Samsung Debuts English-Language Voice Capabilities for Siri Rival 'Bixby' Following Initial Delay

[x-evil-x]

sad to say but Siri is rather useless and has been for a while. I only use it to set alarms and open/close my smart lock lately. Even then the alarms are mostly spot on besides saying anything with a 2 in it. Set alarm for 2:30 and it and it keeps asking for what time. I guess its better now as I just checked and seems to be working.
Also with my smart lock I always used to use command lock front door and that never works now says cannot do. I have to now say close front door..
Theres just little things that Siri really isn't good at and very limited range. Its more of a hassle to do larger tasks like what other companies are adding.
Apple needs to step it up

 

[v0lume4]

What. The. Heck.

I still don't understand why Samsung decided to create their own voice assistant. In my opinion, it's the one flaw with the otherwise great S8. Google Now/Assistant is absolutely remarkable, and it's built into the S8 since the S8 runs Android. And yet Samsung slaps another assistant on top?

edit -- While I do think that a second voice assistant is redundant, I am willing to see how Bixby performs before I make a final judgement. I'll wait for videos from MKBHD and others.

 

[Kabeyun]

Tangentially, looking at that photo really underscores how absurd the war on bezels has become, and how much I don't want to have to hold a phone like that. Hey, I have an idea: let's wrap the screen completely around the device. More screen right, so it must be better. It'll come with a tweezers so you can dangle it from the top edge.
[doublepost=1500483429][/doublepost]

Weird. Siri is able to process those type of commands for me with amazing accuracy. Sometimes the "thing to be reminded of" is unusual and she gets it wrong, but it's close enough that I'll know what I meant when the reminder pops up

Additionally, have you used bixby? Do you know it knocks this stuff out of the park? Or are you just spewing Apple hate?

Not Apple hate, at least not in my case. I'm all in the Apple ecosystem, but Siri is godawful. If others also happen to be godawful it doesn't make Siri any less godawful. It's actually trained me not to bother. Here the most recent of a thousand examples, and someone let me know if I'm being unreasonable in my expectations:

 

[5105973]

What. The. Heck.

I still don't understand why Samsung decided to create their own voice assistant. In my opinion, it's the one flaw with the otherwise great S8. Google Now/Assistant is absolutely remarkable, and it's built into the S8 since the S8 runs Android. And yet Samsung slaps another assistant on top?

edit -- While I do think that a second voice assistant is redundant, I am willing to see how Bixby performs before I make a final judgement. I'll wait for videos from MKBHD and others.

Why? To keep a hand and competitive advantage in AI in case Google with their Pixel phones become a threat and for money from their many partnerships who will mine your data. I use Google services so obviously I'm not completely averse to some data mining--most of which I can see and control through their control panel settings on my account which is linked to my account and not my device. It's not easy but I can severely limit what Google can touch on my phone.

But the Bixby terms of service are different. Bixby is not just an account but it's all that's on and in your device once you activate it. It's your camera. It's your contacts. It's the entire ecosystem that feeds the AI which includes a data stream to not just Samsung but its business partners. That's pretty lucrative. Also their partners will want to start promoting Samsung as well. It's a synergistic relationship with both sides potentially making out like bandits if they get it working well.

I would dearly love to see Siri become more smart and helpful but without providing a constant data stream to partners outside of Apple. Siri would be welcome to look at my contacts and see through my camera as long as she keeps what she sees within my phone.

 

[Gilligan's last elephant]

No issues with my British accent. Either on my iPhone 6 or Apple Watch. And no need to talk into the mic. Never done that, not even with the basic Voice Control system on the 3GS.

My wife has the 6s and uses hey Siri when her phone's on the kitchen counter top. Again no issues. Also British accent.

It's not 100% but neither is the families Echo. Overall they both work pretty well.

==================

The gamification of a feature is an interesting move. Would hate Apple to go down that path.

What is a "British" accent?
Never encountered one myself living in the UK.

 

[jarman92]

Well that's a novel idea. If Apple did anything like that, there's a chance I would use Siri more than ~once a year.

Maybe this is just me, but I find it beyond trashy that Samsung is actually bribing people to use their software. They do the same thing with Samsung Pay. Must be nice for the few people that use it, but its rather gross—and I would say the same if Apple ever did something like it (not that they would).
[doublepost=1500487012][/doublepost]

Must be my British accent. It works 75% of the time but you literally need to say it into the mic. It's not an issue with the mic either, because the google app works fine.
[doublepost=1500473557][/doublepost]

Well, just watching the video I can see that Bixby can do more.

