Siri References OS X 'Finder' Ahead of WWDC 2016 [Update: Siri May Know 'Dark Mode' Too]

[cult hero]

Sure...why not? Terminal for iOS sounds like a good idea. Take some of this advanced functionality from the Mac and bake it into iOS. I don't buy the idea that mobile has to be what iOS currently is.

A replacement for HFS+ would be nice, however it's something that I hope that Apple takes awhile to work on. A new file system needs to be rock solid. It can't have bugs or flaws in it like iOS or like Apple Music/iCloud Music Library which scrambles metadata and deletes your music.

I'm definitely not joking. I used a terminal app pretty regularly on Android. Mind you, I was sporting a G1 which had the best physical keyboard I have ever used on a mobile device. With that said, I'm anything but a standard user.

Honestly, there are a bunch of mature options already. Linux supports a bunch of filesystems and has for some time. Some aren't rock solid but plenty are. I'd take ext4 over HFS+ any day of the week.

Given that they were talking about ZFS back in the Snow Leopard days, I'd hope they have something mature already. If there is one area where OS X is definitely backwards, it's the filesystem. HFS+ is really crappy. (Linus Torvalds has a pretty funny rant on the specifics.)

I don't understand the hype behind personal assistants on computers. They make some sense on mobile devices because you don't have a real keyboard or other good input method. But on a computer? I never use Cortana on Windows 10 (have turned it off, actually), and I doubt I will use Siri on OS X.

I doubt I would either. However, if it's any good my parents will be prime candidates. I find people who aren't very skilled with computers tend to be the most excited about this sort of thing.

 

[Abazigal]

When I cannot do something as simple as attaching a word document in a reply to an email in the iOS mail app, we are not not a post PC world.

We have been able to do that since iOS 9. A bit late, but better than never, I suppose.

 

[tsang2320]

In my estimation if Siri does come to OS X then it needs to be "always on" and it needs to get a lot better at handling complex queries and just plain understanding spoken language.

Here's a really complex task I'd love Siri to perform..."Siri, put an appointment on my calendar for a week from Monday at 9am to go back to the dentist to get a filling." Siri would understand "dentist" based on my contacts and the use of "go back" in the request to know which dentist I wanted and where. It could also infer based on prior dental appointments that I want this on my "home" calendar not, work or other calendars and that I needed a "travel time" reminder to get me there on time.

I doubt it can ever be faster than keyboard shortcuts and spotlight for simple tasks. Yeah so if it struggles to understand inputs or can't handle complexity, it's pointless most of the time to me.

 

[springsup]

Yet they lack the overall integration that only Apple can build in. The same as how Google Maps lacks the integration of Apple Maps etc.

They offer more than what Apple offers, because Apple hasn't built anything to compete with them.

I will chastise the 3rd party options, because they all mean jumping through hoops to achieve the most simplest things, and believe me in the 5 years i've owned my iPad, I've tried just about every single one of them, and they all make sometime that should just be built in, more complex.

The point is that those 3rd-party apps integrate exactly like iCloud Drive. I haven't seen one of them that makes me jump through hoops to achieve the same result as using iCloud Drive. There are some opportunities to integrate storage providers better (such as in Mail and Photos, as you pointed out), but ICD doesn't get better integration in any of these places.

If you haven't tried the 3rd-party apps in a while, try again. 5 years is a long time. Document Providers came with iOS8 IIRC.

 

[oldmacs]

The point is that those 3rd-party apps integrate exactly like iCloud Drive. I haven't seen one of them that makes me jump through hoops to achieve the same result as using iCloud Drive. There are some opportunities to integrate storage providers better (such as in Mail and Photos, as you pointed out), but ICD doesn't get better integration in any of these places.

If you haven't tried the 3rd-party apps in a while, try again. 5 years is a long time. Document Providers came with iOS8 IIRC.

And that is the problem, iCloud Drive is still super clunky for simple tasks, so 3rd party apps even if directly duplicating iCloud Drive, still fall quite short.

Also I said "In the 5 years" - meaning I've continually tried things. I am very much aware of the changes that iOS 8 made with introducing iCloud Drive, and then iOS 9 with storage providers and expanding the usefulness of iCloud Drive.

 

[Schur]

When I just asked Siri on my phone to open the finder window I got a pretty encouraging response. "That may be beyond my abilities at the moment."

