alexalex Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 Siri Knock-Offs Invade Android Market http://www.pcworld.c...oid_market.html Apple has no plans to bring Siri to other platforms, but that's not stopping some Android app developers from ripping off the product, right down to the icons and sound effects. A new app called "Siri for Android" is nothing more than a home screen icon that opens up Android's standard voice command prompt. The developer's name is "Official App," which could obviously be misinterpreted as an Apple-sanctioned product. The app has already been installed more than 1,000 times, The Next Web reports. Fake Siri for Android Electronista noticed another Siri knock-offcalled "Speerit." Although the name is different, Speerit bills itself as "REAL Siri for Android." It uses Siri's icons and sound effects, but I couldn't tell how it works because it's only available in Korean. "We have a plan to support english (sic) later. Don't be sad," the developer, Viewide, says on the app's Android Market listing.... It was noticed yesterday that a new app had made its way onto the Android Market. Its name was ?Siri for Android?, and the name of its developer was Official App. Which led to some trusting individuals assuming this was some kind of official version of Siri built for the Google Android operating system. It wasn?t. Less than a day later and the situation has been resolved. The ?Siri for Android? app hasbeen killed, the developer Original App has had its bottom thoroughly spanke. via tech blorge com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dot Matrix Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 $10 says it has a hidden malicious side to it, like most Android knock-offs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xerxes Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 Was I the only one who came into this thread thinking it about about Google axing their Siri clone (Majel)? :p On the subject at hand, I find the Siri clone Iris to be quite funny (the video review for it cracks me up everytime I see it). Matthew_Thepc, SharpGreen and dnast 3 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexalex Posted January 1, 2012 Author Share Posted January 1, 2012 $10 says it has a hidden malicious side to it, like most Android knock-offs. Yes, it does. .....One of these fake Siri apps began sending "free iPad" spam to my notification bar shortly after installing it. I'm yet sure which one, but to be safe I recommend not installing any of them..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dot Matrix Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 Yes, it does. .....One of these fake Siri apps began sending "free iPad" spam to my notification bar shortly after installing it. I'm yet sure which one, but to be safe I recommend not installing any of them..... Honestly, this crap with Android makes me wonder how it even took off. It makes me wonder even more, why they aren't leaving Droid devices en masse for other smartphones. Apple, RIM, and Microsoft don't have this problem. People abandoned Windows XP in droves when this was happening to it for Apple machines. Yet, they never learned their lesson. Ok, I'm done. I'm biting my toungue now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nw2001 Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 Honestly, this crap with Android makes me wonder how it even took off. It makes me wonder even more, why they aren't leaving Droid devices en masse for other smartphones. Apple, RIM, and Microsoft don't have this problem. People abandoned Windows XP in droves when this was happening to it for Apple machines. Yet, they never learned their lesson. Ok, I'm done. I'm biting my toungue now. What...? It took off because it is incredibly cheap for manufacturers to slap on a phone, and they get full control. As for malware: It's one of the side effects of being more open on the market. In the same way windows has the exact same problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnast Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 Honestly, this crap with Android makes me wonder how it even took off. It makes me wonder even more, why they aren't leaving Droid devices en masse for other smartphones. Apple, RIM, and Microsoft don't have this problem. People abandoned Windows XP in droves when this was happening to it for Apple machines. Yet, they never learned their lesson. Ok, I'm done. I'm biting my toungue now. People aren't leaving "en masse" because presumably most people don't even come across these apps. Just because a malicious app becomes available on the Android Market doesn't mean a noticeable number of users are affected. I'm not trying to downplay the possibilities of what could happen with Google's approach - I don't completely agree with it - but it doesn't even begin to compare to what happened with Windows XP-oriented attacks. Also, it would be nice to see a link stating that "people abandoned Windows XP in droves" to switch to Macs. I'd find that very interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexalex Posted January 1, 2012 Author Share Posted January 1, 2012 Some tech history for those who still think the Siri has copied from Microsoft or Android : SRI International (SRI), founded as Stanford Research Institute, is one of the world's largest contract research institutes. SRI, based in Menlo Park, California, was established by the trustees of Stanford University in 1946 as a center of innovation to support economic development in the region. It was established as a nonprofit organization under U.S. and California laws. In 1970, SRI formally separated from Stanford University and, in 1977, became known as SRI International. The separation was a belated response to Vietnam war protesters at Stanford University who believed that SRI's DARPA-funded work was essentially making the university part of the military-industrial complex. SRI's mission is discovery and the application of science and technology for knowledge, commerce, prosperity, and peace.