Signs Apple is bringing Siri to iPad

The new iPad rumoured to be coming in the next few months could feature Siri, the voice assistant that was the main feature of the iPhone 4S, judging by the latest iOS 5.1 beta update.

9to5Mac reports that the third beta includes a reference to dictation in a new section in the 'settings' application. The description matches the standard information for Siri Dictation found on the iPhone 4S.

The beta does not enable dictation on an iPad 2, so it could be a feature that is being added to the OS but that will only be available on the iPad 3, rumoured to be on the way by March or April.

For now this doesn't seem like a lot to go on, although it could back the hypothesis that Apple is preparing to release an iPad 2S similar to the iPhone 4S released in October, rather than a fully re-developed iPad 3.

Would you buy a new iPad for Siri, or will it take more – perhaps a high-res Retina Display – to make you upgrade? Post your comments below.