How is Siri different from Edwin?

Old Member · Oct 4, 2011

Ok watching the silliness that is the frenzy associated with Apple releases I'm truly unimpressed with Siri. As far as I can tell, isn't Siri the same thing as Edwin? Are they really pimping an old Android app that is integrated into their new OS as something revolutionary?

Edwin, Speech-to-Speech

EarlyMon · Oct 4, 2011

I've used Edwin for a year. That was the first thing I thought, honestly.

Hrethgir · Oct 4, 2011

Siri isn't new, I had it on my iPhone 3Gs that I bought about 2 years ago. Then it was a separate app, but it sounds like it's integrated into the OS now.

chrlswltrs · Oct 4, 2011

It is also like google's built in voice commands that we have had for over a year in android. Or like the app vlingo.

iOS 4 and 5 both have almost been nothing but copies of android features so that iPhone can try to catch up.

Stuntman · Oct 5, 2011

The difference is that I've never heard of Siri until this afternoon from the Apple presentation and I've never heard of Edwin until this evening from reading about it here. I'm not into speech reco so I haven't really investigated the technology. I'm sure many people who saw the Apple presentation today haven't heard of either as well.

I have seen some rudimentary speech reco before. I have it on my phone, but all I use it for is to call someone hands free and nothing more sophisticated. As it was the first time I have seen a speech reco system that is this context sensitive. This may have been around for a while, but it was Apple that brought it to my attention.

Jetster220 · Oct 5, 2011

Have you guys checked out this voice command app, it seems far better than Edwin, right on par with Siri.
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.pannous.voice.actions.free&feature=related_apps

EarlyMon · Oct 5, 2011

Siri, Edwin, Vlingo and others got some flash in the pan press from time to time.

Speech recognition apps are cool, and they get cooler as the technology advances.

PS - cool tip on Voice Actions app!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxFxd9YQkQw

Morat · Oct 5, 2011

Stuntman said:
SNIP: This may have been around for a while, but it was Apple that brought it to my attention.

I think you just summarised Apple's entire product range very neatly indeed

Bnice · Oct 5, 2011

I don't know how he missed Samsung showing their Voicetalk. Pretty much the same as Apple Siri but as usual some will hype Apple up to be more than what it is.

http://www.youtube.com/user/samsungmobileusa?v=yBaP5EV-oJ4&feature=pyv&ad=14696284184&kw=samsung

Uatu · Oct 5, 2011

Actually guys, Siri is not about voice control or recognition. The key point is its deep integration, and context understanding, tying in separate parts of the iPhone system together.

Simple example, watch how the runner 'modifies' his appointment. He does not give a specific instruction, but Siri 'understood' what he meant (1m 09s)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFfm2uQbaLM#t=1m09s

Roze · Oct 5, 2011

If you're like me and don't know all of Google's Voice Action command:

Speak any of these commands to perform a Voice Action on your phone:
send text to [contact] [message]
listen to [artist/song/album]
call [business]
call [contact]
send email to [contact] [message]
go to [website]
note to self [note]
navigate to [location/business name]
directions to [location/business name]
map of [location]

novox77 · Oct 5, 2011

I also agree that most of us here are downplaying Siri as just another voice recognition app. What will make it stand out is how well it integrates and interfaces with the phone's app. Not to mention the obvious part of how well it interprets the meaning of your spoken words.

Apple bought Siri (and not other voice recognition offerings) for a reason, likely because Siri works the best.

Bnice · Oct 5, 2011

Well thats what Apple going to push to head line the 4s. But lets be real a lot of folks are not going to be talking into their phones. Maybe while driving and test the feature out but I don't see it being the everyday norm.(just my opinion)..

zuben el genub · Oct 5, 2011

More contribution to human laziness and non thinking abilities. Saw it demoed on the news last night, and will quote Bob Dylan. "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows" Don't be so lazy - go outside and look, wet your finger, or hold up a string. A lot of the old weather sayings are true. Learn to read a weather map. Handwriting is becoming a lost art, do we need to worry about reading?

What's next - a Dear Abby app? Or "should I have cereal or eggs for breakfast" app? And have the phone make the decision?

Dealing with answering services for companies is enough talking AI for me.

novox77 · Oct 5, 2011

Bnice said:
Well thats what Apple going to push to head line the 4s. But lets be real a lot of folks are not going to be talking into their phones. Maybe while driving and test the feature out but I don't see it being the everyday norm.(just my opinion)..

Personally, I find it awkward to talk "to" my phone when there are others around. I rarely use the built-in voice features for that reason.

