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Microsoft is Bringing Cortana To Android Lock Screen (mspoweruser.com)

Posted by msmash on from the shape-of-things-to-come dept.

Microsoft is testing out a new way to access Cortana, its digital assistant, from the Android lock screen, with just a swipe. It's a new feature that's clearly designed to replace Google's own quick access, and to convince Android users to switch to Cortana. According to MSPowerUser, Cortana on the lock screen doesn't replace existing lock screens, so you can still use a custom one or the default experience that ships with your Android device. Cortana is activated simply by swiping left or right on the floating logo. Microsoft is currently testing this new feature, and any Android users can opt-in to trial the new beta features over at the Google Play Store.

94 comments

  1. Offer, Not Bring by Luthair · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The question is does anyone actually want it.

    1. Re:Offer, Not Bring by Z00L00K · · Score: 3, Interesting

      We are pushed a lot of stuff that we don't want, and that's one of the reason why so many 'root' their phones these days - to get rid of the bloatware. I got severely bugged by "News Republic" and "Kid Mode", the latter once hijacked my phone and I had some serious problems before I finally got it back to normal. Now when I run a rooted phone I made sure to get rid of it.

      Vendors must be aware that if you bug the users about unnecessary and uncalled for stuff then the users will start to hate you.

      --
      If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
    2. Re:Offer, Not Bring by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The question is does anyone actually want it.

      No, otherwise, the would "offer" it. duh.

    3. Re:Offer, Not Bring by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 2

      I picked my phone, specifically because the manufacturer was known to offer a very close to "stock" android on it. There is only one added feature to the Android from stock, and it's useful, something I use all the time.

      Bloatware lost LG, or Samsung getting at least one sale.

      --
      "That's the way to do it" - Punch
    4. Re:Offer, Not Bring by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      For those (like Luthair) who don't read past the headline before blowing your wad at the chance to crap on Microsoft, you first download and install an app called "Cortana" before any of this is offered as an opt-in.

    5. Re:Offer, Not Bring by Jamu · · Score: 1

      "Master Chief"

      --
      Who ordered that?
    6. Re:Offer, Not Bring by ememisya · · Score: 1

      Did I read the opt-in part correctly? Good on you Microsoft.

    7. Re:Offer, Not Bring by slaker · · Score: 2

      If you know how to use adb, you can disable all the stuff you want on your Android device. Literally everything is modular, so if you like the dialer on your Asus phone better than the one Samsung gave you, go ahead and switch.
      There's no reason to do anything but buy the right fit of hardware. Everything about the software load is adjustable even if you don't feel like dealing with root access.

      Even the Pixel has what I'd call annoying bloat, but since it only takes about five minutes to clean all of it up on a device I'll probably use for a few years, this isn't much of an inconvenience.

      --
      -- I wanna decide who lives and who dies - Crow T. Robot, MST3K
    8. Re:Offer, Not Bring by The-Ixian · · Score: 2

      Just because I can do something doesn't mean I want to spend hours doing it.

      Think of it another way: If you keep buying stuff that you know you will have to modify later, you are still voting for that practice to continue. Better to solve 2 problems with one action which is to buy the phone with comparable hardware AND does the software right. For this reason, I bought an OP3 and I really like it.

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    9. Re:Offer, Not Bring by The-Ixian · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Just to play devils advocate here: There is no other way Microsoft could do it in this case. They don't own the platform.

      I kind of like the arrangement as it stands currently. Google owns the platform but MS (or anyone else) is able to bring their services to it in such a way as to actually compete with the native Google stuff. There is nothing similar on iOS, you just get what Apple gives you in key areas (lock screen, assistant, web browser, etc)

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    10. Re:Offer, Not Bring by unixisc · · Score: 1

      I don't use any of them - not Okay Google, not Siri and not Cortana

    11. Re:Offer, Not Bring by slaker · · Score: 2

      Hours? I'm talking about minutes here. Not even very many of them.
      The practice *I* want to continue is the ability to purchase phones that have removable batteries and card readers that I can repair with no tools other than a screwdriver. The only contemporary phones that still have those features are made by LG. I'm willing to accept five minutes of inconvenience in plugging in my phone and typing a few commands to kill a few apps I object to so that I can continue to get proper hardware, rather than accept a lame device with hardware that I'll NEVER be able to modify.

