Apple’s intelligent voice-recognition software is one of the biggest advancements in smartphone technology yet. Siri, who is available for the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5, listens to you, interprets what you mean, and helps make your life easier. At first it might seem a little strange to be talking to your phone, and Siri is far from perfect, but Siri has some really great uses now, and Apple will only continue to improve her. Here are some of the best things Siri can do for you.
Alarm Clock
When all you want to do is go to sleep – not fumble with your alarm settings – just tell Siri to set your alarm. Tell Siri something like, “Wake me up at 7 a.m.,” or “Wake me up in three hours,” and you can sleep peacefully without worrying about being late.
Schedule
Siri literally is your personal assistant, and she can keep your schedule for you.
Tell Siri the time, date, and description of an appointment, and she’ll put it on your calendar. If there’s a scheduling conflict, she’ll let you know. You can ask Siri questions like, “Am I free this weekend?” or, “What do I have planned for tomorrow?”
Text Messages
If you need to send a quick text to someone, let Siri do the work for you. For example, if you’re running late, don’t stop to let your friend Bob know. Tell Siri, “Text Bob, and tell him that I’m running late,” and she will. You can say, “Siri, text my son, and tell him to be home by 12,” or, “Text my wife that I love her.” Simple, quick, and easy.
Reminders
If you have to remember something, just ask Siri to remind you; she won’t let you forget. For example, say, “Siri, will you remind me to go to the post office tomorrow?” She’ll casually mention it to you the next day. She can remind you about birthdays, anniversaries, and all those other things you should remember but often don’t.
Notes
Similar to reminders, Siri can also make notes for you. Just say, “Make a note of this,” and she will make a note of whatever “this” is. You can ask Siri to pull up your notes for you at anytime. Siri also works as dictation software, and she’ll transcribe whatever you tell her to.
Directions
You don’t have to take the time to program your GPS before a trip anymore. If you tell Siri where you want to go, she’ll give you the directions bit-by-bit until you arrive at your destination. If you want to find something, she can help you. For example, ask, “Where can I find pizza around here?”
Information
Searching the Internet is very easy with Siri. She’s great for helping you find the answers to quick, simple questions you might come up with. “How tall is the Empire State building?” or, “Who won the game last night?” are just some of the type of questions she can answer for you.
Entertainment
Perhaps the best use for Siri is entertainment, because she can be hilarious. You can experiment by asking Siri lots of quirky questions, and you’ll get sharp, witty answers. If you ask Siri to help you find some pot, she’ll let you know where the local rehabs are. If you tell her you need to dispose of a body, she’ll tell you where the nearest swamps are located.
