Washington Apple Pi

A Community of Apple iPad, iPhone and Mac Users

January 2016 General Meeting

Mike Wish and Siri

Canceled on account of oh may goodness there is a lot of snow...

Despite running USB cables and HDMI cables over giant mounds of snow, Pi Management decided to cancel the January meeting. Sad.

January 23, 2016, 9:30 a.m., George Mason University

Mike Wish of MacTipster will visit Washington Apple Pi, answering the question: Can Siri help you with your life? Hint: yes.

“Hey Siri, Is it supposed to rain tonight?
Text Sally, “Don’t make any plans tonight.”
Find a table for two tonight in Bethesda, MD… OK… Find an INEXPENSIVE restaurant in Bethesda, MD.
Schedule dinner tonight at 7pm.
Remind me to pick up my laundry when I leave work.
Post to Facebook “Can’t wait to celebrate 43 years with my beautiful wife.”


Siri can handle a variety of simple tasks and perfect for hands-free communication in the car and quick tasks while on the move. Aside from that, Siri can accurately transcribe long messages and emails and give your thumbs a break. Learn about all the useful and crazy things you can ask Siri for help with and start putting her to work today.

The presentation will focus on the relative maturity of Siri compared to when it was first presented to the world in 2011. Make sure to bring your Siri compatible devices so you can follow along, and bring your questions about other ways Siri could help - I’m happy to accommodate.

Once again, we will attempt to stream the meeting over the Internet: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wap-general-meeting.

The General Meeting will be in our usual location, Enterprise building, Room 178 on the George Mason University campus in Fairfax VA. Check back closer to the meeting date for any updates or changes.

George Mason University map

Enterprise Hall, our normal meeting place, is #16. Click on the map for a much larger version of the George Mason University campus map.

George Mason University Essential Information

The meeting will be held in Enterprise Hall, Room 178.

Address: 4400 University Dr., Fairfax, VA (near Rte 123 and Braddock Road). Directions and Map: http://www.gmu.edu/welcome/Directions-to-GMU.html

Interactive map of campus: http://eagle.gmu.edu/map/fairfax.php

Important Parking Information: Two Options, Paid and Free

The Shenandoah Parking Garage (formerly the Sandy Creek Parking Garage because it is located on Sandy Creek) is fee-based facility. It is more convenient and closer to the meeting location. The Pi will subsidize the facility's parking fee by providing vouchers for donation request of $4.00.

If using the parking garage, park in Visitor's area; i.e., the lowest level. Take the elevator to the third floor (Campus Level), and exit along the sky bridge.

After the meeting, exit the garage using the exits marked for Validated Tickets. Your parking ticket goes in first. Then the validation ticket goes in next. If you have any problems, there is a speaker box for calling the parking lot attendant at the checkout point.

Free parking in Lot A

Park as close to Mattaponi River Lane as possible, then walk north along that road toward the main campus buildings. The sidewalk route takes you directly to the side of Enterprise Hall, on your left. The meeting room is located on the second floor, accessible via outside stairs or via an elevator on your right as soon as you enter the building through the doors behind the outside stairs. We will endeavor to have signs posted to help guide you to the right location. It is at least a five-minute walk from Lot A and up a slight incline. We will be using a golf cart along the route, to offer rides to those who want or need a lift.

Handicapped Parking: There are three handicap parking spaces next to Enterprise Hall that can be used by members, on a first come first served basis. Have your Handicap Sticker showing on the dashboard or on the rear-view mirror.