up in iOS 7.XX now? Surely any new hardware in the fall will launch with iOS 8.0, so there must be plans to support the older aTV's on older iOS versions.
Click to expand...

Not really, in the past os updates have shown new devices that came out over a year later. Why would a device show up on an os that device would be never ever be on? Testing, that's why.
 
darkslide29 said:
This makes sense to me. If this feature was going to require new hardware, and only compatible with a new Apple TV, why have the code show up in iOS 7.XX now? Surely any new hardware in the fall will launch with iOS 8.0, so there must be plans to support the older aTV's on older iOS versions.
Click to expand...

I can't see why not. Doesn't the 1st gen have the same version as the 3rd gen right now? Or is the 1st gen not supported anymore?

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HobeSoundDarryl said:
All of these "just use our iPhones or iPads" answers never make sense unless you are single living alone. As soon as the "good remote" leaves the house with the family member who owns it, the rest of the family/roommates don't have a "good remote".

Secondly, it doesn't make sense to sell a little box for $99 with a dependency on a remote for $199* (with contract) or $600+ (contract free).

Making the remote app work with :apple:TV makes great sense. Making anyone depend on an iDevice as THE remote, doesn't. A new :apple:TV will need to come with a dedicated remote that can cover any special innovations that motivates us to want a new :apple:TV. If that's a Siri microphone, then it needs to come with a dedicated remote with a microphone. Sure, our iDevices can cover that too but they shouldn't be the ONLY way.
Click to expand...

Agreed, but you can connect multiple remotes to the Apple TV. And the Apple TV includes a standard remote.

Maybe Apple will sell an advanced remote for $49 or $99 that has a built-in microphone and instead of buttons its all touch screen.

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tevion5 said:
No doubt it would, but you think apple is Jong to update the "ancient AppleTV 1"? :/
Click to expand...

It's not that old. Unless you are referring the original Apple TV (1st gen).

Apple TV 2 (1st gen) is only a few years at most.

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hlfway2anywhere said:
Probably referring to the fact that you said this will enable it on 1st-3rd gen apple TVs, where Apple notoriously withholds new features from older devices in order to push the latest product.
Click to expand...

The iPhone 4S still gets iOS 7 so why can't the 1st gen Apple TV (2) have it?
 
goobot said:
Not really, in the past os updates have shown new devices that came out over a year later. Why would a device show up on an os that device would be never ever be on? Testing, that's why.
Click to expand...

Good point, I can recall now that new fall hardware regularly shows up in an OS build that it won't be on. And the site will take guesses at what it means, how many different devices and sizes, etc. Thanks.
 
dvoros said:
Siri is pure crap. Whenever my grandson is over we play around with Siri. It never understands what I am asking for. For a real gem, use Google voice. It immediately gives me the answer I am looking for. Google is genius. ;)
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Weird because usually Google Voice does not understand me and it has little capabilities compared to Siri. I feel like it's voice search with a little bit new features added.
 
Having a voice search option on AppleTV would be awesome. I have an Amazon Fire TV and I love the voice search. It's pretty accurate and makes navigation easier. I'm so used to it that I sometimes try to do a voice search when using my AppleTV.

My concern is that the addition of this would make it seem like Apple is copying Amazon. Especially if the search is through the remote, which it most likely will be.
 
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