7 ms·

One of the biggest advantages of Cortana was its ability to interface with third party application pretty much at launch (something Siri and Google Now still do

One of the biggest advantages of Cortana was its ability to interface with third party application pretty much at launch (something Siri and Google Now still don't do much of). Going cross platform is awesome though I'm not sure if it'll be quite as useful. Realistically Microsoft could strike a deal and make an Android phone use Cortana by default (which might be really good) which would be quite interesting (especially if it could integrate with third party apps on Android, too). One thing that makes me hesitant when choosing a new app is what platform(s) it's available or will be available on. I bounce between Android and iOS almost once a year; this type of ubiquity Microsoft is pushing makes me use their products more and more because I know they'll be available everywhere I go.

macspoofing 11y ago
>Realistically Microsoft could strike a deal and make an Android phone use Cortana by default Zero chance for Google doing it but maybe one of manufacturers or Cyanogen?
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
- nivla 11y ago
  Ha extremely true. There is absolutely no way Google is going to let Microsoft peddle on their turf. They have been not so subtle about wanting to avoid windows phones for their core products and even to some extend actively sabotaging (remember that whole fiasco with Google blocking maps for Windows phone users?). This makes me wonder if investing in Cyanogen was a wise strategy for Microsoft? This way they could get past the gates of Google and into the land of Android.
  - KJasper 11y ago
    Don't forget about the YouTube fiasco where Google forced Microsoft to withdraw their unofficial app even though they tried everything to comply with Google.
- maemre 11y ago
  They may convince manifacturers (like Samsung) rather than Google and ship Cortana as part of OEM software.
  - frik 11y ago
    Zero chance for Samsung, the have their own personal assistant since Galaxy S2. (both Apple's Siri and Samsung one are now based on Nuance technology)
    - 0xFFC 11y ago
      Could you explain about Nuance technology ?
      - castell 11y ago
        Wikipedia has an article about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S_Voice http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S_Voice
    - blumkvist 11y ago
      Zero chance? Yeah... no. Many people would be very surprised how quickly manufacturers start to ditch google once windows10 gets out.
      - baldfat 11y ago
        The issue in tech has never been who has the best tech wins. Over and over it isn't about technology or better this or that. It is based on mindshare of developers, the market position of the product and public demand for the item. Window Phones are good tech. The phones are designed very well. The OS is fluid and it does things well. I just can't ever see it breaking into double digits of market share in the next 5 years due to public demand for Windows items and the lack of mind share. Maybe in 5+ years. I think MS has a better chance of just doing a Amazon and fork Android.
        CaptainZapp 11y ago
- yellowapple 11y ago
  With Microsoft's recent friendliness to CyanogenMod, I'm thinking the latter is pretty likely. Combining this with a good competitor bundle to replace the "Google Apps" package that generally goes hand-in-hand with installing CyanogenMod on a phone (so including Outlook, a mobile Office, Cortana, some Bing stuff, etc.) would be at least a decent strategy. So, instead of downloading a "gapps" package to be flashed alongside CyanogenMod, a user could instead (or even in addition) download a "mapps" package that would give the user a more Microsofty experience. Hell, maybe Amazon could get in on this with an "aapps" package for things like their custom app store, Amazon Video/Music/Kindle, etc. (which would, granted, compete with their own forays into Android, but they already make these things available to normal Android devices anyway).
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
jfuhrman 11y ago
>Realistically Microsoft could strike a deal and make an Android phone use Cortana by default (which might be really good) which would be quite interesting (especially if it could integrate with third party apps on Android, too). Is there no way for the user of a Android phone to set Cortana as default? That seems strange given Google's and other folks' claims that Android is open. If this is the case then it looks Android is more closed than a Windows PC where it would be trivial for a developer to create such a service without the platform owner's permission. How is Android more open than Windows again?
- yohui 11y ago
  The user can. BinaryIdiot means striking a deal with a manufacturer, the same way PC manufacturers make agreements to preinstall software on Windows machines. But while manufacturers such as Samsung can and have agreed to preload Microsoft apps on Android devices, I don't think Google would allow manufacturers to change the search provider. Though that still doesn't prevent them from preinstalling Cortana, or replacing the homescreen with a Cortana launcher. Partnering with a custom ROM such as CyanogenMod is certainly an option, too.
  - jfuhrman 11y ago
    Then why does Microsoft say this in their blog post: >Although the functionality will be very helpful, because it’s “just an app” there will be certain things that Cortana does on Windows phones that won’t work on Android devices or iPhones. Some features require access to the system that aren’t currently possible with iOS or Android, so things like toggling settings or opening apps won’t initially be available in the Cortana companions for those platforms. Similarly, the ability to invoke Cortana hands-free by saying “Hey Cortana” requires special integration with the device’s microphone, so that feature will be limited to Windows Phones and PCs. Is it a design decision or a platform restriction?
    - yohui 11y ago
      Tasker can certainly change settings and launch apps, so I don't see why Cortana couldn't. Maybe Microsoft just means it's more difficult? They do say certain features "won't initially be available", which implies they will in the future, though this contradicts the statement that the features "won't work". Hands-free voice control is tricky because Qualcomm controls hardware support. There are some workarounds if you don't want to license Qualcomm's tech, but I guess Microsoft may not want to use such hacks. Otherwise, without Qualcomm's dedicated always-on voice coprocessor, leaving the mic on would drain the battery.

