Tim Cook at D10: Hints at Facebook Integration, and Siri Improvements

siri iconAt this year's All Things D conference, Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher interviewed Apple CEO Tim Cook about a range of topics. We offer a transcript of the entire interview. During the talk, Cook provided hints at two upcoming features for Apple customers.

The first has to do with the possibility of Facebook integration into iOS. Apple and Facebook are believed to have previously been in tough negotiations about Facebook integration into Apple's products. As a result, tight Facebook integration has been absent in iOS while Twitter has seen service-level support.

When asked about Apple's relationship with Facebook, Cook suggests that there will be news in the near future:

For us, we want to provide customers simple and elegant ways to do the things they want to do. Facebook has hundreds of millions of customers. So, anyone that has an iPhone or iPad, we want them to have the best experience with Facebook on those platforms. So stay tuned.

Next, when questioned about Siri, Cook reports that customers love the voice assistant feature on the iPhone 4S, and that its one of the most popular features on the device. He goes on to report that they have a lot more coming:

But, there's more that it can do. We have a lot of people working on this. You'll be really pleased with the things you'll see over the coming months. The breadth that you're talking about -- we've got some cool ideas about what Siri can do. We have a lot going on on this.

Cook goes on to say that he thinks they'll be "really happy" with where it's going.

Top Rated Comments

scrappledog Avatar
144 months ago
Got to admit ... I have zero interest in Facebook being integrated into my phone's OS. None.
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Warbrain Avatar
144 months ago
Agree on FB.
Even with all the "cool guy" dissing of Facebook, how can a consumer electronic giant ignore the staggering numbers of FB accounts. Just that alone is reason to look closer

Facebook would want too much data about Apple users. Facebook wouldn't want to tie into iTunes for payments. Facebook would want to serve the ads.

Partnering with Facebook is nearly as bad as partnering with Google at this point.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
strausd Avatar
144 months ago
I would love to see apps take advantage of Siri. And I mean both Apple apps and third party apps. Also, being able to adjust settings via voice would be awesome.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
faroZ06 Avatar
144 months ago
Just say no Apple.

We don't need spyware integrated deeply in iOS. One of the key differentiators of the iPhone over Android is privacy from the data harvesting companies like Google, Facebook, et al.
Apple did Twitter well. You install the Twitter add-on if you want it. I hope they do the same for Facebook because I am not going to install that add-on.

----------

Steve locked horns with Zuck & that was the deterrent.

Cook doesn't have the polarizing attitude, therefore it's a whole new ball game. One with many opportunities.

Cook knows how to maximize opportunities without ruffling feathers.
Agreed. Steve was unique and fearless, but I thought he was too.... confronting. I did support his telling-off of Flash, though.

----------

Agree on FB.
Even with all the "cool guy" dissing of Facebook, how can a consumer electronic giant ignore the staggering numbers of FB accounts. Just that alone is reason to look closer
FB's crashing stock is hilarious. It's so bad that the stock exchange won't even let you short it anymore. Facebook is a trend that is bound to crash later. I can see it exponentially losing users until it plateaus and stays at the level of Myspace. None of my friends believe me, but they also didn't believe me when I told them that FB's IPO would be a disaster.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
makingdots Avatar
144 months ago
Agree on FB.
Even with all the "cool guy" dissing of Facebook, how can a consumer electronic giant ignore the staggering numbers of FB accounts. Just that alone is reason to look closer
Nope, it's Facebook not cooperating well with Apple last year.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SprodeBoy Avatar
144 months ago
Is this what i am going to hear in the hallways at school now?
*booboop* Tell jenny she is a slut *beebeep*
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)