Just watching the video produced by Samsung specifically to showcase their product...you can't be serious.
[doublepost=1500487174][/doublepost]

The Airpods aren't "delayed". They are so popular that they can't keep up with demand. There is a big difference.

Unlike my brother, who has the S8, I have access to the Airpods and I have had them since April. However, his phone still doesn't have access to Bixby.

Imagine, back in the day, if Apple launched the iPhone 4, but had to delay Siri by like 6 months.....We would have never heard the end of it. Yet, Samsung gets a free pass....Why? Oh that's right....No one cares....No one cares so much that they had to build in a gamification system to entice people to use it.

Just to clarify: AirPods absolutely were delayed, and it was incredibly annoying. They were supposed to launch in September and didn't end up shipping until December, if I'm remembering correctly. Since they started shipping Apple has had trouble keeping them in stock, but they were delayed initially.

 

[Madchad]

Let's be frank, this is already light years ahead of Siri. You literally have to talk into the mic for Siri to understand even basic commands that are multilayered; e.g.,

-set a reminder for parking in two hours

- ok I've set a remind for party at 14:00

Genius.

I use ‘hey siri’ probably 25 times a day at minimum , and there are times at home (when controlling lights / door lock etc) that I’m 6 metres from my phone and it works fine.

I really don’t understand the Siri hate.

 

[69Mustang]

What. The. Heck.

I still don't understand why Samsung decided to create their own voice assistant. In my opinion, it's the one flaw with the otherwise great S8. Google Now/Assistant is absolutely remarkable, and it's built into the S8 since the S8 runs Android. And yet Samsung slaps another assistant on top?

edit -- While I do think that a second voice assistant is redundant, I am willing to see how Bixby performs before I make a final judgement. I'll wait for videos from MKBHD and others.

They do it because metrics tells them S Voice was popular (2nd most used assistant behind Siri) and think an improved S Voice with a personality (Siri, Cortana, Alexa) would be even more popular. Hence we get Bixby. Under the same circumstances, what would you do? 1. Believe the metrics that show your assistant has more engagement than all but 1 other assistant. 2. Abandon your project because other assistants have more notoriety. 3. Eat bacon.

4 out of 5 dentists surveyed would do #3, closely followed by #1. The 5th dentist is a vegan. So he would do #1... then sneak and do #3.

 

[v0lume4]

They do it because metrics tells them S Voice was popular (2nd most used assistant behind Siri) and think an improved S Voice with a personality (Siri, Cortana, Alexa) would be even more popular. Hence we get Bixby. Under the same circumstances, what would you do? 1. Believe the metrics that show your assistant has more engagement than all but 1 other assistant. 2. Abandon your project because other assistants have more notoriety. 3. Eat bacon.

4 out of 5 dentists surveyed would do #3, closely followed by #1. The 5th dentist is a vegan. So he would do #1... then sneak and do #3.

Hahaha!

Nice Forza Motorsport profile pic.

 

[69Mustang]

Hahaha!

Nice Forza Motorsport profile pic.

Off topic:

Can't wait for FM7 on the 1X. Besides the racing, Forza has the best livery editor hands down. I waste literal hours painting cars.

 

[v0lume4]

Off topic:

Can't wait for FM7 on the 1X. Besides the racing, Forza has the best livery editor hands down. I waste literal hours painting cars.

Also off-topic (sorry OP! ):

Ohhhhh man. You're right about that. I'm stoked for Forza 7. I had the incredible chance to play Forza 7 at E3 this year and I knew instantly that it'd be a purchase for me. The visuals, sound design, and driving feedback (was using only a controller) really stuck out to me.

The livery editor! You don't say! So you're one of those chaps whose car designs I envy when I play online. I've probably spent an hour or two in the livery editor my entire life. I just can't muster up the patience!

 

[rikscha]

If the Note series had a pure google experience it would be the best phone with the best specs but touchwiz is still a pile of turd.

Non-sense. Best specs ? Tired of people who compare their penis length by marketing numbers on a piece of paper.
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British here too, but we have more accents than any other country so it's a bit redundant anyway.

I used to speak loud at Siri, in an accent that I reserve especially for voice operated machines, holding the phone 2" from my mouth, but I experimented with it one day and it works for me just talking at normal volume at normal distances like arms length.

Currently I do that, but I slow down slightly and clarify my diction for those words or phrases that I think it might struggle with. Whilst trying to keep it as natural as possible too, so it's able to learn what I actually sound like and it doesn't end up thinking my "me speaking to a robot" voice is my normal voice

Than any other country? And you researched only the U.K. to arrive at that conclusion I suppose. Perhaps research your neighbours first i.e Germany to make such bold claims.

