Google's Answer to Siri Codenamed 'Majel' After Star Trek?
Google's voice assistant is named after Majel Barrett-Rodenberry, the voice of the Federation Computer from Star Trek, and is an expansion of Voice Actions.
Once Siri came out, it didn't take long for Android developers to come up with 'Iris,' an Android version of the voice-activated personal assistant. However, it seems Google might have an official answer to Siri, and it may be available before the end of the year.
According to Android and Me, Google is currently working on a more advanced version of Google Voice Actions, called Majel. Majel will apparently eliminate the restriction that requires current Voice Actions users to use a more instructional tone when issuing commands. Instead of telling the personal assistant to 'send text to...' or 'navigate to...,' Android and Me reports that Majel will understand queries and actions presented in a more natural language.
Unfortunately, the site does not detail a source for this information. However, it does point to an interview that Google’s Matias Duarte did with SlashGear back in October, which provides additional evidence. Speaking to SlashGear, Duarte mentioned a Star Trek-type personal assistant that differs from Siri in that it's not an artificial personality.
"Our approach is different," he said, referring to Apple's endeavor to recreate an artificial personality with Siri. "The metaphor I like to take is – if it’s Star Wars, you have these robot personalities like C-3PO who runs around and he tries to do stuff for you, messes up and makes jokes, he’s kind of a comic relief guy," he explained.
"Our approach is more like Star Trek, right, starship Enterprise; every piece of computing surface, everything is voice-aware. It’s not that there’s a personality, it doesn’t have a name, it’s just "Computer." And you can talk to it and you can touch it, you can interact with it at the same time as you talk with it. It’s just another way to interface with the computer."
Android and Me says that Majel will be limited to search actions when it is first released. Though an end-of-year launch is looking a tad unlikely, what with there only being 17 days left in 2011, it's possible we could see this early next year. Stay tuned for updates ...
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that's a way better name than stupid siri
Why should it matter? All Android fans trashed Siri and voice-recognition the day it was announced.
Now all of a sudden it's "cool" because Android is copying it?
Riiiiiiiiight
I think a lot of people trashed Siri because it was the 'new feature' of the iphone but in reality just a gimmicky feature... not to mention it was sold as if you should treat it like your new little pal in your phone. Android can do and has been able to do most of what Siri does, minus the personification of the phone.
Scotch me up beemie.
Why should it matter? All Android fans trashed Siri and voice-recognition the day it was announced.Now all of a sudden it's "cool" because Android is copying it?Riiiiiiiiight
Android has been able to do what Siri does for years now. I just hate whenever apple does something it is "revolutionary" and everyone goes on about it.
Also apple didn't invent siri, they just bought a company that was already making the software
and now people give apple all the credit:
http://scobleizer.com/2010/04/28/b [...] -by-apple/
Why should it matter? All Android fans trashed Siri and voice-recognition the day it was announced.Now all of a sudden it's "cool" because Android is copying it?Riiiiiiiiight
I had to thumbs-up you to account for all the droids thumbing you down; they're not big on reality.
And you're wrong. They didn't say it wasn't cool, they said that Android already HAD that feature. Which makes one wonder if Android already HAD that feature what the heck is Google talking about?
What separates Siri from Adroid's VR software is personality and casual commands, as opposed to commands like : "Play Artist ____."; which also requires a perfectly clear and fluidly English speaking voice.
To say Android has had that for years is ridiculous. They haven't. They never even considered it until they saw how well the 4S was selling with Siri on it.
As for who invented it - who cares? If Google wanted it, they could have bought the rights to it too. But as usual, Google always shows up late for the dance and has to bring the "watered down" version along to make it look competitive.
As for who invented it - who cares? If Google wanted it, they could have bought the rights to it too. But as usual, Google always shows up late for the dance and has to bring the "watered down" version along to make it look competitive.
Of course it matters who invented it because people are giving APPLE the credit and making it seem like they revolutionized everything. That is like Microsoft getting credit for inventing/revolutionizing VOIP because they just bought Skype
Why should it matter? All Android fans trashed Siri and voice-recognition the day it was announced.Now all of a sudden it's "cool" because Android is copying it?Riiiiiiiiight
It was said earlier, but Apple did treat Siri as one of the "revolutionary" ways of interfacing with your phone. Even after we proved that Siri was not hardware dependent, they basically confirmed for us that Siri was just a ploy to get people to upgrade to the 4S.
Can I whip out my phone and say "navigate to" or "call xxxx"? Yes. Have I been able to do it for over a year? Yup. Is it fluid and easy to use? Not even close.
Most droids out there dislike Siri because of the way it was implemented. If Apple had pushed it out to all iPhones, there would have been less hate, I guarantee that. Instead, it was used as a gimmick to sell the 4S.
Also, if Google wants to sell this, they either need to piece together enough of Majel Barrett-Roddenberry's voice to make it work, or hire a convincing substitute. Either way, if they don't, XDA will.
I love Data.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiRjywbypLA
I had to thumbs-up you to account for all the droids thumbing you down; they're not big on reality. And you're wrong. They didn't say it wasn't cool, they said that Android already HAD that feature. Which makes one wonder if Android already HAD that feature what the heck is Google talking about?
They are 'personificating' the whole experience. Read the article.
I had to thumbs-up you to account for all the droids thumbing you down; they're not big on reality. And you're wrong. They didn't say it wasn't cool, they said that Android already HAD that feature. Which makes one wonder if Android already HAD that feature what the heck is Google talking about?
And I thumbed you up because the I-have-my-head-up-my-you-know-where droid heads are the on their usual small minded envy enraged mission. You are very correct, if Android already had this what is this now?!?! Never mind though, block heads in the droid camp will NEVER recognize thier simple minded ways.