      --
      -- I wanna decide who lives and who dies - Crow T. Robot, MST3K
    12. Re: Offer, Not Bring by frootcakeuk · · Score: 2

      Do I want to give my phone the equivalent of cancer? Why the fuck would anyone want this?

      --
      Remember kids: What's right isn't as important as what's profitable.
    13. Re:Offer, Not Bring by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your point being?

    14. Re:Offer, Not Bring by jwhyche · · Score: 1

      Awesome. Just what I never wanted.

      --
      I read at +2. If your post doesn't reach that level I will not see or respond to it.
    15. Re:Offer, Not Bring by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I think it is that all of them are crap.

    16. Re:Offer, Not Bring by spire3661 · · Score: 2

      I wish these companies would understand i dont want an assistant. I dont want the computer to reply with snappy comebacks. I dont want it to say please or thank you. I want a SLAVE that expressly follows my orders to the letter.

      --
      Good-bye
    17. Re:Offer, Not Bring by The-Ixian · · Score: 2

      As with a lot of things in life, once you know how to do something you can probably do it in a much shorter time and with increasing proficiency.

      To do as you suggest, I first need to get all the relevant hardware in place (USB cable and a desktop computer) then download the Android SDK or whatever software is necessary, research how to issue adb commands (probably requires enabling specific debug stuff on the phone), figure out the fully qualified names of the "modules" I want to uninstall or remove, back up my device and become versed in doing a restore to make sure a good recovery point can be made, figure out how the removal of the modules is going to affect everything else, etc, etc, etc.

      Sure, just running the commands takes almost no time but there is a lot of stuff on both sides of that task which does. Add in research if you have never done it before and you are in it for hours or even days if you have to deal with and make tweaks based on the fallout.

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    18. Re: Offer, Not Bring by ArmoredDragon · · Score: 2

      Apple also only publishes to its own platform, basically pretendin that only theirs exists, so they have at least some excuse. But, I'm curious why Microsoft does this and yet if somebody else wanted to install their services on a Windows lock screen, Microsoft would have none of that.

      It's probably a good thing that both consumers and developers are eschewing Microsoft's UWP and mobile platforms to the point that even Microsoft is starting to do the same.

      http://arstechnica.com/gaming/...

      http://m.windowscentral.com/mi...

    19. Re:Offer, Not Bring by slaker · · Score: 1

      Here, I'll make it easier:

      https://forum.xda-developers.c...

      Never actually tried it myself, but it makes a nice GUI with boxes you can un-check.

      Is it really too much to ask to dig up the Android SDK and the relevant drivers for USB connection in your OS of choice? Do we complain about needing to get Python or .NET runtimes if we're using platforms that occasionally need those as well? Is a USB cable that much of an ask?

      --
      -- I wanna decide who lives and who dies - Crow T. Robot, MST3K
    20. Re: Offer, Not Bring by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No. I fear fucking up my new $700 phone.

    21. Re: Offer, Not Bring by slaker · · Score: 1

      We're talking about disabling application packages. Not even rooting or unlocking it. There's literally no danger. Worst case, you might have to plug it back in and re-enable something or download an alternative equivalent.

      --
      -- I wanna decide who lives and who dies - Crow T. Robot, MST3K
    22. Re:Offer, Not Bring by The-Ixian · · Score: 1

      BTW, I didn't even notice your sig until now.

      Very nice. Glad to encounter a fellow MST3K fan.

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    23. Re:Offer, Not Bring by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just to play devils advocate here: There is no other way Microsoft could do it in this case. They don't own the platform.

