iGyaan Network

Tag: digital assistant

  • Cortana is Finally Here: Windows Voice Assistant Hits Indian Markets

    Cortana is Finally Here: Windows Voice Assistant Hits Indian Markets

    Following suit with its Apple and Android counterparts, Windows had launched its own voice assistant called Cortana, this year. And now India too has been made part of the limited launch of the personalised digital assistant by Microsoft.

    And She Has Arrived!
    And she has arrived!

    Demonstrated for the first time at the Microsoft BUILD Developer Conference (April 2–4, 2014) in San Francisco, Cortana is part of Microsoft’s attempt to revamp its operating system. Available in India with Windows 10 Insider Preview builds 10532+, Cortana can be used only by the members of Windows Insider programme which lets users test features before their official release.

    Cortana, the blue-skinned beauty is ready to take the Indian tech circuit by storm with a voice and character of her own. In a first of its kind software for Windows phones in the country, the personal assistant offers features that include setting reminders, recognising natural voice without the user having to input a predefined series of commands, and answering questions using information from Bing.

    The company also added that the assistant “will be updated with an improved voice later this month.” The voice assistant is available as an optional download in Nihongo for Japan and in English for Australia and Canada. After this, Microsoft is expected to prepare the voice assistant for Brazil and Mexico, along with releasing a French version in Canada.

    Considered one of the best features of Windows so far, Times of India praised this cool new addition to the tech world by saying, “In our Windows 10 review, we found it to be pretty accurate in terms of recognizing our voice and offering answers to our questions.”

  • With These New Features, Siri Might Actually Become Helpful

    With These New Features, Siri Might Actually Become Helpful

    At the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2015, Apple announced major software changes. Amongst other things, Apple threw light on how they’ve been spending time further improving their digital voice assistant. It seems that Siri is trying hard to keep up with Google Now, its arch enemy, which has speedily raced ahead in the game.

    However, at the event Apple claimed that Siri takes over 1 billion requests per week. They expect the new and improved Siri to further improve this number. According to the company, on iOS 9, Siri is going to be 40% faster, as well as 40% more accurate.

    Here’s how the company plans to achieve that:

    Like we had suspected, Siri gets more ‘Proactive’. The easiest way to explain this would be the fact that the new and improved digital voice assistant not only answers to your requests, but is present at all times, noting your daily habits and patterns of how you use your phone. Apple gave an example, when you plug in your headphones, Siri would read the sign and automatically launch iTunes.

    Apple wwdc ios 9 siri 0

    Siri can now also view the apps you’re viewing, and help you make plans accordingly.  The Calendar app helps the cause. It gives you suggested times when you should leave your house, based on the traffic on your way to your destination.

    These announcements seem reminiscent of Google’s introduction of Android M. Android’s new feature ‘Now on Tap’ can also be used while you’re viewing a particular webpage or an app. For example, if you’re viewing a friend’s Facebook profile, you can use Now on Tap to find out more details about the person. It may then link you to the person’s Twitter and Instagram profile.

    While the world squabbles about which company came up with the idea first, we feel that Google, as well as Apple may have found the perfect formula on making their digital assistants more useful.

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