Dusya makes Google Now, Cortana and Siri for Russian-speaking Android users. Siri from Apple: what the program can do and how to use it

Update date:

2017-08-05 09:22:20

Latest version:

Compatibility:

from android 4.0.3-4.0.4 - to android 6.0

Application rights:

Changing wi-fi operating modes.
Access to Bluetooth, with the ability to search and pair devices.
Allows an application to change system settings.
Allows writing to synchronization settings.
Access to Bluetooth paired devices.
Allows reading of synchronization settings.
Allows reading of SMS messages.
Allows the application to write/send SMS messages
Allows an application to change the IP address and port number for connecting to the Internet.
The application determines the exact location of the device using network coordinates and Wi-Fi points.
Allows an application to make phone calls, bypassing the standard dialer.
Access to network information.
Allows reading user data from the contact book.
The application determines the approximate location (city) of the device using network coordinates and Wi-Fi points.
Allows reading of device startup progress, may slow down the system.
Access information about the Wi-Fi network.
Allows access to the device's vibrator.
Allows the application to run even after the screen is turned off.
Allows an application to set an alarm or timer.
Allows the application to send SMS messages.
Allows reading and processing of SMS messages.
Permission to manage global audio settings.
Allows an application to broadcast sticky intents. These are broadcasts whose data is held by the system after being finished, so that clients can quickly retrieve that data without having to wait for the next broadcast.
Allows recording to the memory card (used in applications with a cache).
Allows an application to read from external memory.
Permission to replace the standard lock screen (lockscreen).
Receives notifications, uses the Internet.
Allows the application to record audio from the microphone.
Access to the list of accounts in Accounts Services.
Allows authorization token request.
Allows reading low-level system log files (This application can access your personal data).
Permission to read information about all running applications.
Allows reading information about device settings and components.
In-app purchases.
Allows the application to receive a phone number from an outgoing call, with all forwarding.
Allows reading of the call log.
Allows only writing to the contact book.
Allows system windows and application notifications to be displayed on top of all applications.
Permission to access the calendar.
Allows only recording events in the calendar.
Allows reading of the user's profile (used for relevant advertising).

The Siri function is available in Russian starting from iOS 8.3 and higher. This is a personal assistant that can be controlled by voice. Positioned as the artificial intelligence of your IPhone, with which you can communicate and find out various information. In fact, this innovation also caused a lot of criticism and ridicule, especially due to the peculiarities of the Russian language.

You can fully configure and use Siri on iPhone 6 and higher. It works with some limitations on older phones, as well as the iPad and iPod Touch.

Setting up Siri

Before you start using Siri, you need to enable and configure it:

Go to Settings on your iPhone and tap Siri.
Turn all the sliders to the on position (Siri, On Lock Screen, Allow: Hey Siri).
Next, the program setup procedure will begin. Follow the instructions on the screen. You will need to clearly pronounce the suggested phrases several times in order for the program to work correctly in the future.

Siri is available on iPhone 4s and later, iPad Pro, iPad Air and later, and iPod Touch 5th generation and later. However, the voice calling feature only fully works on iPhone 6 and above; on older devices it only works if they are connected to a charger. iPad, iPad2, and iPad mini do not support voice calling.

Ways to contact an assistant:

Clearly say “Hey Siri” (if supported).
Press and hold the Home button and question options will appear on the screen. Or you can set your own. Depending on the model, you can simply say, or you may need to click on the microphone icon on the screen each time. If Siri is ready to accept commands, then on the screen you will see a colored horizontal strip representing a sound wave.
If you have a headset with a remote control, press and hold the center button or the call button until you hear a beep. After this you can speak commands. For AirPods, simply double-tap the surface of one of the earbuds.
For vehicles equipped with technology: Press and hold the voice command button on the steering wheel, or if your vehicle has a touchscreen, press and hold Home. To improve perception in noisy conditions, the program will speak commands for confirmation. Click on the sound wave if you want to indicate that you have finished speaking.

You can also customize the language, audio feedback and call announcements. For some countries, voice selection is available, but for the Russian language only female has been developed so far. To enable call announcements, go to “Settings”, then “Phone”, “Call Announcements” and select the desired option.

Siri is integrated into many applications. This can be allowed or prohibited in the appropriate paragraphs. For example, if you move the screen to the right, under the usual search bar you will see “Siri Suggestions” and a panel with icons. These are the most necessary programs, in her opinion, but this does not always coincide with your opinion. To disable these offers, do the following:

Go to “Settings”, “General”.
Select Spotlight Search.
Move the Siri Suggestions slider to the Off position.
While you're at it, you can see if you need Spotlight Suggestions in your search.
Here you can configure which applications will not be displayed in the results.

If you don’t need not only suggestions, but also the electronic assistant itself, then you can turn it off completely by moving the slider in the “Settings” menu - Siri. Removing audio feedback means turning Siri off to silent mode. By default, this option is activated along with the assistant itself.

Using Siri

The most interesting thing is what features the electronic assistant offers. The developers have endowed the application with wit and a friendly communication style. It’s hard to say whether they use it for convenience or, rather, for entertainment and lifting the mood.

Here are the basic commands that Siri can use to help you control your phone or tablet:

Five examples of applications that can not only replace the well-known Siri, but also surpass it in some functions.

Speaktoit Assistant

The app works similarly to Siri, allowing you to dictate a message in iMessage, open a website, add events to your calendar, and more.

Its interface, however, is not so universal: as an illustration, the voice assistant comes with a drawn girl who “answers” all your questions. The assistant works in conjunction with many applications, with maps, and with productivity management applications. In the future, the developer promises to expand the list of supported programs and tasks.

Google Now

The most famous Siri competitor was created by Google, the application will be useful for those who have a business account in Google Apps, since the corporate scheduling and calendar management capabilities work in conjunction with Google Now.

Google Now is supported on iOS and Android devices, as well as the Chrome browser. So for universal work, a browser on your desktop computer and a smartphone (or tablet) based on one of the 2 popular mobile OS will be enough.

Calendars 5

Powerful task manager and organizer of meetings and calendars. It is distinguished by its support for ordinary human speech: you simply dictate in your usual manner (though in English) - and you get a calendar filled with events and plans. This method of typing is definitely faster than manually.

Setting up this application is also quite simple.

Meeting Assistant

This voice assistant is suitable for those whose business tasks and organizing notes come first. There is also a detailed meeting planner here.

The interface of this application is reminiscent of a good old spring notepad, which has a main calendar and appointments attached to specific times and dates. You can also leave notes and comments linked to social networks.

Mynd

And completing our list is an alternative iPhone assistant called Mynd with a tiled interface and reminders right on the home screen. Not only can it create tasks, calendar entries and manage applications, but it also adapts to your habits and provides you with contextual information based on your current location.

Five examples of applications that can not only replace the well-known Siri, but also surpass it in some functions.

Speaktoit Assistant

The app works similarly to Siri, allowing you to dictate a message in iMessage, open a website, add events to your calendar, and more.

Google Now

Calendars 5

Setting up this application is also quite simple.

Meeting Assistant

This voice assistant is suitable for those whose business tasks and organizing notes come first. There is also a detailed meeting planner here.

Mynd

There is a voice assistant Siri, the analogue of which was absent in Android for a long time. Today we want to tell you how you can replace the “Apple” assistant on almost any modern smartphone running a “green robot”.

It should be noted that it is impossible to install Siri specifically on Android: this assistant is exclusive to Apple devices. However, for devices running Google's OS, there are many alternatives, both integrated into a particular shell and third-party ones that can be installed on almost any phone or tablet. Let's talk about the most functional and convenient of them.

Method 1: Yandex Alice

Of all such applications, the closest to Siri in terms of functionality is “Alice” - an assistant based on neural networks from the Russian IT giant Yandex. Installation and configuration of this assistant is carried out as follows:

Find and open the app on your phone.
Tap on the search bar, write in the text field "Alice" and press "Enter" on the keyboard.

From the list of results, select "Yandex - with Alice".

On the application page, familiarize yourself with its capabilities, then click "Install".

Wait while the application is downloaded and installed.