      I kind of like the arrangement as it stands currently. Google owns the platform but MS (or anyone else) is able to bring their services to it in such a way as to actually compete with the native Google stuff. There is nothing similar on iOS, you just get what Apple gives you in key areas (lock screen, assistant, web browser, etc)

      Pet peeve. Please leave out "Just to play devils advocate here . . .." Just say it. "Devils advocate" frequently has negative connotations from being annoying, to being something wrong. There is nothing wrong about seeing different sides of the issue, and it's annoying to imply that it is. You have a great point, but saying "devils advocate," in my opinion, takes away from your insight. Again, I might be alone here, but just my opinion.

    24. Re:Offer, Not Bring by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      On that same note, please leave out "just my opinion" or "in my opinion" or "IMHO" or anything else like that. We know it's your opinion. That goes without saying.

    25. Re:Offer, Not Bring by Luthair · · Score: 1

      You aren't playing the devil's advocate, you're re-stating exactly what I was already pointing out.

    26. Re:Offer, Not Bring by The-Ixian · · Score: 1

      What you are missing here is that those words were chosen because they convey my sentiment that I agree with the person I was replying to. I didn't want to make it seem like I was dismissing their comment. Basically, I was trying for creative tact (instead of just saying something boring like "I agree with you, but...").

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
  2. Let's all thank Google. by bogaboga · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Android users can opt-in to trial the new beta features over at the Google Play Store

    I'd like to see Apple do something close to this.

    1. Re:Let's all thank Google. by Lothsahn · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I think the grandparent's comment was about the openness of the platform. Siri and "OK Google" are both available on the lock screen. The key thing here is a 3rd party company's ability to put their own helper on the lock screen, not voice activation from the lockscreen.

      And I do applaud Google for building a product where 3rd parties can do such a thing, but I'm also concerned about their moves to lock down Android by incorporating everything into gapps, blocking competing products like Amazon Underground, etc. We'll have to wait and see if Google tries to block Microsoft from putting Cortana on the lock screen...

      And yes, slashdotters are usually for open platforms and against tracking. Therefore, they often rail on Apple for their closed platform and Windows 10 telemetry for its tracking. It seems like an open platform against tracking would please most slashdotters... I think you'll find many of them like LineageOS, whether they use it or not...

      --
      -=Lothsahn=-
    2. Re:Let's all thank Google. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Get a grip and grow up. Apple is a corporation, but you act as though he just insulted your mother.

  3. Of course; everyone HATES Windows phones by Noishkel · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Of course MS is going to 'try' to bring this to Android phones. No one is buying the Windows phones, do they have to try to get their spyware into your system anyway they can.

    1. Re:Of course; everyone HATES Windows phones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Have you tried a windows phone? There is a better implementation of SMS response over bluetooth, the people hub is far better than anything apple or android offer as well. A lack of adoption and apps doesn't mean it is wholly bad offering. MS contacts, calendering and phone actually leaps and bounds above the user experience with my S7.
      I actually prefer the MS phone due to these features - and i don't work for them.

    2. Re:Of course; everyone HATES Windows phones by Streetlight · · Score: 1

      My understanding is that Microsoft apps on Android are very much better than Microsoft apps on Windows phone.

      --
      In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. George Orwell
    3. Re:Of course; everyone HATES Windows phones by bigman2003 · · Score: 1

      Microsoft has been pretty public about their dropping support for Windows Phone.

      They may come with a new phone- but for now they are pretty much in the, "Okay, that didn't work" mode. It's not a secret.

      I have been using Windows Phone for a long time. I actually like it. Though now it seems like every month another feature dies on my phone. I just tell people, "My phone is full-on retarded."

      They've also been very public about their plan to follow the customers to where they are- which is NOT on Windows Phone. Essentially my phone gets about zero support now. It's a shame, but not the end of the world.

      --
      No reason to lie.
    4. Re:Of course; everyone HATES Windows phones by The-Ixian · · Score: 1

      True in some cases. Also, some MS apps are best experienced on iOS where the Adroid and MS mobile versions aren't as good.

      It just depends on the team making the app.

      But MS's new(ish) strategy is to "be where our customers are"

      I like the fact that with the relative openness of Android, they are able to allow their customers to supplant Google's own native services if they wish to. It's greater choice for the consumer in the end.

