Siri was meant for Android phones until Apple stepped in

By Rich Trenholm on 24 January 2013, 10:54am

Siri was born in the military and was supposed to be built into Android phones. Yes, things could have been very different for the voice-activated question-answering app built into the iPhone had Apple not bought the company.

Siri's secret military background is revealed in a fascinating Huffington Post article. Like Johnny 5, the SRI project became Siri, escaping into the real world and probably learning a little bit about what it means to love.

Siri launched to the iPhone-owning public in early 2010, as an iPhone app. Siri soon became famous for its character and dry wit, served up in text replies telling you, "I don't want to talk about it", if asked about its ill-fated computerised compadre HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Three weeks later Steve Jobs called.

Apple bought the company and relaunched Siri as a voice app minus the dry wit, but with added integration to iPhone features.

But Apple wasn't first to spot Siri's potential. Before Siri had even launched as an app, the company signed a deal with US phone network Verizon to pre-install Siri on the network's Droid lineup of Android phones, built by Motorola and HTC.

Verizon went so far as making adverts for Siri on Android before Apple flashed the cash to ensure Siri's voice-controlled personal assistant was exclusive to the iPhone when it first appeared on the iPhone 4S.

Of course, not everyone's impressed with Siri's capabilities since Apple took over. Even Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak says it was better before it was snapped up for the iPhone. But Apple is looking to bring back some of that ol'-timey Siri cheek by hiring a wordsmith to add character to Siri. Perhaps if it has more of a personality we might attempt a second date...

Do you use Siri or is it just a gimmick? Would Siri have been better on Android? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.

Comments 22

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anonymous 24 January, 2013 11:01

how about, we don't care... Apple breaks everything they touch!

leoevs44 24 January, 2013 11:31

Well well, and theres apple fans saying android makers pinch everything from apple and heres a prime example of proof that its the other way around also, apple have always stolen ideas from other companies, even the late steve jobs said himself you have to steal a little bit to become a great innovator,say no more....

Peter Hudson 24 January, 2013 11:41

"Apple breaks everything they touch!" - Except for money

anonymous 24 January, 2013 11:48

Phew, Siri was almost an Android feature. Close shave.

Damien2701 24 January, 2013 12:19

Siri is good and very useful especially since it has UK businesses now. How did Apple "Pinch" the idea. Read the article idiots, they paid for it. Im sure you would be pretty miffed if you got accused of stealing stuff you just bought. Android on the other hand just take Apples developments, whether bought, patented or invented with no real right to

Estifanos T. Zewde 24 January, 2013 12:29

Thanks to Jelly Bean, we have Google Now, which is superior!

anonymous 24 January, 2013 13:19

Damien2701 - "Siri is good...". You're funny. Stobbit......I'll pi$$ misself.

anonymous 24 January, 2013 13:26

Well I have an Apple phone, well I have an Android - well who cares the user generally buys the type of phone he/she likes end of.

Get a life all you Apple / Android haters there are more important things in life without becoming a phone snob.

anonymous 24 January, 2013 13:27

anonymous 24 January, 2013 13:28

anonymous 24 January, 2013 13:29

anonymous 24 January, 2013 15:08

"Siri is good and very useful especially since it has UK businesses now. How did Apple "Pinch" the idea. Read the article idiots, they paid for it. Im sure you would be pretty miffed if you got accused of stealing stuff you just bought. Android on the other hand just take Apples developments, whether bought, patented or invented with no real right to"

Thats not really true is it. What have Android/Google stolen from Apple? Apart from the fact they made a mobile operating system optimised for a touchscreen interface. If they actually had legitimately stolen anything then Apple wouldn't hesitate to get Google up in court for it and would win. They havent had any litigation against Google. Im confused why a subset of people are convinced Google robbed a load of stuff from Apple? And if they are, why they cant see Apple play exactly the same game. This site explains it pretty well http://mashable.com/2012/10/27/apple-stolen-ideas/

anonymous 24 January, 2013 15:50

Google voice search is a better product by far. Faster and more useful results.

Also where have all these "In House" innovations gone that Apple is supposedly famous for?? I thought Apple had stolen the idea from Androids Froyo version of Voice Search and beefed it up with some silly answers thrown in. But it turns out they didn't even do that, they bought out another company who had bothered to create something. Well done Apple. Well erm ... "innovated"!

Damien2501 24 January, 2013 15:58

@Damien2701 Lool your actually a lot like Apple Inc. you come up with the same load of BS everytime and pass it off as something legitimate, I mean who didn't expect that comment from you??

Neilc28 24 January, 2013 16:01

Damien, you really are a tool! All companies steal, so what if Android has similarities with iOS, do you honestly think the notification bar was innovation and had nothing to do with the way Android had superior notifications?

Give us all a break and just accept that all companies steal, even your shiny apple ;) It's business after-all. Apple, Google, Microsoft, RIM, not ONE of them deserve your loyalty, they are all after your money, the sooner you all realise that the better.

Damien2501 24 January, 2013 22:52

@anonymous 24 January, 2013 15:08 I actually didn't see your comment before! Im gonna add emphasis to your link.

This link shows how "Innovative" Apple is:

http://mashable.com/2012/10/27/apple-stolen-ideas/

CaptainPicard 25 January, 2013 01:47

I like the idea of Siri, I think voice control and voice assistants is the future, but Siri is far from perfect. Also, I personally found Google Now pretty useless, though most people I know love it.