The iPhone 4S was just announced, and its key defining feature, Siri integration, seems to be the talk of the town, unless, of course, you live in Canada.
In a country where we expect to get major announced devices after everyone else, we’ve come to expect that somethings just won’t ship at the same time as in the US. Take iTunes Match for instance. It’s not currently available to beta testers in Canada, and we don’t expect the service to be available when iOS 5 ships later this month.
We may also be able to add Siri to that list as well. Apple doesn’t mention Siri on the Canadian Apple Store, not once, not at all.
No matter how much digging I did, I just couldn’t find a reference to Siri; Apple’s new personal assistant application is curiously absent from the pages of the Canadian Apple iPhone page. The fine print on the American iPhone page states: “Siri is available in Beta only on iPhone 4S and requires Internet access. Siri may not be available in all languages or in all areas, and features may vary by area. Cellular data charges may apply.”
I guess that’s code for not available in Canada, yet. We’re not 100 percent certain, but if memory serves me correctly, the original Siri application has never been available in Canada. Don’t get your hopes up. Your iOS 5 and iPhone 4S experience could be about to get a little less cool, and a lot more WTF.
Hat Tip to Greg Beldam
Update: We’ve been informed that Siri will not be available in Canada. I quote: “There is not a Canadian version of Siri.”
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So here I am in the Toronto area, and I just got my iPhone 4S and set it up. With that done I decided to see if Siri was there, held down the home button...and got just the simple voice control screen.
It appears Canada didn't get Siri. Unless there's something I don't know. Can you tell me?
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LikeOoops, I goofed. I didn't know Siri had to be turned on in the settings. But she's there, and she greeted me hello.
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Likelet us know what doesn't work with Siri in Canada, I hear all localization services can't work, restaurants, maps, etc.
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LikeLocalized area does not work. But voice commands work very well. I am actually talking this in instead of typing it right now! Very cool!
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LikeSiri IS coming to Canada.
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LikeDon't blame Apple,
As Sheila Broflovski sings, "Blame Canada!"
As a Canadian, I know how super sensitive the whole language thing is, especially Quebecois French (remember that douchebag who sued the airline because he wasn't offered a pop en Francais?).
If Siri was advertised on the Canadian website, there'd be some more douchebaggery complaints, because it's not "Canadian enough" (especially from the French, but there are a lot of English Apple-haters too), and it'd oo much legal headache for Apple to bother dealing with.
They took the best route by simple wiping some text off the website, to avoid the stupid complaints that would be sure to come.
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LikeSiri is an ap that you can get on your iphone if you have one that is US based. I have a canadian and a US i phone 4 and there are lots of differences between the phone. go look on the Siri web site they wont do the ap for Canada as we are too small a population for the return. The Siri ap does all of that now on the Iphone 4 but acts more like a google than anything else. I wont buy the 4S in Canada but will in the US it is not worth it without the Siri. Siiri personal assistant is the coolest thing about the phone otherwise to me very simialr to the 4 I already have. Apple does not mention the Siri because the company never did the development for Canada. It does say adding more countries soon but don't hold your breath for Canada as we have language issues to deal with and they don't want to start into that...its too bad for us..
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LikeOk wow. Obviously once the 4s comes out they are saying it will not have Siri. When apple told you there is not a Canadian version they are saying there is not one right now. But it is in BETA. and as Schiller said they will be adding more languages and features. So give it time.
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LikeI did notice the feature when iPhone 4S first went live on the Canadian Apple site, but it is now missing. The video on the Canadian site still shows the feature though, and as the above commenter point out looks like it will be available in Canada...
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LikeCorrection: Siri _is_ coming to Canada.
http://www.iphoneincanada.ca/iphone-4s/no-mention-of-siri-for-the-iphone-4s-on-apple-canadas-website/
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LikeActually, we've been informed, and I quote: "There is not a Canadian version of Siri."
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LikeSiri is the only reason I would consider upgrading my Iphone. If there is no Siri, then no upgrade. No Siri would be an even bigger failure than Mobile Me.
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LikeProbably a licensing issue.
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LikeI think Siri comes pre loaded with the 4S as its native voice program and as such u will not need to download it seperately.
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LikeIt would really suck if Canada doesn't get the iPhone 4S with Siri. It doesnt make sense though. They can offer Siri in German but not in English for Canada :o
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LikeThe language difference between, for example, Toronto and new York is no different than the language difference between new York and Texas... Basically there is no significant language difference....
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LikeI was joking :)
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LikeMaybe the language difference is too different? ;-)
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