Microsoft has now joined the ranks of Apple, Amazon, and Google for having contractors who’ve been caught listening to some user Skype and Cortana activity, with Microsoft (and those other tech companies) insisting that some degree of human review is necessary to help improve the services. That may be cold comfort to users of those …
When the Xbox One launched, the revival of the Kinect seemed like a distinct possibility. After all, Microsoft had built all sorts of clever voice commands in to its camera, but within months of the console’s arrival, the writing was already on the wall. The Kinect was dead, and Microsoft admitted as much when it …
If you’re the proud owner of an Amazon Alexa-powered device who’d prefer to summon the digital dulcet tones of Microsoft’s assistant Cortana instead of Alexa herself, you’re in luck. Today, an integration between the rival assistants that’s been in the works for about a year gets under way via the release of a U.S.-only public …
The voice assistant business is about to get even more interesting, as Amazon and Microsoft announced a partnership that will see Alexa and Cortana playing nice with each other. The move follows Google and Walmart’s deal to add online shopping support to Google Assistant.
Apparently, we’re now in the era of voice computing. But there’s some things that are probably best handled by a keyboard and mouse in the interests of security: your bank details, internet browsing history, and the ability to turn your PC on and off. Microsoft doesn’t seem to have got the memo on that last …
Nuance, the company behind some of the voice technology used for Samsung’s S Voice and Apple’s Siri, is ready to go where no other digital assistant has gone before. The company wants to bring voice control to apps and hardware other than smartphones, tablets or PCs, in a move that should help users use their voices …
Microsoft this week released a version of its Cortana virtual assistant for both iOS and Android, which naturally prompted one curious iPhone user to install it on their device and ask for its opinion of Apple. Instead of talking smack about Apple like a Ballmer-designed Cortana almost certainly would have, Cortana gave a very witty …
Siri, it’s time we had a talk. It’s not that iPhone users don’t appreciate you, it’s just that you’re rarely more convenient than simply typing something into Google. I can’t even remember the last time I used you, but don’t worry, I’m not getting rid of you — I just think it’s time I explore …
No matter the product, it’s always risky demoing software up on stage in front of a live audience. Software might work great during testing, but once you’re up on stage showcasing it to the world, Murphy’s Law has a strange way of sneaking up and rearing its ugly head. And if you’re so bold as …
Back in May, Microsoft announced that its digital assistant Cortana would be expanding to platforms other than Windows in the future. It began with a closed beta on Android in July, and today, Microsoft has revealed that the beta is now open to the public, free to download on Google Play.