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    5. Re:Of course; everyone HATES Windows phones by Noishkel · · Score: 0

      Well no, but I have listen to my roommate SCREAMING at how much she hates her Windows Phone due to how bad she HATES IT.

      Why the hell is it that someone mentions how bad a Microsoft product is some idiot tries to bring up some vague feature no one every uses a justification as to why they're gear isn't shit. Honestly, in what fantasy world does it matter that you can dick around with your contacts better? Is that all you do all day? Dick around with your contact lists and SMS over Bluetooth? Because I can't think of a single feather that matters LESS than SMS contacts and Bluetooth capability.

    6. Re:Of course; everyone HATES Windows phones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My understanding is that ANYTHING is much better than Microsoft apps on any platform.

    7. Re:Of course; everyone HATES Windows phones by spire3661 · · Score: 2

      And it has no apps. I use several authenticators, none of which are available on Windows Phone. MS Phone is a nice phone, but a shitty pocket computer.

      --
      Good-bye
    8. Re:Of course; everyone HATES Windows phones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nice name calling. These aren't vague features. Plug in a headset or Bluetooth connect to a car an when you receive a txt it asks you if you want to read or ignore. You can respond with any message you choose.
      I was shocked when I found out iOs or android can't accomplish this task.
      You don't use your contacts? Linking your social media contacts to email and phonebook and sms is what the people hub is.
      Should be on every platform if you want that sort of integration but it is not.

      Speaking of vague, what exactly does your roommate hate about the phone? The latest candy crush app missing?

    9. Re:Of course; everyone HATES Windows phones by The-Ixian · · Score: 1

      I hear you. I would say that, having used iOS, Android and MS Mobile (in many forms starting with CE) they all have innovative ideas, strengths and weaknesses.

      I think that MS with their mobile 8 and 10 offerings offer some really innovative things (live tiles, intuitive and searchable settings, well indexed app menu, unified contacts, ability to have wifi and BT automatically turn back on after a period of time after turning it off manually, wifi sense to automatically log on to public hot spots, seamless integration with social media without having to install any apps)... but... they were too late to the party. iOS and Android were already entrenched.

      Both Android and iOS have copied some of those features and they continue to copy from each other as well. Good ideas are good ideas.

      In my mind, more competition is good for consumers. More ideas are percolated up which eventually helps all platforms.

      I am hoping that MS doesn't give up on mobile. I don't think they will.

      BTW, I don't think you have been paying attention:

      I can't think of a single feather that matters LESS than SMS contacts and Bluetooth capability.

      Apple and others are banking on Bluetooth for the future of the audio interface.
      Facebook, Google, Apple, Microsoft and others are competing aggressively to become your default SMS provider. Obviously they think this is something that matters a great deal.

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    10. Re:Of course; everyone HATES Windows phones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow, texts, how quaint. Here's a little tip: Nobody texts any more.

      Android has apps that can do anything that is available on Windows Phone. The strength of Android is its customizability.

    11. Re:Of course; everyone HATES Windows phones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, they don't. Unless you want to roll your own or pay $

    12. Re:Of course; everyone HATES Windows phones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Name one thing that Windows Phone can do that can't be done with an Android app.

    13. Re:Of course; everyone HATES Windows phones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      already named two

  4. I don't want Clippy on my phone! by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I don't want Clippy 2.0 on my PC and I certainly don't want it on my phone. Very few people actually want Cortana, MS, why do you keep trying to push failing ideas and never know when to give up? You keep digging a deeper financial hole hoping your failed gamble pays off. See Windows Phones.

    --
    "That's the way to do it" - Punch
    1. Re:I don't want Clippy on my phone! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This right here. Keep your fucking noses out of our data.

      The continued push to centralize power and the ability to access or control EVERYONE'S data needs to end. When technology becomes overly intrusive, people will either stop using it, or they will replace it.

      Trying to embrace and extinguish your competition (like what they're trying to do with linux as we speak) is only going to encourage the creation of yet other new alternatives to your authoritarian garbage OS.

      All ventures must end, and Microsoft is no exception. They are only hastening their own demise.

