Siri - Old tech., New makeover

Remember Lieutenant Commander Data in the fictional Star Trek? He is the talking robot, an android they called him but that was all in the imagination of the film makers. He is a very capable 'assistant' that surpass human in many aspects of life.

Later on in the IT era there is this 'lady' called LiNa who answers all your questions on job related matters at JobStreet.com. She doesn't talk to you much like Android (Commander Data) but she sends you e-mails every other day without fail.

Fast forward to 2011.

Meet Siri, your Personal Assistant who will practicably be there with you everywhere you go. Talking gadget or robot and android (pun intended), is a very old technology but in iPhone 4S you are presented with a whole new approach - and hopefully new experience - to getting virtual assistance from your smart phone.

For a formal introduction of how Siri will be of help to you, watch this clip:

Can't play it here, go to the video link.

If you grow tired of formality and would like to have a laugh or two, check this one out. Perhaps you can also ask her if she'd like to go to a movie with you.

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Assistant or nuisance?

I wonder if it would work across the board. Given that in Asia you will come across a wide variety of accents such as Singapore, India, Malaysia , the Philippines where English is widely spoken, I think Siri would struggle in my hands. Someone, some Apps developers need to come up with some decent Apps to help Siri understand the locals.

In any case, the phone will be available in a couple of days time in the US and few other countries while 22 more will follow shortly. Singapore, our nearest neighbour is getting them at the end of the month so Maxis should have them for Malaysians not too far away.

Could This Be the iPhone 5?

iPhone 5 is going to be launched next week!

Of course that was said in my wildest of dream. Apple Inc., is one company that is well known for being so tight-lipped when it comes to information on products launching. But with Samsung Galaxy S II release in the US scheduled for end-August (initially 29-08-2011 and later rumoured to be delayed for a day due to hurricane Irene), it is very much expected that iPhone 5 is well on its way in a matter of days rather than weeks.

Some says that iPhone 5 - or whatever it may be called - is going to be launched in the 1st or 2nd week of September. Some sites like The iPhone 5 News Blog even predict 7th or 12th September as release date with some credible insight and opinion bundled in.

I am a big fan of the iPhone and am very excited about the imminent release hopefully not too far away. I saw this purported clone of the iPhone 5 in giz-china.com and it looks pretty shiny, it could be a clone/fake of the real one.

If you recall, china made iPhone-alike is quite popular in our country and these functional sets look almost exactly like the real deal.

I took some of the pictures published by giz-china.com and compared them with that of my current 3GS. Look glossy actually.

The iPhone 3GS with iOS 4.3



Top- iPhone 3GS, bottom- iPhone5 by giz-china. Now, where is my 4" screen?




Left- iPhone5 by giz-china, right- iPhone 3GS. Note the curvy back of the 3GS.




Top- iPhone 3GS, bottom- iPhone5 by giz-china




Top- iPhone 3GS, bottom- iPhone5 by giz-china

The Galaxy S II is currently regarded as the cream of the Android clans and retailed at RM2,099.00 (US $699). The new iPhone 5 being retailed at RM2,399.00 ($799) is certainly conceivable.

I kind of like the iPhone-y 5 design with curved front glass and curved metal back panel but the display size is nothing new compared to the current iP4 and iP3GS - small and nowhere near to the Galaxy S II's 4.3 inch.

Okay, so let's wait for the release next week, shall we. If you ask me, I'll stand by what I mentioned in the first sentence.