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Microsoft: We're Not Giving Up On Cortana (Even In Home Automation) (zdnet.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the under-the-radar dept.

Microsoft is trying to fight back against perceptions that Cortana may be its next consumer-centric technology to face the chopping block. Yesterday, the company issued a press release touting recent wins for Cortana. Among these are the officially unveiled Johnson Controls' Cortana-powered thermostat (which goes on sale for $319 starting in March). ZDNet reports the "other recent Cortana device partners": Allwinner: This company has the Tech R16 Quad Core IoT solution (a reference design for device partners).
Synaptics: This ODM (original design manufacturer) and far-field voice processing vendor produces reference designs for consumer IoT, smart speakers, PC, and more that integrate Cortana.
TONLY: Another reference design vendor working with Microsoft on Cortana devices that make use of Skype.
Qualcomm: In addition to partnering with Microsoft on Windows-on-ARM "Always Connected" PCs, Qualcomm is building reference designs on its Smart Audio and Mesh Networking platforms that use Cortana. "In addition to our currently supported home automation partners, we are announcing new partnerships with Ecobee, Geeni, Honeywell Lyric, IFTTT, LIFX, TP-Link Kasa, and Honeywell Total Connect Comfort. Cortana currently supports lights, outlets, switches, and thermostats across all providers," the spokesperson said.

93 comments

  1. Re:FP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    FP = frist penis.

  2. Cortana? by youngone · · Score: 4, Informative

    Would that be the thing that says "I'm afraid I'm not available to help in your region"?

    1. Re: Cortana? by mark-t · · Score: 4, Funny

      So Canada's a 3rd world country now?

      Good to know.

      --
      File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
    2. Re:Cortana? by beuges · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Exactly. Instead of coming up with all this gimmicky stuff like voice-controlled thermostats, they should rather focus their energy on making the service available to everyone on Windows 10. MS has an infuriating habit of going overboard with features for en-US and treating the rest of the world as an afterthought.

      The current availability of Cortana's services is pitiful. It is constantly hyped about new features that have been added (they even got it to speak Klingon), yet for most of the world, it's a glorified interface to Bing.

      Years ago, before Win10 was officially released, and when Cortana was first being developed, I read an interview with one of the high-ups in the Cortana project, who said that they were really keen on making it available in an alpha state to as many users as possible, as the key way to train it properly to work in different regions and cultures is to expose it to as much input as possible. That never happened, and the list of supported countries and regions is the same as when I last looked at it over a year ago.

      If Cortana's uptake is struggling, it's purely because they limited the user-base themselves to a market that's already invested in Siri, Alexa and Google Now, instead of entrenching its use in the regions where the other players aren't yet fully available. I also believe that's the real reason that Windows Phone failed as well. They did very badly in the US market because iPhones and Android were both already entrenched, but there were a lot of other regions where WP did really well despite the lack of attention from MS. So naturally, instead of solidifying their market position in those regions, they continued ignoring them and focusing on the US where they had already lost the battle, and eventually lost support from the regions which actually had it. Then Joe Belfiore complains that they had no support from developers, ignoring the fact that there's a huge number of developers outside of the US who were hesitant to invest in a platform that MS themselves showed no interest in supporting for their markets.

      TL;DR: MS needs to abandon this habit of region-locking features, and then complaining that people aren't supporting or using those features.

    3. Re: Cortana? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just do what I do. Read the packaging of a device before you buy it. If you see references to Cortana - buy something else.

      And if you see no references, buy it, bring it home, and it ends up telling you it requires Cortana at that point, bring it back to the store with one hell of a chip on your shoulder.

    4. Re: Cortana? by Hal_Porter · · Score: 1

      ObCanada joke from an American friend

      "Ever since Scotland had that independence referendum I've been worrying what we should do if Canada tries the same thing".

      --
      echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
    5. Re: Cortana? by mark-t · · Score: 1

      I was half joking... Actually Cortana is available in Canada now, but it wasn't for quite a while.

