How many gadget revolutions can you name? Radio. Television. The personal computer. VCRs. CDs and DVDs. Mobile phones. Through the years, from Mac to iPod to iPhone to iPad, Apple, Inc. has helped to revolutionize the electronic gadget industry.
Today, Apple introduced the the iPhone 4S, a mere evolution at the end of the line of Apple’s revolutionary products. To be fair, Apple’s newest gadgets are a wonderful blend of state of the art hardware with innovative software.
What’s New? The Inside Revolution
Customers will love higher quality photos, better sound, improved graphics, greater connectivity, faster downloads, more action packed games, more apps. But Apple did not introduce the widely expected iPhone 5. The iPhone 4S is the latest and greatest. That’s it.
Disappointed? No more one more thing? If you were expecting another revolutionary device from Apple, it’s there. This time we had to look closer; inside.
Inside the iPhone 4S lives Siri, the first of the future’s personal assistants.
Remember, Apple’s success derives from blending hardware and software into a device that’s more likable and usable and useful than competing hardware with software slapped on like an after thought.
Siri is the personal assistant that will make the iPhone 4S more personal than any previous mobile device.
Siri listens to you. Siri understands what you say and responds appropriately. Siri searches the web for information (take that, Google). Siri makes appointments, spits out stock quotes, checks on the weather, sets reminders, sets timers, spells a word for you, gets directions and brings you Google Maps to specific destinations, sends email messages, and even takes dictation.
The Evolution Is The Revolution
The revolution in the iPhone 4S is not so much hardware, or even software, as it is a blend of all the pieces– Apple’s methodology– into something you want, need, and will love.
Sure, Apple has new iPods. Macs are selling at record levels. The iPad defines the tablet space. The iPhone 4 is the best selling smart phone ever. But it’s the iPhone 4S (sorry, no 5 for you!) that sparks this new revolution.
No iPhone 5? Who cares? We’ll forget about it in a few days, and save that event for next year. For now, this year is Siri, the iPhone’s personal assistant. Apple remains competitive in the smart phone space. Last year’s iPhone 4 becomes an entry-level device. The older iPhone 3GS becomes a free phone (with contracts). It’s the iPhone 4S with a walking, talking, smart personal assistant that will take center stage and bear the revolution flag.
Siri is beta. Siri is English, French, and German (to start). Siri learns your voice, responds to your directions and queries, and gives your iPhone a personality. A useful persona.
How long before Siri shows up on our Macs? After all, Launchpad on Mac OS X Lion, and gestures on the Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad all came from iOS and iPhone. A Siri-inspired personal digital assistant that works seamlessly between devices is no longer far fetched.
Sometimes a quiet evolution becomes the revolution.
For those disappointed that Apple didn’t introduce iPhone 5, they did. It’s named iPhone 4S. In 2007 the iPhone debuted. In 2008, it was the iPhone 3G. In 2009, the iPhone 3GS. Last year, the iPhone 4. It seems logical that Apple would make this year’s model the iPhone 4S. iPhone 5? Wait until next year.
About Wil Gomez
I was disappointed that Apple didn’t have an iPhone 5. Then I thought about it. It’s just a name. If the iPhone had been a little thinner with a different sized home button, but all the same features as the iPhone 4S, but called an iPhone 5, would that have been enough?
That means Apple has something special planned for next year.
It’s always next year for you Apple fanboys. This year we get an iPhone 4 with more shine. Siri? Ho hum. That kind of crummy voice recognition stuff has been around for years and it still doesn’t work well.
Maybe… next year.
I’d love to be able to check out details on the iPhone 4S and see what Siri is all about, but the Apple site is dead.
Apple really should have slapped an iPhone 5 name tag on this turkey. The stock market has already reacted and it’s not pretty. Down. Down. Down. So is the Apple web site.
Where is Steve Jobs when we need him? This wouldn’t happen on his watch.
Siri? Seriously? Let’s see what it looks like. For now, I plan to keep my iPhone 4. Best. Phone. Ever.
You may be right, but we need to see Siri in action. Voice control has never worked well except on the simplest of commands. Here’s Apple’s Siri press release:
“iPhone 4S also introduces Siri, an intelligent assistant that helps you get things done just by asking. Siri understands context allowing you to speak naturally when you ask it questions, for example, if you ask “Will I need an umbrella this weekend?” it understands you are looking for a weather forecast. Siri is also smart about using the personal information you allow it to access, for example, if you tell Siri “Remind me to call Mom when I get home” it can find “Mom” in your address book, or ask Siri “What’s the traffic like around here?” and it can figure out where “here” is based on your current location. Siri helps you make calls, send text messages or email, schedule meetings and reminders, make notes, search the Internet, find local businesses, get directions and more. You can also get answers, find facts and even perform complex calculations just by asking.”
It’s the kind of thing you have to see and hear.
Apple is as much about show and tell and glitz and snazzy demo as any company. I watched the Siri video on the Apple site and it’s pretty impressive; especially if it works as advertised. Being able to integrate voice recognition into apps will be a killer feature by this time next year. If it works.
Check out the specs and photos and videos on the iPhone 4S camera. Video stabilization built in. Full 1080p. Auto focus with face recognition. Nice.
I don’t understand what the author means by “siri searches the internet (take that google). Google voice action already provides for internet searches via voice since Oct 2010. And most of Siri ‘s other functions like nearest restaurant or checking your schedule are also already found on Voice Actions. You can also update facebook twitter messages or navigate using Voice Actions. So why the (take that google)? I’m confused.
Take that, Google?
Sounds like Google has some competition. Some very useful, attractive, usable competition.
Competition is good, no?