First listen: New 'natural-sounding' Siri voices for the U.K., Australia, and Japan
New voice options included in iOS 7.1's latest developer preview make Siri's responses smoother and more lifelike for users in the U.K., Australia, and Japan.
The new voices --?provided to AppleInsider by people familiar with the content of the update --?compare favorably to their predecessors, lending Siri a more even tone and less stilted speech pattern. In keeping with Apple's intention to allow some international users to choose Siri's gender in iOS 7.1, both male and female voices were updated.
Apple similarly overhauled Siri's American voice in iOS 7's initial release, which also added a male option for the first time. Siri also gained the ability to control more features on users' devices, like opening apps and searching photos.
While no timetable for iOS 7.1's release has been made public, some are speculating that this may be the update's final beta release. A new report from BGR suggests that developers will soon receive a ready-for-release, or "gold master," build of the software with public availability to follow in early March.
The new voices --?provided to AppleInsider by people familiar with the content of the update --?compare favorably to their predecessors, lending Siri a more even tone and less stilted speech pattern. In keeping with Apple's intention to allow some international users to choose Siri's gender in iOS 7.1, both male and female voices were updated.
Apple similarly overhauled Siri's American voice in iOS 7's initial release, which also added a male option for the first time. Siri also gained the ability to control more features on users' devices, like opening apps and searching photos.
While no timetable for iOS 7.1's release has been made public, some are speculating that this may be the update's final beta release. A new report from BGR suggests that developers will soon receive a ready-for-release, or "gold master," build of the software with public availability to follow in early March.
Comments
The UK male voice sounds extremely realistic, like a recording (at least in the sample given). Speech recognition and synthesis has really improved in leaps and bounds over the last few years.
The Australian accents are awful.
I don't know if that's Apple's fault or my country's.
UK male is good. Brings us one step closer to Jarvis.
Japanese male should include Toshiro Mifune.
I thought the Australian voices sounded a little more artificial, though they do have a reasonable Aussie accent (but I'll defer to a real Aussie on that
She said that she doesn't know the user's location because location services aren't available then indicates the user should activate location services.
An authentic Japanese voice would never say "no."
The Aussie accent is great! Very realistic and makes a pleasant change.
As an Aussie I think the female Australian voice is worse than the current one, and both the male and female responses are not very intelligent. Should I read something into that?
I like the UK voices and their response is intelligent.
If the female Japanese voice spoke in English I'd use that as my default one. As it is now I guess my default one would be the UK female voice.
The Aussie accent is great! Very realistic and makes a pleasant change.
Siri, how would a mango chutney go with my King Prawns?
"Bewdy bonza mate"
I would the UK male voice to sound like Micky Flanagan
Dear God, NO!
As an Aussie I think the female Australian voice is worse than the current one, and both the male and female responses are not very intelligent. Should I read something into that?
I like the UK voices and their response is intelligent.
If the female Japanese voice spoke in English I'd use that as my default one. As it is now I guess my default one would be the UK female voice.
If you speak with an Australian accent you should set Siri's language to Australian otherwise it will not correctly interpret your natural speech; particularly vowels.
Australian accents always sound wrong when reproduced in foreign t.v. shows or films (and by Siri). Usually its too harsh or exagerated. Maybe that's the way we sound to non-Australians. This is why I prefer the UK English voices.
I actually didn't even realise Australians spoke with an accent until I went overseas. :-)