14 DAY TRIAL // Even though Cortana may soon become a member of the Microsoft Office product family, the digital assistant keeps getting major improvements, and the software giant has recently started work on a substantial overhaul on Android and iPhone.
The first beta of version 3.0 is now available for testers, coming to these two mobile platforms with substantial improvements, including a new UI.
Technically, the revised graphical interface is supposed to make working with Cortana faster, simpler, and a more straightforward process. Microsoft says this UI enables conversational experiences, as the digital assistant is supposed to evolve towards performing more tasks seamlessly as part of a conversation.
Furthermore, this visual facelift also includes a new place to manage and set up Cortana devices.
New features in the updated Cortana
Cortana 3.0 enhances the music listening experience and makes it easier to play podcasts on the go. “Just ask Cortana to play your favorite tunes and podcasts with Spotify, iHeartRadio, and TuneIn on your phone or through a paired Bluetooth device,” Microsoft explains in the changelog.
Additionally, this update introduces support for Skype and Teams, and you can join meetings by simply asking the digital assistant to take care of the process. Additional features have been added in this regard, so Cortana can now manage your calendar and send quick emails, all using voice commands.
And last but not least, in terms of voice commands Cortana can also set reminders, timers, and create meetings.
As said, this new version is still in the beta development stage, which means that not everything may work exactly as planned. However, I’ve tried out Cortana 3.0 on my Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and no significant bug was noticed, with a pretty smooth experience at first run.
You can download Cortana APK for Android using this link. The iPhone version is available by joining the TestFlight program using the dedicated app.
