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Microsoft Bringing Cortana To iOS, Android

Posted by Soulskill on from the new-ways-for-your-phone-to-yell-at-you dept.

An anonymous reader writes: While many big tech companies have their own personal assistant software these days, few of them are available on a broad variety of devices. Microsoft has now announced that it's becoming one of those few: Cortana will be available for iOS and Android devices later this year. It's part of an initiative by the company to ensure Windows 10 plays well with all sorts of devices, even phones made by the other major manufacturers. Microsoft said, "Regardless of the operating systems you choose across your devices – everything important to you should roam across the products you already own – including your phone." This led them to develop a "Phone Companion app," built into Windows 10, that's designed to help sync a user's PC with his phone.

44 of 65 comments (clear)

  1. It's actually surprising... by wardrich86 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    With the amount of potential information mining that could be done with these apps, I'm surprised they aren't all cross-platform.

    1. Re:It's actually surprising... by zoffdino · · Score: 5, Insightful

      With the amount of potential information mining that could be done with these apps, I'm surprised they aren't all cross-platform.

      NSA is cross-platform and very easy to use. You don't even need to sign up for it. Come free with every phone call.

    2. Re:It's actually surprising... by spire3661 · · Score: 1

      I dont think MS is in a position to execute the third E anymore.

      --
      Good-bye
    3. Re:It's actually surprising... by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 2

      Unfortunately, the procedure for data recovery is effectively impossible with that particular vendor. You probably need clearances you don't have to even get a straight answer about why your request is being refused.

    4. Re:It's actually surprising... by MightyMartian · · Score: 3, Interesting

      No, this seems to be evolving into "Embrace... or die."

      The world is a very different place for Redmond, and if they want to hang on to any piece of the consumer market, they need to get their software on to all the major platforms.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    5. Re:It's actually surprising... by zlives · · Score: 1

      cloud back up system...

    6. Re:It's actually surprising... by praxis · · Score: 2

      With the amount of potential information mining that could be done with these apps, I'm surprised they aren't all cross-platform.

      NSA is cross-platform and very easy to use. You don't even need to sign up for it. Come free with every phone call.

      It does not come free with every phone call; we're playing for it.

    7. Re:It's actually surprising... by gstoddart · · Score: 2

      But, honestly ... if people wanted the Microsoft stuff, they'd have bought a Microsoft phone.

      I find myself thinking ... why the hell would I want Microsoft anything on an Android or iOS device?

      Is there a market of people tripping over themselves for this? Unless it was a corporate device and I had no choice, I see zero value in this for anybody who didn't buy a Microsoft product to begin with.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    8. Re:It's actually surprising... by Flavianoep · · Score: 2

      It does not come free with every phone call; we're playing for it.

      Only if you pay your taxes in the US. I haven't paid anything and I am not sure if I am not being tracked by the NSA.

      --
      Linux is for people who don't mind RTFM.
    9. Re:It's actually surprising... by Flavianoep · · Score: 1

      But, honestly ... if people wanted the Microsoft stuff, they'd have bought a Microsoft phone.

      I find myself thinking ... why the hell would I want Microsoft anything on an Android or iOS device?

      Is there a market of people tripping over themselves for this? Unless it was a corporate device and I had no choice, I see zero value in this for anybody who didn't buy a Microsoft product to begin with.

      I use Cyanogen-Mod and have chosen not to have Google Now. If I ever want some kind of personal assistant, my best option will be Cortana.

      However, on a second thought, what I've said does not counter your argument.

      --
      Linux is for people who don't mind RTFM.
    10. Re:It's actually surprising... by MightyMartian · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I'm not sure that logic plays through. Frankly, for Microsoft, the real problem is that damned few people really even consider Microsoft mobile products at all. They're a niche player, competing with BlackBerry for who will end up pushed right out of the market.

      Imagine you're Microsoft, you're faced with the possibility that you will never, even if you heavily subsidized a mobile Windows product line, be able to make any significant headway into the iOS-Android hegemony. What would you do? If it was me, I'd quietly admit that I'm never going to be able to dominate mobile platforms the way I do desktops and portable computers, and I'd leverage what I had by opening up my software to more platforms.

      This isn't even a revolutionary idea for Microsoft. They once owned their own *nix platform; Xenix. Windows NT itself was designed a hardware abstraction layer so it could be ported to multiple hardware platforms. But somewhere along the line Microsoft and the x86 computer manufacturers welded themselves together. I can't say it was a bad decision, as it made Microsoft and Intel absolute shitloads of money for a quarter century, but at the same time it seems to have frozen Microsoft in place. It became a one-trick pony, only able to envision itself in a world of Backoffice apps and OEM licensing. Now it's got to be nimble again, and as it has already effectively ceded a large portion of the computing products out there to Apple and Google, it's got to make the best it can with what it has.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    11. Re:It's actually surprising... by DigiShaman · · Score: 1

      Fucking brilliant!

