Smartphone users may be bidding Siri goodbye and welcoming Cortana soon.
Microsoft confirmed that Cortana will be coming to Android smartphones and tablets beginning June 2015 and to iPhones later in the year. The company described Cortana as the first personal digital-assistant that can work across the user's PC and phone. When users upgrade their PC for free to Windows 10 during the summer, Cortana will be included in the package. Cortana will be deeply integrated on Windows phone as well as the user's Windows 10 PC. The virtual assistant also has other great functions, such as search for various items online, toggling device settings, dictating email or setting reminders. Cortana will further be integrated into Microsoft's new internet browser for Windows 10, dubbed "Microsoft Edge".
For individuals who do not own a Windows phone, Cortana will be extended to Windows 10. On May 26, 2015, Microsoft announced that a Cortana application for Android phones and iPhones will be introduced to serve as a companion to Cortana on a Windows 10 PC. The "Phone Companion" app on the PC will aid in the installation of the Cortana app from the Apple App Store or Google Play onto the smartphone. This way, users can take advantage of Cortana's intelligence and various functions on the go. The Cortana app can do a lot of things that Cortana normally performs on the PC or Windows phone.
There are also a number of limitations on the Cortana app, Microsoft revealed. A number of features might require access to the system that may not be available with the current Android or iOS. For example, opening apps and toggling device settings may not be initially available for certain platforms in the Cortana companions. Special integration with the device microphone is also required to use Cortana's hands-free functions.
Microsoft is poised to make Windows 10 its best OS yet. The company believes that no other PC operating system will be able to perform as well as Windows 10 when it launches.
The upcoming Cortana reportedly poses a real threat to Siri, considering how the latter lacks a number of functions that are expected to appear in the new digital assistant. 9to5Mac reported that Microsoft poked fun at Siri through a number of ads in preparation for Cortana. Cortana can generally perform as much as Siri can, and more such as allowing third-party apps to finish tasks, providing reminders and reports and answering questions.