Siri on Mac is Amazing!

[Z3man]

Can you use Siri to write an email or write a post on these forums on macOS.

 

[matt9013]

Have you tried the "Hey Siri" method by activating dictation, as has been suggested? It does work . . . although, as I said, Siri's incompetence will frustrate you to no end.

Don't feel like doing that. Hey Siri should have been something that was added by Apple.

Cortana can do it and many more things than Siri. With W10 MS has really become a beast to beat for Apple (besides sales). Siri on Mac should have happened a long time ago and apple still can't get it right.

 

[RumorzGuy]

User error there, Siri will open Terminal, your mistake was saying 'Launch the Terminal' as opposed to 'Launch Terminal', which works perfectly fine.

Sorry, my friend, but even if what you state is true, I find it totally unacceptable that Siri can't understand the article "the" between the verb and the noun/object. You can call it user error if you like, but I prefer to view it as poorly designed, poorly implemented, half-baked, unimpressive, deficient coding by Apple's programmers.

 

[fischersd]

Sorry, my friend, but even if what you state is true, I find it totally unacceptable that Siri can't understand the article "the" between the verb and the noun/object. You can call it user error if you like, but I prefer to view it as poorly designed, poorly implemented, half-baked, unimpressive, deficient coding by Apple's programmers.

If you would have used "run" rather than "launch", it understands that you're talking about an app. It seems "launch" can be either (app or media).

 

[RumorzGuy]

If you would have used "run" rather than "launch", it understands that you're talking about an app. It seems "launch" can be either (app or media).

Well, exc-u-u-u-se me, but as a dedicated Macintosh user of 26 years, on the Macintosh we LAUNCH apps. Is it on that other platform -- what is it called anyway, Windoze? -- that they run programs. As you no doubt know, that other platform even has a run option in their start menu. If Siri understands run better than launch, then clearly, that is a bastardization of the macOS, in my view. I will happily continue to LAUNCH my apps, whey they run their programs.

I hope you can appreciate my humor.

 

[FurbyUK]

Siri on iOS and on macOS is garbage.

Siri has no ability to improve speech recognition on iOS, and I see it continuing to fail on macOS. I asked Siri to play a specific song by a specific artist in my iTunes library this morning ("Taxman" by the Beatles). It almost never played the correct track, even after multiple attempts in different context. Not only that, but it immediately set iTunes on shuffle.

Siri, please play "Taxman" by the Beatles.

Playing "Girl" by the Beatles. [puts iTunes in shuffle mode]​

[user turns off shuffle mode]
Siri, please play "Girl" by the Beatles.

Playing "Girl" by Beck [puts iTunes in shuffle mode]​

We Apple die-hards have to swallow a real truth that is becoming readily apparent: this company is incapable of proper product management without Steve Jobs.

I just tried what you tried. It played the correct song and didn't put it into shuffle.

 

[FurbyUK]

Sorry, my friend, but even if what you state is true, I find it totally unacceptable that Siri can't understand the article "the" between the verb and the noun/object. You can call it user error if you like, but I prefer to view it as poorly designed, poorly implemented, half-baked, unimpressive, deficient coding by Apple's programmers.

Wow, so you start by implying I'm probably lying.... then defend your poor grammar by saying Siri should be able to tell you're poor at grammar....

Classy.

 

[fischersd]

Well, exc-u-u-u-se me, but as a dedicated Macintosh user of 26 years, on the Macintosh we LAUNCH apps. Is it on that other platform -- what is it called anyway, Windoze? -- that they run programs. As you no doubt know, that other platform even has a run option in their start menu. If Siri understands run better than launch, then clearly, that is a bastardization of the macOS, in my view. I will happily continue to LAUNCH my apps, whey they run their programs.

I hope you can appreciate my humor.

Heh, yep, I do!

 

[Julien]

Enabled 'Hey Siri' and it works fast but it will also activate my iPhone or iPad if close. Also I use my Mac as a music server and even with iTunes playing Siri hears, pauses quickly and is listening.

 

[fischersd]

Enabled 'Hey Siri' and it works fast but it will also activate my iPhone or iPad if close. Also I use my Mac as a music server and even with iTunes playing Siri hears, pauses quickly and is listening.

Dude! Rename it! . (I used Jarvis) - but then I killed it after it stopped working after a few days. Methinks dictation has some issues (maybe a memory leak?)

Edit: I'd think that when Apple does enable it for the Mac, they'll do the same handoff that they're doing with the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch - whichever one is closest (i.e. get's the louder signal) is the one that responds (seems that's their preference).

 

[Julien]

Dude! Rename it! . (I used Jarvis) - but then I killed it after it stopped working after a few days. Methinks dictation has some issues (maybe a memory leak?)

I just did it and may. However I would like IT to know and not require me to.

Also what make you assume I'm a Dude?

Pet Peeve: Siri needs to become a singularity across any and all devices you use instead of a collection of Siris.

 

[fischersd]

I just did it and may. However I would like IT to know and not require me to.

Also what make you assume I'm a Dude?

