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Cortana available on iOS and Android

blogs.windows.com

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Re: Cortana available on iOS and Android

#41

Post by gambiting »

probably_wrong wrote: post #10

I want to like Cortana, I really do. Unfortunately, it's linked to my phone's default language. So even though I could speak English, Cortana will not talk to me because my phone's interface is in Spanish. That is something I can understand - maybe there are development reasons why second language voice recognition is not possible. However, every time I update my OS, Cortana is added to my main screen again, perhaps…

Microsoft has some really weird approach to languages.

Take Xbox One. You cannot possibly set your location to say France and language to English. Nope. If you want your console in English, you HAVE to set your location to one of the English-speaking countries. It's really infuriating.

Re: Cortana available on iOS and Android

#42

Post by Grazester »

dharma1 wrote: post #9

do Siri, OK Google or Cortana offer any API's for 3rd party apps? So that I could do things like get X app to do Y with voice commands? Either when I've got the app open/focused, or even when the app isn't running?

Of course Google now has an api that can be used for issuing voice commands for third party apps

Re: Cortana available on iOS and Android

#44

Post by mhurron »

danpeddle wrote: post #25
probably_wrong wrote: post #10

I want to like Cortana, I really do. Unfortunately, it's linked to my phone's default language. So even though I could speak English, Cortana will not talk to me because my phone's interface is in Spanish. That is something I can understand - maybe there are development reasons why second language voice recognition is not possible. However, every time I update my OS, Cortana is added to my main screen again, perhaps…

Sigh, that's sad. It baffles me that there are still so many services that try to 'automagically' intuit which language someone wants to have a service in, instead of just simply .. asking. Google play is a prime culprit, for example, showing a mixture of language content on the play store. See also subtitles, dubbed content, books.. Another one - Sony's Playstation store, where if you choose a country, then the lang…

Both of your examples could easily be licensing issues though.

Re: Cortana available on iOS and Android

#45

Post by mhurron »

jinst8gmi wrote: post #23
bst287 wrote: post #12

Is there any clear benefit to using Cortana over Siri?

Not having to buy an Apple device which is unaffordable for many...

Presumably if you're asking about benefits to Cortana over Siri in a thread announcing Cortana is now available on Apple mobile devices, it is somewhat implied that those interested in such a comparison already have a Apple mobile device with Siri.

Because otherwise such a comparison is pointless.

Re: Cortana available on iOS and Android

#46

Post by dharma1 »

Grazester wrote: post #42
dharma1 wrote: post #9

do Siri, OK Google or Cortana offer any API's for 3rd party apps? So that I could do things like get X app to do Y with voice commands? Either when I've got the app open/focused, or even when the app isn't running?

Of course Google now has an api that can be used for issuing voice commands for third party apps

No support for voice actions on Android TV it seems, shame.

Bought an Nvidia Shield TV recently and while voice search is really good, it would be awesome to have wider voice control.

Re: Cortana available on iOS and Android

#47

Post by Pxtl »

reitanqild wrote: post #20
probably_wrong wrote: post #10

I want to like Cortana, I really do. Unfortunately, it's linked to my phone's default language. So even though I could speak English, Cortana will not talk to me because my phone's interface is in Spanish. That is something I can understand - maybe there are development reasons why second language voice recognition is not possible. However, every time I update my OS, Cortana is added to my main screen again, perhaps…

On PC it refuses even if my user interface is English.

I had to download the canadian English audio pack to make it work, since I'm using the Canadian dictionary. It came bundled with the American English audio pack.

...

We sound the same.

Re: Cortana available on iOS and Android

#48

Post by mikeash »

MBCook wrote: post #21
arihant wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think both Siri and Google Now offer third-party hooks, even on the watches. I'm not sure about Cortana.

Siri does not, at least at the moment. It's widely hoped that it will, but today no.

A notable exception to this is HomeKit devices. While it's not close to what you'd want for a general third-party API, it does let you integrate some things. I've messed around a bit with using a server to fake being a HomeKit device to get some custom things working with Siri.
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