Ethan Anderton, for /Film:
Various GPS systems have adopted plenty of famous pop culture voices to deliver audio directions
Last year the navigation app Waze added Arnold Schwarzenegger to their line-up, but they’ve hit the jackpot with their latest addition.
I’ve liked Freeman since I watched The Shawshank Redemption as a kid. Tim Robbins was the “main character,” no doubt. But Freeman stole the show.
Tangentially related, I actually use the male British voice for Siri (and Maps directions). I feel terrible admitting this, but I hate the female Siri voice with a passion. And it’s not because I have some chauvinistic dislike for a female giving me directions.
No, it’s just that I associate her voice with all of her annoying past failures.
And it’s not like she hasn’t had time to learn my voice. I’ve been talking to her her for over three years.
2012 ¶
Me: “[Presses and holds home button] Set a timer for four minutes.”
Siri: “I’m sorry, I didn’t get that. Can you repeat it?”
2016 ¶
Me: “Hey Siri, set a timer for four minutes.”
Siri: “I’m sorry, I didn’t get that. Can you repeat it?”
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😑
I’m positive that if it were Morgan Freeman failing me on a daily basis, I’d hate his voice too.