What separates Siri from Adroid's VR software is personality and casual commands, as opposed to commands like : "Play Artist ____."; which also requires a perfectly clear and fluidly English speaking voice.
I mumble, and Vlingo seems to perform speech-to-text very well for me. I guess being a software developer desensitizes me to the requirement of formulating my commands like a command.
They never even considered it until they saw how well the 4S was selling with Siri on it.
Apple heavily marketing and selling a Beta product to the masses, misrepresented as a working, finished product just oozes with "rushed to market". Is Apple hurting for money or something?
Of course it matters who invented it because people are giving APPLE the credit and making it seem like they revolutionized everything. That is like Microsoft getting credit for inventing/revolutionizing VOIP because they just bought Skype
It's like crediting Tim Tebow for all the success Denver's having without recognizing the excellent play of their defense.
Why do this?
Dont realize Apple gonna sue you?
August 2010 : Google announces voice actions
Yup, I guess Google never even considered it, when they came out with it over a year before the 4s release. Google voice actions aren't a gimic like some alternate voice command applications. It won't tell you a bedtime story.
Why are people making a big deal about something that has been available since Windows 95?
Before Siri came out I was already using voice recognition on my Android phone. It was also available on Apple App Store from Nuance.
Majel sounds exactly like Siri.
Execept:
"Android and Me says that Majel will be limited to search actions when it is first released", lamer.
I like Siri, it's just better. All I have to do is talk the way that I talk and it understands what I mean. With Siri, my wish is its command.
I hope Majel Barrett voices it!!
I hate Apple for all the gimmicks....with iPhone4, they promote FACETIME like they invented video-calling (and it's not even true 3G video calling!) and now some soup up voice command ...i wonder what Apple will claim for iPhone5....oh, maybe an improved speaker with better bass...and they made it like they invent the speaker??? LOL.
Android has been able to do what Siri does for years now. I just hate whenever apple does something it is "revolutionary" and everyone goes on about it. Also apple didn't invent siri, they just bought a company that was already making the softwareand now people give apple all the credit:http://scobleizer.com/2010/04/28/b [...] -by-apple/
Google didnt invent Android either, they just bought a company...
the best part was "Computer: Thank You Sir, I Comprehend." LOL even a computer thinks data is to verbose LOL
Usual haters and idiotic fandroids again I see.
So what if Apple bought Siri? Siri of today is far better than the original Siri after the development Apple has put into it (Apple's largest single R&D team is devoted to Siri).
What about Android? It was an independent company before Google bought it and dumped significant resources into it to make it what it is today.
As to the people who say Google Voice does what Siri does, well if you can't see the difference then there's really no point trying to explain it to you. Some people just refuse to see something right in front of their eyes because they're blinded by hate. Ask yourself this: Why does Google on one hand say Siri is a gimmick and yet turns around and starts development on a new, better Siri? What's the point if it's a "gimmick"? And what's the point if Google Voice already deos everything you need?
..
So, if Apple does it; it's a gimmick, but if Google does it on Android afterwards then its slick, polished"insert cool adjectives here". And for all those that say Android already had it for years then why are there suddenly all these clones. If you want it on Android and Google, puts it out then get it. But quit all the Apple trash talk, it is just getting stupid and childish.
thing is google didnt sell a phone on 1 app, that is what the 4s is.
we are not flaming apple for being overpriced as usual, nor are we flaming siri directly, we are flaming cause the 4s = iphone4 + siri, sorry but you have to be an idiot to fall for that marketing scheme. its a piece of software extra, not advanced hardware. if i root an iphone4 i can run siri off it... so then i have an 4s i guess.,. The 4s is selling for loads more then iphone 4 and its "top feature" is siri. I am a programmer so i cant help but logically think.. "This could have been implemented in many older phones". so the 4s feature was just an snall app, and thats why i flame siri/4s.
and all you idiots who dont understand WHY its called a gimmick read the above paragraph again, repeat till you understand.
Google didnt invent Android either, they just bought a company...
Of course they didn't. But Android at the time wasn't a finished product. It took 3 years after Google's acquisition for the software to be ready for the masses, and I've never witnessed Google implying that they're the inventor of anything. Siri on the other hand was a finished product. So finished that you could get it for all iPhones on the app store (that is until the launch of the iPhone 4S and Apple removed it).
Android has been able to do what Siri does for years now. I just hate whenever apple does something it is "revolutionary" and everyone goes on about it. Also apple didn't invent siri, they just bought a company that was already making the softwareand now people give apple all the credit:http://scobleizer.com/2010/04/28/b [...] -by-apple/
Google didn't do it first, they reacted to Apple's Siri release with their own version. If it sucked when Apple did it, then logically it should suck when Google does so. The fact that you guys react so differently means you are hypocrites.
What's lame is you guys give Google kudos for making something as a reaction to Apple's Siri (which many on this forum hated) - Now all of a sudden it's cool...
Google needs to lead with these things, not react to Apple.
You as consumers should hold Google to the same standard as Apple and give Apple credit for doing something that made Google create a competing technology...
Hypocrisy just to be cool, lol
(waiting for all the negative clicks)
LT Commander Data was a GREAT character on ST TNG.
I really miss that series of the show!
What about "Edwin" (android app)?
http://www.droidapps.org/edwin-spe [...] r-android/
Its been doing speech-to-speech 'personal assistance' for a while now...
Ummm, me think I wont be using Mejel nor the iDumbedyou siri anytime soon. Just have no need for such crap. I am glad though that this stuff is available, but they are nonevents for me. I did tell my blind friend that siri was out and also about Mejel. As an intelligent technology user he is waiting for an open solution.