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Farewell, Cortana

gizmodo.com

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Re: Farewell, Cortana

#51

Post by charles_f »

kgwxd wrote: post #3
js4ever wrote: post #2

I don't know a single person using Cortana, so it's not a surprise I guess. At least the push to use it in Windows will finally go away... A bit too late I have migrated to Ubuntu earlier this year... Puting an end to 20 years of Windows on my computer. Farewell Microsoft.

Does anyone use any voice assistant anywhere? Other than people trying it out for the first time, I've literally never seen it in the wild.

I actually used Cortana on my Android phone. (Disclaimer - I work for MSFT). The main reason why I don't use Google assistant instead is the total unease with having Google listen to me 24/7.

Cortana's not too bad for the simple stuff like getting the outlook of the day or setting up geofenced reminders (remind me to unload the washing machine when I come back home).

Anything more complex absolutely fails 100% of the time, with this ridiculous behavior most assistants have to default to "here is what I found on the web". Why on earth would I want you to search for what I asked you to do? Wouldn't I ask you to search on the web if I wanted you to search on the web?

I think that's the downfall of most voice assistants I've tried. Discoverability is poor, which wouldn't be a problem if the feature set was not limited to the basics.

That being said it also loses a lot of its appeal by requiring a physical activation (either clicking on the app or on my headsets button), since Google removed the possibility for alternative voice assistants to do that. Compared to "hey siri", that schnucks.

Re: Farewell, Cortana

#53

Post by artificialLimbs »

davnicwil wrote: post #10
kgwxd wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does anyone use any voice assistant anywhere? Other than people trying it out for the first time, I've literally never seen it in the wild.

I use Google assistant to set reminders. It's so much more convenient than clicking through and typing the same thing on my phone especially or even my laptop. Literally works in 3 seconds. It's great!

This. And calendar events; much faster than fiddling with menus, and I can do it while i'm driv... uh, running.

Re: Farewell, Cortana

#54

Post by funnybeam »

Splognosticus wrote: post #9
kgwxd wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does anyone use any voice assistant anywhere? Other than people trying it out for the first time, I've literally never seen it in the wild.

I use Siri to set alarms and timers since that's far and away more convenient than opening the app and switching to the right tab and futzing with the time dial. If I've got my phone in my pocket and my hands full it's helpful to be able to tell Siri to turn the flashlight on. Aside from that I don't think I've used it for much. I get the weather from the radio already, and don't care to search the web with a voice a…

Why would you want to turn the flashlight on when the phone is in your pocket?

Re: Farewell, Cortana

#55

Post by Intermernet »

kgwxd wrote: post #3
js4ever wrote: post #2

I don't know a single person using Cortana, so it's not a surprise I guess. At least the push to use it in Windows will finally go away... A bit too late I have migrated to Ubuntu earlier this year... Puting an end to 20 years of Windows on my computer. Farewell Microsoft.

Does anyone use any voice assistant anywhere? Other than people trying it out for the first time, I've literally never seen it in the wild.

I use Google Assistant all the time in Android Auto. It's actually remarkably brilliant... Until it isn't and becomes either humorous or frustrating depending on the situation.

Re: Farewell, Cortana

#56

Post by pamitm »

coldtea wrote: post #27
Waterluvian wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've seen a friend use it while driving. Seems painfully obvious and yet I still refuse to use it while driving. Instead I just don't phone for that time.

Using a voice assistant might be less distracting than using your phone, but it's still distracting while driving, having to concentrate on what you say, the right commands, their feedback, etc.

Almost the same level of distraction as holding a conversation then. I can live with that.

Re: Farewell, Cortana

#57

Post by basicplus2 »

“To make your personal digital assistant as helpful as possible, we’re integrating Cortana into your Microsoft 365 productivity apps,”

Doesn't sound like its farewell at all...

just possibly giving Cortana direct access to everything you type in email, documents, excel.. the list goes on

Re: Farewell, Cortana

#58

Post by TheOtherHobbes »

hadlock wrote: post #29
kgwxd wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does anyone use any voice assistant anywhere? Other than people trying it out for the first time, I've literally never seen it in the wild.

I don't think we've touched a light switch in our house in eight months due to voice assistant. Kitchen timers, asking spelling of words, doing imperial to metric conversion, getting weather. Sometimes if I'm in an argument with my wife I will have google define the term we're arguing over for dramatic effect, or we'll consult google via voice to clarify something, like the population of the Philippines, for example.

I had voice control set up for the house lights for a few months, and went back to having a manual remote clicker in most of the house and a PIR switch in the pantry.

For me at least, button pushing has a lower cognitive load than talking at something.

Re: Farewell, Cortana

#59

Post by mtgx »

You may say farewell Cortana but will Cortana say farewell back? In a recent update, Microsoft made it impossible to completely disable Cortana/web search within local searches.

Re: Farewell, Cortana

#60

Post by perlgeek »

kgwxd wrote: post #3
js4ever wrote: post #2

I don't know a single person using Cortana, so it's not a surprise I guess. At least the push to use it in Windows will finally go away... A bit too late I have migrated to Ubuntu earlier this year... Puting an end to 20 years of Windows on my computer. Farewell Microsoft.

Does anyone use any voice assistant anywhere? Other than people trying it out for the first time, I've literally never seen it in the wild.

I've heard some of my colleagues use the "remind me when I get home to..." feature.

I also sometimes use the voice input to google search on mobile, though I guess that doesn't count as a full-blown assistant.

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