8 Ways to Make Siri Smarter

Siri is n’t quite everything we hoped it would be . Laptop Magazine ’s Mark Spoonauerhas some ideason how to transubstantiate Siri from novelty to usefulness . Here are 8 path to make Siri Smarter …

For me , the mantrap of Siri on the iPhone 4S is n’t her ability to answer fairly much anything on “ Jeopardy!”-though my 8 - twelvemonth - honest-to-god is fascinated by all the things she knows that papa does n’t . It ’s this vocalisation - power assistant ’s ability to minimize the number of whole tone or taps it takes to get things done , whether it ’s setting an alarum or finding a place to eat . With iOS 6 reportedly right around the corner , I wanted to vocalize my own wish leaning for adding to Siri ’s talents . And if Google or Samsung need to utilize my ideas to squawk up Voice Actions or S Voice for the Galaxy S III , that ’s okay , too .

“ What ’s Becky up to ? ” Saying this to Siri would tempt her to fetch the a la mode updates your champion has post to Facebook and Twitter and acquaint them on a single screenland . From there , you could have Siri read these updates loud , which is enceinte if you ’re in the cable car .

Just as importantly , you could also nip or create Facebook update from the main Siri projection screen using just your voice . I ca n’t tell you how many times I ’ve thought about something I ’ve wanted to say on Facebook while walking the dog only to draw a blank it when I come back into the house . Maybe Siri can assist with my short - condition memory .

Instant Photo Tagging

Would n’t it be prissy if you fired up the camera on the iPhone and said “ Jake ’s natal day , ” and then it created a hoagie - leaflet of photos automatically categorize with this statute title ? During the relief of that session , the tv camera would mechanically bring pics to this brochure until you say something like “ End session . ”

Do n’t worry if you leave to do all this during shooting ; you could get up range of a function into folders after the fact by selecting multiple thumbnails and then talk the folder name . I ’d also bed it if the photographic camera rent you sum up captions to photos using your voice , which would make it easier to send them off to Facebook .

Settings Made Simpler

It ’s not really hard to pluck configurations in iOS , but it would be prissy to be able to turn airplane mode on or off just by barking the statement . And while Apple is at it , why not enable Siri to have us toggle Wi - Fi and Bluetooth or even “ Turn off 4 G LTE ” when we desire to save battery liveliness . Throwing in a “ Lower brightness halfway ” or “ readiness screen metre - out to ‘ never ' ” would also be useful .

App Inteligence: Siri Synergy

Given the rumour that Apple will release Siri genus Apis with iOS 6 , this regard list point sounds like it ’s a lock . But I still ca n’t hold off for it materialize . “ See if Le Bernadin has any reservations open for three people at 10 o’clock . ” “ Who ’s winning the Yankees game ? ” “ What ’s the humbled price you’re able to find me for a flying to San Francisco June 11 ? ” “ Sell my Facebook stock ! ” These are just some of the scenarios that are possible once Apple lets app developers like OpenTable , ESPN , Kayak and E*TRADE tap into Siri ’s brain . Forgive me for being greedy , but I ’d also love to be capable to say “ Favorite this vocal ” or “ Ban this rail ” while listening to Pandora or Slacker .

Super Macros!

allow ’s say your iPhone was unravel low on juice . Normally , you might pull off multiple context singly . But with a smarter Siri , you could say “ Save my barrage life ” and iOS would automatically tweak multiple options , such as lowering the luminance and turn off Bluetooth and perhaps Location .

Here ’s another instance . “ I ’m in a meeting . Only allow Honey through . ” Siri will mechanically tone down the ringer and not even buzz your air pocket unless your wife calls . Or how about “ edit any electronic mail from Bob Thompson ” or “ Update all my apps , but delete ‘ Angry Birds Space . ’ I ’m over it . ”

Speak to AirPlay

I take account the fact that the AirPlay icon mechanically lights up when I walk into my abode and get within range of Apple TV . But I bet a lot more multitude ray stuff to their large screen if Siri got involved , and she knew where to bring the content . “ Hey , Siri , play the trailer for ‘ Dark Knight Rises ’ on Apple TV ” Or how about “ Play slideshow from Jake ’s natal day with my Party mix on Apple TV . ”

In the first case , Siri would know to grab the clip from YouTube , start playing it and stream it to your bragging screen . And in the second example , she ’d be healthy enough to reach the appropriate photo drift and then set it to the right iTunes play list on your HDTV . Hey , it could befall .

Out of the Office

There ’s nothing more annoying than putting work into telling mass you ’re going to be out of the office when you should be enjoying every bit you ’re on holiday . So enjoin Siri that “ I ’ll be out of the office from July 18 to July 25 . ” She ’ll then create an reflex out - of - the - office substance that will show up both in outgoing emails ( that you could amend ) and notice off your calendar with the right dates for everyone else to see . If you follow back from vacation ahead of time , just say “ holiday over . ”

iTunes on Steroids

Imagine if Siri have a go at it everything in Apple ’s vast media library and could not only help you happen what you ’re looking for , but download it instantly . For instance , you could say “ Get the season close of ‘ House . ' ” And even if you did n’t get laid what you were looking for , Siri would help you constringe your lookup . “ Siri , what ’s the first book in the ’ 50 Shades ’ serial ? ”