[drewprops]

I'm not beyond being influenced by others, even when I can evaluate things by myself. It's one of those human quirks that Tori is probably able to describe better than most due to his training.


...

[zippy]

Has anyone seen any estimates about how much data Siri might use? I know it uses a combination of processing things on the phone itself and polling the Siri servers.

I was looking at options between Verizon and AT&T, and AT&T's $15 data offering makes it the lower priced candidate. I just don't know if I could live with only 200 MB, and now Siri could add even more data needs.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by zippy Has anyone seen any estimates about how much data Siri might use? I know it uses a combination of processing things on the phone itself and polling the Siri servers.

From what I've read on the technical front, Siri sends the audio waveform, not just parsed-out data structures, to external servers to handle the speech-to-text translation.

I too will be very curious to see how quickly that adds up.

edit: quote from ArsTechnica, emphasis mine.

While these sound like easy things to pull off, the fact is that that these devices may not get Siri at all—at least not in the short term. Besides a relatively beefy processor to power Siri's natural language interpreter, it also relies on speech-to-text recognition technology from Nuance. This works by encoding and sending an audio file to Nuance's servers, which return the interpreted text to the iPhone. Without a constant data connection, Siri doesn't work, period. iPhones are rarely without data connections, but the same can't be said for WiFi-only iPads and iPod touches. Apple will still need to find a way to work the feature into these devices in a way that doesn't frustrate users when it isn't available after leaving the range of a convenient WiFi signal.

[Escher]

Good question, zippy! I was wondering the same thing.

I'm actually planning to buy an unlocked iPhone 4S and use it on a pre-paid plan from T-Mobile that has no data, only voice and text. Does this mean that Siri won't work on my phone unless I'm within range of a Wi-Fi network, i.e. only at home?

Seriously, maybe one of the aims of Siri is to generate more data traffic (and thus extra revenue) for the mobile carriers that are paying Apple through the nose for the privilege to carry the iPhone.

PS: Brad's quote from Ars just answered my question. I guess there is no point in getting the iPhone 4S if I'm not willing to pay for a data plan. On the upside, I may save myself even more money than I expected!

[zippy]

Originally Posted by Brad From what I've read on the technical front, Siri sends the audio waveform, not just parsed-out data structures, to external servers to handle the speech-to-text translation. I too will be very curious to see how quickly that adds up. edit: quote from ArsTechnica, emphasis mine.

Whoa, that's even more than I thought. I was hoping that the iPhone would be able to at least handle the on-board stuff, like scheduling meetings, taking notes, setting reminders, etc.. But if it has to use the servers for all of the speech recognition, then that could add up quickly. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised though. Both Dragon Dictation and the original Siri app needed internet connectivity to function.

Like I said, 200MB seemed small before Siri but it could be worthless now if a person finds Siri useful. Let's hope they're severely compressing those wave files.

[kieran]

It's times like this when I'm glad I still have the unlimited data plan, even though it's costing me a bit more.

With more and more things being "in the cloud," it's only going to use even more data.

[drewprops]

And it's confirmed that those of us on the unlimited plan can KEEP that plan even if we're actually signing up for a new 2-year contract? Siri sounds like a data plan buster


...

[Eugene]

Yes you do have the option of keeping the $30/mo unlimited data plan, but no Mobile Hotspot.

[addabox]

Originally Posted by splacid I apologize if this was already addressed in the, um, colorful discussion thus far, but will the existing iPhone 4 cases fit the iPhone 4S? It doesn't look like the dimensions or external button placement changed.

Originally Posted by addabox Sure seems to be exactly the same, although this being Apple we can't rule out the possibility that they moved something a millimeter.

Holy smokes, I was sort of joking, but apparently "iPhone 4s May Not Fit Into iPhone 4 Cases."

The hold button and the two volume keys have shifted slightly up the side of the phone. There appears to be a couple of millimetres difference for the hold button, possibly less for the two volume buttons.

[Maciej]

What the hell is a "natural language interpreter?" It sounds like marketing speak to me, to justify "needing" the 4S processor. Given the fact that the data is interpreted by the Nuance servers anyway.

[Xaqtly]

Here are some benchmarks of the iPhone 4S from Anandtech. Quick summary: The 4S is very close to the iPad 2, performance-wise, especially graphically speaking. It appears to be significantly more powerful than the iPhone 4 in ways you should be able to notice pretty much immediately.

