In a phone with lots of evolutionary qualities, Siri is the iPhone 4S’s most revolutionary feature. Simply by speaking to this virtual assistant, you can set reminders, send text messages, look up information and schedule meetings.
But with a bit of extra effort, Siri can do even more. Here are some tricks and tips for getting the most out of Siri on the iPhone 4S:
Post to Twitter, Facebook or Google+ With Siri
Although Siri doesn’t offer a built-in way to update your Twitter or Facebook status by voice, Siri does send text messages, so all you have to do is set up your phone to send status updates by text and Siri will cooperate. Of course, text messaging rates may apply depending on your plan.
For Facebook, text “Hello” to 32665 in the United States (or the short code for whatever country you’re in), then follow the link in the reply to finish the setup process. Add the short code to your Contacts, and name it “Facebook.” That way, you can tell Siri to “send a text to Facebook saying …”
For Twitter, text “START” to 40404 in the United States (or the short code for other countries), then respond with your username, then your password. Add the short code to your Contacts with the name “Twitter.”
For Google+, visit your settings page and scroll down to “Set delivery preferences.” Add your cell phone number, but be sure to click “don’t notify me” if you don’t want incoming Google+ messages by text. Verify your number with the code you receive by phone, then add the short code “33669″ (in the U.S.) to your contacts as “Google Plus.” Updates are shared with everyone in your circles.
(MORE: Apple Announces iPhone 4S: Old Design, New Specs, Siri Assistant)
The iPhone 4S includes its own reminders app, but you may prefer Remember the Milk for its advanced features, such as the ability to sync online and share tasks with others. I’ll just copy and paste the instructions directly from the folks at Remember the Milk:
1. Open Settings on your iPhone 4
2. Tap Mail, Contacts, Calendars
3. Tap Add Account…
4. Tap Other
5. Underneath Calendars, tap Add CalDav Account
6. In the ‘Server’ field, enter: www.rememberthemilk.com
7. In the ‘User Name‘ and ‘Password’ fields, enter your Remember The Milk details
8. Tap Next
9. You should be returned to Mail, Contacts, Calendars, with the account added. Scroll to the bottom of the screen, and tap Default List
10. Tap Remember The Milk
All your “remind me” commands in Siri should now go through Remember the Milk. Once you do this, you’ll get e-mail reminders from Remember the Milk instead of push notifications from the default Reminders app.
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Amazon may be quietly if unintentionally gunning after Apple’s Siri with future Kindles, a newly discovered SEC filing (PDF) has revealed. Using a shell company known as Dion Acquisition Sub to keep the deal out of its usual SEC filings, Amazon has bought Yap, which had a voicemail-to-text service but had also focused heavily on natural-language speech recognition and an emphasis on mobile technology. Although terms of the deal were kept secret, the takeover left little question as to Amazon’s involvement, since Dion’s headquarters was at 410 Terry Avenue in Seattle, owned solely by Amazon.
