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>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 (esp

>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.
    - dethstar 11y ago
      Doesnt tasker require root? Im pretty sure they mean with a regular not tinkered with phone
      - detaro 11y ago
        For some functionality, yes, but most of Taskers actions work without.
  - deleted 11y ago
    [deleted]
- BinaryIdiot 11y ago
  > I don't think Google would allow manufacturers to change the search provider. I don't see why not; Samsung devices come with SVoice enabled as the default voice interaction.
  - yohui 11y ago
    I assumed Google's requirements for allowing the Play Store on devices would include making Google the default search engine, but I may be mistaken, since it seems Android devices with Bing or Yahoo as the default have appeared in the past.
    - rblatz 11y ago
      I'm sure Google would love to add that requirement. But with antitrust regulators from the U.S. and EU salivating at the chance to hit them for monopolistic practices they will avoid anything as overt as that.
userbinator 11y ago
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? Windows (desktop) is more open in the sense that the platform has fewer constraints on what the user can do by default. Android is more open in the sense that most of the source code is available. These points are not exclusive and do not conflict with each other. It's possible to have a very "hackable" platform without any source code at all - if there is enough interest in RE - and also a very limited platform of which all the source is available, but crypographic signing and other measures get in the way of being able to modify the software. Windows (phone) is far less open though, and in general this has been the case with mobile devices. But Windows (desktop) is slowly getting more locked-down too, as a consequence of the "war on general purpose computing".
devsquid 11y ago
You can do all these things. Android is very open, if it wasn't how could other companies take the OS and make their own very successful clones. Such as Amazon or any of the Chinese variants. No one has done that with Windows.

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.
  - dethstar 11y ago
    Doesnt tasker require root? Im pretty sure they mean with a regular not tinkered with phone
    - detaro 11y ago
      For some functionality, yes, but most of Taskers actions work without.
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
BinaryIdiot 11y ago
> I don't think Google would allow manufacturers to change the search provider. I don't see why not; Samsung devices come with SVoice enabled as the default voice interaction.
- yohui 11y ago
  I assumed Google's requirements for allowing the Play Store on devices would include making Google the default search engine, but I may be mistaken, since it seems Android devices with Bing or Yahoo as the default have appeared in the past.
  - rblatz 11y ago
    I'm sure Google would love to add that requirement. But with antitrust regulators from the U.S. and EU salivating at the chance to hit them for monopolistic practices they will avoid anything as overt as that.

userbinator 11y ago

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? Windows (desktop) is more open in the sense that the platform has fewer constraints on what the user can do by default. Android is more open in the sense that most of the source code is available. These points are not exclusive and do not conflict with each other. It's possible to have a very "hackable" platform without any source code at all - if there is enough interest in RE - and also a very limited platform of which all the source is available, but crypographic signing and other measures get in the way of being able to modify the software. Windows (phone) is far less open though, and in general this has been the case with mobile devices. But Windows (desktop) is slowly getting more locked-down too, as a consequence of the "war on general purpose computing".

devsquid 11y ago

You can do all these things. Android is very open, if it wasn't how could other companies take the OS and make their own very successful clones. Such as Amazon or any of the Chinese variants. No one has done that with Windows.