Following iPhone Event, Apple Removes Siri From App Store (Servers To Be Killed Soon)
by Joe White
October 5, 2011
The original Siri personal assistant iPhone app has been removed from the App Store following yesterday's iPhone event, at which Apple announced the iPhone 4S handset.
Now, we know that there's only going to be one new iPhone launching in 2011, and that a key feature of this handset is something called "Siri" - a virtual personal assistant, if you will, which is embedded within the iOS itself. The launch of this feature, which combines voice recognition and text-to-speach in one super package, comes following Apple's acquisition of the original Siri app (which we really liked).
Since Apple acquired Siri, the original app was still available to download in the App Store for free. However, now the company has announced its iPhone 4S, it comes as no surprise to hear that the original Siri iPhone app has been removed from the App Store, and that the application's servers will also be killed in the near future - rendering it unusable.
Clearly, the reason behind this move is the launch of Apple's new feature - but more importantly, the fact that this feature is an iPhone 4S exclusive. While the original Siri app was compatible with almost every iOS device out there, Apple's Siri service will feature on one device, and one device only: The iPhone 4S.
According to TechCrunch, the Siri iPhone app is still usable, but that Apple is planning to kill the app's servers on October 15 (the news is displayed in a message within the app, apparently). However, if you haven't already got the app installed on your iPhone, you'll be unable to get a taste of Siri on your iOS device because, as mentioned, Apple has removed the application from the App Store.
Let us know if you're planning on getting an iPhone 4S once the handset is available in the comments.