      *picks up iPhone* "NSA, where is the nearest Pizza joint?"

      NSA: Five miles, then turn right at Ivy, Rd.
      NSA: By the way, you have very few funds in your account. I recommend something cheap at TacoBell.

      Uhh....ok, Thanks!...I think..

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
    12. Re:It's actually surprising... by Dog-Cow · · Score: 2

      There are two parts to M$. The recognised M$ part... go, M$ styled management...

      What the fuck does a basic string variable have to do with anything?

      You are so absolutely stupid, it's a wonder you can even get out of bed. How many times do you bang into the wall before figuring out it's the wrong side?

    13. Re:It's actually surprising... by ne0n · · Score: 1

      With the amount of potential information mining that could be done with these apps, I'm surprised they aren't all cross-platform.

      You'd be surprised how little malware is truly cross-platform.

      --
      $ :(){ :|:& };:
    14. Re:It's actually surprising... by KGIII · · Score: 1

      They'd just spend the money on black chicks. Wait, no... They would spend it on black projects. Not Black Projects in the Hood. (Hard to type this without seeming racist. I suppose I could be racist but, well, I am a quarter black, a quarter native, and half white. I am not sure what race I would have to pick if I wanted to be racist.)

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    15. Re:It's actually surprising... by KGIII · · Score: 1

      There is a lot of race in the above comment. Achievement unlocked: race race...

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    16. Re:It's actually surprising... by KGIII · · Score: 1

      I thought it was over Texas and Oklahoma. The Cloud is just downloading some info there.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    17. Re:It's actually surprising... by KGIII · · Score: 1

      I confess, that would be awesome and I would take one of the shits I give about the NSA back just for having a cool op like that working for them. I wonder if you need to be in a phone call or will a dial-tone work for landlines?

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    18. Re:It's actually surprising... by KGIII · · Score: 1

      The "trouble" is that Microsoft has a lot of money still. They can stay in the phone game at a loss (it is only a partial loss) for many many many years. They can market lots of things at a loss and stay financially solvent for a very long time.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    19. Re:It's actually surprising... by Talderas · · Score: 1

      Whichever encourages the most self-loathing.

      --
      "Lack of speed can be overcome. In the worst case by patience." --Znork
    20. Re:It's actually surprising... by painandgreed · · Score: 1

      But, honestly ... if people wanted the Microsoft stuff, they'd have bought a Microsoft phone.

      I find myself thinking ... why the hell would I want Microsoft anything on an Android or iOS device?

      Is there a market of people tripping over themselves for this? Unless it was a corporate device and I had no choice, I see zero value in this for anybody who didn't buy a Microsoft product to begin with.

      I think you are looking at this wrong. they are not doing this because the consumers are demanding it. They are trying to make developing on the Windows platform more desirable to programmers. Ideally, write once, run everywhere. Then they let the programmers worry about making stuff that the consumers want.

    21. Re:It's actually surprising... by spire3661 · · Score: 1

      The problem is they run into the 'Kinect' problem. All this great tech and no one can make a compelling experience out of it (relative to the cost)

      --
      Good-bye
  2. Today in euphemisms... by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Everything important to you should roam across the products you already own"; by which we mean "please, do us the favor of selecting the consumer data most worth collecting about you and sending it to us".

    1. Re:Today in euphemisms... by countSudoku() · · Score: 1

      Also, please be sure and use a single password across all your systems for ease of use, good customer! Better yet, do not lock your devices at all! This shows you are not hiding anything from the "good corporations" that have taken over our government. A password implies that you are up to no good. This is a fact. #hashtag

      --
      This is the NSA, we're gonna geet U h@x0r5! Also, what is a h@x0r5?
  3. Cortuna, when my wife calls... by countSudoku() · · Score: 1

    be sure and put her on permanent hold and then we'll say I was being romantic and shit. Also, erase all my browser history and my login to FarmerMadison.com where I routinely cheat on my cow with someone else's cow. After that you can just erase yourself, Cortuna. I already have talky-G-searchy and if I get sick of her I have Siri, so donotwant you.

    --
    This is the NSA, we're gonna geet U h@x0r5! Also, what is a h@x0r5?
    1. Re:Cortuna, when my wife calls... by KGIII · · Score: 1

      That domain name is available... Yes it is...

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  4. Re:Competition by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Well, considering that they also have Google's voice search on iOS, they'd have a hard time claiming that Microsoft's wasn't allowed.

  5. How is this a bad thing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    If the different agents were all cross platform and had to compete on merit instead of device lock-in, and you can pick the one you like the best, how is this bad? At least if it's an app you can not use it at all, or try it out and uninstall it if it sucks.

    1. Re:How is this a bad thing? by foradoxium · · Score: 1

      It's not bad, just not needed. For Android and iOS devices, there is no need for a 3rd party Chrome/Firefox downloader application because you use their respective stores to download/install applications.

