News: Class Action Suit Filed Regarding Siri Performance

There’s been a lot of lawsuits lately in the world of technology, mostly patents, but in this case, a New York man has gotten the ball rolling on a class action lawsuit about the iPhone 4S and Siri.

As reported by The Wall Street Journal…

A New York man represented by Robbins Geller is suing Apple for false advertising, alleging that the company’s commercials convey a “misleading and deceptive message” about Siri’s capabilities.

Frank M. Fazio, who bought his 4S in Brooklyn in November, is part of purported class of people who feel suckered. According to the lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in California:

[I]n many of Apple’s television advertisements, individuals are shown using Siri to make appointments, find restaurants, and even learn the guitar chords to classic rock songs or how to tie a tie. In the commercials, all of these tasks are done with ease with the assistance of the iPhone 4S’s Siri feature, a represented functionality contrary to the actual operating results and performance of Siri.

Fazio claims Siri is far less responsive in real life. When he asked for directions to a certain place, or to locate a store, “Siri either did not understand what Plaintiff was asking, or, after a very long wait time, responded with the wrong answer.” (Disclosure: We own an iPhone 4S, and Siri has been generally responsive to our requests for directions. Even in Midtown traffic.)

The lawsuit, which asks for unspecified damages, says Siri is “at best, a work-in-progress.”

There are a million comments that can be said about this suit, but the bottom line is that Apple is advertising Siri as a “beta” feature, complete with a orange-colored banner on the web site and a disclaimer:

Siri is available in Beta only on iPhone 4S and requires Internet access. Siri may not be available in all languages or in all areas, and features may vary by area. Cellular data charges may apply.