 

[kdarling]

I still don't understand why Samsung decided to create their own voice assistant. In my opinion, it's the one flaw with the otherwise great S8. Google Now/Assistant is absolutely remarkable, and it's built into the S8 since the S8 runs Android. And yet Samsung slaps another assistant on top?

Google Assistant is great, but supposedly Bixby will be much more integrated with the OS and apps. You can also use both of them, I think. Perhaps that's what's needed anyway... different assistant names for ones with different skills.

Maybe this is just me, but I find it beyond trashy that Samsung is actually bribing people to use their software. They do the same thing with Samsung Pay. Must be nice for the few people that use it, but its rather gross—and I would say the same if Apple ever did something like it (not that they would).

Apple organizes discounts and bribes all the time. ESPECIALLY for Apple Pay. Without even trying, here are a couple of examples:

Apple Announces 'Lose Your Wallet' Apple Pay Shopping Event With Merchant Discounts in San Francisco

Apple pushes Apple Pay on the web with attractive online discounts

and only two days ago right here in MacRumors:

Apple Launches Large-Scale Apple Pay Promotional Campaign in China

We will await your trash-talking Apple for doing so . It would've been infinitely more clever if you had said, "Look at Samsung copying Apple's bribes now!"

 

[Creek0512]

The Airpods aren't "delayed". They are so popular that they can't keep up with demand. There is a big difference.

The AirPods were delayed. Apple announced in September that they would go on sale in October, but they were delayed and didn't go on sale until December 20th.

 

[Sefstah]

The Airpods aren't "delayed". They are so popular that they can't keep up with demand. There is a big difference.

Unlike my brother, who has the S8, I have access to the Airpods and I have had them since April. However, his phone still doesn't have access to Bixby.

Imagine, back in the day, if Apple launched the iPhone 4, but had to delay Siri by like 6 months.....We would have never heard the end of it. Yet, Samsung gets a free pass....Why? Oh that's right....No one cares....No one cares so much that they had to build in a gamification system to entice people to use it.

Don't forget the iPhone 7+ launched with dual cameras that couldn't perform portrait mode. And it's still in beta.

 

[Jsameds]

Than any other country? And you researched only the U.K. to arrive at that conclusion I suppose. Perhaps research your neighbours first i.e Germany to make such bold claims.

I googled it and the UK seemed to be the answer that everyone was giving.

 

[hot spare]

What. The. Heck.

I still don't understand why Samsung decided to create their own voice assistant. In my opinion, it's the one flaw with the otherwise great S8. Google Now/Assistant is absolutely remarkable, and it's built into the S8 since the S8 runs Android. And yet Samsung slaps another assistant on top?

edit -- While I do think that a second voice assistant is redundant, I am willing to see how Bixby performs before I make a final judgement. I'll wait for videos from MKBHD and others.

Try using Google services outside few 1st world countries, you will understand what it means. In most countries/languages Google doesn't even launch their services.
Quick example - google is working on payment solution for ages, yet samsung surpassed them in just 2 years. Samsung Pay is now more popular, available in more places and simply a better solution. Multiwindow is in Android, yet it pales in comparison to samsung's implementation. Samsung browser is so much better than chrome, it's not even a contest (other than desktop sync).
Everyone know google's focus (or lack of it). Tons of messaging apps, yet another one could be launched next year. They stopped google now and introduced google assistant with even less features. Google crawls at a snail-pace.

 

[Keane16]

What is a "British" accent?
Never encountered one myself living in the UK.

I personally use it as a catch all term to cover the variety of accents that can be found within GB and Northern Ireland. Especially when conversing with those abroad\online (whereas if I was speaking to someone from Scotland I'd mention the accent in question specifically as they'd be familiar with it).

So I'm sure you've encountered one.

 

[rikscha]

I googled it and the UK seemed to be the answer that everyone was giving.

I rest my case.. it is easy to google the result you want. when I googled it tells me china or india or even columbia.

try to broaden your horizon, the world goes beyond the english speaking world.
[doublepost=1500548675][/doublepost]the bixby video doesnt show anything that you couldn't be done with Siri before? there were perhaps 2-3 little things, but essentially they advertise the standard stuff, setting an alarm, setting a reminder etc.

 

[TheFluffyDuck]

Too bad voice recognition is still the pits across the board. Maybe in 20 years it will be good enough.