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Cortana Coming To iOS, For 2000 Beta Testers (informationweek.com)

TechCrunch, InformationWeek, PC World, and other sources report that Microsoft's voice-recognition based personal assistant app Cortana is coming to iOS for a small group of beta testers. From TechCrunch: According to the description that accompanies the test build of Cortana for iOS, Microsoft explains how the assistant can help Windows users with iPhones connect the two platforms. For example, Microsoft suggests how you can set reminders on your PC – like a reminder to pick up milk on the way home – then be notified via your iPhone when you’re on the road. ... Testers report that the beta build is being distributed by Apple’s TestFlight. As one blogger and earlier tester points out that could mean only a small number of testers will be brought on initially, given TestFlight’s limitation of 2,000 testers per application. That may also explain why a good many who signed up for Cortana’s beta are saying that have still yet to receive their invite at this time. (A staged rollout is another possibility.)

39 comments

  1. Cortana uses the integrated face system by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Cortana uses the integrated face system to answer questions.

    1. Re: Cortana uses the integrated face system by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Great. Does it use the home button? No? How will I remember I have it if it doesn't go off in my pocket?

  2. For 2000 *idiots by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Microsoft suggests even though you've got an iphone, you let them snoop on every goddam thing you ever say or do with it. And thanks!"

  3. Say what?! by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

    Cortana for Windows 2000? I would think WinXP has a larger installed base as a legacy OS.

  4. Re: Microsoft ^ TM cortana is for Cows by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Cellular On Wheels?

  5. Re: First question for Cortana by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ha ha. Women don't have penii.

  6. Great but first? by deviated_prevert · · Score: 1

    Might it not help if Microsoft had Cortana working correctly on windows 10 first? Instead of being a sorta works beta ware product.

    --
    This message was not sent from an iPhone because Peter Sellers really was a deviated prevert without a dime for the call
    1. Re:Great but first? by cfalcon · · Score: 1

      > Might it not help if Microsoft had Cortana working correctly on windows 10 first?

      One of my theories for why Microsoft collects data so aggressively with Cortana (this is separate from all their crappy bullshit spying you can't turn off- Cortana is trivial to disable) is that they need a ludicrous sum of data to improve Cortana.

      So I don't think that they need to improve Cortana before rolling it out to more devices- I think everyone they can get on Cortana will result in a vastly improved Cortana, so the opposite is true.

      Anyway, this is good news for Cortana users. Obviously, I wouldn't recommend any of the data harvester programs for their privacy concerns, but unlike all the telemetry you can't turn off, there's a valid and good engineering reason for Microsoft to funnel everything Cortana eats- because they need it all to improve Cortana.

    2. Re:Great but first? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It might help if Microsoft gave us a way to uninstall Cortana. The service still runs even when it's "disabled."

      No, Microsoft, I don't want your phone crap on my desktop.

      p.s. What the fuck is Windows 10 doing when I wake my laptop from sleep? Win8 and Linux = instant wake. Win10 = completely unresponsive for 30 seconds before it wakes up enough to show you the unlock screen.

  7. Oh good. Ignore your real customers by thegarbz · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I find it funny that they're starting a beta testing of Cortana on iOS, a competitor's platform with direct competition from an embedded and highly integrated alternative ....

    But Cortana itself is only available in 13 countries.

    Way to go targeting people who likely don't want to use your product while ignoring those that do.

    1. Re:Oh good. Ignore your real customers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They are chasing monopoly power again, just like everyone else btw.
      First it was the (Desktop) OS, then the browser, now it is the mobile OS and control of its ecosystem. Next thing to be perverted and abused to establish monopoly power and vendor lock-in is the personal digital assistant.

    2. Re:Oh good. Ignore your real customers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nothing surprising about it - porting the front-end app from Windows Mobile to iOS is vastly simpler (couple of guys re-writing some code) than adding new language support (high quality localized speech-to-text does NOT come cheap or easy, and that's not to mention all the country-specific knowledge required to make the thing half-way useful)..

