Kunthu

Q: Why cant Siri work offline?

I know that Siri works only when you are connected to internet because it sends data to Apple servers. However for minor things like launching photos, dial my contact, open notes etc.. why does it need to connect to apple servers?

iPad Air, iOS 8.4, Siri

Posted on Jul 9, 2015 1:00 PM

Close

Q: Why cant Siri work offline?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Page 1 of 4 last Next
  • by Demo,

    Demo Demo Jul 9, 2015 1:06 PM in response to Kunthu
    Level 10 (95,665 points)
    iPad
    Jul 9, 2015 1:06 PM in response to Kunthu

    The devices would need to store a huge database of information on it in order for Siri to work properly. That information is stored and sorted on Apple's servers. You do have the option of using Voice Control for some of those actions on the device without an Internet connection.

  • by Kunthu,

    Kunthu Kunthu Jul 9, 2015 1:33 PM in response to Demo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 9, 2015 1:33 PM in response to Demo

    Thanks for your response.. Did you mean Voice Over option? I do understand the need for storage and etc.. but the question is really from a user experience perspective.. Why should there exist a logic of internet connectivity and server interaction when it can be done locally?

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Jul 9, 2015 1:46 PM in response to Kunthu
    Level 8 (40,107 points)
    Jul 9, 2015 1:46 PM in response to Kunthu

    Paragraph (2) (1) (2) of these terms of use prohibit us from speculating why Apple did or did not take certain actions.

    Apple Support Communities Use Agreement

  • by Demo,

    Demo Demo Jul 9, 2015 1:47 PM in response to Kunthu
    Level 10 (95,665 points)
    iPad
    Jul 9, 2015 1:47 PM in response to Kunthu

    I'm sorry, I did mean Voice Control, but I am getting my devices confused. Voice Control is available on the iPhone and iPod Touch. My apologies.

    Tips for using Voice Control with iPhone and iPod touch - Apple Support

     

    Why the feature is a able on the iPhone and the Touch and not on the iPad, I can't answer. thies doesn't help your situation, but why Appole does not allow for some Voice Control on the iPad without needing to use the Siri feature, is something that only Apple can answer. Voice Control really has a limited set of  operations that it can perform. Many of the the commands that are used for Siri require a huge database of information i.e. "Where is the closest pizza shop" or anything that would need an internet search.

  • by bobseufert,

    bobseufert bobseufert Jul 9, 2015 3:52 PM in response to Demo
    Level 6 (13,953 points)
    iPad
    Jul 9, 2015 3:52 PM in response to Demo

    I believe the reqson is iPhones had Voice Control long before Siri was available. Once Siri was introduced on the iPad there was no reason to add Voice Control. Unfortunately this was before my time and only someone with a longer history with iPhones can say for sure.

  • by Whickwithy,

    Whickwithy Whickwithy Apr 20, 2016 12:22 PM in response to Kunthu
    Level 1 (68 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 20, 2016 12:22 PM in response to Kunthu

    There is no  good reason for Siri not to work offline.  I have the same amount of memory on my mini as an iPod and it does fine working offline for dictation, etc.

     

    It is very annoying and I am about the return the iPod I just bought as worthless.  The ability to record dictation and have wi-fi (at other times) were the only thing that made the $200 pricetag of the iPod worth it.  I can buy a very nice mp3 player without those things for about $40.

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Apr 20, 2016 12:29 PM in response to Whickwithy
    Level 9 (59,136 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 20, 2016 12:29 PM in response to Whickwithy

    Whickwithy wrote:

     

    There is no  good reason for Siri not to work offline.  I have the same amount of memory on my mini as an iPod and it does fine working offline for dictation, etc.

     

    It is very annoying and I am about the return the iPod I just bought as worthless.  The ability to record dictation and have wi-fi (at other times) were the only thing that made the $200 pricetag of the iPod worth it.  I can buy a very nice mp3 player without those things for about $40.

    Siri and dictation require an active data connection. I have no idea what you're doing with with your Mini that you think Siri is working without connection.

     

    The reason it won't work is because your portable devices do not have the raw computing power required for natural language processing or the storage for the databases that Apple keeps of requests made to Siri.

     

    If the device you bought doesn't meet your needs, you should, by all means, return it.

  • by Whickwithy,

    Whickwithy Whickwithy Apr 20, 2016 3:41 PM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 1 (68 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 20, 2016 3:41 PM in response to Meg St._Clair

    Screen Shot 2016-04-20 at 6.39.33 PM.png

     

    Do I need to underline "offline"?

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Apr 20, 2016 3:45 PM in response to Whickwithy
    Level 9 (59,136 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 20, 2016 3:45 PM in response to Whickwithy

    I'm always willing to learn something new. Where on your iPad are you seeing that?

  • by ShagCA,

    ShagCA ShagCA Apr 20, 2016 4:16 PM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 4 (2,228 points)
    iPad
    Apr 20, 2016 4:16 PM in response to Meg St._Clair

    Check Settings -> General -> Keyboard- Enable dictation

     

    Note:

    This appears to be available for iOS 9 US English only.

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Apr 20, 2016 4:21 PM in response to ShagCA
    Level 8 (38,064 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 20, 2016 4:21 PM in response to ShagCA

    ShagCA wrote:

     

    Check Settings -> General -> Keyboard- Enable dictation

     

    .

    Where the note under it explains that it requires a connection to Siri.

  • by ShagCA,

    ShagCA ShagCA Apr 20, 2016 4:29 PM in response to Lawrence Finch
    Level 4 (2,228 points)
    iPad
    Apr 20, 2016 4:29 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

    I don't know. I don't even use iOS 9 nor Siri. I'm still running iOS 8. I checked mine, there's Enable Dictation option but no offline feature.

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Apr 20, 2016 4:29 PM in response to ShagCA
    Level 9 (59,136 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 20, 2016 4:29 PM in response to ShagCA

    ShagCA wrote:

     

    Check Settings -> General -> Keyboard- Enable dictation

     

    Note:

    This appears to be available for iOS 9 US English only.

    I do not have anything that looks like the picture Whickwithy posted on my iPad Pro 9.7 or my iPhone 6. Both running iOs 9.3.1, U.S.. I see nothing about "Enhanced Dictation" or offline use. What am I missing?

  • by Whickwithy,

    Whickwithy Whickwithy Apr 20, 2016 4:35 PM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 1 (68 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 20, 2016 4:35 PM in response to Meg St._Clair

    Not on the iPad on the mini-mac.  And, before you mention virtual memory differences, I don't allow my computer to use virtual memory, so the memory storage is exactly the same.  I'll admit that there might be a remote chance that it is accessing the drive for other purposes but it is not storing any program memory there.

     

    Basically, if you check very closely, the mini uses about 1 Gbyte for of ram for dictation.  It increases some over time but it's easy to clear out.  My iPod has 16 Gbyte and I could have gotten a lot more.

     

    We could argue processors, also, but you would lose that argument, also.  It's just a throwback, a grandfather clause that is keeping Siri tied to the servers.  It's lack of thinking.  A bad sign for any corp but especially for one that it supposed to be a ground-breaking company.

Page 1 of 4 last Next