macspoofing 11y ago

>Realistically Microsoft could strike a deal and make an Android phone use Cortana by default Zero chance for Google doing it but maybe one of manufacturers or Cyanogen?

deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
nivla 11y ago
Ha extremely true. There is absolutely no way Google is going to let Microsoft peddle on their turf. They have been not so subtle about wanting to avoid windows phones for their core products and even to some extend actively sabotaging (remember that whole fiasco with Google blocking maps for Windows phone users?). This makes me wonder if investing in Cyanogen was a wise strategy for Microsoft? This way they could get past the gates of Google and into the land of Android.
- KJasper 11y ago
  Don't forget about the YouTube fiasco where Google forced Microsoft to withdraw their unofficial app even though they tried everything to comply with Google.
maemre 11y ago
They may convince manifacturers (like Samsung) rather than Google and ship Cortana as part of OEM software.
- frik 11y ago
  Zero chance for Samsung, the have their own personal assistant since Galaxy S2. (both Apple's Siri and Samsung one are now based on Nuance technology)
  - 0xFFC 11y ago
    Could you explain about Nuance technology ?
    - castell 11y ago
      Wikipedia has an article about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S_Voice http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S_Voice
  - blumkvist 11y ago
    Zero chance? Yeah... no. Many people would be very surprised how quickly manufacturers start to ditch google once windows10 gets out.
    - baldfat 11y ago
      The issue in tech has never been who has the best tech wins. Over and over it isn't about technology or better this or that. It is based on mindshare of developers, the market position of the product and public demand for the item. Window Phones are good tech. The phones are designed very well. The OS is fluid and it does things well. I just can't ever see it breaking into double digits of market share in the next 5 years due to public demand for Windows items and the lack of mind share. Maybe in 5+ years. I think MS has a better chance of just doing a Amazon and fork Android.
      - CaptainZapp 11y ago
yellowapple 11y ago
With Microsoft's recent friendliness to CyanogenMod, I'm thinking the latter is pretty likely. Combining this with a good competitor bundle to replace the "Google Apps" package that generally goes hand-in-hand with installing CyanogenMod on a phone (so including Outlook, a mobile Office, Cortana, some Bing stuff, etc.) would be at least a decent strategy. So, instead of downloading a "gapps" package to be flashed alongside CyanogenMod, a user could instead (or even in addition) download a "mapps" package that would give the user a more Microsofty experience. Hell, maybe Amazon could get in on this with an "aapps" package for things like their custom app store, Amazon Video/Music/Kindle, etc. (which would, granted, compete with their own forays into Android, but they already make these things available to normal Android devices anyway).
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]

jfuhrman 11y ago

>Realistically Microsoft could strike a deal and make an Android phone use Cortana by default (which might be really good) which would be quite interesting (especially if it could integrate with third party apps on Android, too). Is there no way for the user of a Android phone to set Cortana as default? That seems strange given Google's and other folks' claims that Android is open. If this is the case then it looks Android is more closed than a Windows PC where it would be trivial for a developer to create such a service without the platform owner's permission. How is Android more open than Windows again?

yohui 11y ago
The user can. BinaryIdiot means striking a deal with a manufacturer, the same way PC manufacturers make agreements to preinstall software on Windows machines. But while manufacturers such as Samsung can and have agreed to preload Microsoft apps on Android devices, I don't think Google would allow manufacturers to change the search provider. Though that still doesn't prevent them from preinstalling Cortana, or replacing the homescreen with a Cortana launcher. Partnering with a custom ROM such as CyanogenMod is certainly an option, too.
- jfuhrman 11y ago
  Then why does Microsoft say this in their blog post: >Although the functionality will be very helpful, because it’s “just an app” there will be certain things that Cortana does on Windows phones that won’t work on Android devices or iPhones. Some features require access to the system that aren’t currently possible with iOS or Android, so things like toggling settings or opening apps won’t initially be available in the Cortana companions for those platforms. Similarly, the ability to invoke Cortana hands-free by saying “Hey Cortana” requires special integration with the device’s microphone, so that feature will be limited to Windows Phones and PCs. Is it a design decision or a platform restriction?
  - yohui 11y ago
    Tasker can certainly change settings and launch apps, so I don't see why Cortana couldn't. Maybe Microsoft just means it's more difficult? They do say certain features "won't initially be available", which implies they will in the future, though this contradicts the statement that the features "won't work". Hands-free voice control is tricky because Qualcomm controls hardware support. There are some workarounds if you don't want to license Qualcomm's tech, but I guess Microsoft may not want to use such hacks. Otherwise, without Qualcomm's dedicated always-on voice coprocessor, leaving the mic on would drain the battery.