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'Evi' Arrives as Potential Challenger to Siri

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evi helpTechCrunch reports on Evi, a new Siri-like offering from True Knowledge that has launched for iOS devices [App Store] and as a beta for Android devices. While Siri provides a fair amount of integration with Apple apps and services such as reminders and calendaring, it is currently limited to the iPhone 4S, while Evi is compatible with all iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices running iOS 4.0 or later.

She – we’ll call this Artificial Intelligence a she – returns amazing results when consulted. Given that Siri is just not very good at giving answers which aren’t about the US, Evi might just be the Siri for the rest of the world, especially since Evi wil run on any Andoid or iPhone, and not just the 4S. I’ve seen her in action and Evi is very, very smart.


Based on the same Nuance voice recognition technology found in Siri and the licensing of which accounts for Evi's $0.99 price tag in the App Store, Evi draws upon a database of nearly a billion facts as well as integration with Yelp and other services to deliver an array of information that seems to compare favorably to Siri's abilities.

Install Evi on an iPhone 4S and compare it to Evi. Ask “How do I make apple pie?”. Siri is unable to provide a direct answer and so asks whether you want to search the web. Evi provides a list of recipes with web links.

Ask “Who was President when Queen Elizabeth II was born”. Siri is unable to provide an answer and suggests performing a web search. Evi determines who Queen Elizabeth II is, when she was born, the dates when she will have been a teenager and then compares this against which US presidents were in office over that time, delivering the results of both serving US presidents during those years. Not bad huh.

Evi offers the option of voice or text input, local results for the United States and United Kingdom, and a built-in browser view for quick access to web links from results.

Top Rated Comments

Slix Avatar
184 months ago
That logo... is so creepy.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
184 months ago
Thank you, Apple.

:rolleyes: You mean than you Nuance for letting apple use THEIR technology...Apple did not invent bugger all here.

Evi is a great option for those of us not stupid enough to move from a 4 to 4s just for a voice assistant gimmick ;)

Now, stop being smug.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JonneyGee Avatar
184 months ago
For those who will inevitably call Evi a copycat, this is good for Siri as it will require Apple to continue developing Siri. Hopefully this will spur on Apple to release an API for apps soon.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AlphaDogg Avatar
184 months ago
Too bad it is not integrated into the OS like Siri is.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
b166er Avatar
184 months ago
I am officially 100% fed up with Apple Apologists saying Siri is still beta....Apple uses it as a selling point in print and tv commercials. It is NOT beta. It is in a production environment and being touted as a great tool by its owner and NEVER in their tv commercials is the word "beta" uttered. Never.

never



Apple says it's in beta.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
184 months ago
When the Apple train comes in, everybody rides.

Don't you already know this?

Except Apple weren't first...again...

Don't you already know this?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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