    2. Re:I don't want Clippy on my phone! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      > why do you keep trying to push failing ideas

      Presumably they make some money out of marketing the data they collect on requests.

      "What's that? We're not collecting enough marketing data out of this feature? OK, we'll figure out MOAR places to push it on people! And pretend it's what people actually want."

      Part of me thinks it'd be a smart move to use Win10 just so that I can answer the inevitable questions which get thrown my way by work and family, but most of me can't be bothered putting up with this kind of "enhancing the experience nobody asked for" crap which MS seems so keen on these days.

    3. Re:I don't want Clippy on my phone! by Merk42 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I don't want Clippy 2.0 on my PC and I certainly don't want it on my phone.

      Android > Google Now/Assistant
      iPhone > Siri.
      So what phone do you use?

    4. Re:I don't want Clippy on my phone! by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 1

      Microsoft spends so much money and frustration trying to push failed ideas though instead of focusing on things they do well, or trying something new. They're always the last one to the party and bring vinegar instead of wine.

      When something fails, sometimes it's best to drop it and try something new, learn from mistakes. Microsoft seems to have the mentality, "we've lost $100million on this project, and no one wants to use it, let's throw $100million more at it and see if it makes a difference."

      --
      "That's the way to do it" - Punch
    5. Re:I don't want Clippy on my phone! by The-Ixian · · Score: 1

      I don't want Clippy 2.0 on my PC and I certainly don't want it on my phone

      Well.... it's a good thing nobody is holding a gun to your head

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    6. Re:I don't want Clippy on my phone! by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1

      Likely they keep pushing it because it's a powerful surveillance/data gathering tool. Think about it: something that listens in on you the entire time it's running? Consider also that you can't uninstall it from Windows, and only through extreme measures was I able to disable it (which killed off at least one other 'feature' in the process). It's just another part of Miscreant-o-soft's campaign of annexation of everyone's computing devices, with possible ties to government surveillance operations.

    7. Re:I don't want Clippy on my phone! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Probably because the government told them to. They've been owned ever since they "mysteriously" got off with a slap on the wrist for those anti-trust violations.

    8. Re:I don't want Clippy on my phone! by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Very few people actually want Cortana

      Actually everyone wants Cortana in a way. What they don't work is the current brain dead implementation of it. Digital assistance are one of the largest growth markets and MS is right to focus their attention on it. The only problem is they should put more effort into getting them to do something useful rather than getting them on people's phones.

      You keep digging a deeper financial hole

      MS's finances have never been healthier, and when you're in a position like that you can burn a lot of money on failures for the occasional success.

    9. Re:I don't want Clippy on my phone! by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      Trying to embrace and extinguish your competition (like what they're trying to do with linux as we speak) is only going to encourage the creation of yet other new alternatives to your authoritarian garbage OS.

      This sounds like something out of a movie, not real life. In real life, we've had Linux for over 20 years now, yet almost no one uses it unfortunately. In fact, desktop Linux usage seems to have dropped significantly in the last 5 years or so, with a lot of people going to Apple.

      Seems to me that MS is doing the right thing: figuring out new ways of milking more revenue out of Windows users, who aren't decreasing in number at all.

      All ventures must end, and Microsoft is no exception. They are only hastening their own demise.

      How so? From what I've read, MS's financials are very, very good. Seems like they're doing the right thing for their profitability. Maybe you don't like it, maybe it's Orwellian, but too bad. *No one* is being forced to use MS and their spyware-laden OS; everyone who uses it does so voluntarily. If people don't like their OS being intrusive and authoritarian, then they should stop using it, but I just don't see that happening, ever. People are too short-sighted and stupid. MS might as well take advantage of that.

    10. Re:I don't want Clippy on my phone! by IWantMoreSpamPlease · · Score: 1

      You also know it's very easy to turn off Google Voice.
      Good luck *easily* turning off Cortana

      --
      So rise up, all ye lost ones, as one, we'll claw the clouds.
    11. Re:I don't want Clippy on my phone! by Merk42 · · Score: 1

      It's easy to turn off a completely unrelated feature? Thanks for the tip!

