siri

A smartphone shopper's dilemma: Wait for the next iPhone or go Android 4.0?

Google and Apple have upped their game in 2012, and a new crop of smartphones running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and Apple's new iOS 6 will offer consumers a tough choice when it comes to choosing a new phone.

Apple isn't expected to launch the next iPhone until the fall. But the company gave a preview of what's to come with the unveiling of iOS 6 mobile software this week at its WWDC conference in San Francisco. From what I can tell, the new iPhone will give the current crop of Android 4.0 devices … Read more

The 404 1,072: Where we're broadcasting in Retina (podcast)

Apple hopefuls didn't get the Apple TV or desktop updates they were expecting, but yesterday's Worldwide Developers Conference certainly made things more exciting for iOS users and imaging professionals.

Apple announced a new Retina Display MacBook Pro with serious specs that won't mean a thing for the average consumer who doesn't need a quad-core processor, a solid-state drive, and discrete graphics to browse Reddit and send a few e-mails. Regardless, graphics editors will appreciate the updates even if Apple did inflate its statistics.

There are also a lot of updates to iOS 6 coming out this fall, and today we'll round up a few of our favorites.… Read more

How to install iOS 6 developer preview

During the WWDC keynote, Apple demoed several of the new features in iOS 6, including Facebook integration, the new Maps app, turn-by-turn directions, a "Do Not Disturb" feature for when you don't want to answer your phone, and several enhancements that make Siri "smarter." In total, iOS 6 brings more than 200 new features over iOS 5 and, with today's announcement, tons of app developers are flocking to Apple's iOS Dev Center to download the beta.

Before you can even think about installing the iOS 6 beta you'll need to have an … Read more

Apple shows smarter Siri, new MacBooks

Today's show has Mountain Lions, MacBooks and Siri, oh my!

Apple news overload at Monday's WWDC keynote presentation. Here's a quick summary of what you need to know.

Apple's next mobile software, iOS 6, will bring a few changes this Fall, including:

Video chatting on Facetime will be available on a cellular network, so no more Wi-Fi restrictions. Apple is launching its own Maps app with a 3D mode, called Flyover. It'll also have turn-by-turn directions, alert users to traffic issues and re-route accordingly. You can also ask Siri for directions. Siri is getting several upgrades, … Read more

What Siri's 'Eyes Free' feature means for cars

One of the newest Siri features isn't for the iPhone, but for vehicles that will integrate this natural language voice command service.

Apple announced today at its annual developer's conference, WWDC 2012, that several automakers have signed on to implement Siri's "Eyes Free" feature in their vehicles. BMW, General Motors, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, and Audi will enable drivers to integrate Siri with their vehicle's electronics system, and access the mobile assistant using a steering wheel button.

From the photo shown during the keynote address, it appears Siri--or Siri-like technology--could get its own button on … Read more

What iOS 6 tells us about the next iPhone

Apple's WWDC may not have resulted in an iPhone announcement, but it provided the next best thing: a detailed look at iOS 6.

It doesn't come out until the fall, and will only work on the iPhone 3GS and models after that, but a lot of iOS 6 features will be welcomed by any iPhone owner.

New versions of mobile software (be it iOS or Android) can often be as feature-packed and exciting as new phone models, and frequently kick a lot of new value down to older hardware.

The question is, can we look into the new features of iOS 6 to peer upstream at what Apple's next iPhone might be like? I'll try. Here are my best guesses.… Read more

Siri for iOS 6 versus Samsung Galaxy S III's S-Voice

You'll find a much more in-depth hands-on comparison of Siri versus S Voice here.

The Samsung Galaxy S III isn't quite out yet in the U.S., but already, its Siri-like voice assistant -- known as S-Voice -- has just been thrown into the deep, dark shadow of Apple's forthcoming Siri update.

In iOS 6, the next-generation of Siri will add a whole new bag of tricks, including the capability to launch apps, perform voice-activated Facebook and Twitter updates, and pull in sports scores and movie times. It will also make reservations through OpenTable and play you … Read more

Does Apple's use of famous stars in ads show weakness?

Last night, while watching LeBron James attempt to finally justify the size of his head, John Malkovich appeared on my TV to remind me of Siri's great wit.

It's a pleasant ad.

Yet something suddenly struck me: how often has Apple resorted to using famous people to be its spokespeople? You could argue that all the faces in "Here's To the Crazy Ones" were famous. But they were inanimate -- and, in many cases, actually dead.

You could also argue that the use of U2 and Coldplay to push iPods was also the use of … Read more

Siri headed to iPad with iOS 6, report claims

Apple's Siri voice assistant is headed to iPad users with iOS 6, according to a new report.

Citing "trusted sources," Apple-centric blog 9to5Mac says the voice assistant will land on the tablet this fall with nearly all the features currently found on the iPhone 4S, short of making phone calls.

"Music playback, iMessaging, Calendar managing, Reminders, Weather, Maps integration, E-mailing, Notes, Contacts searching, Safari integration, Wolfram-Alpha searching, and more are all present," the report claims.

As for the timing on all this, the report offers nothing concrete, saying that Apple could either take the wraps … Read more