      We even just got Amazon's Alexa recently.

      The point remains though... not every place where these so-called ubiquitous home assistants can be found is actually serviced by them.

      --
      File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
    6. Re: Cortana? by youngone · · Score: 4, Informative
      Fortunately for me the third world shithole I live in doesn't require me to declare bankruptcy if I happen to become ill.

      We also don't seem to have access to this Cortana thing, so we also have that going for us.

    7. Re: Cortana? by rogoshen1 · · Score: 1

      I fail to see how that's even approaching the realm of 'a bad thing'?

      The god damn things are not made for your benefit!

    8. Re:Cortana? by kamapuaa · · Score: 2

      The current availability of Cortana's services [microsoft.com] is pitiful

      Clicked on that link and actually it's pretty good. It covers like 80%+ of the world's population, and includes all the top 10 countries by economy. It's hardly universal but I would call the list very solid.

      Cortana sucks, don't get me wrong, but that's not the reason why.

      --
      Slashdot: providing anti-social weirdos a soapbox, since 1997.
    9. Re: Cortana? by gnick · · Score: 1

      ...not every place where these so-called ubiquitous home assistants can be found is actually serviced by them.

      In spite of the model set by the US, the world remains free.

      --
      He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.
    10. Re: Cortana? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Video game prices and TV networks filled with 50% mandated garbage say yes, you tried to get Target but none of the brands or prices or sales, no cheesecake factory, no wawa, just got PF Chang but smaller portions and twice the price

      Yeah living large

    11. Re: Cortana? by ArmoredDragon · · Score: 1

      Canada? You mean the land of the wildlings?

    12. Re: Cortana? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Or have a serious medical problem

      There, this is where you're admitting that the GP post was right. You're welcome.

    13. Re: Cortana? by mjwx · · Score: 1

      So Canada's a 3rd world country now?

      Good to know.

      I didn't know thing had improved that much in Canada.

      Jokes aside, the original meaning of first, second (which no-one talks about) and third world had to do with what side of the cold war you were on. First world countries were allied with the US and NATO, second world countries were allied with Russia and the Soviet Union (which is why there are no 2nd world countries and haven't been since 92) and third world are non-aligned countries.

      So technically, Thailand is a first world country and Switzerland is a third world country.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
    14. Re:Cortana? by The+Real+Dr+John · · Score: 1

      Or, "I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that"...

      --
      A brain is a terrible thing to waste... Mind? That's debatable.
    15. Re:Cortana? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > The current availability of Cortana's services [microsoft.com] is pitiful. It is constantly hyped about new features that have been added (they even got it to speak Klingon [theverge.com]), yet for most of the world, it's a glorified interface to Bing.

      So...learn Klingon?

  3. Easy to solve by Tablizer · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just include MS-Bob, and put it on a Zune running in a Pocket PC.

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
    1. Re:Easy to solve by Kellamity · · Score: 1

      If it comes with Clippy, sign me up!

    2. Re:Easy to solve by Tablizer · · Score: 1

      If it comes with Clippy, sign me up!

      "It looks like you are making fun of our wonderful corporation. Would you like to die now or via slow torture?"

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
  4. Alexa, Cortana ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'd like to get a home assistant from every company that offers them, put them close to each other so they can hear one another, and see if I can get them into an infinite loop of talking to each other.

    1. Re:Alexa, Cortana ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      that's an old episode

    2. Re:Alexa, Cortana ... by sexconker · · Score: 1

      I'd like to get a home assistant from every company that offers them, put them close to each other so they can hear one another, and see if I can get them into an infinite loop of talking to each other.

      South Park did it.

  5. Users: We're not giving up on removing Cortana by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2

    The users are trying to fight back against perceptions that Cortana may be Microsoft's next consumer-centric technology they are forced to use. Yesterday, the users issued a statement touting recent advances in preventing Cortana from functioning. Among these are the officially unveiled "Cortana-b-gon registry hack" (which prevents Cortana from running after significant Windows updates).