    3. Re:Oh good. Ignore your real customers by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

      I've worked with several Windows sysadmins who happened to own iPhones. So while Cortana is not particularly interesting to me as a Mac and Linux user, it would not surprise me there might be a market for this - lots of folks choose not to live in a homogeneous computing environment.

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    4. Re:Oh good. Ignore your real customers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're not the customer. They want your data so they can sell it to their real customers.

    5. Re:Oh good. Ignore your real customers by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      I'm sure there will eventually be a market for it, but currently Cortana is still a baby. It produces quite sub par results compared to Google Now or Siri which is no surprise given that it's new. I don't think anyone with a Siri capable phone would seriously consider Cortana in its current form.

      In the meantime I still can't get it on my Microsoft Surface which doesn't have Siri, and that despite Cortana being one of the most advertised and hyped features of Windows 10.

    6. Re:Oh good. Ignore your real customers by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Who said anything about a new language? My computer is configured for English, I live in a country now where 93% of the population speak English. I just emigrated from Australia which only saw Cortana released with the Fall update despite 100% of the population speaking English it wasn't available there either.

      If language is the only barrier then block Cortana based on the system language settings not based on the country.

  8. Re:voice-recognition based personal assistant? by QuietLagoon · · Score: 2

    ... linux for everyone right?

    Nope. I am just very disappointed in Microsoft's recent behavior regarding data harvesting. Very Disappointed.

  9. Halo 5 by PinkyGigglebrain · · Score: 1

    After what happened to Cortana in Halo 5 there is no way in Hells I would want her to have access to any of my systems.
     
    She has become Evil in the worst way.

    1. Re:Halo 5 by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Well, but what Cortana followed which one? Think about it: Which one came first, the one in H5 or in W10?

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    2. Re:Halo 5 by PinkyGigglebrain · · Score: 1

      Well, I would have to think that it all started when 343 had Cortana go Rampant in Halo 4 (2012) and enter the Domain (Forerunner MEGA super computer in slipspace) at the end of the game.
       
      From there I suspect she hacked back into Microsoft (not hard, their running Windows after all) and took over the place. Since "Microsoft's Cortana" debuted in 2014 she had plenty of time to subtly manipulate the executives at MS into her puppets (didn't work with Balmer, he just went coo koo) but by that time she was over the edge.
       
      Then we get Windows 10 with it's telemetry coming out in July, 2015. All of which ties in with the release of Halo 5 in October, 2015 where she makes the common Evil Genius mistake of revealing her plans to everyone.
       
      But that's just a theory.
       
      And she was my favorite character too. *Sigh*

  10. Re:voice-recognition based personal assistant? by tepples · · Score: 1

    troll on, linux for everyone right?

    As if OK Google in Android, Google's Linux-based mobile operating system, is any better.

  11. Question for those who know by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How useful is this? I have never interacted with Siri, so I don't know. But I have with Google Now and Hound, and my impression is that they are cute party toys - but little else. They are very, very unintelligent - even when they can recognize what they are being told - and other than more or less direct questions that are easily translated into database searches, they can do very little. For instance, I have tried to instruct Google Now to make phone calls for me, but using a mechanism that I specify - e.g. Hangouts, Skype, cellular, etc. To no avail: this is clearly beyond its capabilities. Are Siri and Cortana similarly limited in what they can do?

  12. Blue tits! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Blue tits on my iPhone, Blue boobs on the iPad.

    What's not to like?

  13. Re:Cortana vs. Siri by unixisc · · Score: 1

    Sounds like when Apple had a version of Safari for Windows, and finally realized that it was worthless and canned it. Similarly for having Cortana for iOS. Why bother, when anybody who needs it can use Siri?

  14. Silly Cortana, Moos Are For Cows!! by TheRealHocusLocus · · Score: 1

    The more serious Microsoft gets, the sillier I become.

