Siri functionality limited outside US, but Apple promises updates in 2012
Though the iPhone 4S launched in a total of seven countries on Friday, only users in the U.S. have access to Siri's Maps and businesses integration, while international users will gain more functionality in 2012.
A roundup of some of the tasks Siri cannot accomplish outside of the U.S. was collected on Friday by MacStories. For example, Maps integration with Siri does not work outside of America, meaning users cannot search for businesses, Yelp user reviews or traffic data.
When users attempt to search for Maps data in the U.K., Siri responds with: "I can only look for businesses, maps and traffic in the United States, and when you're using U.S. English. Sorry about that."
Apple's list of frequently asked questions related to Siri notes that Maps and local search with Yelp are currently only available in the U.S. Remaining features, including Phone, Music, Calendar, Contacts, Weather, and Web search are available to international users, though Wolfram|Alpha integration is available in English only.
Siri remains in "beta" at launch, and it understands English from the U.S., U.K. and Australia, as well as French and German. Apple has promised that Siri will support additional languages in 2012, including Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Italian and Spanish.
For more on the Siri voice recognition technology that is exclusively available in Apple's new iPhone 4S, see AppleInsider's in-depth look at the features and functionality available with Siri.
A roundup of some of the tasks Siri cannot accomplish outside of the U.S. was collected on Friday by MacStories. For example, Maps integration with Siri does not work outside of America, meaning users cannot search for businesses, Yelp user reviews or traffic data.
When users attempt to search for Maps data in the U.K., Siri responds with: "I can only look for businesses, maps and traffic in the United States, and when you're using U.S. English. Sorry about that."
Apple's list of frequently asked questions related to Siri notes that Maps and local search with Yelp are currently only available in the U.S. Remaining features, including Phone, Music, Calendar, Contacts, Weather, and Web search are available to international users, though Wolfram|Alpha integration is available in English only.
Siri remains in "beta" at launch, and it understands English from the U.S., U.K. and Australia, as well as French and German. Apple has promised that Siri will support additional languages in 2012, including Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Italian and Spanish.
For more on the Siri voice recognition technology that is exclusively available in Apple's new iPhone 4S, see AppleInsider's in-depth look at the features and functionality available with Siri.
Comments
Siri remains in "beta" at launch, and it understands English from the U.S., U.K. and Australia
So don't be a hoser and talk Canadian, eh? -- cause then we might have to jam your mouth full of buttertarts or hockey pucks to shut you up, eh?
[insert alternate joke about Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Indian, Ozarks, South African, Minnesotan, Kiwi, Newfie, etc. accents here]
I hope Apple brings Siri to the iPhone 4 at some point.
They won't.
So don't be a hoser and talk Canadian, eh? -- cause then we might have to jam your mouth full of buttertarts or hockey pucks to shut you up, eh?
[insert alternate joke about Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Indian, Ozarks, South African, Minnesotan, Kiwi, Newfie, etc. accents here]
Take off!
Still, I asked her to tell me a joke and she replied: "two iPhone's walked into a bar". Indeed.
Although I likely would have made the same buying decision, Apple should have been more forthcoming with information like this and not wait until folks had the device in their grubby little hands.
Yes, I know they said it was "beta", but there was virtually no information about what this meant. Obviously, they knew this aspect of it then and didn't say.
begining, or end of?!
Prediction of transcript from a WWDC meeting next summer "Sorry international folks, the new iPhone 5 with iOS6 finally gets Siri right outside of USA."
LOL
Siri remains in "beta" at launch,
IMO, Apple shouldn't be playing that particular game.
Prediction of transcript from a WWDC meeting next summer "Sorry international folks, the new iPhone 5 with iOS6 finally gets Siri right outside of USA."
LOL
not funny
imagine how strong apple's future live translator app will be after a couple years of learning accents and languages from people talking to Siri in everyday language and vernacular
Ha! Pretty soon it will only understand l33t sp34k!
On a lighter note, my mind went into the gutter and on a whim I told Siri I wanted a BJ...and she gave me the location of eight different escort services in Dallas, TX. I went so far as to tell her (blatantly) I wanted to find a hooker and that request also brought up the same escort services. I laughed so hard I almost drove off the road. I can see it now..."news at 7...Man dies in car accident...last request in his phone was to find a hooker".
Still, I asked her to tell me a joke and she replied: "two iPhone's walked into a bar". Indeed.
Does it do the Hal 9000 voice if you ask it to "open the pod bay doors"?
I hope Apple brings Siri to the iPhone 4 at some point.
Me too. Why isn't the iPhone 4 supported, anyway? Obviously it's not a "special feature" tied to the new models since not every country is supported. It can't be a hardware issue, could it?
Me too. Why isn't the iPhone 4 supported, anyway? Obviously it's not a "special feature" tied to the new models since not every country is supported. It can't be a hardware issue, could it?
The reasoning I heard was that the iPhone 4S has a better microphone and a faster processor. The simpler answer is probably that they want to give you a reason to upgrade, Apple unfortunately is still in the business of selling new hardware.