Rundown on ability: Apple's Siri vs. Google Voice Search for Android

The challenge

In the age of personal assistants, starting from celebrity PAs to your very own local gym instructor, it doesn't really come as a surprise that they have now made their 'digitalized' foray into field of electronics. Despite all the brouhaha surrounding iPhone 4S's powerful yet sleek A5 processor, it was after all the Siri software that held our attention. Now user convenience (along with media's subtle sensationalism) may outshine novelty here, but these speech engines (which only need you to speak as opposed to typing) have evolved enough to give them a clear technological edge.

Apple's Siri vs. Google Voice Search for Android

In relation to this, we once again draw the battle lines between the two giants - Apple and Google, and this time it is not wholly an Android vs. iOS scenario. The comparison is rather between two language processing softwares - iOS's Siri and Android's Google Voice Actions. Both made their debut from relatively humble beginnings, with Siri starting out as an app and Google Voice Search making its debut as a tool from Google Labs. And now with both of them integrated as a core feature of their respective operating systems, this electronic encounter looks like a full fledged 'voice-activated' showdown.

Comparison attribute

Before we delve into the comparisons, we should know that both of the speech engines allow similar set of voice commands for a myriad of options like texting, playing music, surfing the net, navigating and sending e-mails. But the real difference may be in allusion to their way (and order) of functionality.

1. Intrinsic voice recognition capability

From an unbiased perspective, Google's Voice Actions have been a free Android feature long before Siri was integrated into iOS. But does that make necessarily make Voice Actions better in reacting to voice commands? Certainly not; as proven comprehensively by Siri's nigh impeccable electronic 'charm'.

Winner

We have to go with Siri here due to clear cut reasoning - it understands the natural flow of our daily speech much better than Voice Actions. Thus the uninhibited voice interaction for an average user becomes that much easier in Siri than using specific vocabulary (in a specific configuration) in Voice Actions

2. Navigation

Voice Actions is directly integrated with our everyday ubiquitous app of Google Maps, and if you are an American, you are going to get supremely convenient turn-by-turn voice navigation (available in the U.S.). With Siri you do not get this navigation turn by turn, but what you do get is the important directions from Google Maps (without the voice, of course).

Winner

Voice Actions is certainly the clear winner here, with its more user friendly approach to maps and destinations. But all is not lost for Siri, as the future could bring in more third party softwares to help Apple through this practical feature.

3. Languages

The world is not just limited to English speaking people, and this was taken into deftly account by Apple for their ever expanding customer base. In relation to this Siri incorporates English, French, and German with future plans to include Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. On the other hand Android's Voice Action to just limited to paltry English.

Winner

Going by the current state of affairs, Siri is the hands down winner here. Now, we mentioned 'current state', because Google has already claimed that the revamped version of Voice Actions (for Android 4.0 aka Ice Cream Sandwich) will be able to recognize almost any language!

4. Personalization

Related to our first comparison point, ultimately it is the scope of personalization that appeals to an average user. In this regard, Voice Actions incorporates a level of technology that addresses direct issues. For example, almost in every command issued to Voice Actions, phrases like "navigate to x point" or "note to self," have to be used for the program to understand your request. On the other hand, Siri is infused with more advanced software that pertains to intelligent interaction between the user and the machine.

Winner

Clearly Siri once again emerges as the winner. With its plethora of personalized features like reminders, scheduling for calendar events, info regarding stocks and even storage of personal data (like your wife's name), it has shown the path for a practical, intelligent and user friendly speech engine.

The verdict

Voice recognition software elements long lost their attribute of novelty, but that doesn't really mean that they cannot be interesting to the user. And we go by that essence of evolved user interaction (with more credible and intriguing features) through voice; Siri is the winner in our book. Now, many of our Android fans may get a tad bit perturbed with this statement, especially considering that Voice Actions has already emerged before in the market with its core command system. But when we consider voice control as a viable primary interface, Siri scores high with its improved functionality as well as better personalized features.