Top Virtual Assistant? Architect and use...

[MrPhotog]

There is a lot of activity in the topic of "virtual assistants" for Android - People looking for the ultimate Siri alternative. The Android market has 5 that I am aware of - with iris being the direct android response to Siri. All eyes seem to be focused on iris as the answer.

Still, there are others. Vlingo for example seems to be at the top of the list due to longevity - more developed. But behind the scenes is the architecture that these apps are built on. Is iris being built from the ground up to surpass Siri or is it gaining popularity simply because of its name (Siri spelled backward) and timing? Does anyone have any insight?

Also, which is the most favored?

Iris
Speaktoit
Skyvi
Vlingo
AQ

 

[kmf]

I have briefly tried Iris, Vlingo, Speaktoit, Jeannie, and Andy. What Speaktoit does that none of the others do (in asking for restaurants, businesses, etc) is give you an actual map with choices/places. All the others give you web links to click on. Speaktoit still "has a lot to learn" but I think it's the best so far.

 

[MrPhotog]

I have briefly tried Iris, Vlingo, Speaktoit, Vlingo, Jeannie, and Andy. What Speaktoit does that none of the others do (in asking for restaurants, businesses, etc) is give you an actual map with choices/places. All the others give you web links to click on. Speaktoit still "has a lot to learn" but I think it's the best so far.

I agree. I have all of them installed right now and am narrowed down to Speaktoit and skyvi - Both were the only ones that easily handled math questions. I keep going back to Speaktoit (havent heard of Jeannie). Probably the next couple of days will determine who ends up in widgetlocker.

 

[tcat007]

I like the "build your own" avatar for the assistant on Speaktoit. I tried Skyvi, seemed to drain battery and need to many clicks (and name sounds like an illness), so I uninstalled it. Will try STI for a while.

 

[ironass]

I find it odd that you have not got "Voice Actions", also known as "Jeannie" in the list.

I find the knowledge base on this app, and its responses, far greater than the others mentioned... much more comparable to, "Siri".

For instance, if you ask SpeakToIt... "Recipe for Cottage Pie" you receive the all too familiar... "I'm afraid I ... etc. Whilst Jeannie will flash up pages of recipes.

If I ask SpeakToIt... "How are you?" I get... "Fine". The same thing with Jeannie gives me a battery readout.

I would recommend installing SVOX Classic TTS fromk the Market and downloading one of their custom voices to enhance your assistant.

 

[MrPhotog]

I like the "build your own" avatar for the assistant on Speaktoit. I tried Skyvi, seemed to drain battery and need to many clicks (and name sounds like an illness), so I uninstalled it. Will try STI for a while.

I am finding the number of clicks in Skyvi annoying after experiencing the automated prompting in STI. Too funny about the illness - I thought the same thing when I first saw the name! Before knowing about the app if someone told me that they had skyvi, I would tell them to get an ointment...

I find it odd that you have not got "Voice Actions", also known as "Jeannie" in the list.

I find the knowledge base on this app, and its responses, far greater than the others mentioned... much more comparable to, "Siri".

For instance, if you ask SpeakToIt... "Recipe for Cottage Pie" you receive the all too familiar... "I'm afraid I ... etc. Whilst Jeannie will flash up pages of recipes.

If I ask SpeakToIt... "How are you?" I get... "Fine". The same thing with Jeannie gives me a battery readout.

I would recommend installing SVOX Classic TTS fromk the Market and downloading one of their custom voices to enhance your assistant.

When looking around I had not seen any posts about Jeannie. I have tried your recipe test (Buttermilk fried chicken) and STI keeps asking me if I would like to search for a restaurant. At one point asked if I had any friends. When asked math questions STI answers while Jeannie gives the answer online.

Both of these apps (Speaktoit and Jeannie) do feature more of a dialoguing experience where you do not have to click the app every time you ask a question. Since skyvi is out of the question, I will now have to continue with these two. Also, thanks for the tip on SVOX Classic TTS, Ironass - I'll have to check it out.

 

[MrPhotog]

Jeannie turned out to be what I was looking for - Thanks for the recommendation, "ironass". Figures that my winner would be one that comes out of nowhere!

 

[kmf]

Jeannie is the former Voice Actions, and there is also Voice Actions Plus (paid) by the same developer.

MrPhotog: Both of these apps should be added to the chart above, and not under "other."

 

[Eric618]

Jeannie (or Voice Actions) was my favorite, but I think Speaktoit has done far better with integrating and implementing solid updates.

 

[MrPhotog]

Jeannie is the former Voice Actions, and there is also Voice Actions Plus (paid) by the same developer.

MrPhotog: Both of these apps should be added to the chart above, and not under "other."

Unfortunately, editing the thread does not allow for editing the poll. I would like to go back and change the chart but I haven't seen a way to.

 

[b00stzx3]

I love vlingo but it's only one I used. The call ____ always works, need to test the rest. We can do better than Siri, for we are Android!