Android challenges Siri and wipes the floor with it

[Colossal Squid]

For a while now iPhone fans have been crowing about how Siri was unmatched by anything on offer from other devices. Whilst there are alternative apps for Android and Windows Phone, nothing had quite hit the heights that Apple's voice assistant had done so far. That is until Google upped their game.

Included in the latest release of Android (5.0 Jellybean) is Google's much worked on rival voice assistant and the early results show it to be faster, more accurate AND even nicer sounding than Siri.

Check the video below for a side by side demo.

[yt]kDsOtdRtG0Q[/yt]

Out of interest, does anybody actually make daily use of Siri or a similar app to organise their lives? Would this demo make you consider Android above an iPhone for your next handset?

 

[CheeseRolls]

Is my brother here yet ?

 

[dadams2k11]

Samsung galaxy's SVoice on theS3 is better then Siri. It don't just reconise the USA.

 

[JJB]

Google are competency building, and have been for about 5 years. They will soon be the unrivaled option in the market.

 

[Mr Smggles]

For a while now iPhone fans have been crowing about how Siri was unmatched by anything on offer from other devices. Whilst there are alternative apps for Android and Windows Phone, nothing had quite hit the heights that Apple's voice assistant had done so far. That is until Google upped their game.

Included in the latest release of Android (5.0 Jellybean) is Google's much worked on rival voice assistant and the early results show it to be faster, more accurate AND even nicer sounding than Siri.

Check the video below for a side by side demo.

[yt]kDsOtdRtG0Q[/yt]

Out of interest, does anybody actually make daily use of Siri or a similar app to organise their lives? Would this demo make you consider Android above an iPhone for your next handset?

It is a gimmick and I rarely use it. The only notable helpful things have been when I was listening to music with my phone plugged into a dock and i didnt want to unplug it, and so wrote the text using Siri.

 

[Husty]

Apple have got sales of devices using this feature blocked in the states though. So kind of lost on that one.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Each to there own...i find using my iPhone meets my needs...i'm sure android stuff is fine ..i don't crow about it...its good that we have a choice

 

[JJB]

Apple have got sales of devices using this feature blocked in the states though. So kind of lost on that one.

But it runs on android, the most used operating system in the world.

 

[Husty]

But it runs on android, the most used operating system in the world.

It runs on one phone, the Google Nexus as that's the only phone with Android 4.1.

 

[JJB]

It runs on one phone, the Google Nexus as that's the only phone with Android 4.1.

But it will role out across all other new android handsets in the future.

 

[Husty]

But it will role out across all other new android handsets in the future.

Not until these lawsuit issues get resolved it wont

 

[Bozza]

But it will role out across all other new android handsets in the future.

Not to many it won't, no.

The vast majority of Android users are not running the current version of Android (4.0 - Ice Cream Sandwich). 93% of Android users are still running older versions of Android.

People buy their lovely new Android phone which, even then, may not be running the latest version of Android and then they soon get forgotten about by either their handset manufacturer and/or network who have launched another super-duper 74 phones by then and can't be arsed looking after those people with a slightly older phone.

So people are a few months into a 24 month contract with no hope of getting any new features. Lovely stuff.

You pay your money (or, often, you don't - stuff is free for reason), you takes your choice.

Some very recent words about this here: Has Google done enough to keep Android phones up-to-date? - PC Advisor

 

[Colossal Squid]

Android doesn't have the same insistence on updating that Apple does though. If you're desperate for the latest version of Android, you can get it, usually. But it isn't strictly necessary. Features you use won't suddenly be closed off to you if you don't upgrade to the latest version and your device will continue to function as it always has whereas with your iPhone you'll find Apple pushing and pushing you to update until you have no choice.

Android devices are a far more fragmented market thanks to the many different device manufacturers and their hardware so it isn't as straightforward to roll out an update to everybody at once. However, those who are keen to be early adopters don't have to try too hard to update before official channels become available.

 

[beorhthelm]

Apple have got sales of devices using this feature blocked in the states though. So kind of lost on that one.

Not until these lawsuit issues get resolved it wont

sauce? seems too new a news for Apple litigation machine to swing into action. added to this, you cant ban a device just because a particular peice of software runs on it. you might be able to ban the software because it infringes copyrights, or the hardware because it infringes patents. i wonder if you confuse with an issue with Samsung going on this week.

 

[Husty]

sauce? seems too new a news for Apple litigation machine to swing into action. added to this, you cant ban a device just because a particular peice of software runs on it. you might be able to ban the software because it infringes copyrights, or the hardware because it infringes patents. i wonder if you confuse with an issue with Samsung going on this week.

Apple lands preliminary ban against Samsung Galaxy Nexus in the US (update: search patent the key) -- Engadget

 

[Husty]

Android doesn't have the same insistence on updating that Apple does though. If you're desperate for the latest version of Android, you can get it, usually. But it isn't strictly necessary. Features you use won't suddenly be closed off to you if you don't upgrade to the latest version and your device will continue to function as it always has whereas with your iPhone you'll find Apple pushing and pushing you to update until you have no choice.

Android devices are a far more fragmented market thanks to the many different device manufacturers and their hardware so it isn't as straightforward to roll out an update to everybody at once. However, those who are keen to be early adopters don't have to try too hard to update before official channels become available.

Is it still possible to completely flash a phone? My iPhone 4 contract is nearing it's end and I want to move over to Android, probably go for an HTC phone but I don't want to be screwing about with manufacturers skins constantly, can I install stock Android onto the phone relatively easily?

 

[Colossal Squid]

Is it still possible to completely flash a phone? My iPhone 4 contract is nearing it's end and I want to move over to Android, probably go for an HTC phone but I don't want to be screwing about with manufacturers skins constantly, can I install stock Android onto the phone relatively easily?

Yes.

Check the ROMs available for various devices before you choose your handset though.

I'm currently running a stock version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on my HTC Desire S which was very easy to install

 

[Bozza]

Android doesn't have the same insistence on updating that Apple does though. If you're desperate for the latest version of Android, you can get it, usually. But it isn't strictly necessary. Features you use won't suddenly be closed off to you if you don't upgrade to the latest version and your device will continue to function as it always has whereas with your iPhone you'll find Apple pushing and pushing you to update until you have no choice.

Android devices are a far more fragmented market thanks to the many different device manufacturers and their hardware so it isn't as straightforward to roll out an update to everybody at once. However, those who are keen to be early adopters don't have to try too hard to update before official channels become available.

Apple do not make any insistence at all that you update. They do however make it VERY, VERY EASY for device owners to update should they wish to do so. It is the complete opposite of Android-land. As such, iDevice owners get to enjoy the latest iOS innovations whilst most Android owners, errrrm, continue to use some old shit.

You're right - Android is fragmented to buggery and that continues which is one of the reasons most developers stil prioritise (the smaller) iOS ecosystem.

It's not surprising, next to no-one makes any money out of Android.

Google - not a penny.
Microsoft - oh yes, amusingly they make a mint out of Android due to patent royalties.
Most device manufacturers - nope.
Samsung - yep, have cemented themselves as #1 Android handset manufacturer.

 

[beorhthelm]

Apple lands preliminary ban against Samsung Galaxy Nexus in the US (update: search patent the key) -- Engadget

fair play. this is the problem with the stupid US patent system, obstructs thing that have been done before simply because no one has challenged the patent. Samsung could side step this issue around the voice component by not shiping with the software and offering it as an app. probably wont appliy outside US either (no software patents in EU)

 

[bn1&bn3 Albion]

Do people actually use this though? I have never seen people using the voice commands for any more than a bit of fun..