Time to nip it in the bud, apparently. For all of you who were hoping to upgrade your not-quite-the-latest-model iPhone to include the wise-cracking Siri, it appears you may not get it any time soon. According to a report, Apple says that its personal assistant feature will not come to non-iPhone 4S users.
A user contacted Apple with a bug report, and also suggested to the company that Siri could be made available as a paid upgrade for owners of older-model iPhones. Apple was quick to dismiss any possibilities, saying:
“Engineering has provided the following feedback regarding this issue:
Siri only works on iPhone 4S and we currently have no plans to support older devices.”
(MORE: Rumor: You Thought Siri Was Exclusive to Apple’s iPhone 4S?)
If it’s true, it would fit the line of thinking that Siri is one of the few things that sets the iPhone 4S apart from the iPhone 4. It wouldn’t be in Apple’s best interests to make Siri available for older devices, though the word “currently” certainly leaves the door open for new developments down the line.
That said, don’t be too surprised if older iPhones show up with unofficial versions of Siri that work just as well as the official version. Do you really think all of those jailbreakers and hackers aren’t up to the task? Just don’t expect an official version straight from Apple in the near future.
MORE: Siri Tricks and Tips: Do More with the iPhone 4S Virtual Assistant
[via CNet]
Erica Ho is a reporter at TIME. Find her on Twitter at @ericamho and Google+. You can also continue the discussion on TIME’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.