Microsoft Band 2 updated with support for Cortana on Android

Jun 4, 2016 08:36 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft has recently released a new Band firmware update that includes some welcome changes, among which support for personal assistant Cortana on Android devices.

Cortana is already available on Android, and with this new update, Microsoft enables Band 2 users who also happen to have mobile phones powered by this operating system to use the assistant too.

“With Cortana on your Band, you can access your personal assistant for instant notifications of important events, communications, and voice-active info without reaching for your phone. Speak into the mic on your Band to Cortana to take actions for you, get facts, and more,” Microsoft says in the description of this new update.

Another important addition that’s part of this firmware update is the so-called zoned heart rate tracking, which enables the HR counter to change colors automatically, depending on the reached level.

Microsoft’s push on Android devices

It’s no secret that Microsoft is working so hard (maybe a little too hard sometimes) to bring its services and apps on Android devices. Moreover, in a recent email sent to employees, head of the Windows division Terry Myerson has reiterated the company’s commitment to investing in rival platforms, including Android and iOS.

“Our company will be pragmatic and embrace other mobile platforms with our productivity services, device management services, and development tools - regardless of a person’s phone choice, we want everyone to be able to experience what Microsoft has to offer them,” Myerson has said.

Microsoft is trying to invest more into its new approach of being a devices and services firm (or as CEO Satya Nadella says, “mobile first, cloud first” company), and this strategy can help increase the user base even with customers who purchased Android and iOS devices.

To get the new firmware update, you need to sync the Band to the Health app, while for Cortana support, the latest version of the app is required, which you can find in the Google Play Store or by using a dedicated APK published out there on the web.