How, exactly, is Apple 'hiding' behind the 'beta tag'. I have not seen a single instance of Apple using 'beta' to explain or excuse any of Siri's perceived short comings.
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Siri Shows Increasing Promise, But Accuracy Falls Short of Google Text Searches
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How, exactly, is Apple 'hiding' behind the 'beta tag'. I have not seen a single instance of Apple using 'beta' to explain or excuse any of Siri's perceived short comings.
Big assumption there. Because I know plenty of people - while they might like driving a ferrari a bit - ultimately would prefer (day to day) to have the civic. "Better" is subjective once again. Why do you say the ferrari is better. Because it cost more? Is it better built? Do they last longer? Which handles a really bad potholed road? Which one gets better gas mileage and has a lower total cost of ownership? Which car can you go to costco with?
I would say they retain their value longer. But that doesn't necc. mean they are better cars. Both cars have their strengths and weaknesses. Sound familiar.
Try and remember that your use case isn't everyone in the world's use case.
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Shhhh Specs ONLY matter when it's the iPhone who has better ones. Don't forget where you are
Let's be real here. The first OP included price into the equation so that throws 3/4 of what you said out the window. Unless you're truly dedicated soccer mom, there's no way anyone going to choose a Honda over a Ferrari. Even then you'll take a Range Rover.
'Better' may be a relative term in many cases but not when it comes to a Ferrari and a Honda.
"In what should not be a surprise given Siri's beta status"
It's a cop-out at this point to excuse Siri for being in "beta status." This is one hell of a beta... you know, with no updates, no fixes, nadda, and in full use for almost an entire year on one of the best selling consumer electronic devices ever.
If they keep the "beta" status in IOS 6, someone needs smacked.
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They plaster "beta" on all references to Siri. In multiple interviews about Siri, apple execs have reminded the interviewer that its "still in beta." I think they even tossed that out this year in the WWDC keynote when explaining how Siri was going to be better than it was with IOS than it is in it's "beta" form.
This is one of those things where fan boyism gets in the way of reality. They absolutely have hid behind the beta excuse, and I agree with the OP.
And already said it, but who keeps a live shipping product in beta for a year? NO ONE!!!!
It's a cop-out at this point to excuse Siri for being in "beta status." This is one hell of a beta... you know, with no updates, no fixes, nadda, and in full use for almost an entire year on one of the best selling consumer electronic devices ever.
If they keep the "beta" status in IOS 6, someone needs smacked.
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They plaster "beta" on all references to Siri. In multiple interviews about Siri, apple execs have reminded the interviewer that its "still in beta." I think they even tossed that out this year in the WWDC keynote when explaining how Siri was going to be better than it was with IOS than it is in it's "beta" form.
This is one of those things where fan boyism gets in the way of reality. They absolutely have hid behind the beta excuse, and I agree with the OP.
And already said it, but who keeps a live shipping product in beta for a year? NO ONE!!!!
Not so self important that I go name-call people on the internet; but I am able to detect irony. Regardless, these are just my personal findings. Didn't mean to insinuate that I was more important than anyone, so take it easy.
I never use Siri. I tried many many times in the beginning to try and get useful information but found it to be about 75% completely inaccurate. I think this tech was released a year too early. Great idea but it doesn't work very well at all. That being said, I do use the voice command option quite frequently when texting and emailing as it's quicker than me typing.
That's not true at all. Waze works great. And what about the iPhone itself is an issue?
"Italian Restaurant, North Beach " ,should be enough to generate accurate searches. Why would anyone tell a telephone device "I'm in the mood for...", obviously the device couldn't care less and couldn't even understand the concept. Some users feel lonely, others are grown children that like to think their telephones have human feelings. In both cases those people would probably need a better social life.
If Siri required you to say "i'm in the mood for", then I'd agree with you. But that's not the only way you could say it. Not everyone speaks like John Malkovich, and if you think everyone should, I suggest you go rent the movie.
Everybody. Otherwise there would never be patches or updates to any software products.
Just because it isn't stamped "In Beta" doesn't mean your are not in fact beta testing the product.
Doesn't matter what Siri does or doesn't.
The simple fact is that Google always has been and always will be terrible.
Not to mention that I'd rather take a beta Siri then a spyware ridden Google anything.
You mean like Google when they had Gmail in beta status for nearly three years?
The simple fact is that Google always has been and always will be terrible.
Not to mention that I'd rather take a beta Siri then a spyware ridden Google anything.
You mean like Google when they had Gmail in beta status for nearly three years?
READ the article
Voice recognition compared to typing is less accurate? Duh. The real issue is how it compares to traditional voice recognition packages. It is about equivalent.
It's not really spyware. Spyware is "a type of malware (malicious software) installed on computers that collects information about users without their knowledge. "
Fact is - Google, when you sign up for their services states quite clearly (as do any app you install from the play store, etc) what they do and do not collect.
Google isn't anymore spyware that iOS is or was.
