iPhone Buzz » Siri

AT&T ups data plan prices and Siri hits iPod touch with 4S restore

Shane McGlaun — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:09:20 +0000

If you are thinking about getting a new iPhone 4S on AT&T, you will be paying more for data, but getting a bit more data too. AT&T has a three-tier system that ups the price on each tier by $5 monthly compared to old rates. The plans still don’t offer much data with a $20 plan giving 300MB, a 3GB plan for $30, and a 5GB plan for $50 monthly.

That $50 monthly plan also includes tethering for the cost. Thankfully, if you don’t want more data and need the $5 monthly savings you can stay on your existing plan. Those not asking to stay will be rolled to the new plan. If you have an iPhone 4S and an iPod touch you can get Siri on your touch.

In fact, getting Siri on the touch is very simple to do according to a geek going by AppleGordon. All you have to do is run a restore of the 4S backup to your touch and Siri comes along for the ride. We are talking the claim with some sodium though. If you try it out and your device survives, let us know.

Siri strains networks, HTC dives thanks to iPhone, Gorilla Glass 2

Shane McGlaun — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:36:43 +0000

According to an independent source, the heavy use of the iPhone 4S and Siri is putting a strain on mobile networks. The report claims that the data load with Siri has nearly doubled.

HTC has announced its first profit dip in two years. The finger is pointed at the iPhone as part of the reason HTC is having trouble.

The iPhone has used Corning Gorilla Glass for a long time and the glass isn’t as strong as some of us wish it was. Corning will be unveiling Gorilla Glass 2 at CES.

iPlayer comes to iPhone, Apple in eBook price investigation, H1Siri hack complaints

Shane McGlaun — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:31:40 +0000

BBC has announced that it has rolled the global iPlayer app out to more countries. The iPlayer is for the iPhone and iPod touch and lets people catch up with episodes they miss for 30 days after the episode airs.

Apple and eBook publishers are now in the middle of an investigation in the EU. The investigation is looking into allegations of price fixing in the eBook market.

There are reports of some issues with users that have installed the H1Siri hack on their iPhone 4 or touch devices. Some are saying that their camera doesn’t work along with other things.

Apple denies intentionally omitting abortion clinics from Siri results

Shane McGlaun — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:34:51 +0000

Apple has put itself in hot water in a situation where one side or the other was bound to get angry to some extent. The issue is one of abortion. Apparently, some have found that Siri doesn’t have listings for women’s health clinics or abortion clinics. The issue came to a head when the ACLU found that Siri didn’t return clinic locations when they were nearby.

Apple has issued a statement via a spokesperson and claims that the lack of clinic listings was an omission not something done purposefully. The spokesperson also hinted that things like this are why Siri is a beta product.

Seemingly that would mean Apple would add in listings for abortion clinics and women’s health clinics to Siri listings. Apple didn’t come out and specifically state that intention though. The inclusion of those clinics will likely anger the pro-life supporters so Apple has very little room to maneuver here.

[via SlashGear]

Cluzee is like Siri, UK iPhone sales triple, RIM releases iOS app

Shane McGlaun — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:35:30 +0000

The Siri assistant app on the iPhone 4S is one thing that many people on Android are jealous of. A new app has launched for the Android platform called Cluzee that promises to be much like Siri.

Sales of the iPhone have tripled in the UK for October. The big growth is thought to be thanks to pent up demand for the device.

RIM has launched an app for the iOS devices out there. The app offers remote configuration, locking, and secure wiping and connectivity management.

ZAGGkeys Flex keyboard, Samsung informal no suit policy, Siri cracked for any device

Shane McGlaun — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:15:55 +0000

ZAGGkeys Flex keyboard and stand for tablets and smartphones has broken cover. The keyboard uses Bluetooth and will work with the iPhone and other iOS devices.

Samsung has admitted that it has an informal policy of not suing Apple. That sounds strange considering all the suits between the two companies right now.

Developers have reportedly cracked Siri to run on any device. Siri will reportedly work to some degree on the iPhone 4 and 3GS devices and the latest is a hack claiming to port Siri to Android.

iOS 5 has Android-style Autocorrect bar hidden, 4S proximity sensor made for Siri

Shane McGlaun — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:27:43 +0000

If you are using an iPhone in iOS 5 and you prefer the looks and style of the Android autocorrect bar, you have a very similar autocorrect bar hidden inside your phone. To activate it you need to grab the iBackupBot app and back your device up to iTunes. Then using the software open it back up.

Once that backup is open you can open a specific files and then paste in a new sting of code and end up with the bar you see in the photo here. Check out this link to get the full details on making the switch. It turns out the proximity sensor in the iPhone 4S is specifically made to work with Siri.

This is supposedly the reason that the Siri voice assistance is restricted to the 4S smartphone alone. The new sensor is an infrared LED made just for Siri. This is how Siri knows when you are there and the sensor is active all the time.

iPhone HD finder outed, iAd campaigns as much at $1M, Siri purchase will boost voice capability

Shane McGlaun — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:28:52 +0000

Wired has unveiled the identity of the person who found that iPhone HD prototype device in the California bar. The man’s name is Brian Hogan and according to Hogan’s attorney, “He regrets his mistake in not doing more to return the phone.”

Reports are coming in that campaigns on the new Apple iAd platform for the iPhone could cost advertisers as much as $1 million. Maybe that high price will limit the ads we are assaulted with.

I mentioned yesterday that Apple had purchased Siri, the personal assistant app firm. The buy could herald new voice-activated search capabilities coming to the iPhone, which would be most welcome.

PadRacer game rocks, Apple buys Siri, next iPhone to use LG Innotek camera

Shane McGlaun — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:51:36 +0000

I am really digging the way some iPad games are using the iPhone as controllers. The latest such game is called PadRacer and each player uses the iPhone to control the car on the iPad screen.

Apple has acquired Siri, the company behind the personal assistant app for the iPhone. Terms of the purchase are unknown at this time.

Reports are coming in that the next iPhone will use a camera from LG Innotek rather than the rumored OmniVision camera. The LG Innotek snapper is said to be a 5MP.

Patent hints at location-based social networking, appOmator makes app creating easy, Siri app debuts

Shane McGlaun — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:49:15 +0000

A new patent has been published by Apple that outlines a way that Apple can make social networking and video calls use location aware features. The feature would allow you to go to where a person you are talking to actually is.

A new software application for Mac computers has landed in beta form that is called appOmator. The software is designed to let anyone create their own iPhone app in under an hour.

A new application called Siri can be downloaded on the App Store now. The app is like a virtual personal assistant and is described as a complementary product to web search.