What baffles me is why the hell Microsoft didn't follow Apple's route of controlling their own distribution? Now Windows Mobile users have to figure out when their network is going to distribute the update[1]? That is hideous from a user standpoint.<p>Microsoft has the money to convince the carriers, and probably a lot of weight as well. Why wouldn't they avoid that nightmare?<p>Granted I don't have a windows phone so it doesn't affect me, but my brief foray into the Android world frustrated the hell out of me in this regard. With Android it was an extra step: Android released, phone manufacturer needed to build their own version of it, then my carrier needed to decide when I could access it.<p>When Apple announces an update, I can download it whenever I want it.<p>[1] <a href="http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/04/microsoft-announces-windows-phone-8-1-with-cortana-coming-in-april/" rel="nofollow">http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/04/micros...</a>
Named after the fictional Halo character:<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortana" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortana</a>
I am not a WP user, but this makes me want to give it a shot. Microsoft Research has some of the best researchers and some really impressive projects. I'd really love to see more of that research being put to use like Google does. I guess it is starting to happen now.
Days like this make me sad that I can't have the best of Windows Phone, iOS and Android at the same time. A "Cortana for Android" would be great. Some day perhaps phones will be standardized enough that, like the web, we can develop once and run anywhere without major sacrifices.
I am slowly becoming convinced that the next killer app is the personal assistant app. My life is sharded between contact books and voip apps and IM and email that hardly if ever talk to each other or make my life easier.<p>Its a huge market, but space for a lot of niches.
For me the biggest feature is being able to type questions in private, like Fantastical. I use Siri when I'm alone at home or in the car but I regularly find myself checking before using it. It's awkward saying "remind me to pick up extra maxi-pads for the wife on the way home" to siri when I'm at work within earshot of my co-workers. Even less private things than that can be weird.
Is there any information available about the accessibility support in 8.1 yet? I saw that Narrator will be included but no information on weather that will provide full access like iOS and Android offer. If it does I will be picking up a 520 to play with.
"Microsoft realizes mobile moves faster than the traditional desktop world it is used to, and asking the industry to wait for Windows 9 and Windows Phone 9 is simply not an option."<p>Other than being a bigger number, what radically different changes is the author expecting for Windows Phone 9? It seems like all the fundamentals are there. The changes to the OS at this point are rather incremental
- How well can it handle natural language, compared to Siri?<p>- Can it handle an interaction such as:<p>-- "Michael, you've got a new message from Paul"<p>-- "Read it for me"<p>-- 'Ok, Paul wrote: "Where should we meet today?"'<p>-- "Answer with "in the Starbucks, at noon as we discussed".<p>-- 'Ok, here is what I understood: "In the Starbucks, at noon as we discussed". Shall I send it?<p>-- "yes"<p>-- "Ok, your reply has been sent.
Just what I need, a personal assistant named after a Rampant AI. What's next, "New Samsung Galaxy XYZZY Now With GLaDOS Personal Assistant! (neurotoxin emitters sold separately)"? :)
As people came to know how to use Windows powered PC without Start Button, Microsoft came back with tradition in Windows 8.1. It's great to see how Microsoft is going through transition phase and they don't want to miss a single thing that would lead them into trouble. As Microsoft is giving free Windows Phone OS to some of Indian smartphone manufacturer & Free Windows to any of the manufacturer who are making device with less than 9 inch screen. This strategy shows how much Microsoft is committed towards Smartphone & Tablet.
Uh, does that cartoon rendition of "Cortana" remind anyone else of the Corpse Bride?<p><a href="http://whatculture.com/film/tim-burton-ranking-his-movies-from-worst-to-best.php/8" rel="nofollow">http://whatculture.com/film/tim-burton-ranking-his-movies-fr...</a><p>Creepy...
So much for the "big" update. I've had a WP8 device for over 10 months and I've actively used it for most of that period. There are <i>many</i> things I consider a downside of varying importance (some of which are a result of the extremely closed design) and the only thing they fix is a VPN client and that's to unknown extent. WP8 is a toy more than anything.
I'm glad Microsoft is finally catching up with the major smartphone OSs. Virtual assistant is indispensable feature (I'm using Google Now with my stock Android), it's very helpful and combined with great integration between gmail, calendar, driving history, purchases, etc. etc. it's realistically my dashboard to go a check stuff. Is Cortana doing the same? Because I think Siri is more like a useless to y to brag about, but not really helpful at anything.
This might me really nerdy but the name reminds me of the Farscape Episode "DNA Mad Scientist" (1x9 or so). A lab rat with increased intelligence enslaves the original scientific staff, and keeps the original chief scientist as an assistant, called... wait for it... "Cornata".