Siri gets a seat in iPhone-friendly cars

SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple on Monday announced that autos will roll out this year with CarPlay technology making iPhones helpful road-trip companions, complete with Siri tending to messages.

"CarPlay gives iPhone users an incredibly intuitive way to make calls, use Maps, listen to music and access messages with just a word or a touch," Apple said in a release.

Ferrari, Volvo, and Mercedes-Benz will show off the technology this week at a car show in Geneva, but the long list of auto makers incorporating it into models included Honda, BMW, Toyota, and General Motors.

Motorists will be able to plug iPhone 5 handsets into their cars, then use touch-screen commands or activate virtual assistant Siri by pressing buttons on the steering wheels.

Siri responds to spoken directives and can be asked to help with tasks such as making calls and reading or sending written messages.

CarPlay can also tap into iPhone calendars, contacts, or recent trips to advise on routes and traffic conditions. If desired, Siri will speak turn-by-turn directions.

Of course, motorists can access music or other iTunes content on iPhones.

"CarPlay has been designed from the ground up to provide drivers with an incredible experience using their iPhone in the car," said Apple vice president of iOS product marketing Greg Joswiak.

"We have an amazing lineup of auto partners rolling out CarPlay, and we're thrilled it will make its debut this week in Geneva."

This week's launch of CarPlay marks the onset of dueling approaches to Internet-connected cars, according to Forrester analyst Frank Gillett.

While Apple is making entertainment and safe navigation easier using iPhones, a competing tack by rivals is to embed operating software into cars, the analyst maintained.

"Apple's conservative approach will get it into many cars faster than competitors, who will likely end up supporting Apple's CarPlay while they aim for deeper built in technology," Gillett said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Apple in Shanghai court over 'Siri' claim

SHANGHAI - Apple appeared in a Shanghai court on Wednesday, accused by a Chinese firm of copying software used for the "Siri" personal assistant on its hugely popular iPhones.

The Californian company's products are big sellers in China, and chief executive Tim Cook said in January he expects it to surpass the US as the firm's largest market, but the relationship is sometimes troubled.

Shanghai's Zhizhen Network Technology Co. claims Apple infringed its patent for voice recognition software, and the two companies were summoned to present evidence at a pre-trial hearing, representatives of the Chinese firm said.

The legal challenge comes after Apple last year paid $60 million to Chinese computer maker Shenzhen Proview Technology to settle a long-running dispute over the "iPad" trademark, whose ownership was claimed by both companies.

State media have also attacked Apple in recent days, with the People's Daily urging consumers in a commentary to "strike away Apple's unparalleled arrogance" for alleged double standards in customer service and returns policies.

Apple has denied those accusations in statements to Chinese media.

Zhizhen says it patented its "Xiao i Robot" software in 2004, while Apple's Siri, which made its debut with the release of the iPhone 4S in 2011, was first developed in 2007.

Siri, described by Apple as an "intelligent personal assistant", responds to a user's commands through voice recognition software.

The Chinese company's product operates in a similar way and works on Apple's iOS system as well as rival Android.

It has wide application in areas including telecommunications, finance and e-commerce and Zhizhen claims more than 100 million users in China, according to a statement.

"The company will ask Apple to stop manufacturing and selling products using its patent rights, once Apple's infringement is confirmed," Si Weijiang, a lawyer representing Zhizhen, told AFP.

"We don't exclude the possibility of demanding compensation in the future," he said.

In court Apple denied the allegations and unsuccessfully asked for the case to be rejected, he added.

Apple did not respond to requests for comment.

The full case is scheduled to be heard in July, Zhizhen spokeswoman Mei Li told AFP.

"We surely have confidence, our lawyers also told us they have confidence, but of course we will have to see how the judge will rule," she said.

source: abs-cbnnews.com