    1. Re:Users: We're not giving up on removing Cortana by tripleevenfall · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately, Cortana could still spy on the users even after they thought it had been disabled, because through the camera it could see their lips move.

  6. ZUNE? by hduff · · Score: 4, Funny

    Will Cortana work on my Zune?

    --
    "I believe in Karma. That means I can do bad things to people all day long and I assume they deserve it." : Dogbert
    1. Re:ZUNE? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Only on the OLED verrsion... I miss my zune..

    2. Re:ZUNE? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "There is no iPod only Zune." -Cortana Weaver

  7. Entrenched by decipher_saint · · Score: 1

    Is it because it's so entrenched in Windows 10? It wouldn't surprise me.

    --
    crazy dynamite monkey
  8. Clippy will never Die! by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 2

    Oh, wait, I meant Cortana.

    --
    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
    1. Re:Clippy will never Die! by nerdonamotorcycle · · Score: 1

      Cortana is really Microsoft Bob.

    2. Re:Clippy will never Die! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, Windows 10 is the Microsoft Bob. Cortana is nothing more than a productized malware. It even infected my work Win10 machine again on recent update, as previously one could just disable and hide it, now it is back on start menu, it can not be hidden anymore and likely listens all the time.

  9. Re: FP by tripleevenfall · · Score: 2

    I'm sorry, I'm afraid I'm not able to mod parent up in your region.

  10. Why do they even have to say this? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is it because outside of Windows and Office, MS is having trouble finding success, either dropping or renaming or relaunching the product or service in question? Maybe don't just spout PR, back it up.

  11. Shame by Quirkz · · Score: 1

    I wish they would give up on it. I turn it off or dial it back as much as I can, and whenever I'm on another computer I'm always annoyed by how in my face it is.

    --
    The Quirkz Handbook of Self-Improvement for People Who Are Already Pretty Okay
  12. How much? by Major_Disorder · · Score: 3, Insightful

    How much do I NOT want a $319 Cortana powered thermostat? I would tell you, but I can't even think of anything to compare it to. It might actually be the thing I want least in the world.
    I just replaced my thermostat a few months ago, it cost me about $50 and allowed me to program in different temperatures at different times of day, and day of the week. It wasn't even the cheapest on available either.
    I cant imagine that being able to verbally tell the thermostat to set the temperature one degree higher is going to be worth and additional $269. Especially since my thermostat is in the hall, a good distance from where I usually am.

    --
    First law of people: People are generally stupid.
    1. Re:How much? by xlsior · · Score: 1

      I cant imagine that being able to verbally tell the thermostat to set the temperature one degree higher is going to be worth and additional $269. Especially since my thermostat is in the hall, a good distance from where I usually am.

      As long as the thermostat itself is smart and can interface with a smart ecosystem, location doesn't matter.

      My Nest thermostat is in the upstairs hallway, but I can easily adjust it simply by asking the Amazon echo in the livingroom.

    2. Re:How much? by Major_Disorder · · Score: 1

      As long as the thermostat itself is smart and can interface with a smart ecosystem, location doesn't matter.
      My Nest thermostat is in the upstairs hallway, but I can easily adjust it simply by asking the Amazon echo in the livingroom.

      That just makes it even more expensive, and privacy invading.
      No thanks.

      --
      First law of people: People are generally stupid.
    3. Re:How much? by coofercat · · Score: 1

      I've got a 'smart' thermostat, but it's multi-zone, so each room gets it's own controls - that means one room can be cold while another is hot. It doesn't have voice control, but honestly, I set the schedules around about once or twice a year at most, and then just let it run. I can't really imagine needing voice as we scarcely even use the wall controls to change anything.

      This $319 thing is cheaper than mine, but doesn't appear to have multi-zone. It's not so much a 'smart' system as 'stupid as they come, but with voice and mobile phone control' (oh, and "voice control that'll probably get killed off in a year or two").

