Microsoft revamps Cortana for iPhone in renewed bid to take on Apple's Siri
Microsoft on Friday released a promised overhaul of its Cortana iPhone app, simplifying the way the AI assistant works on iOS and making it more practical as an alternative -- or complement -- to Apple's native Siri.
The refreshed app loads faster, and defaults into listening for voice commands and questions. The homescreen can also display Google Now-style information cards on items like news, weather, traffic, package deliveries, and nearby restaurants.
From most places in the app, tapping an icon in the lower-left will bring up "quick action" buttons for info and commands without speaking. In addition to news and weather, users can set and view alarms and reminders, check and organize meetings, and get help with the app.
Microsoft has in fact redesigned how reminders work, along with the app's calling and texting functions. When asking search questions, the app will now provide full-page answers.
Cortana is likely of less use to most iPhone owners than Siri, since Apple restrictions mean it Cortana can't be triggered outside of the app, and it doesn't hook into many native iOS services. It can however be handy for people who also use a computer with Windows 10, which has Cortana integrated.
Microsoft first promised today's update in December, saying it would rollout to iPhone owners in coming weeks.
A recent report noted that Cortana is second to Siri in language support, offering 8 languages in 13 countries versus Siri's 21 in 36. Apple is believed to be preparing enhancements to Siri in time for this year's iPhones, but it's not clear what those might be.
The refreshed app loads faster, and defaults into listening for voice commands and questions. The homescreen can also display Google Now-style information cards on items like news, weather, traffic, package deliveries, and nearby restaurants.
From most places in the app, tapping an icon in the lower-left will bring up "quick action" buttons for info and commands without speaking. In addition to news and weather, users can set and view alarms and reminders, check and organize meetings, and get help with the app.
Microsoft has in fact redesigned how reminders work, along with the app's calling and texting functions. When asking search questions, the app will now provide full-page answers.
Cortana is likely of less use to most iPhone owners than Siri, since Apple restrictions mean it Cortana can't be triggered outside of the app, and it doesn't hook into many native iOS services. It can however be handy for people who also use a computer with Windows 10, which has Cortana integrated.
Microsoft first promised today's update in December, saying it would rollout to iPhone owners in coming weeks.
A recent report noted that Cortana is second to Siri in language support, offering 8 languages in 13 countries versus Siri's 21 in 36. Apple is believed to be preparing enhancements to Siri in time for this year's iPhones, but it's not clear what those might be.
Comments
Maybe they can add it to Siri API for added functionality?
added functionality like Will.i.am's AneedA is the future.
Where does Microsoft think it is going to get volume usage? On PCs and XBox? On Android? I don't think so
Another example of why it sports a PE ratio 2X Apple. /s
And... is it? Cortana is disabled in my Windows install as part of me shutting down the telemetry entirely, so I can’t check.
"Rob Rekrutiak (Google Shopping Group Product Manager) participated in a fireside chat. Google continues to refine Google Shopping and is working to extend the shopping experience across its various platforms, including Search, Home, Express, YouTube, and local. Key takeaways include: 1) Google displaying shopping ads in image search and YouTube, providing more relevant ads for shoppers at the point of inspiration (i.e. makeup ads around YouTube makeup tutorials); 2) Local stores can integrate inventory and in-store pick-up information into Google search results so shoppers can find items at the right stores; 3) Google is working with brands to optimize TV ads to drive product discovery with specific call-to-action items in TV ads (i.e. Google attributed 24% of queries following a Dyson TV ad with custom search call-to-action); 4) Manufacturers are able to submit greater product detail to Google, which allows more customers to discover products through search results; and 5) Google expects 30% of all searches will happen without a screen by 2020 and, through Assistant and Home, is helping people complete tasks rather than just display information. We see Google's ability to leverage its data collection and analysis expertise to improve ad formats as an important positive, as search ad coverage growth seems limited, in our view. [From conference summary, Merrill Lynch report 09MAR2017)
FWIW, while I shunned Siri in the past, now with better understanding, using her more frequently to simplify easy tasks to find scores, set reminders, etc. Hope Siri continues to improve, as ultimately can challenge some lucrative parts of Google's core search business. Eg "Siri, Find best deal on New Balance running shoes I like, Size 13E"
Apparently, 8000ks away in Zurich. I only need to choose walk or drive!
I was playing with Google Now just yesterday. But accuracy vary also.
Telling "Navigate to... " brings navigation but "Navigate me to..." bring web search. Quite dumb.
I do hope that Siri evolves to support chatbot capabilities -- i.e., the ability to have an extended dialog with the user vs. just answering a single question. The IT industry is painting chatbots as the "next big thing" in UI -- building on users' love of messaging -- so I hope that Apple's investment in AI and machine-learning results in a future Siri Chatbot.