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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
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Robin Williams offers Apple advice on how to make Siri even better

By | December 1, 2011, 8:22am PST

Summary: He suggests a French accent.

Here’s a bit of Thursday fun!

Here’s Robin Williams doing an impression of Apple’s Siri voice control program. He suggests a French accent.

It’s short and hilarious (if you’re in an office, I recommend headphones ;).

Thanks to all who sent this my way … it made me chuckle!

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Topics

Robin Williams, Apple Siri, Apple Inc., Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

Disclosure

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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RE: Robin Williams offers Apple advice on how to make Siri even better
non-biased 5th Dec
@Doctor Demento Unlike a small minded hater like you I am an iPhone fan and can see the humor it it. If you bash any technology with FUD or for not working 100% of the time you will be called out, that isn't what he did.
View in thread
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RE: Robin Williams offers Apple advice on how to make Siri even better
ploco@... 1st Dec
Notice how he says its "THE" app on the iPhone 4S.
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RE: Robin Williams offers Apple advice on how to make Siri even better
Doctor Demento 1st Dec
@ploco@...

THE APP huh? Not just 'a beta' that no one should ever criticize or he's just a 'troll or stupid'?

Eh....as far as it goes.....if Robin Williams was ever actually funny it must have been before my time...
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RE: Robin Williams offers Apple advice on how to make Siri even better
grimmwit 1st Dec
@Doctor Demento

I'd suggest you change your ZDNet handle to Lt. Steven Hauk.

happy
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RE: Robin Williams offers Apple advice on how to make Siri even better
jmwells21 1st Dec
@Doctor Demento "Eh....as far as it goes.....if Robin Williams was ever actually funny it must have been before my time..."

...says the user with "Doctor Demento" for a username.
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RE: Robin Williams offers Apple advice on how to make Siri even better
dcristof 1st Dec
@Doctor Demento

Kind of looks like many things were before your time. Like your handle.
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RE: Robin Williams offers Apple advice on how to make Siri even better
GTGeek88 1st Dec
@Doctor Demento Or maybe you don't have a sense of humor.
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RE: Robin Williams offers Apple advice on how to make Siri even better
sksinghkgn@... 1st Dec
@Doctor Demento
Your handle says it all .
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RE: Robin Williams offers Apple advice on how to make Siri even better
ewelch 2nd Dec
@Doctor Demento

Your comment says everything about you, and nothing about the hilarious Robin Williams. (You need to see him somewhere besides censored daytime TV.)
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RE: Robin Williams offers Apple advice on how to make Siri even better
non-biased 5th Dec
@Doctor Demento Unlike a small minded hater like you I am an iPhone fan and can see the humor it it. If you bash any technology with FUD or for not working 100% of the time you will be called out, that isn't what he did.
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RE: Robin Williams offers Apple advice on how to make Siri even better
Imrhien 1st Dec
Robin Williams is a comic genius =D
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RE: Robin Williams offers Apple advice on how to make Siri even better
jscott418 1st Dec
Robin is funny and very right. We are becoming dumber because we are allowing ourselves to use technology to do things for us. We don't think for ourselves anymore.
Its a tech crutch and its preventing us from knowing how to solve problems. Just look at the people who had to call 911 because they were trapped in a maze. Its a maze! you are not trapped in a jungle miles and miles from a town. At most you could walk a 1/2 mile and you would be out of it. If your house is on fire would you have to ask Siri what to do? Or tell Siri to call 911. If I was Siri I would say call them yourself stupid!
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LOL!
William Farrell 1st Dec
@jscott418
If your house is on fire would you have to ask Siri what to do? Or tell Siri to call 911. If I was Siri I would say call them yourself stupid!
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Do you think in few years people will not mostly remember how 'to google'
dderss 1st Dec
@jscott418: ... things?

Currenly Siri does not provide answers to many things yet, but in year or two why would anyone bother with Google or other search engines if it will be possible just ask?
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RE: Robin Williams offers Apple advice on how to make Siri even better
sbf95070 1st Dec
@dderss You do realize that there are at least 3 free apps for Android that do what SIRI does, aren't you??? BTW, in a head to head (or Avatar to Avatar) test between SIRI on iPhone and Jeannie on Android, SIRI wins on cute, but loses big time on useful.
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RE: Robin Williams offers Apple advice on how to make Siri even better
ewelch 2nd Dec
@sbf95070

You have no clue. Android voice apps can't hold a candle to Siri - which is just in beta. They've been around for how long? Your buddy Steve Ballmer might agree with you.
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RE: Robin Williams offers Apple advice on how to make Siri even better
mtully@... 1st Dec
I wanted Siri with a New York attitude and either a Tony Montana accent De Niro or Tony Soprano..
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RE: Robin Williams offers Apple advice on how to make Siri even better
tavent Updated - 1st Dec
the eminent philosopher strikes again. Ipod with the sarcastic frenchman localized language. brilliant. it will catch on, just like those restaurants where the waiters mess with your mind.
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"Look, look and then paint"
daboochmeister 1st Dec
That's too funny ...
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Hmmmm
Gisabun 1st Dec
A recent story on CNN says that Siri won't find any abortion clinics [in New York]. Some are already saying that Apple did it on purpose. I wonder if it can find one if you said it with a French accent. happy
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What about the Scots accent ?
boucaria@... 1st Dec
Robin IMO has always been funny; I would love to see his take on the problem that the Scots accent is giving Siri. What be worth a few Hoots Mon happy
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I can just picture that exchange
thx-1138_@... Updated - 2nd Dec
User: "Siri is the bath water luke warm enough to bath in?"

Siri (Scottish Accented): "Ooooh, what's the matter? Are ye afraid you'll scold your weener, ya great big jesse!"
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RE: Robin Williams offers Apple advice on how to make Siri even better
murphytan 1st Dec
I can't stop laughing when he spoke in French accent!
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OK... I've been fairly down on Robin Williams for a while...
TheWerewolf 1st Dec
But yeah - that was funny - and weirdly - even through it's kind of promoting a French stereotype (I've always been treated very nicely by Parisians), even that was funny simply because he has them grumpy for the RIGHT reasons. happy

PS: To all the Apple fans defending Siri as a 'beta' - uh - sorry, doesn't wash. I thought *Microsoft* was the company that you guy claim did that...
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maybe
thx-1138_@... Updated - 3rd Dec
Apple can let Robin be the official voice-over for Siri. I'd prefer a straight, honest answer than crappy, asinine, robotic, pre-defined replies.

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