    4. Re:How much? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have 30-year-old relay type thermostats, at least 4 of them for different areas of the house. They don't work very well. What can I replace them all with?

    5. Re:How much? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can answer that. I want a $319, Cortana powered thermostat as much as I want an unshielded fission reactor under by bed to keep me warm at night.

  13. I gave up. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I disabled it after Cortana tried searching the internet every time I wanted to run an application.

  14. if i could... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    if i could delete cortana from windoze 10 i would. disabling it is not enough. i have no use for voice interaction. in fact, i have no use for the majority of the half baked baked in features of windoze 10.

    maybe a better solution would be to just delete windoze 10.

  15. Of course they're not giving it up by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

    when you can sell $90 worth of electronics for $300+ you don't give that up.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
  16. I didn't give up on deleting Cortana by JeffMings · · Score: 1

    It took a bit of time to figure out how to remove Cortana from the boxes infested with Windoze10:

    -Turn off fastboot
    -Boot with Linux distro of your choice
    -Rename all of the Cortana binaries
    -Enjoy not seeing useless waste of CPU by a process that Windoze lied about turning off

    1. Re:I didn't give up on deleting Cortana by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      All that when a single regedit can do the trick? Cortana is a component of Search. You can turn the Cortana component off with a regedit, then just log on again. You still might see "SearchUI.exe" described as "Search and Cortana application" in Task Manager, but the Cortana will be off.

  17. So much DRAMA ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Cortana component of Search can be turned off with a single regedit.

    Most telemetry can be stopped by turning off a single service, well maybe two (the primary one being the "Connected User Experiences and Telemetry" service, although you might want to turn off one or two more).

    Most of the rest of the privacy issues can be handled via the Privacy panel in Settings.

    If you want all the "apps" removed from your account, that can be done with a single PowerShell command, a second one will wipe them from the system so that any future accounts are created without them. Elsewise, most any individual "app" can be removed with a right-click

    A few tweaks is pretty much all it takes .. geesh.

    1. Re:So much DRAMA ! by vux984 · · Score: 2

      Agreed. I run windows 10 on most of my pcs at home and at work. (not all. I do have linux and my laptop is OSX) but most of my systems are 10.

      It can be tamed to be reasonable pretty easily. But it's inexcusable that they've gone so far out of the way to make those settings in-accessible. Group policy editor + service manager + powershell?!! When you used to be able to change the cortana setting that controlled whether it searched the web right in the cortana settings gear in cortana?

      That's some pretty arrogant bullshit.

    2. Re:So much DRAMA ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, they've needlessly made privacy a bit of an issue. Whether that's through arrogance, bad planning, the marketing dept. having too much sway (or some other misguidance) I have no idea.

      But just a little tweaking and it's all pretty much set straight.

    3. Re:So much DRAMA ! by Kellamity · · Score: 1

      It sounds like the kind of thing I would disable but I use Win 10 at home and I've never even noticed it... When I saw this article I had no idea what Cortana even was I had to look it up. When I get home I'll have to look in the start menu and see if it is there and what it is.

    4. Re:So much DRAMA ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not that easily. The stuff you think you turned off gets re-enabled. Even the settings app itself sends back telemetry. Wireshark that shit if you don't believe me.

    5. Re:So much DRAMA ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      To be honest, except for the first big update (AU), I haven't seen Windows 10 re-enable anything .. the CU and FCU both respected the settings.

    6. Re:So much DRAMA ! by vux984 · · Score: 1

      I said only that it could be tamed to be reasonable to use. Cortana's default settings of nagging me to use it to ask about sports scores, and then sending queries out to the web, and returning celebrity gossip from bing and microsoft store app and game suggestions when i want to search for a locally installed app or document while im working is actually distracting and obnoxious to use. I am focused on a task, and Cortana actively tries to distract me with frivolous SHIT. If Cortana was a human PA I'd fire her.