Here's hoping!

Expectation that Apple is set to announce Siri for the Mac at WWDC 2016 has intensified over the weekend, thanks to an apparently unprompted reference to OS X leaked by none other than the personal assistant on iPhone.

Asking Siri the oddly worded question, "Open settings in the window" simply opens the iOS Settings app. But the same question with the word 'Siri' included at the beginning of the sentence evokes the spoken response: "It doesn't look like you have an app named 'Finder'."

Screenshot via AppleInsider​

'Finder' appears to be a reference to the OS X file manager application, since no such app of that name exists for iOS. The discovery was revealed in a blog post by Brian Roemmele, and suggests that Apple's servers are already being modified behind the scenes to extend Siri's functionality to the Mac.

Screenshots passed to MacRumors indicate that Siri will soon become a defining aspect of the Mac desktop, ready to answer many of the same queries and perform many of the same tasks it can on iOS devices - opening apps, conducting web searches, controlling HomeKit, sending text messages, reading emails, setting calendar events, and more.

Additionally, Apple is also said to be preparing to release a Siri software development kit so that developers can make their apps and app content accessible through Siri voice commands, marking a much-awaited extension of the assistant's capabilities.

Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off tomorrow with a keynote event at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, where Apple is expected to show off the latest version of OS X alongside updated versions of its iOS, tvOS, and watchOS operating systems.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

Apple will offer a live stream of the keynote event through its website and through a dedicated events app on the Apple TV. MacRumors will also provide live coverage, on MacRumors.com and on the MacRumorsLive Twitter account.

Meanwhile, you can learn more about what to expect at WWDC 2016 in our comprehensive features and rumors compilation.

Article Link: Siri References OS X 'Finder' Ahead of WWDC 2016

Expectation that Apple is set to announce Siri for the Mac at WWDC 2016 has intensified over the weekend, thanks to an apparently unprompted reference to OS X leaked by none other than the personal assistant on iPhone.

Asking Siri the oddly worded question, "Open settings in the window" simply opens the iOS Settings app. But the same question with the word 'Siri' included at the beginning of the sentence evokes the spoken response: "It doesn't look like you have an app named 'Finder'."

Screenshot via AppleInsider​

'Finder' appears to be a reference to the OS X file manager application, since no such app of that name exists for iOS. The discovery was revealed in a blog post by Brian Roemmele, and suggests that Apple's servers are already being modified behind the scenes to extend Siri's functionality to the Mac.

Screenshots passed to MacRumors indicate that Siri will soon become a defining aspect of the Mac desktop, ready to answer many of the same queries and perform many of the same tasks it can on iOS devices - opening apps, conducting web searches, controlling HomeKit, sending text messages, reading emails, setting calendar events, and more.

Additionally, Apple is also said to be preparing to release a Siri software development kit so that developers can make their apps and app content accessible through Siri voice commands, marking a much-awaited extension of the assistant's capabilities.

Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off tomorrow with a keynote event at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, where Apple is expected to show off the latest version of OS X alongside updated versions of its iOS, tvOS, and watchOS operating systems.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

Apple will offer a live stream of the keynote event through its website and through a dedicated events app on the Apple TV. MacRumors will also provide live coverage, on MacRumors.com and on the MacRumorsLive Twitter account.

Meanwhile, you can learn more about what to expect at WWDC 2016 in our comprehensive features and rumors compilation.

Article Link: Siri References OS X 'Finder' Ahead of WWDC 2016

 

[springsup]

I'm definitely not joking. I used a terminal app pretty regularly on Android. Mind you, I was sporting a G1 which had the best physical keyboard I have ever used on a mobile device. With that said, I'm anything but a standard user.

Honestly, there are a bunch of mature options already. Linux supports a bunch of filesystems and has for some time. Some aren't rock solid but plenty are. I'd take ext4 over HFS+ any day of the week.

Given that they were talking about ZFS back in the Snow Leopard days, I'd hope they have something mature already. If there is one area where OS X is definitely backwards, it's the filesystem. HFS+ is really crappy. (Linus Torvalds has a pretty funny rant on the specifics.)

HFS+ is getting replaced. It was made in 1998 (remember where Apple was back then? They had bigger stuff to worry about) as an extension to HFS and I'm sure has far outlived its intended lifespan. Luckily, it also has a "Year 2040" bug, so there is at least a definite date by which we won't be using it any more

Apple certainly has plans here.

