iPhone 4S Siri vs Samsung Galaxy S2 Vlingo video: The Assistant

By Rich Trenholm on 25 October 2011, 10:38am

Welcome to The Assistant. Lord Sugar may be seeking a new Apprentice, but we're searching for something much more important: a new phone. A phone that can become a true assistant by answering your questions and fulfilling your every need -- all at just the sound of your voice.

We're pitting Apple against Android in the battle of the voice command apps. Which will hear those devastating final words: "You're fired!"

The battle of the boardroom is on. Siri on the iPhone 4S goes head-to-head with the Android voice control app Vlingo Voice talk on the Samsung Galaxy S2. Which voice command phone will triumph?

Deciding between these two contenders won't be easy, but we've got just the man for the job: nobody knows voice commands -- by which we mean shouting -- better than CNET UK's own cockerney barrow boy-turned-techology supremo Lord Trenholm.

He's a straight talker who says what he means and means what he says, and he needs a phone that understands you and gives it to you straight. No excuses, no fancy patter -- just results.

The stakes are high as our two contestants arrive in London to face Lord Trenholm. They'll be put through their paces with a series of tough tasks to see which has the voice-control chops to take their place in your pocket.

We'll test the S2 and 4S to the limits of their abilities and beyond, so you witness which voice control technology is worth laying down your wonga for. Will Vlingo come up trumps? Can Siri overcome its lack of UK information? Does Apple trump Android? For the love of all that's financially sound, who will be fired? Click play on the video to find out!

Oh, and don't forget to voice command your comments below, or on our Facebook page.

Comments 10

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anonymous 25 October, 2011 13:27

Try Jeannie (was Voice Actions) by Pannous on and iOS & Android, it's good, though maybe too Siri like for Lord Trenholm.

anonymous 25 October, 2011 14:52

Beautiful ... need I say more !
I have the 4s and believe me you, it has very few moments of true benefits. Mostly for impressing the kids.

Ryan J Pattinson 25 October, 2011 15:35

one thing if he didnt stick that accent on the s4 would have been fine

George Bailey 25 October, 2011 15:42

I used speak to it and vilingo, you find businesses faster as it is linked to google maps and can access the navigation software so can get me to any where it has suggested " find me the nearest pub" siri can do that outside the usa, verdict no contest

anonymous 27 October, 2011 22:36

Voice recognition is still a gimmick, regardless of phone / OS. Everyone who gets a new iPhone4s tries out Siri for about a day while they try to impress people with it then quickly stop using it because it's simply impractical in the vast majority of situations. E.g. in noisy, public environments you don't want to look like a complete **** repeating the same command over and over to your stupid phone.

Mugen13 28 October, 2011 01:13

we are approaching the day when voice commands will be useful in more than a gimmick way, today however isnt that day

anonymous 6 November, 2011 03:31

Lord Trenholm - very nicely done video :-) good to know that your search for mobile assistant continues.

Please find www.mybantu.com, a smart personal assistant though not yet fully integrated with the device, but definitely very well integrated with social networks - leveraging social intelligence.

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.mybantu.app&referrer=utm_source%3DAndroidPIT%26utm_medium%3DAndroidPIT%26utm_campaign%3DAndroidPIT

Please try it out and give your verdict.

anonymous 15 December, 2011 11:53

I hate how it looks on the samsung! I have an Iphone 4s and very rarely use it I am just interested in how this is going to play out! The samsungs vingo looks cheap compared to Siri and I dont like the phrasing of her voice! Maybe windows can rock it?