Pet Peeve: Siri needs to become a singularity across any and all devices you use instead of a collection of Siris.

Oops...my bad. That would be Julien vs Julian.

Yep, I'm sure Apple will eventually enable the feature (and have it play nice with our other devices)....or give me the option that I want - to rename it for my Mac. (see, I'd like to make my Mac Mini my hub for my home....all of the home kit stuff, it's also my HTPC, etc).

 

[Julien]

Oops...my bad. That would be Julien vs Julian. ....

Just messing with you. Julien and Julian are both male first names and pronounced the same. However they are also both last names too and my last name is Julien.

 

[cynics]

By the time I say 'I should have used Siri' I'm already done the task I would have ask it to do.

Finding very specific photos seems easier using Siri, "show me pictures of Justin from May 2013" for example.

Most of the things I do Siri can't help me with. I also prefer keyboard and mouse so for me Siri NEEDS to be better/faster than I am for me to find it a useful feature.

 

[loekf]

Useless feature for me. Mouse and keyboard is just faster. You've to click the Siri icon, then ask, wait, Siri returns something or does something. Furthermore, I don't use (refuse...) Photos on macOS. Just hate it.

 

[mr.bee]

Well, exc-u-u-u-se me, but as a dedicated Macintosh user of 26 years, on the Macintosh we LAUNCH apps. Is it on that other platform -- what is it called anyway, Windoze? -- that they run programs. As you no doubt know, that other platform even has a run option in their start menu. If Siri understands run better than launch, then clearly, that is a bastardization of the macOS, in my view. I will happily continue to LAUNCH my apps, whey they run their programs.

I hope you can appreciate my humor.

True... mac also has a LAUNCHpad...with a rocket and everything

 

[baryon]

I'm also really impressed with Siri in Sierra. On the iPhone, it's a bit of a pain because sometimes it takes ages, sometimes you don't have time to say it again and again, and usually it's not worth the risk of it not working. It's just faster to go to Safari and search for whatever you want, than to ask Siri, wait 10 seconds, it doesn't work, say it again, still won't work, and then go to Safari and search. You also kind of look like an idiot repeating yourself if there are people around.

On the Mac, however, it works better and faster. Also, being able to also do other stuff at the same time really helps. I especially like the maths, Wolfram Alpha, and all that kind of stuff, it's useful.

Though when I ask "search for photos of ..." it will search my Photos library instead of the web, which I find silly — my photos library has no file names or tags or anything, how would it know what the photos are of anyway? Apart from relying on advanced machine vision, Siri won't know much about what's in my Photos library other than the date and time the photos were taken.

As for opening apps, it could still use a lot of improvement. I said "Open Photoshop" and she said "I can't find an app named photo shop." She expected me to say "Adobe Photoshop 2015" which is technically the actual name of the app, but come on!

I do wish it had Hey Siri though! The workaround to use dictations commands is very unreliable.

 

[Julien]

...but then I killed it after it stopped working after a few days. Methinks dictation has some issues (maybe a memory leak?).....

Strange mine didn't work today. Went in and changed the phrase to 'What' and it started working. Changed back to 'Hey' and it is still working. However it is only day 2 for me and if it quits everyday (or every week) it's not worth the effort.


Bummer not getting Home Kit instructions. However I love looking at maps and it is FANTASTIC for that. Say "Hey Siri locate 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, California" and bam. Much faster than typing in an address.

 

[Julien]

Just to add, Hey Siri has quit again today. Also the SpeechRecognitionis process is clobbering my CPU usage at up to 95%. Un-cheeked and rechecked and SpeechRecognitionis process usage dropped drastically but still a little high (under 20%). I bet my Mac would need a reboot to get it back to a low level. Must be some kind of memory leek.

 

[fischersd]

Just to add, Hey Siri has quit again today. Also the SpeechRecognitionis process is clobbering my CPU usage at up to 95%. Un-cheeked and rechecked and SpeechRecognitionis process usage dropped drastically but still a little high (under 20%). I bet my Mac would need a reboot to get it back to a low level. Must be some kind of memory leek.

Mmm. Memory leek soup! (told ya!)

 

[Julien]

Mmm. Memory leek soup! (told ya!)

But you incorrectly identified it as a leak and I identified it as a leek.

 

[fischersd]

But you incorrectly identified it as a leak and I identified it as a leek.

You are kidding, right?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leek
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leak

I quite like potato and leek myself.
http://www.onceuponachef.com/2011/11/potato-leek-soup.html

 

[Julien]

You are kidding, right?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leek
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leak

I quite like potato and leek myself.
http://www.onceuponachef.com/2011/11/potato-leek-soup.html

Sorry I was just taking a leek.

 

[Stella]

Siri cannot close applications - seems odd.

 

[fischersd]

Sorry I was just taking a leek.

I should know better than expecting an American to spell properly. Hehe *ducks*

Siri cannot close applications - seems odd.

Yep, that was discussed previously. It seems they're afraid of potential data loss (people having unsaved work and Siri closing the app without saving).