Siri

iOS hackers chpwn and Ryan Petrich have released Spire, a new installer that will bring Siri to your jailbroken iOS device without any copyright concerns. Spire is available in Cydia right now, but uses 100 MB of data, so make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi before installing. You will also need to enter your own proxy server address for it to work. Chpwn created a list of suggestions in case you need help.

If you already own an iPhone 4S or know someone else who does, setting up a proxy should be easier. If you do not have access to an iPhone 4S you will have to be more creative. Chpwn admits Spire is "far from perfect" but it's a positive step towards bringing Siri to other iOS devices besides the iPhone 4S.

If installing full Siri functionality on the iPhone 4 sounds too good to be true, that's because it is. A new software package claiming to make Siri run on a jailbroken iPhone 4 has appeared on a repository that Cydia warns against. The package is called H1Siri, and there are a few reasons why you should stay away.

Not only does the repository containing H1Siri contain cracks and other illegal software, but the package itself comes from an unknown developer. Apparently a Chinese group dubbed CD-Dev Team is behind the Siri port, but the software illegally uses parts of Apple's copyrighted code.

Siri still has plenty of tricks up her sleeve. According to the German website Macerkopf.de, iOS 5.1 will enable Siri to control your iPhone's hardware by the end of this year. This should allow Siri to do more than tell you where the nearest coffee shop is located by giving the voice assistant more control over your device.

If true, iPhone 4S users will be able to ask Siri to do things like shoot video, or turn off their Bluetooth when they get home from the office. Macerkopf.de isn't known for the most accurate iPhone predictions, but Apple needs to do something to make Siri more useful. I know the novelty of the voice assistant has worn off for some.

Apple has made it clear that Siri will not be available on any other iOS devices besides the iPhone 4S. iFixit believes this has to due with the device's unique proximity sensor. The iFixit team discovered whenever the screen of the iPhone 4S is activated the proximity sensor turns on.

The proximity sensor in other iPhone models is basically an infrared LED light that lets the device know when a user's face is near the screen. This allows the iPhone to switch off its touch interface when someone is making a call. iFixit believes the sensor inside the iPhone 4S switches on constantly so users can easily access Siri.