Mobile
Want Apple’s Siri? Better Get an iPhone 4S
Siri was one of the highlights from the iPhone 4S event today. Siri is a key feature that allows iPhone users to quickly access information and dictate text by simply speaking into the microphone. It’s baked into iOS 5, but apparently you’ll only be able to run Siri on the new iPhone 4S.
iPhone 4 users will be out of luck, even if they update to iOS 5. Apple obviously wants iPhone 4 users to upgrade to the iPhone 4S and Siri will likely entice some users to do just that.
Limiting Siri to the iPhone 4S is likely more than just a marketing gimmick. The iPhone 4S has a much faster processor that can help crunch users’ voices. The iPhone 4S also has HSPA, which is a fancy acronym that basically means data can be shuttled back and forth between your iPhone 4S and Apple’s servers quickly to provide Siri results in a timely manner. The Siri user experience might not be up to par on iPhones with a plain old 3G connection.
https://youtu.be/rNsrl86inpo
Here’s Apple’s official Siri demo, which was shown during the iPhone 4S event.
Siri might not be appetizing to you, but this is one feature we expect Apple and its partners to emphasize in upcoming commercials and other marketing. It’s one of those ‘magical’ features that will wow the average consumers. Consumers will likely show it to their friends as a party trick.
There’s no mention of the iPad 2 on Apple’s Siri web page. The iPad 2 has a faster A5 processor than the one packed in the iPhone 4S, so we know that the processor alone likely isn’t the only limitation. Apple may want the app to work all the time, which wouldn’t be the case with WiFi-only iPads or the many iPads that have 3G, but aren’t signed up for wireless service. Whatever the reason, this will mean those with both an iPhone 4S and iPad 2 will have disparte experiences on their phones and tablets.
I hope Apple comes out and explains exactly why an iPhone 4S is required to run Suri. It’s just one of the more than 200 iOS 5 features Apple’s bragging about, but it’s a very important one. It’ll be very unfortunate if Apple really does limit Siri to only the latest and greatest iPhone.
You can read more iPhone 4S articles here or learn more about the differences between the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 here.
Does this bother you if your an iPhone 4 owner? Is Siri reason enough for you to upgrade to the iPhone 4S?
Anonymous
10/04/2011 at 4:54 pm
I have the iPod touch 4G, and I will be very disappointed to see Siri not come to not only the iPod touch 4G, but the iPod touch 3G 32 and 64 gig, original iPad, and iPhone 4 users. That will be very unfortunate of them to only apply that feature to the new iPhone 4S
BrianB13
10/04/2011 at 5:55 pm
HSPA+ means its 3.5G. No Wimax or 4G LTE? Forget about it. I bet the women will like Siri since they just love to talk… and the iPhone is at best a chick phone anyway. Bring on Nexus Prime!!
Ashley Swann
10/04/2011 at 8:18 pm
Siri is an interesting feature, but not one that would make me upgrade from the iphone4. I do well perfectly fine without talking to my phone and having it respond. It seems like a pretty low blow to make it only available to work on the 4S – but I guess that’s how they will sucker people in to buy another of of their phones that will be outdated in a year… never ending cyle.
Jvodry
10/05/2011 at 1:57 am
I am rather disappointed that Apple is doing it this way. I have the old Siri now and use it all the time. I’m not eligible for an upgrade for almost a year. It is very unfair.
Yakkayak
12/06/2011 at 6:07 pm
Just ANOTHER disappointment from Apple!! Join the crowd, misery LOVES company!! Apple doesn’t support adobe flash, now won’t allow suri as an add-on to the iphone4.. Unreal! All about the almighty dollar!!
Rearmedhalo
10/05/2011 at 11:41 am
It bugs me that to have Siti I have to get latest phone. I can’t until 2013 due to contract with Verizon. Looks like I’ll be jailbreaking. Someone there will probably figure out how to enable it.
Yakkayak
12/06/2011 at 6:00 pm
Can you get suri on the iphone4 if you jailbreak?