Microsoft announces Cortana for Windows Phone

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K

killer rin

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genjiZERO said:
It certainly comes across that way.



Sorry I think fan-service is lame. Also, if MS had actually created Halo I might feel differently. But it's simply an IP they bought and exploited. It just seems lazy.
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The name started from a simple suggestion from Windows Phone program manager Robert Howard in an early planning meeting. "It was just a codename, it stuck," explains Marcus Ash, group program manager of Windows Phone. "We didn't intend for it to be the actual product name from the beginning." The fact Cortana exists simply as Cortana, and not some marketing buzz like "Microsoft Personal Digital Assistant Home Premium" is surprising given Microsoft’s history of naming products. Up until a few weeks ago, it was hit and miss whether Cortana would be the final name. It could have been Naomi, Alyx, or a number of other suggestions, but leaks and a petition to use the Cortana name helped sway Microsoft’s decision.
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http://www.theverge.com/2014/4/2/5570866/cortana-windows-phone-8-1-digital-assistant
 
Raonak

Raonak

Banned
Oriel said:
Does anyone, apart from tech buffs, really bother with voice "assistants" and the like? I never use Google Now as I find typing info quicker and more convenient. Besides I'd rather not have anyone in the house know my entire browsing history. I've always felt people who use such software are really just pretentious twats, ditto for those who walk around with their phone arm out in front of them on loud speaker.
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It's extremely handy for setting alarms. can say "set alarm 30 mins from now" or shit like that. note taking and reminders too.
 
K

kharma45

Member
MCD said:
It's disgusting. Europe market share is bigger and MS is still USA USA USA.

Goddamn just look at Bing. Beta status since forever.
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With ~10% marketshare in the UK and a language, accent aside, that's the same I had a slim hope we'd at least get it but as you say it's still all focused on their home territory rather than capitalise on good momentum elsewhere.
 
T

The Flash

Banned
looks like my first smartphone will be a Windows phone. That's some seriously cool stuff right there I tell you what. So glad they stuck with the Cortana name and got Jen to voice it.

Hey Stinkles, what happens when you ask Cortana about Halo 2 Anniversary.
 
A

Anton Sugar

Member
I'm excited to try it out, but yeah, "Cortana" is just a STEP over the "you're embarrassing yourself you fucking nerd" line for me. I feel like I'll have to explain the name to anybody who asks and then it's all downhill from there.
 
S

Stinkles

Clothed, sober, cooperative
The Flash said:
looks like my first smartphone will be a Windows phone. That's some seriously cool stuff right there I tell you what. So glad they stuck with the Cortana name and got Jen to voice it.

Hey Stinkles, what happens when you ask Cortana about Halo 2 Anniversary.
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I just tried. She said "I don't comment on rumors, speculation, or Phil Spencer tweets."
 
K

killer rin

Member
Anton Sugar said:
I'm excited to try it out, but yeah, "Cortana" is just a STEP over the "you're embarrassing yourself you fucking nerd" line for me. I feel like I'll have to explain the name to anybody who asks and then it's all downhill from there.
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If someone wants to know where it comes from, you can just say "The Halo Games" and they will likely leave you alone. If they want to know more, they will search and see Cortana on halopedian or halo.wikia as the first link and there they go.
 
Surface of Me

Surface of Me

I'm not an NPC. And neither are we.
Anton Sugar said:
I'm excited to try it out, but yeah, "Cortana" is just a STEP over the "you're embarrassing yourself you fucking nerd" line for me. I feel like I'll have to explain the name to anybody who asks and then it's all downhill from there.
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People who know the games will probably think it's neat, people who dont will just assume it's a made up name like Siri is.
 
T

The Flash

Banned
Stinkles said:
I just tried. She said "I don't comment on rumors, speculation, or Phil Spencer tweets."
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ybeU4Fd.gif
 
A

AbsolutBro

Member
Anton Sugar said:
I'm excited to try it out, but yeah, "Cortana" is just a STEP over the "you're embarrassing yourself you fucking nerd" line for me. I feel like I'll have to explain the name to anybody who asks and then it's all downhill from there.
Click to expand...

Do people ask where the name Siri came from? I don't own an iPhone, so I'm honestly curious if people actually care enough about your phone's name.
 
3

3phemeral

Member
Oriel said:
Does anyone, apart from tech buffs, really bother with voice "assistants" and the like? I never use Google Now as I find typing info quicker and more convenient. Besides I'd rather not have anyone in the house know my entire browsing history. I've always felt people who use such software are really just pretentious twats, ditto for those who walk around with their phone arm out in front of them on loud speaker.
Click to expand...

Mainly for alarm, setting appointments, navigation, opening apps while driving, nearby movie showtimes, or playing music. Really easy to switch back and forth between some other app and then back to the navigation view using Google Now while I'm driving.

Also good for setting alarms when I'm working on my computer and I have my phone set on another desk in the same room.

I was going to say I don't really use it for search, but I find myself relying on it more and more considering how accurate it usually is; I'll just ask it to perform a search for whatever string of relevant phrases. It also helps that I have a Moto X so I don't have to bother unlocking my phone to do anything. It can remain asleep and I'll just activate it from afar and it's infinitely more convenient than when I used to use Google Now on my Nexus, where I would have to unlock, swipe up to Google Now, then ask it. At that point, I would just type it in.

[edit]

Forgot to add I'[m really interested in Microsoft's implementation. The more competition, the better it's going to be in terms of how fast this thing evolves into operating the phone with as minimal hand interaction as possible. :)
 
Ozzy Onya A2Z

Ozzy Onya A2Z

Member
I await the inevitable Bing maps integration...Chief you need to take a left up ahead and there is some debris on the road so veer right after that. I have highlighted two waypoints on your HUD. I'm getting a nerd boner just thinking about it.

Also I can already hear Cortana saying things like find me a terminal my datachip needs to recharge. Now if we can just get her to highlight enemies trying to take parking spaces via GPS we'll have that real killer app :)

P7b6Scj.jpg
 
M

Madness

Member
MCD said:
It's disgusting. Europe market share is bigger and MS is still USA USA USA.

Goddamn just look at Bing. Beta status since forever.
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Yes, how dare an American corporation based in Seattle/Redmond, Washington, USA, utilize the voice and "name" from the American franchise Halo, developed first by Bungie in Kirkland/Bellevue, Washington, USA and then 343 Industries in Kirkland, Washington, USA in creating a new voice based service, and bring it to market in the USA first.
 
G

Grisby

Member
jelly said:
Yeah, pretty neat.

Been ages since I played it but she starts off serious something like we don't have time to enjoy the view then it's not that high, you can do it. Okay I won't look. Demanding to nice. Good touches to have in games rather than strict set of advancements to tick before a strict dialogue moment is triggered.
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Coolio.
 
W

Winterfang

Banned
This Windows Phone update would had got nicely the year after Apollo, I wonder what took them so long. Titles had never looked better.
 
R

rrs

Member
This update has got me interested in WinPhone stuff in general, I'm tempted to make such a device mine next
 
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