Live data from Hacker News

Samsung acquires Viv, a next-gen AI assistant built by creators of Apple’s Siri

techcrunch.com

81–90 of 122 posts

Re: Samsung acquires Viv, a next-gen AI assistant built by creators of Apple’s Siri

#81
post #22

Unfortunately I think it's pretty obvious why they were acquired, so 99% skeptical of their future. They were probably acquired because: 1. They realized just owning the software platform is very limiting (For example they can't compete with Apple no matter how good they are. Just look at Google maps. Thousand times better than the default Apple maps but will never be #1 map app on iOS because people always choose th…

> Just look at Google maps. Thousand times better than the default Apple maps No it isn't, they are basically the same for 90% of users.

In my experience, Apple Maps is almost a decade behind Google Maps in many places outside the U.S. and a few other countries. Google Maps beats Apple Maps not only in the map content, but also by having live traffic indications and turn-by-turn navigation. They're not even in the same league to compare elsewhere.

Re: Samsung acquires Viv, a next-gen AI assistant built by creators of Apple’s Siri

#82
post #50

I'm just curious how the founders were able to somehow negotiate a deal to sell Siri and then go right back into the same arena and create a "better" version. How would apple or any company allow those terms?!?

Non-compete agreements are signed in (many) deals but they would be for a fixed term (typically 1 to 3 years?) after which, the inventors/innovators would be free to carry on further.

Re: Samsung acquires Viv, a next-gen AI assistant built by creators of Apple’s Siri

#83
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Just look at Google maps. Thousand times better than the default Apple maps No it isn't, they are basically the same for 90% of users.

In my experience, Apple Maps is almost a decade behind Google Maps in many places outside the U.S. and a few other countries. Google Maps beats Apple Maps not only in the map content, but also by having live traffic indications and turn-by-turn navigation. They're not even in the same league to compare elsewhere.

I get live traffic indications and turn-by-turn direction from apple's maps. The first version sucked, but that's like complaining about windows ME it's not really relevant any more.

Re: Samsung acquires Viv, a next-gen AI assistant built by creators of Apple’s Siri

#85

I wonder if this is part of a move by Samsung to move off of Android? In some ways that would be a shame - the only phones I have owned are Samsung Android phones, love them. Still, Samsung is large enough to build and maintain their own stack.

They've been maintaining their own set of apps that mirror Google apps on Android for a long time.

They are hot garbage, too. It's really ridiculous, you get a new Samsung phone and it has the default google/android apps, a copycat set of Samsung apps, and often a third set of carrier-specific apps that are even more of a dumpster fire.

Re: Samsung acquires Viv, a next-gen AI assistant built by creators of Apple’s Siri

#86

Unfortunately I think it's pretty obvious why they were acquired, so 99% skeptical of their future. They were probably acquired because: 1. They realized just owning the software platform is very limiting (For example they can't compete with Apple no matter how good they are. Just look at Google maps. Thousand times better than the default Apple maps but will never be #1 map app on iOS because people always choose th…

> because people always choose the default

Tell me about how everyone uses IE on windows.

Re: Samsung acquires Viv, a next-gen AI assistant built by creators of Apple’s Siri

#87
if this one doesn't turn itself on when its in my pocket, and doesn't start phoning random people without any speech like noises happening, i can see this being slightly less of a gimmick than siri... :P

kudos to these guys though, i never followed their story after apple took them on, and just assumed they would still be there. selling something then going back to doing the same thing, and doing it better... i find that admirable.

also despite my opinion on siri being "doesn't even work, not even close" i do look forward to more and better developments in that direction. although a part of me wonders if we won't just be wiring ourselves directly into our devices by the time this sort of tech becomes truly useful. :)

Re: Samsung acquires Viv, a next-gen AI assistant built by creators of Apple’s Siri

#88
post #86

Unfortunately I think it's pretty obvious why they were acquired, so 99% skeptical of their future. They were probably acquired because: 1. They realized just owning the software platform is very limiting (For example they can't compete with Apple no matter how good they are. Just look at Google maps. Thousand times better than the default Apple maps but will never be #1 map app on iOS because people always choose th…

> because people always choose the default Tell me about how everyone uses IE on windows.

You can tell Windows you want to use a different browser, and that choice will typically be respected (when opening links from other apps, etc).

On iOS, you cannot do that for maps. If an app implements a "View this on a map" feature, I don't believe you have any way of changing which app that link opens in.

Sure, you have the freedom to install whatever app you want. And that freedom begins and ends with manually launching the app; third-party links will still open with Apple Maps.

Re: Samsung acquires Viv, a next-gen AI assistant built by creators of Apple’s Siri

#89
post #88
post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> because people always choose the default Tell me about how everyone uses IE on windows.

You can tell Windows you want to use a different browser, and that choice will typically be respected (when opening links from other apps, etc). On iOS, you cannot do that for maps. If an app implements a "View this on a map" feature, I don't believe you have any way of changing which app that link opens in. Sure, you have the freedom to install whatever app you want. And that freedom begins and ends with manually la…

In Facebook I can open addresses in Google maps.

Re: Samsung acquires Viv, a next-gen AI assistant built by creators of Apple’s Siri

#90
post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can tell Windows you want to use a different browser, and that choice will typically be respected (when opening links from other apps, etc). On iOS, you cannot do that for maps. If an app implements a "View this on a map" feature, I don't believe you have any way of changing which app that link opens in. Sure, you have the freedom to install whatever app you want. And that freedom begins and ends with manually la…

In Facebook I can open addresses in Google maps.

Presumably because FB went out of their way to implement that. I wonder if they can detect that G Maps is installed, or if that option is always offered. Either way, I can say that many other apps (eg. Yelp) do not have this option.
Post reply on HN