Neil Hughes
Inside the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus is an upgraded M9 motion coprocessor that borrows new fitness capabilities from the Apple Watch, by estimating your walking or running pace.
Unlike in previous iPhones, where the M-series chip was separate from the main CPU, Apple has integrated the M9 processor into the A9. The M9 is found in the forthcoming iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and the iPad Pro.
This new integration into the main CPU has allowed Apple to let the motion sensor to run constantly without draining the device's battery life.
In a first for the iPhone series, the iPhone 6s will measure a user's walking or running pace when they exercise, without the need for battery draining GPS. Previously, this functionality was limited to the S1 chip in the Apple Watch.
The M9 also allows for Siri to be always on. That means users will be able to use the device's "Hey Siri" voice command at all times.
In older devices, "Hey Siri" only works if the iPhone or iPad is plugged into a power source. AppleInsider's own sources were first to reveal earlier this week that the iPhone 6s would be Apple's first device to support always-on voice commands.
Like with previous M-series chips, the M9 also tracks steps, distance, and elevation changes. The M9 measures this data through a number of sensors in the iPhone, including an accelerometer, compass, gyroscope, and barometer.
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37 Comments
I can't wait to get in front of an audience in a few months and say over the PA: "Hey Siri, call mom" or "Hey Siri, text my wife/girlfriend that I'm leaving to join the circus".
Edit: Apple took all the fun out of that real quick... I just hope it is not accurate enough that I can still get some jollies out of it.
It can be trained to recognize your voice only, according to a french web site.
[quote name="JackANSI" url="/t/188165/apples-efficient-m9-coprocessor-will-let-your-iphone-6s-track-pace-make-hey-siri-always-on#post_2774256"]I can't wait to get in front of an audience in a few months and say over the PA: "Hey Siri, call mom" or "Hey Siri, text my wife/girlfriend that I'm leaving to join the circus". [/quote] And for exactly this reason I really hope that there is an option to set it back to only when plugged in... it's bad enough in my car now when I want to Hey Siri my plugged in iPhone on the dashboard and my arm is at such an angle that my watch tries to get in on the act too...
Apple has to have figured out a way to do this reasonably securely. Otherwise, your would have situations like some stalker walking up behind a pretty girl and loudly saying, "Hey Siri, text 1-505-223-2525 'I'm on the way.'" followed by a, "Yes," and he would have her cell phone number, if she had a new iPhone (wouldn't be so now if he did this two years from now when this technology was commonplace). This dialog could be performed far faster than she could dig the phone out of her purse and abort the process. If confronted, he could simply say he was talking to his own Siri.
Since commands can be given to Siri, people could probably think up far more nefarious examples that this, even.
I wonder what Apple's solution to this was. If there is no solution, I would be shocked, and would anticipate the bad press starting in 3... 2... 1...
I thought Siri recognized your voice?