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Why Siri is all hype

This article is more than 10 years old.

Image by planetc1 via Flickr

A few years ago, I purchased an Acura SUV (HMC). It came with a built in GPS with voice recognition system. I thought it was the coolest thing at the time, I could tell my GPS to plot a course to my destination without taking my hands off the wheel. I could even hookup my cell phone via Bluetooth and make hands free phone calls through the system. I found myself going out of my way to use the voice commands just for fun, even though in most cases it would have been easier do things manually. Nowadays, after all the excitement of having a new toy has worn off, I barely use the system.

Recently, Apple (AAPL) came out with this new voice recognition “toy” called Siri, and many consumers are suffering from new toy symptoms. But, once all the hype and excitement surrounding Siri has worn off, people will realize the impractically of such a system—it is easier to send a text message or check the weather on the iPhone manually, even in mandarin.

Siri doesn’t add any extra functionality to the iPhone; it is just a different, but not better, way of navigating the phone. Therefore, Siri doesn’t add much value to the iPhone 4S. Combined with the fact that the 4S’s tech specs haven’t made significant improvements over the iPhone 4, it may be an indication that Apple’s innovation machine may be running out of steam. This won't bode well for the Apple’s stock momentum - innovation has been the cornerstone of the company’s sustainable competitive advantage.

Bottom-Line:

Siri is all hype. Just like every child gets excited over a new toy and soon forgets about it, Siri will soon be forgotten.