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Here's why the iPhone 4 did not get Siri (and won't get it)

Here's why the iPhone 4 did not get Siri (and won't get it)

Posted: 06 Feb 2012, 02:59, by Victor H.

Categories: AT&T AT&T Apple Apple Bookmark

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Here's why the iPhone 4 did not get Siri (and won't get it)

One of the biggest selling points of the iPhone 4S - except for the amazing 8-megapixel camera and dual-core processor - is Siri, your humble virtual voice assistant. And for many who are not perfectionists about photography, having Siri on the more affordable iPhone 4 could steer them away from the iPhone 4S.

But Apple has not brought Siri on the iPhone 4, and despite Cupertino not giving an official explanation, there’s one possible reason we haven’t looked at before.

Linley Group analyst Linley Gwennap looked at how big the A5 chip on the iPhone 4S is and concludes that the extra area on the die is used by Apple for integrating noise-reduction technology. A dedicated chip by start-up Audience allows the phone to pick up voices more accurately. For example, iPhone 4 noise reduction technology only made it possible for the phone to register voice when placed directly near the user’s mouth.

So basically, it all boils down to Siri not being able to hear you well on the iPhone 4.

"This situation helps explain why Apple does not offer Siri as a software upgrade on the iPhone 4. Although the older phone includes an Audience chip, the company has since improved its technology to handle 'far-field speech,' which means holding the device at arm's length rather than directly in front of the mouth," Gwennap explained.

Audience’s second-generation technology making all this possible was only launched in 2011, which explains why it’s not in the iPhone 4.

Audience's noise-reduction technology.

What’s interesting is that a new and better, third-generation Audience noise-reduction technology is on its way and might arrive on the iPad 3 or next iPhone. Apple is not Audience’s only customer, though - Samsung, HTC, LG and Sony are all on the list of companies using it. Handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S II, the HTC Titan and the Sony Tablet S come with the Audience chip.

source: CNET

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1. The_Miz posted on 06 Feb 2012, 04:03 6 13

First. Siri is a very nice feature to have, iPhone 4 owners should make the jump. Course, there will always be the cheap knockoffs that will pop up elsewhere.

3. RORYREVOLUTION posted on 06 Feb 2012, 04:09 8 1

Yep I should totally renew or buy off contract just so I can have a overrated, overhyped voice command feature. WORTH IT!

Honestly, no. If you love taking photos then maybe because there is no denying the iphone 4s has the best camera on a cell phone. But you would be a fool to upgrade just for a stupid voice command. I have heard times people already stopped using Siri.

5. Leo_MC posted on 06 Feb 2012, 04:39 4 0

You forgot about Nokia N8?

6. davidvvassallo posted on 06 Feb 2012, 05:53 0 2

the nokia n8 doesn't have a huge app store like on android and ios

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23. vishu9 posted on 06 Feb 2012, 16:06 1 0

Its the N8's camera he's talking about man...there is no doubting that N8 still bears the Crown for being the best phone cam..not iPhone nor my SGS2 can still beat it

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7. thebikerboi2 posted on 06 Feb 2012, 05:58 2 0

dude jumping from a 4 to a 4s realy is not that great, my friend got the 4s after a 3gs and said to me just to keep my iphone 4 and wait for the 5, im not going to waste money for three extra features.

13. frydaexiii posted on 06 Feb 2012, 07:27 1 0

Spoken like a true fanboy...and you people wonder why we call you guys sheep..

2. ezradja posted on 06 Feb 2012, 04:03 4 0

Excuses after excuses. Right. Duh.

18. Socalvenom posted on 06 Feb 2012, 09:55 3 0

personally as a iphone 4 owner I just don't care for siri I believe its over rated and it's just another piece of software created to make people even more lazier then they already are In fact I'm honestly 100% tired of my iphone and after much consideration I've decided to sell it and buy me ether the new Sony Xperia ion or a Samsung GS2

21. ghost__uwi posted on 06 Feb 2012, 10:57 1 0

provided you were an actual iPhone owner :P

24. belovedson posted on 06 Feb 2012, 18:54 1 0

i own the 4 that's some bullcrap. why not let the owners get siri and then decide if it sucks or not. let us try it out you sorry excuses of a company

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4. Anirbanrocks posted on 06 Feb 2012, 04:18 4 0

One Doubt..if this was released in 2011..how did Google Nexus One got it..i guess it was released on 2010 with Xperia X10...(correct me if i m wrong)!!

8. Windsponge posted on 06 Feb 2012, 06:16 2 7

I made the jump from 4 to 4s. They are both good phones but the voice is a a big deal. It is integrated into the whole phone (Texting.etc.). The system is the same but the phones are not. Please don't hate something because you don't want or are jealous of it. 4s is a phone that all companies would make if they could. Ask Samsung they try all the time but do a very poor job of it.

14. frydaexiii posted on 06 Feb 2012, 07:36 3 1

Yes, every company wants to make a phone with a puny screen, made of glass which is good to look at ONLY and only has any value in the market because of a Apple logo on the back...

15. RORYREVOLUTION posted on 06 Feb 2012, 07:49 5 1

If a pile of crap had an apple logo people would buy it.

20. leftheodo posted on 06 Feb 2012, 10:56 1 1

You're totally right! And the proof is the iphone series!

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19. DechyX posted on 06 Feb 2012, 10:51 0 0

Wow, you're so right! Samsung does do a poor job of imitating a mediocre product filled with little/no innovations that's only popular because of its name and people's inability to think for themselves. So, yeah, Samsung isn't good at imitation but they excel at innovation... which is why they're on top buddy.

9. T12RYK posted on 06 Feb 2012, 06:32 1 0

Spire works perfect once you find a proxy server, so I doubt its got anything to do with the iPhone 4 NOT BEING ABLE to handle Siri in any way.
Its the only selling point for the iPhone 4S! I'm glad I stuck with my iPhone 4 coz the battery lasts a lot longer than my friends who've got the 4S.

10. ilia1986 posted on 06 Feb 2012, 06:55 1 0

Bollocks!!

Grab your iPhone 4. Straighten your hand so that the iPhone 4 is ~ half a meter from your mouth. Long-press the home button, wait for the Voice Control screen to appear. Say in a normal voice "What time it is".
?
Profit!

iPhone 4 can't hear me well? Bollocks. Completely Bollocks.

11. SleepingOz posted on 06 Feb 2012, 07:01 4 0

Another stupid, in denial, excuse!
We all know that siri can be ported to the iphone4, the only reason apple didn't do it is 'coz they know that the 800MHZ dualcore and the 8mp sensor were not enough to make the sheeps upgrade to the 4s.