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Jbenn425

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 16, 2013
164
0
New Jersey
When I tell Siri to "call my sister" or "call mom" she always asks me "work or mobile?" and I have to take another second to select which one. It kinda takes the convenience out of using Siri. I think for most people, 99% of the time you're trying to call someone, you're trying to call their cell phone. So wouldn't it make sense to make Siri call mobile numbers by default and only call alternative numbers when requested? Or at least make an option out of it so you can select a default number for contacts?
 
When I tell Siri to "call my sister" or "call mom" she always asks me "work or mobile?" and I have to take another second to select which one. It kinda takes the convenience out of using Siri. I think for most people, 99% of the time you're trying to call someone, you're trying to call their cell phone. So wouldn't it make sense to make Siri call mobile numbers by default and only call alternative numbers when requested? Or at least make an option out of it so you can select a default number for contacts?

"Call mom's mobile"
 
Yeah but that sounds stupid when in public, it's a clunky solution.
If there's only one number, Siri will dial it if you simply say "call Mom". If there's more than one number, there is no way to have Siri default to one without specifying, such as "call Mom cell" or "call Mom work". Being in public shouldn't make any difference, as you can quietly tell Siri to call, so no one nearby can hear you.
 
Yeah but that sounds stupid when in public, it's a clunky solution.

You care what you sound/look like when you're talking to Siri? There's a life lesson to be given here about caring what other people think about me when i'm doing something on siri.
 
There's a life lesson to be given here about caring what other people think about me when i'm doing something on siri.

Get off your high horse. Who the hell are you to give life lessons? My point is that talking to Siri is supposed to be more like talking to a person. If you put your phone up to your ear and say "call mom" in public, it's a lot more natural looking than talking into your phone like a robot saying "call mom mobile". It's just a more elegant solution, and that's the point of Apple.
 
My point is that talking to Siri is supposed to be more like talking to a person.
Says who? It's a software app, not a person. It can't read your mind and know which number you mean, and it's not like talking to a person.
If you put your phone up to your ear and say "call mom" in public, it's a lot more natural looking than talking into your phone like a robot saying "call mom mobile".
There's no difference in putting your phone up to your ear and saying, "call mom" or saying "call mom cell". It's just one more syllable. So you can't say "call sister", because it's an extra syllable?
 
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It is a simple solution that lets you choose any number for the contact but you reject it. There is nothing that anyone can do for you.

I think my solution actually makes a lot more sense, so I submitted it to Apple feedback. Currently, the simplicity is taken out of Siri if you have to specify which number to call. Especially for more inexperienced users who just want it to work the first time and wouldn't know to say "call mom mobile" and then by the time they specify it they may as well have not used Siri at all and just placed the call manually.

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Wow, ok. My point is there is a more elegant way to do it. But you guys are so indulged in being apologists that it's useless to talk to you. Ok, you guys are right, since it's the current solution from Apple it MUST be perfect.
 
I think my solution actually makes a lot more sense, so I submitted it to Apple feedback. Currently, the simplicity is taken out of Siri if you have to specify which number to call. Especially for more inexperienced users who just want it to work the first time and wouldn't know to say "call mom mobile" and then by the time they specify it they may as well have not used Siri at all and just placed the call manually.

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Wow, ok. My point is there is a more elegant way to do it. But you guys are so indulged in being apologists that it's useless to talk to you. Ok, you guys are right, since it's the current solution from Apple it MUST be perfect.

I don't agree your solution is elegant in any way. I'd prefer to dictate which phone I want to call at the outset.

Pretend you have a man servant walking behind you with a notepad and you turn to him and go, "Call my mom", his likely response would be "her work or cell?"

Are you going to go "I ALWAYS MEAN WORK UNLESS I SAY!!! GOSH!" or would it just be easier to say, "Hey, can you call my moms cell?"

That is, of course, after the crowd around you finishes laughing at you for saying "cell" at the end....or something....
 
I think my solution actually makes a lot more sense, so I submitted it to Apple feedback. Currently, the simplicity is taken out of Siri if you have to specify which number to call. Especially for more inexperienced users who just want it to work the first time and wouldn't know to say "call mom mobile" and then by the time they specify it they may as well have not used Siri at all and just placed the call manually.

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Wow, ok. My point is there is a more elegant way to do it. But you guys are so indulged in being apologists that it's useless to talk to you. Ok, you guys are right, since it's the current solution from Apple it MUST be perfect.

Look at it from the other way. What if someone wants it to by default call the home number? Then they'll be frustrated in the same way that you are. Or for those that don't know how it works at all - being presented with both options is the most complete solution - you could also say "call mom's cell" or something like that, it picks up on that phrase as well.

No one's on a "high horse," just doesn't make sense to be bothered by saying one extra word when in public. If they're going to hear you talk to Siri, they're going to hear you. Chances are, though, that they won't hear you or care what you say to Siri.
 
Get off your high horse. Who the hell are you to give life lessons? My point is that talking to Siri is supposed to be more like talking to a person. If you put your phone up to your ear and say "call mom" in public, it's a lot more natural looking than talking into your phone like a robot saying "call mom mobile". It's just a more elegant solution, and that's the point of Apple.

*snort*. Stop caring what other people think of you. You wont be wound as tight as you are.
 
