Microsoft has decided to gather all Halo fans with Cortana! Pretty neat
Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8.1 with personal assistant Cortana
91–100 of 118 posts
Re: Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8.1 with personal assistant Cortana
#92Earlier quoted context omitted.
You get a lot more integration than you probably think with Google Now. It reads my e-mail to keep track of my upcoming flights and packages being delivered. It checks out my calendar and will conveniently provide directions to events on my schedule. There's not a great level of integration for the google chat and voice features yet, but it's coming I'm sure.
But notice that that's only integration between Google services. A 3rd-party API is a whole different game.
Yeah, I guess if you want 3rd party integration via an API you're probably looking for Apple's Passbook. It'll be interesting to see what MSFT does here and how long it'll take for all three to merge into a similar set of features.
Re: Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8.1 with personal assistant Cortana
#93For me the biggest feature is being able to type questions in private, like Fantastical. I use Siri when I'm alone at home or in the car but I regularly find myself checking before using it. It's awkward saying "remind me to pick up extra maxi-pads for the wife on the way home" to siri when I'm at work within earshot of my co-workers. Even less private things than that can be weird.
Re: Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8.1 with personal assistant Cortana
#94What baffles me is why the hell Microsoft didn't follow Apple's route of controlling their own distribution? Now Windows Mobile users have to figure out when their network is going to distribute the update[1]? That is hideous from a user standpoint. Microsoft has the money to convince the carriers, and probably a lot of weight as well. Why wouldn't they avoid that nightmare? Granted I don't have a windows phone so it…
Actually they offer an app that lets you install updates directly from Microsoft , months before Nokia releases the update. Once Nokia releases its version of the update, it automatically uninstalls the "beta" MS updates. It allowed me to run Windows phone Black update like 4 months before Nokia released them. The app is called "Preview for Developers" and it makes you sign into your live account. http://www.windowsp…
WP8.1 is apparently not available yet using this method (I am offered v8.0.10521.155)
Re: Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8.1 with personal assistant Cortana
#95[deleted]
Re: Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8.1 with personal assistant Cortana
#96Earlier quoted context omitted.
google now's voice recognition has worked offline for a while now
Voice recognition, yes. Language processing, no.
I seriously doubt that Microsoft has such advanced language processing capabilities that can work offline on a smartphone. For example, as of a year ago, Xbox speed recognition was still based on an ancient technology derived from Tellme networks, you can see it by yourself during Xbox One voice recognition demos. And now you're saying that phone has more processing power to do that better than a full blown gaming console?
Re: Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8.1 with personal assistant Cortana
#97Earlier 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
The reference to Her is especially relevant, since in the Halo series Cortana was clearly designed for sex appeal, and romantic tension between Master Chief (the player character) and Cortana was strongly implied.
Yes, if you're 13. Why nerds are never really leaving puberty?
Re: Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8.1 with personal assistant Cortana
#98I'm glad Microsoft is finally catching up with the major smartphone OSs. Virtual assistant is indispensable feature (I'm using Google Now with my stock Android), it's very helpful and combined with great integration between gmail, calendar, driving history, purchases, etc. etc. it's realistically my dashboard to go a check stuff. Is Cortana doing the same? Because I think Siri is more like a useless to y to brag about, but not really helpful at anything.
Re: Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8.1 with personal assistant Cortana
#99Re: Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8.1 with personal assistant Cortana
#100- 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…
Windows Phone devices already worked like that before Cortana. But in a more pre-scripted fashion. Something like
-- "You've got a new message from Paul, read it or ignore?"
-- Read it.
And so on (including the dictation and sending of the reply)