Can Siri Really Dethrone Google?

[rhody]

http://applidium.com/en/news/cracking_siri/

Ok, you still need, "the identfier of at least one iPhone 4S" to be able to use the knowledge gained in the discovery process to communicate.
What does this buy you, short term, long term ? Ball in your court. How about a few creative words this time, jh ?

Rhody...

 

[jhae2.718]

Ok, you still need, "the identfier of at least one iPhone 4S" to be able to use the knowledge gained in the discovery process to communicate.
What does this buy you, short term, long term ? Ball in your court. How about a few creative words this time, jh ?

Rhody...

Just thought the way the implementation of the communication infrastructure was interesting. I'd love to see what kind of machine learning they're (probably) using to improve the speech recognition. I find it really interesting that they send raw audio data...I wonder what the overhead on that is.

On to the topic at hand, I could see Siri replacing Google for iPhone users, but, unless they open it up to a larger range of platforms than the iPhone 4S, they won't get Google. I'm not sure whether the speech format would transfer over to a desktop/laptop medium, either.

So, it really comes down to whether Apple will open up Siri, or even possibly release an API. (I've never programmed for an Apple device, but from what I've heard their APIs are really good.) These days, Apple is not as much of a computer company as much as it is a consumer device company, with most revenue from iPhone, iPod, and iPad. On one end, you could make the argument that keeping Siri limited to the iPhone would provide product differentiation, but I don't think that's enough to get everyone to rush in and pick up an iPhone 4S. That's probably what Apple will do, though. But if they really want adoption of it to take off, they'll open it up.

Of course, they'll need to find some way to monetize it, so look forwards to getting advertisements through Siri...

 

[Ryan_m_b]

Of course, they'll need to find some way to monetize it, so look forwards to getting advertisements through Siri...

Why is this? Siri is a product (or part of a product) that sells, it's not a free platform in need of monetizing.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I just upgraded to the new Iphone and turned Siri off. I don't understand the attraction.

 

[dacruick]

I just upgraded to the new Iphone and turned Siri off. I don't understand the attraction.

I'd have to agree with you there. However, I'm going to operate under the safe assumption that you are both very familiar, and very comfortable with technology. Apple products in general aim for accessibility. The idea of a voice assistant likely attracts people who aren't tech savvy more so than the average physics educated web forum administrator .

In addition, Siri will grow with the internet, pop culture, and its existence; it won't kill google but I think it is as revolutionary as any phone related invention since the touch screen.

 

[jhae2.718]

Why is this? Siri is a product (or part of a product) that sells, it's not a free platform in need of monetizing.

That would be assuming they open it up to other (non-Apple) devices, which I see as a necessity if they want to be a "Google killer*". Of course, they could subsidize it with iThingy sales and not do that, or they could even do ads on the "free" version and have the iThingy version ad-free. Or they could do any option on a range from ad-free to ad-supported if they open it up to other platforms.

I don't think they will, though, which means Siri is not going to harm Google in any meaningful way.

*Whatever that means.

 

[rhody]

Google and Android respond to Siri with what I like to call "Not a" Cluzee. One would think the smart marketing folks at Google could have picked a better choice for the Assistant's name. I am sure the Apple folks will have a field day using names and phrases like: "Clueless" and "Without a Cluzee" to poke fun at Google's launch.

Cluzee might lack the integration with some of the outside devices and services like Plex media and such that Siri offers. However, it will do the core voice functions Siri offers

The scope of available commands is far more narrow that Siri’s, but there is plenty of functionality in this first public build of the app and we have high hopes for future versions.

A video follows below along with another pair of screenshots and Tronton’s full press release. Android users can click this link from their devices to download the app.

Rhody...

 

[Pythagorean]

apparently Siri doesn't know where any abortion clinics are, except for CPC's, the particular brand driven by fundamentalists that try to guilt people out of abortions. Interesting coincidence, or "safe" marketing?

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2011/11/30/378882/crisis-pregnancy-center-congratulates-apples-siri-for-embracing-an-anti-choice-position/

 

[Borg]

apparently Siri doesn't know where any abortion clinics are, except for CPC's, the particular brand driven by fundamentalists that try to guilt people out of abortions. Interesting coincidence, or "safe" marketing?

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2011/11/30/378882/crisis-pregnancy-center-congratulates-apples-siri-for-embracing-an-anti-choice-position/

Based on the comments on that page, it's working.

I tried Siri, and it didn't have any results. I guess I'll keep the baby."

 

[rhody]

Pythagorean, Borg,

The scary thing is on less serious subjects that Siri responds to. I recently spoke to two young (20's) users of Siri for about 8 weeks. Since Siri is so human like in many ways, they start asking about dating advice, etc... and basically any question a young adult might ask a close friend. You can see where this is going, right ? They have taken to Siri like a fish to water.

Let's hope that the Apple folks have given Siri a "good pedigree" because the potential for her suggestions to be taken to the extreme or out of context is huge. We all know about not walking in near traffic and texting, and not driving and texting. I would be willing to bet that in the not too distant future, someone will "sue" Siri (Apple) because of suggestions made by her with less than the desired outcome for God only knows what reason. How some people readily accept this is amazing and frightening to watch unfold. "I trusted Siri ! Now, look what happened because of her." will be hitting the news in the near future.

Rhody...

 

[rhody]

Ah... an entrepreneur hard at work...

Siri Hack Allows You to Control Your Home Via Voice

The system combines the iPhone 4S Siri with Arduino, the Beagle Board (an open-source hardware single-board computer), and the Siri Proxy plugin. "The real hard work was done by the guys who did Siri Proxy. What they did was quite remarkable," says Schappi. The Ninja board system will combine these components into a unit the size of a deck of cards with two ports, making it a simple plug-and-play solution for controlling your home via voice. A specific price has yet to be decided upon, but they are hoping to keep it under $150.

Rhody...