Of all the compelling new features rolling out with popular voice assistant already had a deep repertoire of abilities, from setting reminders to controlling smart home devices and forecasting the weather. With this latest update, Siri expands its skill set through the ability to replicate sounds from the animal kingdom.
iOS 14.3 brings with it for AirPods Max (available from December 15, 2020). More than that, iOS 14.3 also introduced new features, such as the ability for iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max s to capture and edit Apple ProRaw photos, and enhanced search features in the Apple TV+ app. However, all that pales in comparison to Siri's newfound knack for imitating sounds. Specifically, animal sounds.
As reported by CNBC, Apple's Siri will quack like a duck upon request. s will have to update their iPhone to iOS 14.3 to get the new feature. After they do, though, they'll be able to say something like "Hey Siri, what does a duck sound like?" and get the familiar quack of a duck from Siri in response. In addition to ducks, Siri will be able to mirror the sounds of animals like a humpback whale or a toy poodle, or inanimate objects like harps and firetrucks. Better yet, the sounds that Siri provides will be lifelike, as opposed to its own interpretation of what these animals and objects sound like.
More Than A Voice Assistant Gimmick
Voice assistants like Apple's Siri, Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant are utilized in a variety of ways these days. They are called upon as a means of communication, asked to control lights, thermostats and other aspects of the smart home, and relied on for answers to a number of everyday questions. As additional perks, each of these assistants have the ability to lighten the mood. For instance, Amazon Alexa can switch its voice to that of acclaimed actor Samuel L. Jackson for a one-time fee of 99 cents. In the case of Google Assistant, asking it to "make me a sandwich" will garner a response along the lines of "Poof! You're a sandwich." Now, Siri will quack like a duck or roar like a lion after a simple request to do so.
Some may prefer the novelty of having Jackson respond to them in their very own home, but this new Siri feature might have real-world benefits that go beyond its humorous intent. With young children, this would seemingly be a great way to help them learn about different animals and objects and what they sound like. In addition, part of Siri's response involves pulling up a picture of the animal, as well as a link to its Wikipedia page. Therefore, more than the laughs a quacking Siri initially brings, Apple has implemented a handy learning tool for families and children to have fun with.
Source: CNBC