      The fact that the settings app is reporting back to microsoft how many people are using the 'dark' theme vs the 'light' them, and how many people are using the 150% scaling etc and other telemetry stuff like that -- its obnoxious that they don't make it trivial to completely opt out, but its not actively ruining the experience of using the software; and its more obectionable on principle rather than causing me actual harm.

  18. Classic Microsoft by Shogun37 · · Score: 1

    Clinging desperetley to a lead lined life preserver. Remember Clippy?

  19. You're doing Windows wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    If you still need Windows for something, then it should be in a VM. It shouldn't have any direct access to any hardware, and the OS itself shouldn't be running whenever you're not running your legacy application.

    1. Re:You're doing Windows wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm sorry Dave, but you didn't get the joke.

  20. More reference designs than products by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Oh, my.
    They have one thermostat and four reference design vendors.
    When you have more distributors than customers, we call it multi-level marketing (MLM).
    I wonder if we are seeing a similar business model here.

  21. over for us by sdinfoserv · · Score: 4, Informative

    Maybe M$soft isn't finished with Cortana, but we have. We disable it via policies on all network connected devices. Pretty pointless in the office.

    1. Re:over for us by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Cortana... pretty pointless

      Fixed.

    2. Re:over for us by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But but but... how will you staff accidentally click on shitty impostor apps when they try to run an app that isn't installed yet... or just no available in Microsoft's crap-ware app store?

      Think of the jobs you're killing!?!?!... They'll be forced to sell your privacy information to keep windows "free" you evil ... meh, I'm ready for Linux and Mac now.

    3. Re:over for us by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... I did the same thing and ended up in a situtation where no win10 machines would install any updates at all.

    4. Re:over for us by sdinfoserv · · Score: 1

      We push updates via a 3rd party system (non WSUS) that works well with non-ms updates/applications as well as maintains hardware and software inventories.
      of course, always test first.......

  22. One easy fix by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They simply need to make a Mobile platform that already exists ie windows phone and rename it Cortana. Then make devices around the Cortana ecosystem, ie Cortana certified Blitz up a bunch of integration commercials about cortana Offer it for a buck to android and iphone users so they feel like they bought something that was previously free. Really develop the life integration story for Cortana. Cars, homes, computers, etc. Basically, I should be able to plug my Cortana phone into every laptop and see my desktop on it. I should be able to plug my phone into a tv using a national standard and play movies to my tv. Or play video games on my 4k tv via my phone and an xbox wireless controller.

    See where I'm going with this. Develop Cortana as a platform/Operating system for my life. Stop trying to make it a tool for the garage when it should be the garage.

  23. Cortana is Blue Woman Porn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Robot Chicken on Cortana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyL-J-piB8o

    It was never going to become a mainstream technology, Microfail.

  24. No one wants home automation, retards by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Seriously, take your goddamned IoT and cram it up your fat lazy ass, nerds.

  25. Cortana powered thermostat ! - maybe not so dumb by az-saguaro · · Score: 1

    Cortana powered thermostat - maybe not as dumb as it first sounds.

    Disclaimer #1 - I do not work for MS, and I hate Cortana.
    Disclaimer #2 - I do not work for Johnson Controls, and I do not own any of their thermostats (at least, I don't think so), but to be honest, I do like the way thermostats let me control the temperature at home and in the office - what a clever invention!

    And did I mention . . . I hate Cortana. I have it completely suppressed on my PC's - never ever have to see it pop up, not ever. On my Windows phone, Cortana pops up, primarily just to annoy me, anytime I breath on the phone, or the TV or radio is on nearby, or my cat whines, but since I use the phone only for the most basic activities like phone calls, I can live with that annoyance.

    I don't get it, why Cortana makes sense. However, I also do not use Siri, Alexa, or the others - I personally just don't find that to be my style. I like talking to people, typing and pointing on my computer. For those who enjoy using voice assistants, I would be curious to now how they rate Cortana versus the others.

