Apple has made a small, but helpful, change in the way that iOS 8.3 can make phone calls via Siri. With the launch of iOS 8.0 last fall, Apple added a feature to Siri that allows users to activate the service hands-free by saying the phrase “Hey Siri” if the phone is plugged into power. However, if a user asked Siri to make a phone call via the “Hey Siri” hands-free command, the call would strangely not automatically transfer to speakerphone. Based on our tests, this will change in iOS 8.3. As can be seen in the screenshots above, if a user asks Siri to make a phone call through speakerphone, the call will actually be made on speaker phone…
Above, you can see a pair of screenshots from iOS 8.2 which show that the functionality is not available on the current and previous versions of iOS 8. In addition to this enhancement, iOS 8.3 will bring support for several new Siri languages, a new set of more diverse Emojis, improved login for Google accounts, and support for wireless CarPlay. Apple is also working on an iOS 8.4 update that include the company’s upcoming new streaming music service and iOS 9, which will include a focus on bug fixes and performance improvements. Apple has not announced when iOS 8.3 will ship, but it has recently gone into Public Beta.
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This wilĺl make my 6+ a perfext carplay even before carplay;)
Makes you wonder if that isn’t the idea.
Haha I noticed it did it the other day but didn’t realize it was new to 8.3.
“Hey Siri, call Mark Gurman on my Apple Watch”…
Sadly, this switch to speakerphone happens even when my phone is connected to my car bluetooth system. This means that in order to make a call through my car, I have to “Hey Siri, call so-and-so” and then change the audio output back to the car. Hopefully Apple gets this oversight fixed in the next beta.
This happens to me all the time as well and it drives me crazy. Has anyone found out if there is a setting or something that can be done to stop this? I admit that the new feature is nice if you don’t have bluetooth in your car but for those of us that do, it’s created a problem that previously didn’t exist.
How are you Siri
Sent from my iPhone
Wonder if they fixed the bug they introduced in iOS 8 that results in a call made through Siri hanging up immediately when paired with a Toyoya/Lexus vehicle. This well documented on Apple’s forums and worked fine in iOS 7
It’s an awful bug.
It’s strange because “Hey Siri” isn’t working in iOS 8.3 beta 3 for me at all.
It’s not working for me either after updating to iOS 8.3 beta.
Me either. Not on iPhone nor iPad.
Same here.
Thank you Apple! Microsoft has only had this since Windows Phone 7
Then go get a Windows phone. Troll somewhere else, loser.
Oh, I wasn’t trolling, Sal. I was legtimiately “Woo”ing that the feature has been implemented.
I had a WIndows Phone 7 device, and loved the feature, especially in my car.
It’s easy to be tough on the internet, isn’t it though?
Jackson – If you don’t 100% bend over for Apple then don’t bother making any comments because people like Sal take great pleasure in calling those who in any way are perceived to be denigrating the Apple name (even if it is a totally legit and true comment) as a troll.
It’s like a police state my friend.
Is anyone else seeing an issue with Hey Siri no longer functioning after the update to iOS 8.3 Beta 3 developer?
I tried restarting and resetting. Deactivating and reactivating Siri and the Hey Siri function in multiple combinations and orders, all with no luck.
T-mo iPhone 6 Plus
Siri is a waste of time.. Isnt it still in beta ? its horrible can barely call a person
I rarely have problems with Siri. And no, it’s not in beta any more.
How about the option to use “Hey Siri” without being plugged into power?
I would love this option. I’m jailbroken and there is a tweak for that which I use regularly.
Hey Siri does not work at all since Ios 8.2 was released (iPhone 5s 64GB)…have tried workarounds like resetting siri or turning off/on the phone but no success! Disappointing Apple!
Siri has always had big problems with “not so easy” names…It seems to me that for Apple this feature is not important. Speech recognition in Siri is not robust at all.
I would be nice also if siri could switch the language on request or recognize it automatically + offline service like osx + hey Siri without power cable.
When Apple TV with Siri comes out I wonder how they will differentiate which device you are speaking to if your phone is charging near by.
Yeah, that actually got on my nerves some, because I was pushing the call through my car speakers and would always have to change it back.
Apple has not announced when iOS 8.3 will ship, but it has recently gone into Public Beta.
i already have 8.3. are you serious?
sorry. i was wrong:)
YES! Thank you, this will make car calls soooo much easier. It was always a hassle putting speaker phone on.
I’ve been wanting this feature ever since I got my first iPhone 3GS.
Not a bad enhancement but when I’m using a headset and in my car, the call is still sent to speakerphone. With a headset the call should go to the headset.
thanks!