[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8akOCfqe-v0]
Microsoft and Apple tackled touch interfaces in diametrically opposing ways. As Apple set out to bring multitouch on mobile devices to the masses with the 2007 release of the original iPhone, Microsoft created a blown up version with its Surface multitouch tabletop (which can now be yours for a cool $8,400, shipping in early 2012).
Microsoft also progressed natural user interfaces with the Kinect motion controller for the Xbox 360 console while Apple charted its way into the future with an artificial intelligence-driven personal assistant dubbed Siri.
So, when Microsoft’s chief strategy and research officer Craig Mundie sat down with Forbes’ Eric Savitz to talk the company’s planned expansion of the new user interface, he did what Microsoft executives typically do when challenged with a cool tech developed outside the Windows maker’s labs: He stuck his foot in his mouth over Apple’s groundbreaking digital secretary exclusive to the iPhone 4S.
In the above clip, he said (mark 1:45):
Windows Phones, seriously? Mundie couldn’t acknowledge Siri as an ace up Apple’s sleeve and barely accepted that Microsoft could learn a lesson or two about “productizing” technology. He then went on to describe how their version of Siri works on Windows Phones:
It’s not the first time Microsoft executives stuck their head in the sand. Steve Ballmer famously laughed off the original iPhone as being overpriced and not appealing to business customers because it doesn’t have a keyboard. The iPhone went on to become the world’s most popular handset. Mundie’s comment echoes a sentiment shared by Google’s vice president of mobile Andy Rubin who offered the following argument as to why people didn’t need Siri:
- Siri responses hint at new features in future updates? (9to5mac.com)
- Siri voice command system ported from iPhone 4S to iPhone 4 (video) (9to5mac.com)