    Meet Cortana!! What's new in Cortana!! Where's Cortana?? Start using Cortana!! What can I say to Cortana?? What can Cortana help me with?? Cortana's Notebook!! Cortana's settings!! Favorite places and Cortana!! Find music with Cortana!! My inner circle and Cortana!! Quiet hours and Cortana!! My interests and Cortana!! Add interests in Cortana's Notebook!! Remind me, Cortana!! Play music with Cortana!! Use Cortana in my car!! Solutions to Cortana issues!! Why didn't I get a reminder when I was supposed to?? Cortana alpha!!

    [hides phone] Where's Cortana?? [counts loudly] Ready or not here I come!
    [finds phone] Here you are!! Peekboo I see you!! [covers camera] Gues who??
    Cortana: "It's you, [your name]. He he that was fun. Let's play again!!"
    Play dress-up with Cortana!!
    Welcome to my Inner Circle Cortana. I'll light the candles and you summon the demons.
    One fish!! Two fish!! Red fish!! Blue fish!!
    I do not like them Sam I Am.
    I do not like Egghead Speaky Glam.
    I will not speak into a box.
    I will not summon clips from Fox.
    I will not use it on a train.
    I will not plant it in my brain.

    Cortana is your personal assistant on your Windows Phone. She's there to help make things easier for you and keep you up to date on the things that matter to you. Whether it's to keep you looped in with your world or help you manage your everyday life, Cortana is there for you.

    Keeping up to date with Cortana!!
    Quiet hours and Cortana!!
    Pillow fights with Cortana!!
    Having a blast with Cortana!!
    Explore My Secret Places with Cortana!!
    Having a cigarette with Cortana!!
    How high can I toss Cortana??
    Cortana summon World's Most Expensive Flashlight[tm]!!
    Does Cortana sleep in the Cloud??
    Am I being sucked into the Cloud??
    When I die, Cortana, will the Cloud remember me??

    There are just a few things to do to get going with Cortana --- like making sure she's on.

    Things to do!! Doing things!! Doing the doing-things thing.
    Let's get going Cortana!!
    Are you on?? "Yes I am on."
    Are you on?? "Yes I am on."
    Are you on?? "Yes I am on. Battery low."
    Are you on?? "Shut the fuck up meatbag."

    --
    <blink>down the rabbit hole</blink>
  15. Trailer for the new product by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  16. Re:Cortana vs. Siri by peragrin · · Score: 1

    because Siri sucks?

    The Big difference between Siri and Cortana, is you can manually enter information for Cortana to watch for and keep you updated on. Siri only can add new reminders, not even calendar entries.

    That said i won't use either. maybe if i lived out of my car but in the real world talking to someone takes twice as long as writing an email.

    --
    i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
  17. Initial thoughts? by mitcheli · · Score: 1

    First, let's see if Apple lets this go through their App Store approval process. Memory serves, custom API's are something that gets strict scrutiny. Likewise, if Mozilla can't get their own engine through with Firefox, what makes you think that Microsoft will be able to replace the Siri functionality? Second, Apple, who wrote the iOS platform, who integrated Siri, who dedicates a ton of resources to stopping jailbreakers (more so than any other security team in the company it seems) has had bugs where Siri was used to bypass protection measures. What makes anyone think that Microsoft will do any better? No thank you, I just assume have as little Microsoft code running on my iOS devices as possible.

    --
    Select from tblFriends where interesting >= 4;
  18. Re:voice-recognition based personal assistant? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The difference is that Microsoft charges a lot of money for its operating systems, so we didn't expect to be both the client AND the product.

  19. Paying to look at ads has precedent by tepples · · Score: 1

    we didn't expect to be both the client AND the product

    Before Windows, it was cable TV, and before that, newspapers. Subscriptions alone often aren't enough to pay the full cost, nor are ads alone.

    1. Re: Paying to look at ads has precedent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Depends how greedy you are I think.

  20. Room enough by WallyL · · Score: 1

    Cortana: This phone isn't big enough for the both of us!

  21. Re:Bet on Microsoft always by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Somebody with mod points can't tell the difference between trolling and sarcasm, I see.