How to make the most of Siri

Siri is now always-on since the release of iOS 9.1. Here are some tips and tricks that may help you make the most of Apple's digital assistant.

With the release of iOS 9.1, which is now available for all iPhone users, Siri is more attentive than ever, as she’s always on. Now, you only have to say, "Hey, Siri!" to get her attention rather than pressing and holding the iPhone's Home button.

One thing to note is that the sensor controlling this function doesn't enable Siri when face-down on a table or in your pocket.

There are many things that make Siri an essential sidekick, but if you don’t know how to use her effectively she’s completely useless. Here are some tips to help you get the most from Siri now that she is at your beck-and-call more often.

Practice makes perfect

If you’re new to using Siri, she may stumble and fail the first couple of times you try to get her to do something. But stick with it rather than doing it manually, if you have a few seconds to spare. You will learn how to use Siri effectively, which is a real time saver for many day-to-day tasks.

Set up contacts

Make sure Siri knows the most important people in your life, by telling her who your wife, husband, daughter, etc. are. All you have to say is, “(Name) is my (Title).” Once the name matches your contacts, Siri will then understand who to call when you say, “Call my boss.”

Utilise your calendar

We always seem to have multiple appointments that clash. Siri can help you stay on top of things and manage your calendar. The trick is to include as much information as possible in the command. Say, “Schedule a meeting with Jim tomorrow at 11a.m.” You can change or cancel details easily, and Siri will seek clarification if there is any ambiguity. And if you have conflicting appointments you can alter your calendar by asking her to cancel or reschedule something.

Set up location-aware reminders

We’ve all gone shopping and come home without something we realised we needed a few days prior, but forgot to put on a list. Siri can be used to set reminders dependent on your location. Add locations to your contacts and then you’ll be able to tell Siri to “Remind me to get milk at Tesco” or “Remind me to say happy birthday to my boss when I get to work.”

Set timers

We often need to keep an eye on the time. If you’re baking, parking, or just need a reminder to leave the house, a timer is essential. Tell Siri to “Set the timer for 15 minutes” to get a timely reminder so you don’t have to clock watch.

Joke around

Siri is also quite entertaining at times. Try asking her what zero divided by zero is, what the meaning of life is, or what the best phone is. There are plenty out there, and many that people are yet to stumble upon, so play around.