Microsoft Improves Cortana on the Android Lock Screen
- Paul Thurrott
- Mar 27, 2017
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14
Earlier this month, Microsoft updated Cortana for Android so that it would work in a read-only mode above the lock screen. Now, you can interact with Cortana above the lock screen.
I recently highlighted Cortana as one of the key ways you can “Redmondize” your Android handset, noting that you could use it to replace Google Assistant and then access your preferred digital personal assistant by long-pressing on your device’s Home button too.
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Now, Cortana is getting even more interesting on Android. In addition to letting you view your day’s schedule, which became available earlier in March, you can now interact with Cortana above the Android lock screen. That is, you can “quickly get answers to your questions, set a reminder and more without having to unlock your device.”
Other new features include:
- Improved positioning above the lock screen
- New view for a quick glance of your day
- Buttons to create Reminders and Lists from Cortana home
- Improved reminder experience and location triggering
As always, Cortana is only available in select markets, which I know is irritating to international users. But Microsoft also announced today that Cortana is now available on both Android and iOS in Australia for the first time. So it’s slowly edging out in the world like a good digital personal assistant should.
You can download Cortana for Android from the Google Play Store.
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<p>LOL…more INSTABILITY for Paul's Pixel !!! </p><p><br></p><p>That means more reason to blame to Google, for Paul's technological mishaps.</p><p><br></p><p>Let's get one thing clear here, Google Assistant is far superior to Cortana. It's not even close. You want proof? Go to Youtube and look at all the comparison tests. IMO, this is bad because Cortana is powered by Bing and the results just so poor.</p><p><br></p><p>However, I understand how Microsoft super-fans like Mr Thurrott so badly want to have a Microsoftcentric ecosystem, where there whole lives utilized Microsoft technology. Isn't it obvious? That's not going to happen. </p><p><br></p><p>Cortana will never…ever…ever bump off The Google Assistant in the battle for Android resources. Google will never allow it. Therefore a total MSFT experience is not going to be possible. It will always be a "shared experience" with the Google Assistant. This means more resources used and more ridiculous complaining by Paul.</p>