A Review of the In-Car Apple Siri Service

It was only a matter of time before Apple would get involved in the car market. The Apple Siri service for cars is fulfilling this ambition. The brand is not showing any signs of nervousness about its popular personal assistant software which has been voice-enabled. Cars represent the future and in this review we assess how far the Apple Siri service has come and the kinds of promises that have been made on its behalf.

Specifications: The latest in-house Maps service from Apple was the precursor of something that would definitely suit a vehicle. Apple Inc. is not limited to dominating our offices and personal lives. They also want to get into our cars and show us the way to wherever we are travelling. Here are some important highlights that we picked up in this review:

1. A free navigation feature: Have you ever imagined Apple giving you turn-by-turn instructions when you are driving? Well…that is exactly what they have done with the Siri service. Using real time traffic updates, the company has been updated to covert its information into formats that are understandable to the iPhone. For all intents and purposes you are getting a rather practical navigational device. This is in response to the popularity of the Google Inc. Android gadgets and their capabilities.
2. Eyes-free features: Naturally road safety campaigners are concerned about the potential distraction that drivers face when they are on the road. The feature allows drivers to communicate with the Siri network. This is achieved by tapping a practical button on the steering wheel. The naysayers are already arguing that the iPhone will represent a real danger to drivers since they will be too busy trying to play with the controls. However the truth of the matter is that this is the future of driving and there is very little that they can do about it.
3. Taking over Google Maps: At the moment Google has the edge by sheer numbers. It has a large catalog of images that were taken over the past few months and is also experienced in terms of developing navigational technology. However Apple is also responding by making the iPhone much more responsive to this specific market segment. Essentially they are ensuring that consumers are embedded deeper and deeper into their app echo system. Anything goes after you become an Apple addict.

The potential for collaborations with Apple are virtually endless. We already know that the Siri service is being extended to famous brands such as Honda, BMW, Audi, GM, Mercedes and Toyota. In the future Apple Inc. could become the sole producer of this sort of technology given the success that they have already enjoyed with the Apple iPad. The button that is proposed has another function in as much as it allows you to use the iPhone as if you were holding it in your hands. That means that you can listen to and respond to electronic text messages. It offers direct support and music access. In fact you can plan your diary in this way.

Highlights: The ability to community with your iphone without letting go of the steering wheel is a mighty bonus. Likewise the directions are to be an essential aspect of driving in developed countries. That is why Apple is attacking this particular sector with relish. Siri and the iPhone are going to be the conduits for their takeover.

The Good: Judging from the kind of technical input that was used in the Apple iPad, it is reasonable to expect that the combination of Siri and the iPhone is going to be given high priority. That means that you can expect accurate and concise delivery of data. For drivers, this is manna from heaven.

The Bad: I am not entirely sure that the Siri service or the iPhone are going to spell the end of car entertainment/navigational systems. Apple is a long way from acquiring the kind of clout that Google enjoys in this sector. However we are of the view that the two might end up working together by producing complementary products. For example Apple could provide the iPhone and other hardware while Google delivers the information and software package. Who knows…we will have to wait and see.

Editor Rating: Based on the glorious reviews that the Apple Sir Service has received so far, it is safe to say that the iPhone is likely to transform our driving experiences. Nonetheless I would not offer it more than 3.5 stars out of 5 before seeing the real thing in action. Prototypes are all very well until they fail to deliver.

Resources:

1. P. Gupta,” Apple's Siri gets behind the wheel. Who should worry?”, 12^th Jun 2012, Reuters