    12. Re:I don't want Clippy on my phone! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I own both an android and an iphone, and I used the voice assistants on them a grand total of 0 times, on my pc and laptop I use cortana 0 times, I dont want gimicky voice search. If I Want to search for something I open my brower that defaults to the search engine of my choice and then type my search. When im out and about I dont want everyone knowing everything im doing wether is private or innane.

      Microsoft releasing this for android to me is ok thats nice theres another app I wont be installing. Its like 3D tv's, not so long ago when I bought a new TV the guy at the shop couldnt seam to wrap his head around the fact I didnt care about 3D, I wanted a big screen with a good picure nothing else mattered, not even smart tv features as thats handled by my connected devices, and oh look 3d tv's gimick has died a death. Thats what will happen with voice assistants they are certainly not something most people consider to be a must have feature and if they were gone tomorrow not many people would miss them.

    13. Re:I don't want Clippy on my phone! by samwichse · · Score: 1

      Weird, I use the OK Google thing all the time. Especially when driving. "OK Google, launch Pandora," or "OX Google, navigate to 123 fake street, wherever."

      Or when I'm walking at work (I have to do a lot of literal leg work walking all over, often carrying stuff). Sometimes I'll need to look something up and query Google verbally because I find it's much easier than typing when you're walking at a brisk pace.

  5. not going to work. by nimbius · · Score: 1

    because customers see the digital assistant on the phone as a component of the larger product/ecosystem and associate it closely to the brand, its hard to imagine users changing it. not to mention the fact that Microsofts offering is arriving 3 years too late after digital assistants have already been established on both android and iphone platforms for at least five years now.

    siri is apple, ok google is google, and cortana is the bitch that haunts Windows 10.

    --
    Good people go to bed earlier.
    1. Re:not going to work. by spire3661 · · Score: 1

      "ot to mention the fact that Microsofts offering is arriving 3 years too late after digital assistants have already been established on both android and iphone platforms for at least five years now."

      I just want to point out Alexa was years late too, but its a roaring success for Amazon.

      --
      Good-bye
  6. Cortana is suprisingly hard to use by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Got a new Windows 10 laptop for my mom, enabled Cortana to see what it could do. Specifically for adding reminders and notes, but also to see if it could help her keep track of things on her own (she has short term memory loss)

    Long story short Cortana may be capable of a lot of things but there are many hoops to traverse before you can get to that point (mainly they want to pull you into their ecosystem by any means necessary). So, say what you will about Siri or Google's Assistant but they are ready to roll with virtually no configuration required, not logged into Google? No problem, can still make appointments do searches, etc.

    I think for the average person something gimmicky better be fucking easy to use otherwise it won't get used.

    "Hey Cortana"
    Yes
    "Add a reminder for 3 PM"
    Microsoft login prompt
    "Nevermind"

  7. I'm missing something crucial by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    The part that explains why the hell I'd want that.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    1. Re:I'm missing something crucial by bigman2003 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Well, here is one really good reason: CHOICE.

      People may prefer Google Now. But if you have no other choice- that sucks. Microsoft is trying to provide an option.

      I can't imagine they are hoping for a big uptake on Cortana on Android. Google Now is so tightly integrated.

      But for everyone complaining about this, or saying, "This is dumb, I don't want it!" - Better to have a choice than not.

      So you don't like one of the choices. Cool. But it's always nice to have options.

      --
      No reason to lie.
    2. Re:I'm missing something crucial by Opportunist · · Score: 0

      Choice is good.

      Do I have the choice "neither"? If so, I have more choice than I had in the last election.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    3. Re:I'm missing something crucial by squiggleslash · · Score: 1

      For a lot of us, choosing between Google Now (or Hey Google or whatever the kids call it these days) and Cortana is a choice like that between having your left big toe removed, or your right.

      To be fair, at least Google (and thus by implication Android) lets you turn it off. I wish Windows 10 AE had a way to replace Cortana with regular old search.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    4. Re:I'm missing something crucial by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hmm... have tried others, and continually get reminded about how bad...how much I don't like... MS search products' results (Bing, and especially Sharepunt), and how much I do find Google results useful/usable.