Wow, ok. My point is there is a more elegant way to do it. But you guys are so indulged in being apologists that it's useless to talk to you. Ok, you guys are right, since it's the current solution from Apple it MUST be perfect.
Actually, yours is not a more "elegant" solution. If you have a default set, so when you say "call Mom" it defaults to calling her cell, when you intend to say "call mom work" it may dial as soon as it hears "call mom" and call her cell, since that's the default. There is no way to tell Siri you intended to add a choice at the end. There is nothing inelegant about the current functionality. If you have a problem uttering an extra syllable to specify "cell" or "work", then the problem doesn't lie with Siri or Apple. If you're that self-conscious about using Siri in public, just don't. You can always simply tap the selection in your Favorites list.
 
Actually, yours is not a more "elegant" solution. If you have a default set, so when you say "call Mom" it defaults to calling her cell, when you intend to say "call mom work" it may dial as soon as it hears "call mom" and call her cell, since that's the default. There is no way to tell Siri you intended to add a choice at the end. There is nothing inelegant about the current functionality. If you have a problem uttering an extra syllable to specify "cell" or "work", then the problem doesn't lie with Siri or Apple. If you're that self-conscious about using Siri in public, just don't. You can always simply tap the selection in your Favorites list.

Siri lets you finish a sentence, it's not on a timer. If you set a default it would not be a problem to tell siri to call a different number. You would do that the same way you do it now.
 
Siri lets you finish a sentence, it's not on a timer. If you set a default it would not be a problem to tell siri to call a different number. You would do that the same way you do it now.
You're still complaining about one extra syllable. You're likely going to use many more syllables than that in your conversation, so it's not really a hardship. This is an extreme example of a "first world problem". With all the convenience of being able to speak commands rather than tap an index finger on a smooth glass surface, now people are burdened with uttering an extra syllable?
 
You wont be wound as tight as you are.

Yes, everyone who disagrees with apple's solution is just an uptight shrew. I understand. You've just changed my life with your words of wisdom. Thank you, thank you.

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This is an extreme example of a "first world problem".

By definition, isn't every single thread on this forum related to first world problems? "Boohoo, there's a small animation glitch when closing a folder, feel bad for me!!" Or more specifically in your case "Stop Mail from downloading all Gmail messages"....Yeah that's a real important problem in the world!

I'm not here to discuss starving children.
 
Just like most of the ways things work on iOS, you'll probably have to work around Apple's way. For example, having no subfolders in Photos, means I have to have one folder called "2013 Trip - Day 1" and one folder called "2013 Trip - Day 2", in order for it to be convenient for me to get what I want.

For the numbers, one contact for "Mom" using just cell number, and one for "Mom's Home" with additional number. :apple:
 
Just like most of the ways things work on iOS, you'll probably have to work around Apple's way. For example, having no subfolders in Photos, means I have to have one folder called "2013 Trip - Day 1" and one folder called "2013 Trip - Day 2", in order for it to be convenient for me to get what I want.

Careful! You just criticized Apple's way of doing things. You might be accused of trolling.
 
For the numbers, one contact for "Mom" using just cell number, and one for "Mom's Home" with additional number.
That may not work for the OP, as it involves uttering an extra syllable when calling mom's home. That appears to be the crux of the problem: too many syllables being required is causing stress.
 
OP, I agree that your solution creates more issues than it solves. It simply would be more confusing to most users.

But if you don't like the current way it works then set your mon up as two contacts. One with her cell and name it 'mom' and a second with perhaps her given name or 'mother' and use that for her work number. I did exactly that with my husband. Not because I disliked saying 'cell' but for other reasons.
 
The choices are simple:
  1. Store only one number for each contact, so Siri won't need the user to specify one.
  2. Use Siri as designed, specifying which number for contacts with multiple numbers.
  3. Don't use Siri at all.
Apple isn't going to redesign iOS every time a single or a few users complain that it doesn't do exactly everything they want it to do, the way they want it to do it. Apple made iOS/iPhones/Siri/etc. for millions of people, not just one or a few. By definition, it will satisfy the needs of the majority. For those who have special requirements, such as a syllable limitation, perhaps another device would be more suitable.
 
Apple isn't going to redesign iOS every time a single or a few users complain that it doesn't do exactly everything they want it to do, the way they want it to do it.

When in reality Apple changes iOS on a yearly basis and changes small details just like this all the time because they know they don't get everything right the first time.
 
Says who? It's a software app, not a person. It can't read your mind and know which number you mean, and it's not like talking to a person.

There's no difference in putting your phoen up to your ear and saying, "call mom" or saying "call mom cell". It's just one more syllable. So you can't say "call sister", because it's an extra syllable?

It's a software app designed to work FOR you. They (Apple/Google) are trying everything they can to make your life simpler. The new "Frequent Locations" tries to "read your mind" by knowing your most visited locations. Saying "it's a software app, not a person" is as close minded as saying "it's just a phone". With that type of mentality, iPhone would never have come into existence. If it it doesn't do what it potentially can, it's not good enough. Don't put down thoughts and ideas just because it's currently not allowed or able to.

If you don't think we're living in a world of convenience, where one syllable makes a difference, you've been living under a rock. Is there really a enough of a difference between an 5 and 5s, to spend an obscene amount of resources, to create a new phone just so you can open that app 1 second faster?
 
Yes, everyone who disagrees with apple's solution is just an uptight shrew. I understand. You've just changed my life with your words of wisdom. Thank you, thank you.

No, I'm saying you refuse to use the obvious solution by including the "cell" or "mobile" at the end for fear of looking foolish to other people you are around.

That was your initial reasoning behind not wanting to include what phone you want to call so I found it odd. If you don't like criticism then perhaps you shouldn't post on the internet or just obtain thicker skin? I dunno.... Have a nice day though.
 
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