14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft this week unveiled Windows Phone 8.1 Developer Preview, giving the chance to virtually anyone who previously purchased a Windows Phone to try out the next version of its mobile operating system.
Windows Phone 8.1 sure comes with plenty of improvements, including a notification center, lock screen customization options, and Start screen backgrounds, but the star of the show is clearly Cortana, Microsoft’s Siri-killer and the personal assistant that’s supposed to help you perform a number of tasks easier.
Cortana is definitely a very advanced service and although it’s still available in the United States exclusively, Microsoft has promised that it would bring it in a number of other markets very soon, as it completes development of new features and language packs for each particular country.
Cortana might not seem such a big deal to those who are using the phone just for calls or texting, but it does have a really good potential to ease the life of the ones who are often on the go and trying to set up reminders, check the weather, post on Twitter, search the web, send emails, and do a lot of things without even touching the phone.
I’ve already tried Cortana and I must admit that I’m impressed. It works really fast and can provide answers to a wide array of questions, just by simply searching the web. It can provide you with addresses, weather conditions, and contact details, all in just a couple of seconds.
Now, it’s pretty clear that Cortana is a very advanced feature that’s going to make it to the final version of Windows Phone 8.1 sometime in the coming weeks. But there’s one little thing that Microsoft should really take into account: Cortana should be brought to Windows as soon as possible.
Although for some it might sound a bit awkward to talk to your PC or tablet, it does make at least as much sense as it does for a regular smartphone.
If you remember, Microsoft at some point promoted the Surface tablet, which obviously runs the latest version of Windows, as the perfect companion whenever you want to cook something in the kitchen. It has a kickstand to easily read the recipe, a built-in camera that supports gestures, and many other features that could help you in the kitchen.
Now imagine that the same tablet has Cortana. Wouldn’t it be great to simply ask Cortana to read the recipe for you? Or to perform conversion or maybe look for more information on an ingredient?
That would definitely come in handy.
Cortana could also help perform some other tasks on your PC and tablet whenever you don’t want to touch the device itself. The same applies for the smartphone, so if you wish to search for something or maybe set up a reminder, Cortana could be there to help you.
Of course, these are only just a few ideas, but I’m pretty sure that Microsoft could develop Cortana to help you with many more things and, who knows, maybe change the way you actually do some specific tasks on your computer. Microsoft just needs to dream big, as possibilities are unlimited.
Cortana on the Xbox One would also be a great addition, especially because taking over the living room is one of Microsoft’s biggest challenges these days. Just imagine how easy it could be to ask Cortana to search for game information on the web or look for reviews online…
If you’re asking me, Cortana has really great potential to conquer all Windows devices out there and the Windows Phone debut is just the beginning of a much more ambitious strategy that Microsoft is preparing for all of us, no matter if we’re using a PC, a tablet, or a smartphone running Windows.
At the same time, Windows 9 needs Cortana as least as much as a Start menu. Windows 9 needs to be a successful operating system and finally get the millions of users who refuse to upgrade off Windows XP and give Microsoft’s modern platform a chance to succeed.
There’s no doubt that Microsoft’s rivals will soon respond with an even more advanced personal assistant, but if Redmond plays its cards right, it has all the chances in the world to be the number one player in this particular side of the industry.