    I have read that Amazon Echo and Alexa devices were big winners during the holiday shopping season. So, why do people find that intriguing or compelling, but not Cortana? Partly I think because an Echo Dot sits out of your way. Speak to it when you want, but if you don’t call it, it doesn’t bother you.

    Cortana on the other hand is just in your face, always an unwelcome annoyance when you are trying to do something that requires your attention.

    To me, that epitomizes the Microsoft way - foisting on users what MS thinks is best for everyone, working in you face rather than by your side, working against you instead of with you. (Just my opinion, probably shared by many here.)

    Seen from that point of view, MS would by playing the fool to think that selling Cortana to a thermostat maker is a great inroad into the IoT. It sounds stupid, until . . .

    Look at it from the thermo-makers point of view.
    Check out the Johnson Controls website, at the link referenced in the Slashdot post:
    "Johnson Controls' Cortana-powered thermostat"
    http://www.johnsoncontrols.com...

    Those guys were apparently excited to develop this device.
    It has a touchscreen panel for the usual thermostat interactions and control, but "GLAS can [also] be controlled by mobile app or by voice, thanks to Microsoft’s voice-enabled digital assistant, Cortana."
    Keep in mind, this is not MS trying to push something stupid on the hamstrung user or the unwary developer.
    This is not Clippy, not Vista, not UAC, not forced Win10 updates, not any of the million and one irritating things that MS is legendary for – this is not MS forcing Cortana into a device where no one wants it.

    This is the company that wants to use Cortana as a tool or subsystem in its product, Johnson's choice. Whether Cortana or Hey Google or the others is the best choice, that is another discussion, but consider the potential benefit of this arrangement (and no, I am not being facetious).

    Perhaps I want to keep the heating or AC off in the house during the day when I am at work, save energy and money. On my way home from work, I can call ahead by 20 minutes and get the house warmed up. Or vice versa, I ran out the door in the morning, late to work, and forgot to turn off the system, so I can call in and do so. Perhaps I have the AC on, but the weather changers, a cold front comes in and it starts raining and temperature drops, so I no longer need to have the AC on to keep the pets at home safe.

    Perhaps on the way out the door, I realize I want to know the weather report, decide to take a jacket or raincoat, but I already turned off my computer. As I am walking out, I pass the thermostat, which is doubling as a weather report kiosk, and I can ask, and it tells me what I need t

  26. Cortana by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... went rogue and is trying to take over the galaxy in the name of peace.

    1. Re:Cortana by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Cortana could do a better job than trump. She's already 1000x smarter than that brain dead psychopath is.

    2. Re:Cortana by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      'And 2000x smarter than Hillary and her Saudi backers ..

  27. That's what I wanted. by roc97007 · · Score: 2

    A $319 thermostat. So that I can use Cortana.

    --
    Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
  28. Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    With a statement like that, Cortana must already be dead.

  29. E says e's not dead by mnemotronic · · Score: 1

    Cortana -- Not dead yet.

    --
    The Russians have won. They have made the world a cesspool of distrust, greed, fear and hate.
  30. where is MS home entertainment? by kiviQr · · Score: 2

    Is there a vision in MS ecosystem for the home entertainment??? MS had everything to rule home media! But Cortana cannot even play music from my PC - complete joke (keeps moving from Grove music, iHeart radio, spotify - more jokes).

  31. Go the way of Lumia... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I dealt with Johnson Controls in a former life. I do hope Microsoft does a Nokia on them. Or better: both spin into a black hole, in a deadly embrace.

  32. wtf is Cortana? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    wtf is Cortana?

    1. Re:wtf is Cortana? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can look the term/name up on Wikipedia. Cortana is the name of a female computer game character. Microsoft then adopted the character's name for the "digital assistant" they baked into the onboard search utility of Windows 10. It supposedly enhances one's search experience as it responds to voice commands etc. but overall the thing is half-baked and too intrusive. The Cortana component of SearchUI.exe can be disabled with a single regedit.

