Microsoft Makes Cortana For Android Available As A Public Beta
by Brandon Chester on August 24, 2015 1:50 PM EST
Earlier this year Microsoft announced that their digital assistant Cortana would be making its way to iOS and Android in addition to its launch on Windows Phone and Windows 10. Today Microsoft opened the public beta for Cortana on Android, allowing users to use the same digital assistant on their Android smartphones and tablets as the one on their Windows 10 computers
Because of Android's ability to choose what applications are used for certain tasks, users can alter the long press of their device's home button to trigger Cortana instead of Google Now. As of right now, Cortana on Android has a similar interface and functionality to its Windows counterpart, but at this point in the beta there's no way to use Cortana to toggle settings, launch apps, or to activate Cortana itself by saying "Hey Cortana."
Users interested in trying the public beta for Cortana on Android can use this link to become a beta tester.
Source: Official Windows Blog
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meacupla - Monday, August 24, 2015 - link
Oh, if only Cortana didn't want the mic to be on all the time and consume ridiculous amounts of power...I swear, this program was the culprit behind my SP1 being in constant high power mode and subsequent extremely poor battery life.
Stephen Barrett - Monday, August 24, 2015 - link
1) This post is about mobile, and clearly states that Cortana doesn't do the "Hey Cortana" feature yet where it has the mic on all the time2) The feature on Windows 10 you mention is default off. You must have turned it on. Just go turn it back off if its not working well for you
meacupla - Monday, August 24, 2015 - link
1) well sorry for being uninformed about the iOS and android version.2) thanks for the help, I turned it off a while ago. But, No, it was default on for me.
sweenish - Monday, August 24, 2015 - link
As for the first point, it's plainly stated in the article.khanikun - Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - link
Unless you went in and turned on Cortana's always listening mode, she's not listening. I have no problems on my SP3 or S3.Impulses - Monday, August 24, 2015 - link
Not biting until they let me switch from the Cortana persona to a modern day Clippy, long live Clippy... Somewhere out there there's a BoB lead designer shaking his fist.nasgormawut - Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - link
Microsoft s BOB?Aaaaah...... That bring back long lost memories.
I don't think anyone still remember it :)
Thanks buddy
Refuge - Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - link
Ahhh Clippy...I'm sure he is cruising my word docks as a bicycle up in heaven somewhere now.
variab1e - Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - link
An ode to clippy:Oh clippy how I miss thee.
You were the friend I always ignored.
Never appreciated until you were gone.
All without a single good bye.
jlpurvis - Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - link
Too bad it doesn't exist. I became a beta tester, but cannot find the app anywhere on Google Play. After becoming beta tester, I click on the Google Play link to push the app to my phone, but it says the link doesn't exist.