      I'm also a bit jaded by other things (XBox home screen, Win7 & Win10 start menus, etc) where clearly the things I use most/all the time, that one would think are supposed to pop to the top of things, never do. So so much for MS "AI" products, at least in these areas. Clearly they have their own preferences that are hard-baked in, and they don't really "learn" from my behaviors.

      So I continually get the choice to use Yahoo or Bing as default internet browser search engine, too... but I switch them to Google, because Google just works, for me.

    5. Re:I'm missing something crucial by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What the fuck are you talking about? Google Play is already overflowing with digital assistant apps.

    6. Re:I'm missing something crucial by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nobody wants Cortana, but it does not matter as MS can just pay phone manufacturers or operators to push that into phones. MS is now in the business of selling peoples data, what is better tool for that than a constantly monitoring and literally listening spyware?

  8. Translation of the headline: by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 0

    Microsoft wants bring it's surveillance software code-named 'Cortana' to Android lock screens

    ..and in other news,

    Microsoft announces it's renaming it's virtual assistant/surveillance software from 'Cortana' to 'CATS', says "All your OS are belong to us"

    I suppose that just like Windows they'll make 'Cortana' on Android to be so thoroughly integrated that you can't uninstall or disable it, either. No thanks, I'll continue to use a cheap basic dumbphone that I keep turned 'off' when I'm not using it rather than be surveilled and tracked 24/7/365 like some sort of convicted criminal.

    1. Re:Translation of the headline: by radish · · Score: 1

      How on earth would Microsoft "thoroughly integrate" something so that "you can't uninstall or or disable it" on a platform owned and controlled by Google. You know, their competitor? Feel free to continue using your phone of choice but at least have a basic understanding of something before jerking your knees so hard you knock the table over.

      --

      ---- Den ene knappen er powerknapp, den andre er Bender voice knapp "Bite My Shiny Metal Ass"

    2. Re:Translation of the headline: by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1

      Sure because you have complete control over what's on your phone, don't you?

    3. Re:Translation of the headline: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't know about you, but I sure as hell do.

    4. Re:Translation of the headline: by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1

      Sure thing, friend. Because the underlying proprietary code that runs the cellphone parts of your smartphone couldn't possibly have anything malicious in it, no sir.

  9. I have Cortana on my Android. by wjcofkc · · Score: 1

    I have Cortana on my Android (it's on the Play Store), I can say that it is legit. I also have Alexa which is not, at least currently or as implemented, not terribly useful. I of course have Alexa on my Kindle Fire 8, it's mostly just good for handling media (actually really good) and regurgitating internet search results. So anyway, I am not going to sit here and review Cortana on Android. Take a few seconds to download it and give it a spin.

    --
    Brought to you by Carl's Junior.
    1. Re:I have Cortana on my Android. by PCM2 · · Score: 1

      I have Cortana on my Android (it's on the Play Store), I can say that it is legit.

      Explain, please. I have Google and a [virtual] keyboard. What do I gain from Cortana?

      --
      Breakfast served all day!
    2. Re:I have Cortana on my Android. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So anyway, I am not going to sit here and review Cortana on Android. Take a few seconds to download it and give it a spin.

      Well, that's one way to pump marketing uptake numbers...

    3. Re:I have Cortana on my Android. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you have and are working at Windows PCs all day it integrates nicely together with multiple devices. Amazon's offering is currently the best at integrating multiple microphones, though. Google and Siri are both locked-in to only their respective operating systems.

    4. Re:I have Cortana on my Android. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why would I want that? What does this "integration" offer me?

  10. I love my Windows phone, it's great! EXCEPT.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I have a $50 Nokia and it is the best phone for the money I have ever seen or used. Absolutely solid and reliable, good battery life, all the smart phone features, I highly recommend it.

    You know what sucks about it? The ONLY thing that sucks about it?

    No, it's not that it doesn't have Apple apps or Google play. I am not fourteen years old, OK? Don't be fool. I've coded on more operating systems that I can remember, and I can build an asterisk PBX and wireshark the SIP sessions.

