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Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8.1 with personal assistant Cortana

thenextweb.com

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Re: Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8.1 with personal assistant Cortana

#11

Post by calinet6 »

JTon wrote: post #4
facorreia wrote: post #2

Named after the fictional Halo character: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortana

I think it's a fascinating move on Microsoft's part to integrate a video game character into a users day-to-day reality. I can imagine some nostalgia fueled sales happening as a result. But moreover, I can't help but be reminded of the movie Her. Where the lines between our physical reality and our digital reality start to blur

Apple began making Siri a character, but this takes it to another level. It's a brilliant UX play on Microsoft's part. Very cool.

Re: Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8.1 with personal assistant Cortana

#13

Post by m_mueller »

- How well can it handle natural language, compared to Siri?

- Can it handle an interaction such as:

-- "Michael, you've got a new message from Paul"

-- "Read it for me"

-- 'Ok, Paul wrote: "Where should we meet today?"'

-- "Answer with "in the Starbucks, at noon as we discussed".

-- 'Ok, here is what I understood: "In the Starbucks, at noon as we discussed". Shall I send it?

-- "yes"

-- "Ok, your reply has been sent.

Re: Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8.1 with personal assistant Cortana

#14

Post by brandonbloom »

facorreia wrote: post #2

Named after the fictional Halo character: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortana

Seems odd that the article doesn't contain the word "Halo". You'd expect that somebody at TNW would have caught the reference, nevermind the writer or editor would have googled the name before clicking "publish".

Re: Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8.1 with personal assistant Cortana

#16

Post by jarjoura »

sz4kerto wrote: post #5
untog wrote: post #3

Kudos to MS for making their personal assistant extendable by third party apps. Neither Apple nor Google have managed to do that yet.

It's basically a pluggable Google Now with APIs. I think it's great.

This thing appears to be more like Siri since it's so context aware and makes jokes.

Re: Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8.1 with personal assistant Cortana

#17

Post by sroerick »

JTon wrote: post #4
facorreia wrote: post #2

Named after the fictional Halo character: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortana

I think it's a fascinating move on Microsoft's part to integrate a video game character into a users day-to-day reality. I can imagine some nostalgia fueled sales happening as a result. But moreover, I can't help but be reminded of the movie Her. Where the lines between our physical reality and our digital reality start to blur

Interesting, as well, that Microsoft wrote a love story between Cortana and Master Chief.

Re: Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8.1 with personal assistant Cortana

#20

Post by toomuchtodo »

sroerick wrote: post #17
JTon wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's a fascinating move on Microsoft's part to integrate a video game character into a users day-to-day reality. I can imagine some nostalgia fueled sales happening as a result. But moreover, I can't help but be reminded of the movie Her. Where the lines between our physical reality and our digital reality start to blur

Interesting, as well, that Microsoft wrote a love story between Cortana and Master Chief.

They were just ahead of their time: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Her_(film)
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