Posted on 05/16/2012 7:56:31 AM PDT by SmokingJoe
This is really rather amusing. Until just recently if you asked Siri, the voice assistant on the latest of Apple‘s iPhones, which was the best cell phone ever the reply would be that it was the Nokia Lumia. Which is, as all know, a Windows based phone.
The proof is here with a screen shot.
The reason why it gave this unexpected answer (well, unexpected to me, it might actually be that the Lumia is the best cell phone ever) is that Siri interrogates the Wolfram Alpha database to answer such questions. And if there are four reviews (as there were) at the place that Wolfram Alpha itself interrogates which say that the Lumia really is the bee’s knees then that’s what the answer will be.
Except, except, Siri is a server based application. This allows Apple, should they so wish, to provide a direct answer rather than to allow Siri to interrogate Wolfram Alpha.
Which is what we all rather assume Apple has done as asking the question no brings back the answer “You’re kidding, right?”
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
Funny BUMP.
A few days ago we wrote an article on Apple’s very own Siri prompting that the Nokia Lumia 900 was the best smartphone ever. Today Apple has patched up the response Siri would give when asked “What is the best smartphone ever?”. In order for Siri to find what the best smartphone is it would search a third party service named Wolfram Alpha, which would point out that user ratings placed the Lumia 900 above all others. Sadly Apple felt the need to silence its praised assistant and re-educate her. The phone, as noted by The Verge, will now appoint itself as the best smartphone. I am guessing from now on every time Apple sees competition they will resort to such measures.
http://zunited.net/2012/05/siri-silenced-by-apple-after-praising-windows-phone/
So, it returned the results of a web search based upon user reviews? And few reviews at that?
Yawn. It’s not like Apple is conceding the smartphone wars. As designed, if Siri does not have an answer in the database, it goes to the web.
Ive seen the new Nokia and wasnt that impressed. The interface reminded me of the Kin or Palm Pre interface. Only really good if your life revolves around social media.
My Siri just said “there are no other phones”, I asked again and Siri said “wait there are other phones?”
But what can I say I asked it the meaning of life once, and Siri dialed my husbands phone number and said to ask him.
Ummm..not quite.
“And few reviews at that?”
The Lumia 900 has more reviews(333) than any other smart-phone on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Nokia-Lumia-Windows-Phone-Black/dp/B007P5NHJO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337181536&sr=8-1
..and its still the highest rated smart phone.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/top-rated/wireless/2407747011/ref=zg_bs_tab_t_tr?pf_rd_p=1331612862&pf_rd_s=right-8&pf_rd_t=2101&pf_rd_i=list&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=05WTGG7J5F14W0DJZ8CE
By contrast,, the highly acclaimed HTC One, has only 14 reviews, and is still rated much lower than the Lumia 900.
http://www.amazon.com/HTC-One-Android-Phone-Gray/dp/B007UOIOV6/ref=zg_tr_tab_pd_bs_1?pf_rd_p=1331613222&pf_rd_s=right-5&pf_rd_t=9501&pf_rd_i=list&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1DTPTGPSS0K45DM13SVE
Chuckle!
Steve Wozniack(who should know a thing or two about interfaces), would seem to disagree with you:
“Steve Wozniak: Windows Phone is more beautiful and intuitive than Android, it's ‘no contest’
..........
“I'm kind of shocked. Every screen is much more beautiful than the same apps on Android and iPhone.”
He's so impressed by it, in fact, that he defines the experience of using a Windows Phone as feeling like you're “with a friend not a tool.”
http://www.theverge.com/2012/4/28/2983312/steve-wozniak-windows-phone-android-comparison
Did you read the article at all? Apple just “amended” Siri to give a different answer to what it was giving before. Pretty amusing when one thinks of it.
I’m holding out, limping by on my crippled AT&T Tilt, until Windows 8 Phone comes out this summer.
Yea. The whole Siri concept is amazing.
For fun I asked directly about the Nokia, and Siri just laughed.
I thanked Siri and it said “I live to serve you, Hot Mama”. Seems my oldest grandson changed my monicker on the phone - kids what can you do?.
I have a Nokia Lumia 900 and I love it. I’d say Siri is correct when it says it’s the best Smartphone ever.
... And what does the Nokia Windows smartphone say is the best cellphone?
Yawn.
And then Apple changes it so it gives a snappier and less embarrassing response. No surprise there either.
Ya know, in 1970 I visited MIT in Boston and interacted with ELIZA running on a PDP-10.
42 years later, Siri is a long way advanced past ELIZA. But it's still just a computer program.
This article isn't "News". It's "Humor". :)
If you speak to the Lumia, and ask it "what is the best phone?" what happens?
Does it actually have voice recognition?
Does it speak the answer?
Or does it sit there like a lump of plastic?
This is how mine just now responded.
“I think you’ve already answered this question.”
I just asked a second time and she responded, “You’re kidding, right?”
“But what can I say I asked it the meaning of life once, and Siri dialed my husbands phone number and said to ask him.”
Ha! Think I’ll go find Mr. hummingbird and tell him Siri had a message for him!
He just got new phones for us but I don’t even know what kind they are. I do like the stylus I bought because I often hit two buttons at a time.
Besides, it looks kind of elegant using a stylus and if anything, hummingbird strives for elegance and style!
Ha - I have two nephews who would love to change my moniker, at the very least. I better check my settings.
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