Cortana
According to IT grapevine, Microsoft is in the process of developing a Siri-like Virtual Assistant for Windows Phone. Just as Apple uses Siri for iPhone and Google has Google Now for Android, Microsoft, too, is probably thinking on the same line. And if things go according to plan, we may get to meet this virtual assistant before long, probably even no later than 2015.
However, there has been no official announcement as to this. But industry insiders' guess is that Microsoft does not want too much noise in this. They know that Apple and Google apps are already in place and by the time they come up with their own, these apps themselves will receive a few tweaks. So, the strategy seems to be to go quiet and act from behind the screen, so that it can give the beat both to Siri and Google Now coming from behind.
There is no proper news on what this app is going to be like or what would be the key features. However, rumors and some stray statements from Microsoft seem to point to the development of a personalized intelligence in the cloud which will scan the important activities of the user over the web and will help him with tips, alerts and suggestions, much the way Google Now currently performs.
What Google Now does is look at your web searches, Gmail account, calendar and location and gathers up the information that it thinks may be useful to you. So, for example, you may expect to receive an alert regarding your boarding pass before you leave for the airport or if you are an avid football fan and has in the past searched various topics on local football in the web, you will be receiving any breaking news on this category via Google Now.
If the rumors are true, Apple is thinking something on the same line for their virtual assistant app. There are also speculations over its name. According to one rumor, it will be named Cortana (remember Halo, Xbox?). Well, for the time being, we will keep our fingers crossed.
Update January 2015:
Microsoft has included Cortana in the Windows 10 platform. Cortana is virtual competitor to Siri the apple virtual assistant. Cortana came out last year on the windows 8.1 build. Cortana is a learning interface. She wants to learn your home and work locations. Once there is a pattern set. She can recommend eating establishments,Stores ect. She can do math,Keep track of sports scores. Cortana is activated with th Windows key and Plus key pushed. Right now Cortana is available only in the US. When we first talked about Cortana over a year ago. She was just an idea. Now She is a reality!
However, there has been no official announcement as to this. But industry insiders' guess is that Microsoft does not want too much noise in this. They know that Apple and Google apps are already in place and by the time they come up with their own, these apps themselves will receive a few tweaks. So, the strategy seems to be to go quiet and act from behind the screen, so that it can give the beat both to Siri and Google Now coming from behind.
There is no proper news on what this app is going to be like or what would be the key features. However, rumors and some stray statements from Microsoft seem to point to the development of a personalized intelligence in the cloud which will scan the important activities of the user over the web and will help him with tips, alerts and suggestions, much the way Google Now currently performs.
What Google Now does is look at your web searches, Gmail account, calendar and location and gathers up the information that it thinks may be useful to you. So, for example, you may expect to receive an alert regarding your boarding pass before you leave for the airport or if you are an avid football fan and has in the past searched various topics on local football in the web, you will be receiving any breaking news on this category via Google Now.
If the rumors are true, Apple is thinking something on the same line for their virtual assistant app. There are also speculations over its name. According to one rumor, it will be named Cortana (remember Halo, Xbox?). Well, for the time being, we will keep our fingers crossed.
Update January 2015:
Microsoft has included Cortana in the Windows 10 platform. Cortana is virtual competitor to Siri the apple virtual assistant. Cortana came out last year on the windows 8.1 build. Cortana is a learning interface. She wants to learn your home and work locations. Once there is a pattern set. She can recommend eating establishments,Stores ect. She can do math,Keep track of sports scores. Cortana is activated with th Windows key and Plus key pushed. Right now Cortana is available only in the US. When we first talked about Cortana over a year ago. She was just an idea. Now She is a reality!