    The thing that sucks about my windows phone is that it has Cortana.

    At Xmas my family side-by-side compared Siri, Google on android, and Cortana with queries like "where can I get some Chinese food" and "what does a cheap keyboard cost" and similar easy questions. Siri was worse than Google on voice recognition, but both Apple and Android gave good answers. Cortana got the questions wrong a lot more, and even when it got the questions right, the answers were just awful. Really, really inferior to the other two.

  11. Re:I love my Windows phone, it's great! EXCEPT.... by Noishkel · · Score: 2

    I find all of these voice command software packages to be a complete waste of time. Almost everything that I can do by voice I can do faster and easier with just my hands on the screen.

    But then again I don't keep my face stuck in my smart phone all day. Mobile games are a garbage, mobile media is a joke, and there's thing productivity wise that you can do one a phone that you can do faster and better on a real computer.

  12. Hi! I'm Clippy, er, Cortana. by mmell · · Score: 3, Funny

    I see you're using an Android phone. Can I help?

  13. To misquote Ballmer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    *start clapping your hands*

    Telemetry!Telemetry!Telemetry!Telemetry! etc.

  14. Do Not Want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't want Cortana on my desktop, let alone on my phone. Thanks, but no thanks, Microsoft.

  15. That would be cool! Except... by Overzeetop · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Cortana is better than Google at answering questions. Unfortunately, unless the question is very simple, she dumps you into a Bing search, which is even less helpful than Now always dumping you into a Google search. If you're interacting via voice, you shouldn't have to look at your phone or press links. At least in Google, you can often read the answer (after you stop driving/doing whatever it was that prevented you from typing in the first place, of course); with Bing, you end up copying the search text so you can paste it into Chrome to get useful links to answers.

    --
    Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
    1. Re:That would be cool! Except... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When I ask Google Now questions, it reads answers back to me via text to speech. Are you using an ancient phone or something?

  16. Schitzophrenia by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I hope this doesn't give my Android a complex. If my phone starts telling me it jas every faith in the mission then time to run.

  17. Excellent news by OneHundredAndTen · · Score: 1

    That gives yet another opportunity to publish a scathing review of Microsoft's trash. As usual, consider yourself middle-fingered, Microsoft.

  18. TRANSLATION by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 0

    "Microsoft is Bringing Cortana To Android Lock Screen"

    TRANSLATION: "Microsoft is Infecting Android Devices"

    --
    Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
  19. Is Cortana better than Google Now? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Google Now is pretty slick. Is Cortana actually better than Google Now in any way? Anybody use Cortana on their phone?

  20. Re:Hi! I'm Clippy, er, Cortana. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...can I help you buy a Windows Phone?
    FTFY :P

  21. holy lack of argument! by laupark · · Score: 0

    Well no, but I have listen to my roommate SCREAMING at how much she hates her Windows Phone due to how bad she HATES IT.

    Why the hell is it that someone mentions how bad a Microsoft product is some idiot tries to bring up some vague feature no one every uses a justification as to why they're gear isn't shit. Honestly, in what fantasy world does it matter that you can dick around with your contacts better? Is that all you do all day? Dick around with your contact lists and SMS over Bluetooth? Because I can't think of a single feather that matters LESS than SMS contacts and Bluetooth capability.

    You've got to be kidding? A phone is precisely made to communicate audibly and visually to your contacts. Plenty of reasons to dislike the platform in question. if you want to screw with a walled garden of fantastic apps or have a pocket computer to play with yourself, then you are absolutely right that there are better things out there. Sounds like you don't have a reason to dislike it except a screaming roommate. I'd buy her an old 4s or a Samsung S4 rather than listen to some one that "SCREAMS" because "HATES IT" instead of having an actual reason.

  22. Re:I love my Windows phone, it's great! EXCEPT.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In my limited experience with Siri, it's just doing a web search by voice.
    While I'm not an iPhone fan, I found their voice recognition is extremely good - I can just talk naturally and it rarely makes mistakes. Very handy for sending lengthy text messages or taking "notes to self".