Exactly.
Almost all of the time...
Random comments
I like Siri and have an iPhone 4S. Even though siri is technically beta, I think people want Siri to work better, and the article's assessment is probably fair, even though I don't like to read parts of it.
I can ask directions, "where am I?", weather (sometimes inaccurate), create reminders, play songs, and other things, but pushes me to a general internet search too often. Obviously, I've written e-mails and texted while in the car, using Siri, too.
I can ask how many moons does jupiter have, and Siri knows it natively.
I can say, remind me to wash my car on the summer solstice, and it does it.
So there are funny surprises.
But, there are some mix ups that are frustrating. And, I think people dream of Siri being a bit more in command of its own data, even though I'm sure it's not easy.
If Siri soon becomes a feature where voice can naturally do 80% or more of what you could type, it becomes more "magical."
I like Siri and have an iPhone 4S. Even though siri is technically beta, I think people want Siri to work better, and the article's assessment is probably fair, even though I don't like to read parts of it.
I can ask directions, "where am I?", weather (sometimes inaccurate), create reminders, play songs, and other things, but pushes me to a general internet search too often. Obviously, I've written e-mails and texted while in the car, using Siri, too.
I can ask how many moons does jupiter have, and Siri knows it natively.
I can say, remind me to wash my car on the summer solstice, and it does it.
So there are funny surprises.
But, there are some mix ups that are frustrating. And, I think people dream of Siri being a bit more in command of its own data, even though I'm sure it's not easy.
If Siri soon becomes a feature where voice can naturally do 80% or more of what you could type, it becomes more "magical."
And what makes the experience of the video maker more valid than the experience of the poster?
I think from a technological point of view this may be something great. I can picture a surgeon wearing those to help him make the cut without having to look up to check machines or an x-ray.
But from s consumer point of view people just do not like to wear glases. Just look how many people wear contacts and look how many wear glases. I believe its something like 5 to 1 in numbers. And you would have to wear them pretty much all day long. Because what is the point of having them in your pocket when you have to get them out and put them on every ten or so minutes whenever you want to read your new Facebook posts, mails, tweets and so on?
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Both Google Glass and Siri are precursors to the technology our children will take for granted. I don't expect Google Glass to be a breakaway product, because I agree with you that many people will not want to wear the equipment. It will be a niche project, the way cell phones were when they were very expensive and had to be built in to a car, or carried around in a largish bag.
But the equipment will be changing, so it is less and less obtrusive. Would people use google glass if the images were on the contact lenses themselves? How about on a corneal implant?
Siri will also evolve, to understand more languages, and more accents, to be more aware of context, to respond appropriately if it detects anger, frustration, or mirth in your voice.
"remind me anthony's wedding (whenever)"
If you "set an appointment" siri guess that the "appointment" is to be setted
Also the timer works well for me too, and is the only thing I use.
iOS 6 includes turn by turn
I'm not sure that all the posters here realize that the update to iOS that is coming in a couple of weeks will include built in turn by turn navigation. I've been using it for a while and it works great (around here, Long Island). I can tell Siri "Take me home" or "Let's drive to mom's house" and it understands. It knows those because of my own contact, and because I've told it who mom is. But I can also say "Navigate to the Walt Whitman Mall" which isn't in contacts. It finds it and starts off. That's pretty decent.
I also have no trouble with Siri recognizing my voice, but that must be because of my dulcet tones and Long Island accent.
I'm not sure that all the posters here realize that the update to iOS that is coming in a couple of weeks will include built in turn by turn navigation. I've been using it for a while and it works great (around here, Long Island). I can tell Siri "Take me home" or "Let's drive to mom's house" and it understands. It knows those because of my own contact, and because I've told it who mom is. But I can also say "Navigate to the Walt Whitman Mall" which isn't in contacts. It finds it and starts off. That's pretty decent.
I also have no trouble with Siri recognizing my voice, but that must be because of my dulcet tones and Long Island accent.
Apple dropping the ball
I love Apple & the iphone, Am a total fanboy but Apple's been dropping the ball. After playing with google now on my cousins nexus phone man it worlds better then siri. It doesn't have problem understanding different english accents, it super fast, looks good (cards) & it just does more. Only advantage I give to Siri is reminders it does that better. Scott Forstall aught to be ashamed of himself. Almost a year & still in beta. Also google now sounds human not like a robot that huge. Come on Apple I luv ya but damn. Iphone 5 better bring it.
I love Apple & the iphone, Am a total fanboy but Apple's been dropping the ball. After playing with google now on my cousins nexus phone man it worlds better then siri. It doesn't have problem understanding different english accents, it super fast, looks good (cards) & it just does more. Only advantage I give to Siri is reminders it does that better. Scott Forstall aught to be ashamed of himself. Almost a year & still in beta. Also google now sounds human not like a robot that huge. Come on Apple I luv ya but damn. Iphone 5 better bring it.