Cortana Launches on iPhone and Android
Microsoft’s Cortana digital assistant is available for everyone on the iPhone and Android phones. Cortana will offer you reminders, or get a missed call alert on your Windows 10 PC and let Cortana send a text back letting them know you’ll call them later.
This holiday season, you’ll be able to track flights, packages and more using Cortana on both your phone and your PC, and get the updates on the device that you’re on so you don’t miss a thing.
Of course, the Cortana app comes with the same intelligence as Cortana on your PC, with the ability to look up information and give suggestions. The information stored in Cortana’s Notebook on your PC such as interests, weather and more, will travel with you across devices and any changes you make on one will be reflected on your other devices.
However, there are some things Cortana can do on Windows phones that aren’t currently possible with iOS or Android. This includes toggling settings or opening apps, and the ability to invoke Cortana hands-free by saying "Hey Cortana." The 'Phone Companion' app on your Windows 10 PC will help you install the Cortana app from the Google Play or Apple App Store onto your phone.
In addition, Microsoft has enabled Cortana’s voice activation 'Hey Cortana' on Cyanogen devices so you can call on her while on any screen or when you’re immersed in an app. The custom integration includes the ability to ask Cortana to toggle network modes, power down your phone, and turn on Quiet Mode amongst other features. With Quiet Mode enabled, all notifications, calls and alarms will be silenced.
The Cortana app is available today in the U.S. and China for iPhones on iOS8 and up and Android 4.1.2. And will be available in the U.S. on One Plus One powered by Cyanogen OS with the 12.1.1 over-the-air update later in Dec.