In an article on CNN, Microsoft’s Chief Research Strategy Officer, Craig Mundie, sat down with Forbe’s Eric Savitz discussing Window’s voice recognition software, TellMe. Mundie claims that Microsoft has, in a technological capability, already had voice recognition software in its Windows phones for more than a year. However, the news article’s author feels that perhaps Microsoft’s Chief Research and Strategy Officer should take the time to actually compare Apple’s Siri to Microsoft’s Windows TellMe before coming to any conclusions and speculations. To show evidence of the two software in action, a YouTube video is posted with the article to show the difference in performances between the two.
It is amazing to see the differences in results. The tester of the products is Jason Cartwright, of TechAu (To read more and see the demonstrations click on the link). When TellMe was put to the test against Siri, it failed miserably in three tries. The one that was most shocking to me was the simple command of, ‘send text message to Simone.’ Siri understood perfectly and had the text message template up and running, ready to to write the message and send. However, Microsoft’s TellMe, could not register the same command and ended up bringing up a search for ‘stain detector Simone.’ How could a Chief Research and Strategy Officer claim his/her company’s product is more advanced and better than another’s without actually testing it themselves? This is the million dollar question I have been asking myself ever since I read about the article and saw the test first hand on the YouTube clip.
Perhaps Microsoft’s Craig Mundie needs to take a step back and make time to actually test out Apple’s Siri. As the saying goes, ‘Keep your friends closer, but keep your enemies closer.’ Although I would not consider Apple and Microsoft enemies, I think it would be prudent to make sure statements can be backed up before being made. Perhaps Microsoft will take this as a minor setback, and be able to correct mistakes that they may have missed from before. Although voice recognition software is the new trend, by far Apple’s Siri is in its own league. Until more research and development is done to perfect voice recognition and hands free commands, Siri is the top choice in my books.