Microsoft is continuing their cross platform push as they have now officially released Cortana to iOS, Cyanogen OS and Android devices.
According to Marcus Ash, the Group Program Manager for Cortana, she is now available where and when you need her, no matter what smartphone you choose.
Although Cortana can now easily access and update your notebook across all of these platforms, has a similar visual experience on each device like we have experienced on Windows there are some areas Cortana is not up to par with her Windows counterpart.
While the Cortana app is fully-featured, there are some things Cortana can do on Windows phones that aren’t currently possible with iOS or Android*. This includes toggling settings or opening apps, and the ability to invoke Cortana hands-free by saying “Hey Cortana.”
The deepest integration with Cortana, outside of a Windows device, is on Cyanogen OS devices.
As a result of our close partnership with Cyanogen, we created a more integrated experience to enable Cortana’s voice activation ‘Hey Cortana’ on Cyanogen devices so you can call on her while on any screen or when you’re immersed in an app. The custom integration includes the ability to ask Cortana to toggle network modes, power down your phone, and turn on Quiet Mode amongst other features. With Quiet Mode enabled, all notifications, calls and alarms will be silenced.
Cortana is available today for iOS8 and Android 4.1.2 or higher devices as of today (US only). The One Plus One with Cyanogen OS (12.1.1 over-the-air update needed) will get the update later this month.
