Siri on iOS 13 now works natively with Google Maps and Waze

With the release of iOS 13 comes some useful features; one of them is allowing third-party developers to release or update apps to access Siri without any configuration from the users' end. Before iOS 13, trying to set up a non-Apple app with Siri required setting up a Siri shortcut—and that didn't guarantee that it would work. 

But as The Verge discovers two apps can now interface with Siri, somehow. And it'll help when it comes to driving. Siri now works with Google Maps and Waze, but some features still need to be worked on.

Click to read more ...

Google Assistant gets Siri Shortcuts support on iOS

If you’ve been looking for a less clunky way to access Google Assistant on your iPhone, the newest update to the app might help you out a bit. The latest version of Google Assistant gets support for Apple’s Shortcuts app. This app lets you program a list of tasks to perform based on a programmed vocal phrase on Siri or via a shortcut on your homescreen. Now, you can use the Shortcuts app to open Google Assistant app with a phrase. You can, for example, program it to open Google Assistant with the phrase, “Hey Google.” So, the next time you say, “Hey Siri, Hey Google,” it’ll open the app for you. And then you can speak your voice commands to Google. While not the most elegant solution, as GSMArena points out, it does take out the middle man of sorts. It’s definitely better than saying, “Hey Siri, open Google Assistant” and then having to go say, “Hey Google” all over again.

Hotels.com gets Siri Shortcut

Tracking down your hotel booking on Hotels.com is going to be an easier, hands-free experience with support for Siri Shortcut. The company boasts it’s one of the first travel companies to support Siri Shortcut on its mobile app. If you’ve already updated to iOS 12, all you need to do is open the Hotels.com app and click the “Add to Siri” button and record the voice command relevant to your stay.

Daniel Craig, VP of Mobile at Hotels.com brand explains: “How many times have you arrived at an airport, with your hands full of luggage and you can’t find your confirmation email or print out—it’s now voice to the rescue! The Hotels.com Siri Shortcut takes the hassle out of travelling, by surfacing the key information you need in just one voice command. Handsfree travel is a growing trend and this new feature is perfect for today’s on-the-go travellers, who demand instant information at their fingertips, or should I now say at the tip of their tongue!”

Apple and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson make ‘movie’ for Siri

In this weird modern world, we have celebrities who are willing to call a 3 minute and 46 second ad as the “biggest, coolest, sexiest, funnest movie ever.” This is how Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson describes the new ad with Apple called The Rock x Siri: Dominate The Day. It’s basically a four-minute gag showing off how hard The Rock works with the help of Siri, who always seems to be respond without fail to his queries and requests. Now, we wish Siri would actually be that accurate in real life.