iPhone Siri Assistant

Back when Siri was first launched on the iPhone 4S, we highlighted the top 5 Siri alternatives for those with older iPhones including the iPhone 4 and 3GS. Now there's a brand new Artificial Intelligence available on the App Store for just $0.99.

The app is named Evi, and the software promises to give Siri a run for her money when it comes to answering questions asked via naturally spoken language. According to TechCrunch Evi can provide answers to questions when Siri gives up and asks to search the web. In fact, even iPhone 4S users might want to give Evi a try.

If installing full Siri functionality on the iPhone 4 sounds too good to be true, that's because it is. A new software package claiming to make Siri run on a jailbroken iPhone 4 has appeared on a repository that Cydia warns against. The package is called H1Siri, and there are a few reasons why you should stay away.

Not only does the repository containing H1Siri contain cracks and other illegal software, but the package itself comes from an unknown developer. Apparently a Chinese group dubbed CD-Dev Team is behind the Siri port, but the software illegally uses parts of Apple's copyrighted code.

The list of devices Siri can voice control is getting longer thanks to the efforts of developers who are thinking outside of the iPhone 4S box. It all started when Applidium reverse engineered the Siri protocol and posted the files for anyone to use.

A developer named plamoni took the process a step further by creating an extensible Siri proxy server, which allows Siri to interact with other devices on a network without jailbreaking the iPhone. He successfully used his iPhone 4S to control a Wi-Fi enabled thermostat using the software.

The fact that Siri is limited to the iPhone 4S is a huge limitation for some users who would like to use the technology for other applications. Desktop computer software designed for voice dictation of text with similar accuracy to Siri can be expensive. Luckily, there's a method to use all of the power of Siri on your iPhone 4S to dictate words to any text field on your Mac, Windows or Linux computer.

This can come in incredibly handy for writing reports or composing outgoing emails in a hurry. No jailbreaking or other tricks are required, the process is made possible by a $1.99 iPhone app known as Mobile Mouse. Even the lite version available for free works if you don't mind a few advertisements.

Basic commands to Siri are useful, but how can you take your personal assistant to the next level on the iPhone 4S? There are a variety of tips and tricks that will help Siri become more powerful and better at doing its job. Not only will these pointers speed up simple tasks, but they open up a whole new level of functionality with Siri.

Of course, you'll need a data connection for Siri to work properly. We've noticed that Siri drops in accuracy dramatically when background noise is present, so plan accordingly. If you're still using an older iOS device you may not have Siri, but you can try one of several Siri alternatives for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS. Here's a list of 10 tips to get more out of Siri: