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63 Comments

Personal assistant app VIKI coming to BlackBerry 10

By Adam Zeis on 22 Jan 2013 10:19 am
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The voice control functions on BlackBerry 10 look to be very robust from what we can tell, but there is always room for improvement. Looking to fill the void and act as your personal assistant, VIKI will be make its (her?) way on to BlackBerry 10 phones very soon. VIKI, which will have the obvious Siri comparisons, is a personal assistant app that lets you schedule reminders, send email, access news, weather, movie times and much more.

There's no word on an official release, but it looks like VIKI should be available at launch next week. You can check out a quick teaser video above then hit up the forums for more discussion.

Discuss more in the CrackBerry forums

Topics: BlackBerry 10 VIKI News & Rumors BlackBerry Apps

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Adam Zeis Adam Zeis 3031 (articles) 2790 (forum posts)
63 comments

Deathcommand

I'm concerned.

http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0028687/quotes

Toodeurep

EXACTLY! V.I.K.I. from I, Robot.

The good news is that this is V1KI with a 1 not an I. Other than that we are clearly doomed!

Balti43

That was my exact first thought :/

RWD

Your logic is undeniable...

17.michal

I'm concerned too...what's up with all the spelling mistakes? Streessed out? and Its not something, its someone? come one...promo video without checking spelling?

raoul_duke

"[...]should be available at launch next week[...]"
So, the Z10 will be launched very very soon after the event?!
fantastic!

advil_yum

"launch" in this case means Jan 30, however, rumours are that the phone will be released in Canada the first week of Feb. with "major" supported countries soon thereafter, with the lowly US market not seeing it until end of March/early April.
For the US and BlackBerry's sake, I hope they don't wait that long for the US release. They will get *hammered* in the press/blogs for it.

BB_Bmore

Lowly??? I'd be dead wrong to stoop down to your level.

advil_yum

In terms of US BlackBerry Interest and Adoption? Absolutely, "Lowly". And supported by RIM's backhanded launch delay (if true, that is). The US is simply not a premiere market for them at this point in time. They're "rewarding" the loyal markets first.

Rootbrian

Show some compassion for once in your life.

advil_yum

Sorry guys! Don't shoot the messenger. =D And I was not being insulting. Just saying what I heard directly from RIM.

Earl_3

I have to say while most of the US has been licked by the carmelized Apple . I have been a LOYAL!!! BlackBerry fan for several years as I'm sure all the BlackBerry fans in the US have been as well. To say we have been anything less is ignorant. Can't blame us for blunders that led them to their demise here. This defines us users from the players. Thru thick and thin. If you ask me it's the perfect time to strike back for the RIMpire. Regain a strong hold close to home.

BruvvaPete2

Some might say the US deserves to be last because of the way the company was treated in the powerful US media.

Anyway it's interesting that this app is exclusive to BB10.

H_O_Boomaye

I live in America, and I hate when people bad mouth RIM; we are supposed to be the country who supports an underdog, not an evil empire.

I for one really do pray that the RIMgods do show mercy and give us an early release date. No later than a week after the Canadian release. Selfishly I want it right away, but I also don't want the US Media to rip RIM.

PS: I was always thought that kindness is harder to execute but more effective. You kill people with kindness.

SCPanther13

Someone to correct spelling errors in otherwise nicely done ads!

AngryEdmontonian

What, you've never been "Streessed out"?
I Bleed Black & Berry

feldmen01

It's easy to lose credibility with simple errors like that in my opinion.

On a side note, I see this as being a feature that will be included, not because it's useful, but more likely because they have to appease those who make comparisons to Apple's Siri.

I can't recall an instance where I spotted someone in public using Siri over traditional search options, but that's just me.

Abrante

I totally agree. Simple errors can hinder the credibility. Aside from that though, the simplicity of this piece kept me engaged.

AngryEdmontonian

I know that was not a "BlackBerry" commercial, but that right there, is the types of commercials I want to see for BlackBerry 10. Simple elegant and to the point. Connects on a real level and even adds an emotional element. No Slandering, no comparison, just This is what we do.

I Bleed Black & Berry

Bigpoint

I could not agree more. Well said.

MaxPayne79

Viki sounds like a porno name. I like her already. Viki Sonaughty. Lol.

PlaybookFanatic

I love you for this comment. Be my best friend?!

bbqkid8

I hope it won't be in beta, like Siri.

SEAWARRIOR

"someone to talk to when you're stressed out"??? really??? what's next??? happy endings??? "hi VIKI, I'm stressed out." "I'm sorry to hear that. Can i give you a hand with that?"

"THE GUY YOUR MOTHER WARNED YOU ABOUT"

Abrante

You can only talk to it when you're "Streessed" out. So we have to get a definition for the word. I might not be able to talk to it.

SCPanther13

Reminds me of this guy: http://www.mytherapybuddy.com/

When "streessed" you could squeeze his formless doll and it would say, "Everything is going to be all right."

Maybe cutting edge "MTB" tech is built into VIKI. ;)

PlaybookFanatic

At first I was bothered that this, and tje commercial screamed iphone. That was a fleeting moment. I like that RIM, and it's affiliates, are straddling the line catiously. It's almost a messge of, "I do what you do...BETTER." Can't wait for the launch! I. Just won my phone yesterday,so I'll be in New York!

Take me out for a Birthday Drink Kevin/Crackberry Team? :)

gniko21

Yeah, I think that was just a little bit disturbing. A little too Hal-ish for my tastes.

JohnBoy28

I would prefer that her name was Bea Bea. :.)

jasperlin

https://www.facebook.com/Vikipersonalassistant

thatplaybookguy

skynet is born.

Craig4444

Ha ha ha thats way to funny.... Hmmm wait a second....thats not funny

DrBit2011

Resistance in futil!!!
Nevermind, that it's the Borg

I will be back... Better BlackBerry is Back!! ;)

Live Long and Prosper!

lotuslanderz

The VIKI app makers need to correct those spelling errors, especially on their tag line. It's not its.
Anyway, hope it works better than Siri.

birdman_38

Never heard of it. But good that it's coming to BlackBerry 10.

SCPanther13

On a serious note, I welcome any developer that wants to get their product on the BB10 platform. From the videos I've seen so far, however, the built in voice control looks to be more than sufficient for me.

BBPandy

Yea, I saw a vid (big hands German guy) where the BB10 voice commands were quicker then Siri & didn't have any mistakes (unlike Siri)

Though it was only a few commands, & not by any means an exhaustive test

SuperionMaximus

So is this a 3rd party app or the official name of the Voice control function?

BGK

Yeah what the heck Private video ??

The Furbz

Why can't I view this vid? :(

dejisanusi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2Z6nkDiEdE

BB_Bmore

Calm down viki is in the shower folks....give her a little privacy huh.

BruvvaPete2

hahaha.. She's scrubbing my back!

Mattma43

How can this be considered a teaser video?

The application is not even shown in the video.

Driftdreams

"My logic is undeniable".... Lol...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gApmsNAt6QM/TotYENPxwQI/AAAAAAAAEJ8/QUf1vl_9W6...

Cant wait for BB10

@BBMarnel

kw9700

(V)oice (I)nitiated (K)ontrols (I)nterface ?

craigs

This video was a let done. Just a bunch of text telling us what it supposedly can do. Not even a sample of the voice or the app in action.

RubberChicken76

Wasn't VIKI the robot from SMALL WONDER?

BBVegasGirl80

Yes! I was wondering when someone would mention that! :-)

Gnomesane

Dang. I was hoping the voice assistant would be called B.A.R.I . (Blackberry Automated Research Intelligence). And to personalize with a male voice, you'd get Barry White, and for a female voice, Halle Berry! =)

BBVegasGirl80

"Say a command, baby." ;-)

ORIGINQuest

I wonder if I can make her sound like GLaDOS from Portal?

"Cake, and grief counseling, will be available at the conclusion of the test."

slick1two

Wondering if V1k1 is actually the native app? But we have seen a stripped down version in the Z10 hands on vid? Perhaps we are going to see some advanced demoing of the full capabilities on launch day? The people behind viki are saying it's available at launch? Is that because it's the Voice Controls that is already on the z10?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WxNUrCvLbXw

Seems these are the people behind V1k1, and they have created some form of humanoid with AI, which looks like it is the core tech that is going in to V1k1. They said in the trailer, and it sounds a little funny, you can talk to it when stressed out, but how deeply can you communicate with a voice assistant? When it's just programmed to respond within certain parameters of communication, unless it is able to actually use some degree of intelligence. Is there some level of AI in v1k1 that is beyond anything we have seen in a voice assistant so far? Is this going to be a big reveal on launch day?

Or have i watched too much sci-fi tv and over analyzing it all? hehe.

Driftdreams

I found this.... This is most likely the developers early build of this.... Enjoy guys

http://youtu.be/DoHTJfVEVJo

BruvvaPete2

That was very interesting. That video was posted in October 2012. If someone high up took it and ran with it, look out Tony Stark.

Jimcmf

Everyone that I know wants to get a BB10.

What is going on with this world?

Scooter68

Video is private... What gives?