After installation is complete, find the shortcut in the application menu or on one of the desktops "Yandex" and click on it to launch.

In the start window, read the license agreement available at the link, then click on the button "Get Started".

To start using the voice assistant, click on the button with the Alice symbol in the program’s working window.

A chat with the assistant will open, where you can work in the same way as with Siri.

Alice's undeniable advantage over her competitors is direct communication with the user, just like Siri. The assistant's functionality is quite extensive, and each update brings new features. Unlike competitors, Russian is the native language for this assistant. A partial drawback can only be considered the tight integration of Alice with Yandex services, since separately from them the voice assistant is not only useless, but also completely inaccessible.

Note: Using Yandex Alice for users from Ukraine is fraught with difficulties due to the blocking of the company's services. As an alternative, we suggest that you read a brief overview of the most popular programs for voice control of your phone, a link to which is provided at the end of the article, or use the following methods.

Method 2: Google Assistant

Assistant is a reimagined and qualitatively improved version of Google Now, available on most Android devices. You can communicate with this assistant not only by voice, but also by text, sending him messages with questions or tasks and receiving an answer or solution. Recently (July 2018), Google Assistant received support for the Russian language, after which it automatically began to replace its predecessor on compatible devices (Android 5 and higher). If this did not happen or Google voice search was missing for some reason or was disabled on your device, you can install and activate it manually.

Note: On smartphones and tablets that do not have Google Services, as well as on those devices with custom (unofficial) firmware installed, you will not be able to install and run this application.

Follow the above link or enter the name of the application in the search bar, then click "Install".

Note: If on the page with the assistant application it says "Not available in your country", you need to update Google Play Services and the Play Store itself. Alternatively, you can try "cheat the system" and use a VPN client - this often helps.
Wait for the application to install and launch it by clicking "Open".

In our example, the Assistant is ready to work immediately after launch (since the regular voice assistant from Google was already configured before it. In other cases, you may need to configure it and “accustom” the virtual assistant to your voice and command "OK Google"(this will be discussed in more detail later in the article). Additionally, you may need to grant necessary permissions, including microphone and location permissions.

Once setup is complete, Google Assistant will be ready to use. You can call it not only using a voice command, but also by long pressing the button "Home" on any of the screens. On some devices, a shortcut also appears in the application menu.

A virtual assistant is closely interconnected with operating system components, proprietary and even third-party software. In addition, it not only surpasses the “enemy” Siri in intelligence, ease of use and functionality, but also “knows” our site.

Method 3: Google Voice Search

Almost all smartphones with the Android operating system, with the exception of those intended for the Chinese market, already contain an analogue of Siri in their arsenal. This is the voice search from Google, and it is also smarter than the “Apple” assistant. To start using it, follow the steps below.

Note: You may need to update the Google app and related services first. To do this, go to the following link and click "Update", if such an option is available.

Find and launch the Google application on your mobile device. Open its menu by swiping from left to right or by clicking on the three horizontal bars located in the lower right corner (on some versions of the OS - in the upper left).

Select section "Settings", and then go through the points one by one "Voice Search" — "Voice Match".

Activate the option (or, if available, item "From Google App"), moving the toggle switch to the right of it to the active position.

From now on, the possibility of Google voice search, called by the command "OK Google" or by clicking on the microphone icon in the search bar, will be available directly from this application. For ease of calling, you can add a Google search widget to your home screen.

Additionally
The Assistant discussed above can be enabled directly from the Google app, provided that the update has already arrived. To do this, do the following:

In any convenient way, launch the Google application and go to its settings by swiping across the screen from left to right or clicking on the button in the form of three horizontal stripes.

Next, in the Google Assistant block, select "Settings",

after which you will need to wait a little while for the assistant to automatically configure itself and press twice "Next".

The next step is in the section "Devices" go to item "Telephone".

Here, move the switch opposite the item to the active position Google Assistant to activate the ability to call the voice assistant. We also recommend activating the function "Access via Voice Match" so that the Assistant can be called with the command "OK Google" from any screen. Additionally, you may need to record a voice sample and provide some permissions.