 

[developer13245]

I just shut Siri off.

 

[TMRJIJ]

Not quite. You can't make your own folders, and you can't store files using local storage only.

Actually you can.

As for the local storage... They need to stop it with that 16 GB base option because that's not going to work well.

Currently the files you open are downloaded in local storage only when you open them.

 

[Pack Leader]

When I cannot do something as simple as attaching a word document in a reply to an email in the iOS mail app, we are not not a post PC world.

You can. Just tap and hold to bring up the edit menu. Hit the arrow till you get to "Add Attachment". It's easier on iPad cause there's a shortcut.

You can add any file from any document provider on device such as iCloud Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox.

 

[stringent]

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Or, perhaps it means that they are bringing the Finder to iOS so we can finally access the file system. I'd really like that.

That's the same impression I got while ready the article. It would be dumb for SIRI not to know the difference between iOS and OS X.
Has a anyone tried the same question on an Apple TV 4?

 

[QCassidy352]

Siri on the Mac doesn't do much for me. She's mostly useful in the car or as a substitute to typing because of typing speed on a virtual keyboard (slow). I can type the text message, open the app, or check my email faster with a keyboard on my Mac than I could with Siri.

 

[djgamble]

Or, perhaps it means that they are bringing the Finder to iOS so we can finally access the file system. I'd really like that.

They got this from Reddit more than a week ago. IMO Mac Rumors have lost their touch...

 

[Glenny2lappies]

"Siri, what is the time"

"Formatting your hard disc"

What's the point of Siri if the damnable thing doesn't work? It's bad enough on the phone when trying to get it to call someone - it'll dial a random number; but the thought of attempting to do "work" with it beggars belief.

 

[recoil80]

Or, perhaps it means that they are bringing the Finder to iOS so we can finally access the file system. I'd really like that.

I'd like that too but they're not going to give us a full access to the file system like the Mac.
They could provide a new app, or change iCloud drive, to have access to certain folders of every application but it might be the Documents folder only, or a subfolder shared by the application via a new API. As a developer I'd like the second option, because I don't want the user to be able to delete or write some of the files in Documents that I might be using for internal purposes. A "Share" folder inside the application's sandbox would be the best options, the app has write access and all other apps just have the read access unless they're given explicit write permission.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I wonder if this will be available for older macs or just those launching in 2016??

 

[GreyOS]

I'd just like a solution that doesn't require third party apps and unneeded complexity.

that doesn't really answer the question. Downloading an app isn't complex btw. iOS hands over a lot of features to third party apps.
[doublepost=1465804670][/doublepost]

It's pretty embarassing I need to download a third party app just for what should be a basic fundamental OS function

Why would you embarrassed by this? :O

 

[oldmacs]

that doesn't really answer the question. Downloading an app isn't complex btw. iOS hands over a lot of features to third party apps.

Third party apps shouldn't be needed! They don't offer the level of simplicity that Apple can offer due to system-wide integration that 3rd party apps can not offer.

Thus as I've said despite trying out multitudes of different 3rd party apps, constantly trying to find a good solution, I've never found one that doesn't involve unnecessary complexity.

Why would you embarrassed by this? :O

Because iOS lacks the ability to easily and simply carry out quite simple file management functions that so many people use.

 

[TheTissot11]

Only if they can fix bugs in current Finder then it would make sense to transfer it to iOS. Finder has been buggy like hell since Yosemite and these sluggard Apple engineers can't fix the bugs even after two years. And here comes Finder nuisance again...I can't hate Craig Federighi enough...

 

[iGeek2014]

I'm more than likely late to the party but I wonder if there's some truth in this particular rumour given what Siri's replied above?

 

[lowendlinux]

I would like that on iOS also. And totally not for porn.

you can put a period in front of the file name in osx and it'll be hidden

 

[Pakaku]

Why would you embarrassed by this? :O

I'm suggesting Apple should be embarassed :¬)

 

[BvizioN]

you can put a period in front of the file name in osx and it'll be hidden

I was talking about iOS. Being able to lock apps or folders.

 

[recoil80]

I was talking about iOS. Being able to lock apps or folders.

That could be achieved by supporting multiple users at least on the iPad, come on Apple!!