Edit - for clarification: the iPhone 4S is easily the most powerful smartphone on the market, bar none. It's not even close. The only non-Apple device that comes close at all is the Galaxy Tab 8.9, and that's a tablet not a phone. Apple has absolutely done their whole "under-sell and over-deliver" thing with the 4S.

[chucker]

Originally Posted by Maciej What the hell is a "natural language interpreter?" It sounds like marketing speak to me, to justify "needing" the 4S processor.

Natural language isn't marketing at all; it's a branch of AI.

Given the fact that the data is interpreted by the Nuance servers anyway.

I thought Nuance was responsible for the speech recognition, not the linguistic analysis.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by chucker I thought Nuance was responsible for the speech recognition, not the linguistic analysis.

This is how I interpreted the breakdown too.

[drewprops]

So if you're out of range for data you're hosed?
(insofar as voice control goes?)

...

[zippy]

Originally Posted by drewprops So if you're out of range for data you're hosed? (insofar as voice control goes?) ...

Correct.

[chucker]

I've heard claims to the contrary, but everything I've seen from Apple itself, both on the website as well as in quotes of Schiller's from the keynote, seems to suggest that it will only work with a data connection.

[turtle]

The one thing that points to your being able to use it was during the keynote it was mentioned that it learns your voice and gets better. I'm guessing it will cache locally some of those common commands/request.

[Kickaha]

Originally Posted by drewprops And it's confirmed that those of us on the unlimited plan can KEEP that plan even if we're actually signing up for a new 2-year contract? Siri sounds like a data plan buster ...

That's what I found when I re-upped with AT&T. Unlimited data for $30.

Now, whether they *HONOR* that... dunno. But that's what I signed up for, and what it says on my order receipt.

[addabox]

Originally Posted by drewprops So if you're out of range for data you're hosed? (insofar as voice control goes?) ...

Is that much of a problem, though? I haven't found cell coverage to be particularly spotty these days. And if I'm way off in the middle of nowhere I'd hope I'd have better things to do than talk to my phone.

[drewprops]

Originally Posted by addabox Is that much of a problem, though? I haven't found cell coverage to be particularly spotty these days. And if I'm way off in the middle of nowhere I'd hope I'd have better things to do than talk to my phone.

A man gets lonely, 'Box, so very lonely.


...

[addabox]

Originally Posted by drewprops A man gets lonely, 'Box, so very lonely. ...

[Maciej]

Originally Posted by chucker Natural language isn't marketing at all; it's a branch of AI. I thought Nuance was responsible for the speech recognition, not the linguistic analysis.

My bad! Thanks.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by Brad Never forget.

From Jason Snell's review.

[Escher]

Nice one, Brad!

I guess that's why Apple has labeled Siri as still in Beta...

[Xaqtly]

I said this:

Originally Posted by Xaqtly Honestly? Because I don't talk to my phone. I grok that Siri is some serious shit, but it requires you to stand around looking like a complete idiot issuing commands to your phone like you're pretending to be Kirk telling Scotty to beam him up for god's sake because he got all those aliens pregnant and they've almost caught up to him.

Today, Gruber said this:

You might wonder, Hey, don’t you feel like a jerk walking around the city talking to your phone? But here’s the thing: Siri, by default, kicks in when you hold the iPhone up to your ear, so you can talk to it and it looks like you’re on a phone call.

Problem solved, complaint retracted. I suppose I should have known Apple would be smarter than I am.

[Eugene]

Siri might be a serial killer...

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by Eugene Siri might be a serial killer...

Just came here to post that.

My favorite:



Nice bit of history there on how far the field of NLP has progressed.

[Dorian Gray]

At leasts some of the new iPhones use Sony sensors. The iPhone 4 used an OmniVision sensor. Sony is sort of the Intel of the imaging sensor world, so hooking up with them is a good way for Apple to stay at the cutting edge of developments.

Are you generally impressed with the camera in your iPhone 4S?

[torifile]

4 million iPhones in 3 days. Talk about a disappointment.

[kieran]

Originally Posted by Dorian Gray At leasts some of the new iPhones use Sony sensors. The iPhone 4 used an OmniVision sensor. Sony is sort of the Intel of the imaging sensor world, so hooking up with them is a good way for Apple to stay at the cutting edge of developments. Are you generally impressed with the camera in your iPhone 4S?

I had a few issues with some pictures after I imported them into iPhoto, but damn is this camera impressive.

It's nice to finally have a good camera in my picket at all times. I still love having my DSLR around, but having the 4S on hand for quick things is great.