Evi Is No Match for Siri, Initial Tests Show

Yesterday we gave you the heads up on a new service that replicates Siri functionality on old-generation devices, including the iPhone 3G. Evi, as the app is called, is not up to the task, our experience has shown.

Asking the most simple questions puts Evi in an awkward position where she has to say "I'm having trouble getting a response from my servers. You might want to try again in a minute."

Sure you can get your answer on the third or fourth try, but that won’t cut it for a paid app that got downloaded by thousands of people yesterday after news broke out that it puts Siri on your non-4S iPhone.

The culprit might by the flurry of requests hitting the True Knowledge servers, because when we gave the app a go the other day it worked just fine. Today, however, it’s a different story altogether.

And while we don’t mind being patient until True Knowledge irons out all the bugs (after all, Apple went through the same ordeal with Siri), others seem to be a lot more determined to make the developers walk the plank.

A review from the iTunes App Store reads (excerpt): 

"I understand that this is a new product and there may be some kinks, but why would you bother releasing it if the major kink is that is [sic] does not work at all? I will give it a chance and try again later and then tomorrow. If it's still not working by then, I will consider this app fraud and seek my money back. I will update my post with the results."

One of our readers who also bought the 1 dollar app said: "Bought it for my iPod Touch current generation 18 hours ago. Tried 60 or more queries and only ONE has returned an answer. Every other try results in 'cannot contact server" or some such message. Glad it was only $1. :-("

Another chimed in to say: "loaded on my iPod touch. could not answer any of 10 questions, not even post offices near by. worth a dollar? maybe not."

Your move True Knowledge! You got the press coverage, now all you need to do is pull your act together and deliver. Evi is by no means something that should end up as a failed attempt to deliver Siri functionality to those who are stuck on the other side of the fence.

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