And given how mobile device etiquette is out the door these days (think people with BT headsets that speak loudly while in the bathroom, subway train, etc. thinking they are the shit), I can totally see a society full of people talking to their phones. Sigh.

COMPUTER, DAMAGE REPORT!

RiverOfIce · Oct 5, 2011

Would love for them to explain the dual antenna thing. MIMO has existed for years. Almost any LTE and wimax phone has it.

Bob Maxey · Oct 5, 2011

zuben el genub said:
More contribution to human laziness and non thinking abilities. Saw it demoed on the news last night, and will quote Bob Dylan. "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows" Don't be so lazy - go outside and look, wet your finger, or hold up a string. A lot of the old weather sayings are true. Learn to read a weather map. Handwriting is becoming a lost art, do we need to worry about reading?

What's next - a Dear Abby app? Or "should I have cereal or eggs for breakfast" app? And have the phone make the decision?

Dealing with answering services for companies is enough talking AI for me.

I use an Indian weather rock. If it is wet, it is raining. If it is dry, it is warm, if it is white, it is snowing, if it is gone, there is high wind. If it is bloody and hurling through air and the Cowardly Lion has a head wound, we aint in Kansas any more.

Frisco · Oct 5, 2011

^ lol

9to5cynic · Oct 5, 2011

zuben el genub said:
What's next - a Dear Abby app? Or "should I have cereal or eggs for breakfast" app? And have the phone make the decision?/QUOTE]

Dibs!

novox77 said:

Personally, I find it awkward to talk "to" my phone when there are others around. I rarely use the built-in voice features for that reason.

And given how mobile device etiquette is out the door these days (think people with BT headsets that speak loudly while in the bathroom, subway train, etc. thinking they are the shit), I can totally see a society full of people talking to their phones. Sigh.

COMPUTER, DAMAGE REPORT!

Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more. It's weird to speak to a phone. All it'll come to is inflated egos.

Captain: Damage to the 'Human-factor' thrusters and the Kindness Shields are at 34%.

pantlesspenguin · Oct 6, 2011

I'm really surprised no one has mentioned the genius button on MyTouch phones. It does a LOT of the same stuff. When in car mode, it speaks texts and emails to you and asks if you want to reply. You say "yes" and then speak your message. It speaks it back to you and asks if you want to send. You can say yes or no, and if you say no it gives you the chance to edit the message. You can also open maps, navigation, and webpages and search within those apps.

But of course everyone said the genius button was a gimmick, lol.

OutofDate1980 · Oct 6, 2011

Perhaps Apple has taken the plan from Microsoft, win the marketing wars.

Researchers transform iPhone into high-quality medical imaging device

The enhanced iPhones could help doctors and nurses diagnose blood diseases in developing nations where many hospitals and rural clinics have limited or no access to laboratory equipment. In addition to bringing new sensing capabilities where they are needed most, the modified phones are also able transmit the real-time data to colleagues around the globe for further analysis and diagnosis.

zuben el genub · Oct 6, 2011

A lot of the medical apps ran on Palm. They had one for almost everything. They could be redone with permission from the original developers. Especially if they could be backwards compatible with the old Palm records so you would have all your info in one place.

RoboMonkey · Oct 6, 2011

It's not new, just like tablets were not new when the iPad came out, but look at the industry now.

I think Siri will be sick if it works like the videos.

EVU · Oct 12, 2011

Bnice said:
Well thats what Apple going to push to head line the 4s. But lets be real a lot of folks are not going to be talking into their phones. Maybe while driving and test the feature out but I don't see it being the everyday norm.(just my opinion)..

It's early days for speech reco.
After seeing Siri, I started using my EVO's voice to text more.
Voice to navigate.
& I really like how Siri can integrate Voice Reco in things like the calendar & allow one to set their agenda.
I've already heard, the next round of Google Voice Search will offer a bigger step upwards for Android users.

IMO, it will only get better & it will be a paradigm shift for the user.
I recall just a year ago, who needs tablets when we have netbooks...

EVU · Oct 12, 2011

Roze said:
If you're like me and don't know all of Google's Voice Action command:
Speak any of these commands to perform a Voice Action on your phone:
send text to [contact] [message]
listen to [artist/song/album]
call [business]
call [contact]
send email to [contact] [message]
go to [website]
note to self [note]
navigate to [location/business name]
directions to [location/business name]
map of [location]

Thank you Roze! Didn't know the listen one above!!

http://www.google.com/mobile/voice-actions/

How is Siri different from Edwin?

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