  6. Microsoft Android © by nickweller · · Score: 1

    Will Microsoft be extorting revenue from Microsoft for the patented Microsoft technology in Microsoft Android?

  7. Murderer assistant by edxwelch · · Score: 1

    All I want to know is does Cortana give better advice than Siri for hiding dead bodies?
    http://mashable.com/2014/08/13...

    1. Re:Murderer assistant by KGIII · · Score: 1

      "...charged with killing his friend..." You know, I am sick of that. If you killed them they were NOT your friend.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    2. Re:Murderer assistant by Number42 · · Score: 1

      Platonic yandere?

  8. Re:Underwhelming by vux984 · · Score: 1

    , I don't want to have any Microsoft trash in my phone, much less when it is delivered with a name fit for a cheap stripper.

    Um... Cortana is a cheap stripper?

    Of the 3 personal assistants -- Apple has the cheap stripper name with Siri. Siri is a Scandinavian girls name.

  9. Free alternative by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Can't we have our own free Siri, Cortana or Google Now? Is there already a F/OSS alternative?

    Actually, we could have different "skins" like Maria (Spanish accent), Fifi (French), Tanya (Russian), etc. (think Jar-Jar).

    It's a great way to do technical evangelism:

    -- Fifi, please find me a word document converter?

    -- Why not install Libreoffice, mon cheri? (*)

    (*) I know it has an accent but /. removes accents at random.

  10. Siri and Apple by DrYak · · Score: 1

    I'm surprised they aren't all cross-platform.

    Well, Apple is still mostly a company selling hardware. So keeping Siri restricted to iOS makes sense, it's an extra bullet-point to sell of their hardware (from which their profit).
    Opening Siri to Android would reduce the perceived advantage of iDevices and bring less money to Apple.

    Microsoft - in the phone arena at least - is currently selling *OS* and *software*. Keeping Cortana restricted to Windows would have been a selling point for Windows (and thus selling more license to Windows-based phone makers)... but Windows has completely and utterly failed to attract any significant interest.
    iOS and Android are the 2 big player, and there's little room for a 3rd one(*), specially given the network effect.They have no point in actually keeping Cortana restricted, Windows on phone is a lost cause anyway.

    So having failed that, of course Microsoft will move to the next possibility: indeed, there's massive value in mining information. Siri and Cortana are running locally, they are just thin clients that record vocal commands and send them to data center for interpretation.
    There's a high potential to monetize that, so Microsoft has a strong incentive to push it to as many devices as possible.

    ---

    (*) a 3rd *incompatible* one which uses yet another different standard for apps.
    There are plenty of small niches for different OSes (mainly full blown Linux) that still retain compatibility with Android apps.
    e.g: Black Berry, Sailfish OS, etc.

    --
    "Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]
  11. Siri by mister_playboy · · Score: 1

    No, she's American.

    http://www.boobpedia.com/boobs...

    --
    Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law ::: Love is the law, love under will
    1. Re:Siri by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      No, she's American.

      http://www.boobpedia.com/boobs...

      Good heavens. Those things should be registered weapons.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  12. Re:FRISt PSOT by KGIII · · Score: 1

    Umm... +5 for effort maybe?

    --
    "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  13. Re:Underwhelming by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

    , I don't want to have any Microsoft trash in my phone, much less when it is delivered with a name fit for a cheap stripper.

    Um... Cortana is a cheap stripper?

    Of the 3 personal assistants -- Apple has the cheap stripper name with Siri. Siri is a Scandinavian girls name.

    Duckdukgo search "Cortana" Allblue colored woman wearning very little. Stripper? mebbe.

    DuckDuckGo search "Siri" only one photo of a pleasant looking Indian woman in a sari. So I suspect a typo Otherwise a slew of Apple's microphone icon.

    I call him right - I think you gotta own this one.

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  14. Re:Underwhelming by vux984 · · Score: 1

    See the sibling response to your post. I think I win. ;)

  15. Re:Competition by assistanslinkoping · · Score: 1

    I wonder what will happen...

    --
    http://www.personligassistanslinkoping.com/
  16. Re:Like the companion app by TheRaven64 · · Score: 1

    Apple used to ship iSync with OS X, which could sync calendars and contacts with a wide variety of phones via bluetooth or a cable. It also had a nice plug-in architecture for adding new sync clients (and new kinds of data to sync). They also had some Bluetooth integration with the address book app, so when someone called your phone you'd get a pop-up on the screen of who it was and could send SMS directly from the address book. All of these features disappeared with the first OS X release after the iPhone and were replaced with cloud-base syncing that only worked with the iPhone.

    --
    I am TheRaven on Soylent News
  17. Could start with Jasper (was: Re:Free alternative) by erikscott · · Score: 1

    You could, presumably, start with Jasper... graft on a bunch of Python for DBpedia, and then a heads-up interface for your powered exoskeleton.