Meet Nuance's Nina, a Siri-Like Virtual Assistant That Breaks New Ground Discussion

[Michael Wall]

Nuance has unveiled Nina, a Siri rival touted as able to understand not only what is said, but who is saying it. The Nina SDK will power both iOS and Android apps.

Read the full content of this Article: Meet Nuance's Nina, a Siri-Like Virtual Assistant That Breaks New Ground

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[jigwashere]

I'm a bit put off that Nina is cloud-based, but I like the idea that Nina can recognize who is speaking. Voice-based password authentication might be better than face recognition. Face recognition fails in low light conditions, etc.

I do have a question, though: does anybody really use Siri? I know a lot of folks with iThings, but am not aware of anyone using Siri after the novelty wore off.

[Guest]

I do have a question, though: does anybody really use Siri?

I do.

Apparently I still have to type ten characters.

[Varjak]

Isn't Siri also 'cloud-based?' I think we're fairly far away from the point where a smartphone would have the hardware and software on-board to do what these services do.

[Guest]

Yes, Siri is cloud-based. I think maybe jigwashere was hoping that a full-fledged computer wouldn't need that requirement. (Products like Dragon Dictate are not cloud-based.)

[theraven146]

Wow after the big success of Siri, any application that follows is sure to become a success. This is because anything made in the same concept has to get bigger and better. The Nina is sure to become a big hit and the fact that it will be available for both Android and iOS is just great.

[lelisa13p]

Wow after the big success of Siri, any application that follows is sure to become a success. This is because anything made in the same concept has to get bigger and better. The Nina is sure to become a big hit and the fact that it will be available for both Android and iOS is just great.

Not so sure about that "big success" you're talking about. Even Woz thinks Siri's now a big fail. He does hold out hope for improvements in voice recognition in the future, which Nina seems to be attempting here.

[Varjak]

I just read over at the Times tech blog that the new stuff Google just demoed included massive improvement to their voice activation system; and apparently it blows Siri out of the water.

[rkevwill]

Not so sure about that "big success" you're talking about. Even Woz thinks Siri's now a big fail. He does hold out hope for improvements in voice recognition in the future, which Nina seems to be attempting here.

I'm not quite sure I want to make decisions based on what Woz says. Remember, this is a guy that carries 3-4 phones, and cruises around on a Segway.

[lelisa13p]

I'm not quite sure I want to make decisions based on what Woz says. Remember, this is a guy that carries 3-4 phones, and cruises around on a Segway.

Granted, but he did make a realistic comparison of the service quality before Apple acquired it and then afterward, describing current Siri problems.

When I upgrade this Fall, I'll be in a position to evaluate first-hand; my iPhone 4 doesn't have Siri.