Plenty of Android users have been staring in envious dismay at those celebrity Siri advertisements. When will my phone remind me to chill the gazpacho??? If this sounds familiar, you’re in luck. Android recently unveiled Android Robin, a very Siri-esque virtual assistant which responds to your voice and gives you directions. Here, we’ll give you basics.

Android Robin

Let’s get the bad stuff out of the way first. It’s important to remember that this is a beta app. It’s still in development, hence the £0.00 price tag. You’re getting to test this out for free, so let’s not be too harsh.

One downside we noticed was the motion detection feature. According to video demos, you can simply wave your hand in front of your phone to activate Android Robin. In real life – not so much. We waved, wiggled our fingers and performed maneuvers which could have successfully landed jetliners, yet Robin did not respond. When we lightly swiped our fingers across the top corner of the screen, however, Android Robin was right there waiting, as promised. We’re assuming this is a glitch which will be fixed long before the app pops up with a price tag attached.

Another irritation was the fact that Android Robin is easily confused and a bit too eager to please. Just for kicks, we asked for weather conditions in Brisbane, Australia. Instead of delivering what we asked for, Robin told us it was raining outside (which it was) and ignored the Brisbane factor. Annoying, but how often do you have a dire need for weather updates half a world away?

Other annoyances included Robin’s inexplicable self-closing when asked to do certain things, and its oddly human-like tendency to babble on once it’s provided you with your answer. In addition, the app is apparently not available on some Android devices.

Android Robin: What You’ll Love

Considering that Android Robin is a beta app, we are thoroughly impressed by this virtual assistant. Robin is apparently very focused on assisting drivers, and it does this impeccably. It helped us find the ultimate pot of gold for any city-dweller – affordable, nearby parking. While driving, this plucky little virtual assistant not only delivered local petrol stations, but also the prices of our specified fuel type at those petrol stations.

Android Robin Put to the Test

There is big potential here. Despite all the odd quirks and glitches, we sense great things to come. The basics are already there, and quite convenient. Need directions? Android Robin has you covered. The simple fact that this app is not device-specific (hint Siri) puts it, for us at least, leaps and bounds ahead of its nearest competitor.

Android Robin: Our Final Thoughts

Do you want this app? Yes, you do. Why? Well, for starters, you get to be a part of shaping its development. In addition, it’s free. While it’s not something we’d recommend you rely on to replace your GPS just yet, we see potential for that and much, much more in the future. Hop on board now, give it a spin and see what you think. Even if you end up hating it (which we doubt) you won’t be wondering anymore and you won’t be out a single penny.


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