Ask HN: Does anybody still use Siri?

#1

Post by jacquesm » Tue, Mar 08, 2016, 10:19 PM UTC

When Siri came out on the iphone everybody was showing it off to everybody else and it seemed as though voice recognition as an interface to cell phones had finally arrived. The last year or so I've hardly ever seen anybody use Siri (or an Android equivalent) and I'm wondering if it is even in structural use at all.

So, do you still use Siri or some equivalent?

If so, what are your main use cases?

Re: Ask HN: Does anybody still use Siri?

#2

Post by hackerboos » Tue, Mar 08, 2016, 11:03 PM UTC

Setting timers.

Re: Ask HN: Does anybody still use Siri?

#3

Post by thecourier » Tue, Mar 08, 2016, 11:36 PM UTC

I enjoy having conversations with Siri in the loneliness of the tundra

Re: Ask HN: Does anybody still use Siri?

#4

Post by Gustomaximus » Tue, Mar 08, 2016, 11:36 PM UTC

I use the google version when driving to attempt to send SMS, make calls, set reminders and update driving directions. It's hit and miss. Google has some serious pain points like locking the screen and functionality right after a last command while driving meanig you need to unlock to do a next item. And most annoyingly you can set directions but I cant get the thing to actually start navigating.

I bought a windows phone that was on special recently to test and found Cortanta surprisingly better to use than the OK Google version. If someone nails voice it will be a significant decision making variable in my OS choice. It feel like both MS and Google are close but they need a new 'Steve Jobs' than has that last level of attention to detail and making it work in a practical environment. It feels to me it's more this lack of thinking through the UX is the bigger issue than the technology capability right now. I envy anyone working on this as it will be super interesting getting this right over coming years.

Re: Ask HN: Does anybody still use Siri?

#5

Post by eande » Tue, Mar 08, 2016, 11:45 PM UTC

My children play with it.

Re: Ask HN: Does anybody still use Siri?

#6

Post by sigjuice » Tue, Mar 08, 2016, 11:45 PM UTC

I use Siri all the time.

  Call my wife.
  Where is my wife?
  Call my brother on Facetime audio.
  What is the weather today?
  Wake me up at 7.
  Remind me about bills when I get home.
  Get directions to

Re: Ask HN: Does anybody still use Siri?

#7

Post by creature » Tue, Mar 08, 2016, 11:46 PM UTC

I use Siri fairly frequently, but in certain narrowly-defined situations: when I've got my hands full, or am doing something else.

The two that come to mind are when cooking ("Hey Siri, set a timer for 15 minutes") or when I'm trying to get everything together for leaving the house ("Hey Siri, how cold is it outside?"). I'll also use it if my phone's in my pocket, I'm wearing headphones, and it's awkward to get my phone out ("Hey Siri, text Tom." "What do you want to say to Tom?" "I'm running 10 minutes late but will be there soon. Sorry!")

Re: Ask HN: Does anybody still use Siri?

#8

Post by icanhackit » Wed, Mar 09, 2016, 12:01 AM UTC

Use it at least a few times a week. Use cases:

  Set reminders (e.g. "remind me at 10pm to take out the garbage")
  Timers (countdowns for cooking)
  Call my partner/friends while my phone is in my pocket (via headphones)
  Wiki things/trivia (when someone says something or asks something that is esoteric)
  Set once-off alarms
  Find places

I've noticed it's getting incredibly good at figuring out what I'm saying - you can often see it refining its interpretation in real-time. Sometimes it's nailed requests that I thought it had no chance in hell of getting right.

Re: Ask HN: Does anybody still use Siri?

#9

Post by Pyrodogg » Wed, Mar 09, 2016, 12:37 AM UTC

Default functionality?

"Ok Google, will it rain today?" - This I use pretty regularly while I'm getting ready in the morning.

Personally hacked together functionality!

"Ok Google, turn the bedroom light on."

"Ok Google, turn all lights off."

"Ok Google, turn (?:the )?(?.+) lights? (?.+)" Tasker-flavored regular expression.

Controls the relevant Hue lights in my apartment using Tasker + AutoVoice + Hue Pro Tasker.

I occasionally tinker and extend my hacked together Tasker functionality during my morning commute.

I never use the "Ok Google" functionality in public, only in the privacy of my own home.

Re: Ask HN: Does anybody still use Siri?

#10

Post by joshschreuder » Wed, Mar 09, 2016, 12:42 AM UTC

I don't use Siri very often, but I have one use case that I really like with a jailbroken phone.

I walk around a bit, eg. walking to work, and I don't have a fancy Apple Watch, so instead I have setup an Activator action to ask Siri the time when I hold in the Apple earbud pause/play button.

Pretty simple but it saves me from taking the phone out of my pocket to look at the time