Tech giant Microsoft is invading Google's Android platform by releasing an update that can turn Cortana as the default digital assistant for Android devices.The move is part of Microsoft's Windows Everywhere philosophy which is the main driving force since the announcement of the Windows 10 operating system.
According to Microsoft News, the Android version of the Cortana personal assistant works just like its Windows 10 counterpart. Everything from embedded features up to user interface are completely identical.
The first beta version of Microsoft's official digital assistant released on the Android platform lacks important features. One of this is the ability to set it to be the default application when making inquiries through the Home shortcut button found on all Android devices.
The new Cortana update will update it to version 1.0.0.204. With the new update, users who prefer to use Microsoft's digital assistant rather than the default Google Now can now have the option to replace it.
Despite the new update, the always listening function of Cortana is not enabled on Android devices due to issues regarding hardware compatibility. While this is inevitable, many tech analysts are still positive that Microsoft can fix this issue by releasing a patch or an update in the future.
The always listening feature give users the ability to activate their phone's default digital assistant through voice command like "OK Google" for Google Now or "Hey Cortana" for Microsoft's digital assistant.
According to The Verge, interested users who wants to test Cortana on the Android platform can sign up to be a part of an exclusive group of potential beta testers. Currently, the beta version is only available in the United States and Microsoft plans to roll out the update to all its users once the testing phase is complete.