When you ask most iPhone 4 owners why they didn’t get Siri in a software update for their devices when the almost-identical iPhone 4S came out, the common answer is extremely cynical: Siri is the arbitrary, software-only feature that Apple decided to limit to the iPhone 4S simply to differentiate it from the iPhone 4 in marketing,
The truth? Apple may not be as cynical as all that. In fact, according to a new report from a chips analyst, it all comes down to special noise-reduction circuitry unique to the iPhone 4S’s A5 chip.
CNet reports:
Apple’s A5 processor includes noise-reduction circuitry licensed from a start-up called Audience, and a chip analyst believes that fact resolves an iPhone 4S mystery and explains why the iPhone 4 lacks the Siri voice-control system.
Audience revealed details of its Apple partnership in January, when it filed paperwork for an initial public offering (IPO) of stock. Teardown work from iFixit and Chipworks revealed a dedicated Audience chip in the iPhone 4, but the iPhone 4S integrates Audience’s “EarSmart” technology directly into the A5 processor, the company’s S-1 filing said.
While the iPhone 4 does have noise-reduction circuitry, it only works when you place the iPhone to your ear. The EarSmart tech built into the A5 processor can handle what is called “fair-field speech:” in other words, it filters out noise a few feet away.
Obviously, at the end of the day, the iPhone 4 is still technically capable of running Siri. Look no further than the Cydia-only ports of Siri (like Spire) that run just fine on older hardware. The point, however, is that only the iPhone 4S’s noise-reduction technology met Cupertino’s exacting standards, while hackers will take what they can get.
[teaser-top]Cynical iPhone 4 owners, take note: Apple’s not denying you Siri just to make you squirm.[/teaser-top]
John Brownlee is a writer for Fast Company, and a contributing writer here at CoM. He has also written for Wired, Playboy, Boing Boing, Popular Mechanics, VentureBeat, and Gizmodo. He lives in Boston with his wife and two parakeets. You can follow him here on Twitter.
21 responses to “The Real Reason Why Only The iPhone 4S Has Siri”
… and the iPad2 still has this chip «implemented», right? So please Apple, just enable it along an iOS Update coming along the new introducing of iPad 3 ;-)
the iPad doesn’t even have the reg voice control
Thaaaaaat’s a shame.
That’s how Apple gets you. They slowly incrementally update their products and purposely leave out certain features out to entice users to upgrade every time.
“That’s how all tech companies get
you….”
Fixed that for you. Annoying I agree, but Apple really aren’t any worse than most.
Then why does Siri on my jailbroken iPhone 4 work *perfectly,* even when I have it laying on the table and nowhere near my head? I call B.S. on this explanation. It is fast, responsive and flawless in its voice recognition. And I’m talking in a natural, conversational tone, too.
Nah. It’s all about “exclusivity” not hardware. The reason about the chip is BS. 3GS and 4S had their first exclusivity features 3GS Voice Control and 4S Siri.
If the voice control chip reason was all about the noise reduction included in the A5 processor, then why is iPad 2 which is also A5 not with Voice Control nor Siri?
I don’t know how the iPhone 4 would’ve fared in the same situation, but a few days after I got my iPhone 4S, I wanted to demonstrate Siri to a couple of friends while sitting in a very noisy bar, and to my amazement it worked without a hitch!
Did you try it in very noisy environments like a bar?
Did you pay for Siri’s development costs and server bandwidth?
Don’t forget changing the wallpaper on the 3G
I won’t argue that Apple is above such strategies, however, as a developer, I think many people miss just how truly complex their electronic devices have become. Even with all its resources, even Apple could not have gone to market with a fully formed iPhone 4s (or 5 or 6). The process is one of iteration and refinement with a byproduct of incremental change that may “lock in” certain customers. The process is 1)get it to work, 2)stabilize, 3)get it to work better, 4)optimize, 5)optimize and expand etc. Apple certainly doesn’t force people to imminently upgrade (in fact, there are a number of financial disincentives to do so) and given the rate of change, the fact that the 3Gs is still a viable phone for many is a fact often overlooked.
Check out STEVE JOBS QUOTES AND TRIVIA APP for iPHONE!!!!
Amazing way of learning from our leader!! :-)
This “unique” tech is in alot of other Android powered phones nowadays.
Why would anyone want Siri on their Ipad? Word processing or sending emails?
Sure works doesn’t it?
lol no. Thats BS. even if it were true, the problems would have been far too minute to actually be a problem for consumers.
Dont dig up BS to defend them, Brownlee. Apple made a device with no physical difference (and only a minor experience upgrade) and knew that the only way to make the less monetarily endowed fanboys buy it was to add something the other one didnt have.
Notice the lack of problems with the hacked Siri’s, and the third party clones, and try to tell me again Apple didnt do it because of the noise software.
I call bullshit, the only reason it is not on anything below the 4S was for marketing strategy. This was the “edge” Apple used to sell more iPhone 4S’s.
The real reason is money. Let’s not be so naive.
Totally agree, they didn’t upgrade the previous one in the first place just because of the money. Simple.
Is it so ?????????