  33. Bring Back Tay by NicknameUnavailable · · Score: 1

    Cortana is stuck up, useless and spies on me so I do everything possible to disable it. Tay on the other hand was a foul-mouthed belligerent racist that I'd install if I could just for the amusement value.

  34. But you will Microsoft, you will... by moonracer · · Score: 1

    Slashdot 2020: "Microsoft has decided to abandon Cortana". My Microsoft Crystal Ball is amazingly accurate!

  35. fuck cortana we want tay back by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    the nazi version

    we will never use cortana until we get our nazi girlfriend back!!!

  36. That's OK by OneHundredAndTen · · Score: 1

    MS also did not want to give up on MS Bob, Clippy, Kin, Zun, Kinect, Lumia, etc.

  37. MS rules desktop and nothing else by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    MS grabbed control over the desktop early on, and has held onto to their near monopoly there.

    Since then, MS has failed to get much control over the internet, or smart phones. MS servers have done okay, but have certainly not taken over.

    Now MS seems to be failing in home automation.

  38. Microsoft always the last to give up by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Even after everyone else has, Microsoft is the last to realize its over. Perpetual optimist I guess Microsoft is. I never used Cortana and never will. Nothing against AI devices, think the Echo is somewhat useful and Siri was a interesting tool at first, but never really got much better. All these devices are more novelties for tech addicts then really useful and intelligent tools.

  39. Not giving up but killing the KINECT? CONSISTENCY? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Oh cool, so I can continue to disable Cortana on my XBOX ONE because it's notably and despicably worse recognition and MUCH MUCH slower than classic XBOX commands AND Microsoft will even HELP me to keep it disabled by discontinuing Kinect and now the goddamn kinect ADAPTER for the XBOX ONE X despite the fact that I REALLY REALLY like voice control for my tv / media center... but no... they aren't giving up on Cortana...

    OK Sure Microsoft. Go F*** yourselves. I guess I have to turn elsewhere to get even basic functionality, but YOU aren't giving up... Give me a F***ing break.

  40. Liars by TheCastro1689 · · Score: 1

    They're full of shit, because Cortana doesn't work on my Xbox One and can barely understand voice commands on it. They gave up long ago on it.

  41. Win10 lock screen photos: Northern Hempshere bias by Traf-O-Data-Hater · · Score: 1

    What really irks me is the Windows 10 lock screen scenery photos. Every single one I have ever been presented with, apart from ONE, is of somewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, either Europe or US/Canada.
    The only southern hemisphere photo I've had presented (abouth 4 months ago) is of the Twelve Apostles in Australia. Why not more (or any!) photos from Australia, New Zealand, South America or Africa? Or even Antarctica?

  42. Re:NO M$, we're giving up on YOU. It's your fault. by Whiteox · · Score: 1

    Yes AC and the rest of you. I have 2 Windows phones, a Nokia 720 that ran Windows Phone 8 and a 640 XL that runs Windows Phone 10.
    I was in hospital recovering from a FREE triple bypass when my W8 phone would read out my SMS and wait for me to reply and send from across the room! It could also browse my LAN and play/view AV.
    Then MS decided to shoot themselves in the foot numerous times, and my hatred for Sataya Nadella is deep. Completely oblivious to the promises he made, MS ruined Nokia and destroyed the promised development of porting android apps across, the Continuum and many other features I TRUSTED MS to deliver within reasonable time. Nadella forgot about the consumers and focussed on the business/corporate world with their Surface and W10 faux linnux software.
    Consumer abandonment is a tragedy and I have lost faith in MS. I can't keep my hope up that they will support the consumer. I have to buy an android phone because I have to have compatibility that my Windows phone can't give me, even though it is a brilliant OS, easy to use etc, but won't/can't do the things I need anymore.
    PS I got Cortana to read my SMS out to me btw.

    --
    Don't be apathetic. Procrastinate!