Microsoft's Cortana (Photo : Youtube)
Microsoft’s Cortana is now available to Android and iOS platforms after its brief beta testing period. It is the latest part of the company's Windows 10 push, combined with an increased focus on cross-platform services and apps.
Previously, Cortana is exclusively for Windows Phone. Now, Windows personal assistant has now evolved into a new way to connect Windows 10 PCs and smartphones running Android or iOS.
Cortana for iOS and Android launches in the United States and China, according to The Verge, with new apps that allow Windows 10 users to share data across PCs, Android phones, and iPhones. While the Windows version of Cortana will still be more powerful than its iOS and Android counterparts, Microsoft has been working on ways to improve the integration on rival platforms.
Microsoft partnered with Cyanogen to offer a custom version of Android for phone makers who do not want to make their own. It allows users to use the voice feature as intended, and can ask Cortana to toggle network modes, power down your phone or put it into a silent mode.
However, the Hey Cortana voice activation feature is not available on iOS, and can only be used on Android devices, IGN reported.
Both of the iOS and Android apps will handle the basics of Cortana's ability to track flights, packages, interests, weather, and reminders.
Microsoft is now focusing its efforts in selling cross-platform services than artificially propping up a platform that has continually struggled to gain traction.
The Cortana app is not available on both Google Play Store and Apple Store. Users must be running iOS 8 and higher, or Android 4.1.2. In addition, OnePlus One owners need to wait for the 12.1.1 update set to come later this month.
