Microsoft’s Cortana will be coming to Android later this year

It’s been a while since we last heard rumors of Microsoft’s Cortana coming to Android. Way back in June of 2014 a manager from the Windows Phone team talked about the possibility of Cortana coming to other platforms. Now we’re hearing from Microsoft’s Eric Horvitz, managing director of Microsoft Research, that they are planning a bigger roll-out for Cortana later this year.

Microsoft is currently planning to bring Cortana to the desktop in Windows 10, which could be the perfectly opportunity to launch on Android and iOS as well. You might be thinking “why would Microsoft bring one of the best features of Windows Phone to competing platforms?” The new Microsoft under CEO Satya Nadella is focused on getting more people using Microsoft services. Just look at all the apps they already have in the Play Store.

The big question for most Android users will be “why should I use Cortana?” Microsoft will have a tough job convincing users to switch away from the tightly integrated and powerful Google Now. When Cortana originally launched in beta 0n Windows Phone 8.1 we put it up against Google Now. A lot has changed since then, but it’s still a good look at the two services side-by-side.

Will you give Cortana a shot when it comes to Android?

 

Microsoft confirms Cortana personal assistant is coming to Android this summer

Microsoft today announced that Windows 10 will support Cortana integration not only with their own smartphone, but also for those using Android phones or the iPhone. The functionality will come as part of the OS upgrade happening later this summer.

Microsoft Cortana is a voice assistant service, not all that dissimilar to Siri or Google Search + Google Now. Cortana is actually pretty good at what it does, with some people willing to give it the throne of best voice assistant.

So what’ll it bring? Here’s a quick look at the feature set Microsoft is boasting:

• You can have Cortana remind you to pick up milk the next time you’re at the grocery store, and then your phone will wake up and buzz with the reminder.


• You’ll be able to ask about the weather.


• Or sports scores.


• Or anything else you would head to a search engine for.


• You’ll be able to track a flight using Cortana on both your phone and your PC, and get the updates on the device that you’re on so you don’t miss anything.


• Everything in Cortana’s Notebook will show up across all your devices and any changes you make on one device will be reflected when you use Cortana on any of your other devices.


• The Cortana companion app will help you complete tasks you begin on your PC wherever you are, on your phone.

Unfortunately Android and iOS users won’t be enjoying some of the other things made possible by owning a Windows phone, such as being able to toggle settings. That sort of stuff requires more open access to system settings which Microsoft doesn’t have. Regardless, it’s better than having nothing at all.

Microsoft also detailed some of the other Windows 10 integration being worked on, including syncing your files across devices with OneDrive and being able to play music stored in OneDrive through the Xbox Music app. It all sounds great and we can’t wait for it to arrive.

So when will it happen? Microsoft says a new preview version of Windows 10 is heading out in a few weeks, and the Cortana apps for mobile should be out by the end of June. That’s not a long wait and you can bet we’ll be checking it out to see if it can’t steal us away from Google Now.

[via Microsoft]

Mobile Roar 94: Google IO predictions, Cortana, Periscope, and more!

The tech world is about to be buried in Google IO news, so we make some predictions before the big event. Also, Cortana is coming to Android and iOS, but is that a bad thing for Windows Phone? KFC makes Bluetooth food trays, Periscope arrives on Android, OnePlus is doing something, and much more! Thanks for watching/listening!

Big News

• Google IO predictions

Quick Hits

• Cortana is coming to Android and iOS


• KFC Bluetooth food trays


• Periscope finally arrives on Android


• OnePlus announcing something June 1st


• Jony Ive is probably retiring soon

Wins/Fails

• Joe: I love the LG G4 / Android factory reset doesn’t clear everything


• Chris: Iron Man edition Galaxy S6 / Galaxy S6 is buggy again


• Ashley: / Spotify Radio Sucks

App Picks

• Joe: Weather Timeline


• Chris: Ginger Keyboard


• Ashley: Music Bubbles

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• Joe Fedewa (@tallshmo)


• Chris Chavez (@gamercore)


• Ashley King (@overlordror)


• @mobileroarcast

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Microsoft confirms Cortana for Android beta will be here as soon as July

Microsoft has announced that Cortana for Android will be here in July just in time for Windows 10’s launch. To be clear, it’ll be unleashed as a beta, and as such you should expect that things aren’t fully functional from the start. We won’t get full Cortana love until later in the year.

Cortana, if you don’t know, is Microsoft’s digital assistant. It got its start on Windows Phone, but the company is looking to make it your go-to service no matter which device you’re on. Cortana will integrate with Microsoft’s suite of apps, with a Notebook feature allowing you to have her jot down notes and details important to you.

You can also use it to do things like set reminders, and once that reminder arrives it will alert you on any device where you have Cortana enabled (including other Android phones or tablets, Xbox One, or your Windows 10 PC). You can ask it things about sports, weather, movies, music and more.

Google Now is awesome and it always will be, but Cortana has enough going for it that it’ll at least be worth a try once it makes its way to more devices later this year. We’ll surely be on the lookout for the app’s release date as we inch closer to Windows 10.

[via Microsoft]