[3] It performs client-sponsored research and development for government agencies, commercial businesses, and private foundations. It also licenses its technologies, forms strategic partnerships, and creates spin-off companies. http://en.wikipedia....I_International Siri was started as a DARPA project at SRI International: July 2003 SRI announces that Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected SRI to lead the Personalized Assistant that Learns (PAL) Program. SRI and a team of 20 leading research organizations are awarded $22M over five years to develop software, dubbed CALO, that could revolutionize how computers support military and other decision-makers. It is considered to be the largest artificial intelligence project in history. View PAL publications. December 2007 SRI spins off Siri, Inc. to bring the technology to consumers. http://www.sri.com/a...i-timeline.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nw2001 Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 Some tech history for those who still think the Siri has copied from Microsoft or Android : SRI International (SRI), founded as Stanford Research Institute, is one of the world's largest contract research institutes. SRI, based in Menlo Park, California, was established by the trustees of Stanford University in 1946 as a center of innovation to support economic development in the region. It was established as a nonprofit organization under U.S. and California laws. In 1970, SRI formally separated from Stanford University and, in 1977, became known as SRI International. The separation was a belated response to Vietnam war protesters at Stanford University who believed that SRI's DARPA-funded work was essentially making the university part of the military-industrial complex. SRI's mission is discovery and the application of science and technology for knowledge, commerce, prosperity, and peace.[3] It performs client-sponsored research and development for government agencies, commercial businesses, and private foundations. It also licenses its technologies, forms strategic partnerships, and creates spin-off companies. http://en.wikipedia....I_International Siri was started as a DARPA project at SRI International: July 2003 SRI announces that Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected SRI to lead the Personalized Assistant that Learns (PAL) Program. SRI and a team of 20 leading research organizations are awarded $22M over five years to develop software, dubbed CALO, that could revolutionize how computers support military and other decision-makers. It is considered to be the largest artificial intelligence project in history. View PAL publications. December 2007 SRI spins off Siri, Inc. to bring the technology to consumers. http://www.sri.com/a...i-timeline.html No it doesn't copy, but most of the functionality has been on android/wp7 for a fair bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techbeck Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Honestly, this crap with Android makes me wonder how it even took off. It makes me wonder even more, why they aren't leaving Droid devices en masse for other smartphones. Apple, RIM, and Microsoft don't have this problem. People abandoned Windows XP in droves when this was happening to it for Apple machines. Yet, they never learned their lesson. Ok, I'm done. I'm biting my toungue now. What? There was no mass exit of Windows XP for Apple. And copy cat/crap/malicious apps are available for all platforms. Apple recently took down an app because people were using for malicious intent. Yea, Apple may not have malware per say, but the fact that people can install apps on Apple devices and cause harm to others makes it no better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Montage Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Ok, I'm done. I'm biting my toungue now. Good, because all you've done so far is flap it around talking crap! People abandoned Windows XP in droves when this was happening to it for Apple machines. No, they did not. Apple, RIM, and Microsoft don't have this problem. Apple did, MS do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJerman Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 The argument that Android has malicious software so it shouldn't be used is beyond ridiculous. If you use this as an argument against Android, you might as well just say "I'm too stupid/lazy to pay attention to the apps I mindlessly download and need my phone to babysit me against malware". iOS has had plenty of malicious apps taken down from the App Store, so don't act like it only happens on Android. Yes, Android's app approval process isn't the same as Apple's, so these apps typically make it to market before being caught, but that's a side effect of what I consider to be one of the biggest positives about Android. The lack of some company deciding what apps can and can't be installed on your phone. If this was 10 years ago and Windows, every anti-monopoly lawyer in the world would be all over them, but Apple's relatively small footprint apparently keeps them immune from this still. I'm an Android user because I'm smart enough to pay attention before I download something that immediately stands out as a shady app like "Siri for Android" by "Official App". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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