Apple Threatens Evi with App Store Dismissal, Claims Resemblance to Siri

Last month, True Knowledge, a Cambridge-based tech firm launched an app - Evi - for both the iOS and Android softwares that bore a remarkable resemblance to Apple's in-house voice-activated digital assistant.

It now seems Evi's developers have been warned by Apple Inc. that their app will be removed from the company's App Store exactly because it is very similar to Apple's Siri.

William Tunstall-Pedoe, the Chief Executive of True Knowledge, has been quoted by TechCrunch as saying he was contacted by Richard Chipman, an Apple representative, who told him Evi would be "pulled from the store".

Apparently Evi appears to violate Rule 8.3 in the Apple Store Review Guidelines. The rule reads: "Apps which appear confusingly similar to an existing Apple product or advertising theme will be rejected".

"I don't think it takes too much of a leap of the imagination to realise that 'confusingly similar' is code for 'competitive with'...and that all the user and press reviews along the lines of 'now you don't need to buy a 4S...you can download Evi', 'better than Siri' etc. have resulted in a change of heart from Apple about allowing its users to get the app," William Tunstall-Pedoe is quoted as saying to TechCrunch.

According to data from SlashGear, Evi has had more than 200,000 downloads.

So far, a report from The Guardian said Evi is still available on the App Store, in both the UK and the US and Tunstall-Pedoe has been quoted as saying he was waiting for further information from Apple.

Check out a review of each app...

Evi

Price: $ 0.99

Developer- True Knowledge

Description- Evi is an Artificial Intelligence voice-activated software designed to search for and find information related to everyday activities. It is similar to an Internet search engine in that it identifies what the user is looking for and delivers related search results.

Features:

# The app receives both voice and text input

# It provides information for shopping and dining destinations and news headlines for both the UK and the US. The app uses its software to track the user's current location and delivers search results based on that

# It offers single-tap functionality that allows users to build queries faster

# It has a built-in browser, meaning the user does not have to switch applications to view search results

Siri

Apple's in-house voice-activated digital assistant works within a language-user interface. Siri searches for and collects answers from sources like Yelp and WolframAlpha. In addition, the app also provides information based on real-time locations. Siri is available on the iPhone.

Features:

# The app allows users to set reminders for important appointments

# Siri writes and sends text messages and gives users weather forecasts

# Users can even use the app to write and send e-mails

# Siri helps in searching for addresses, phone numbers and other details

# Users can request navigation help from Siri and even stock updates