Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

Latest update lets Cortana replace Google Now on Android

David Nield
By

latest update lets cortana replace google now on android lumia1520 hithereimcortana
Image used with permission by copyright holder
The battle of the digital assistants rages on, and the most recent update to Cortana for Android gives the app the power to replace Google Now as your robotic helper of choice. The tool is still in the private testing phase (sign up here if you want in) but the new functionality is a sign of Microsoft’s commitment to getting Cortana just about everywhere it can.

At the Build conference in May Microsoft officially announced that Cortana would be making its way to iOS and Android this year. This follows the decision to bring it to the desktop with Windows 10, the idea being that you can get at Microsoft’s voice-activated smart assistant no matter what type of device you’re using and no matter what platform you’re on. Thanks to Android’s openness, you can set Cortana as your default assistant app (the one that appears when you press and hold the Home button).

Recommended Videos

Google Now is of course also on iOS, albeit in a more limited form thanks to the restrictions Apple puts on non-native apps; once Cortana makes the move too, there’ll be three similar apps vying to take control over your life and pop up with important information before you even know you need it. Siri isn’t available anywhere else, however — you need to buy Apple kit if you want Apple’s virtual helper.

Related

Ultimately the choice is as much about the ecosystem you’re invested in as it is about the digital assistant with the best features. If all your emails are in Gmail then Google Now is the sensible choice, whereas Outlook fans are more likely to gravitate towards Cortana. What’s certain is that these assistant apps are becoming more and more important, and are already one of the key differentiators between Android, iOS and Windows Phone.

We’ll be sure to bring you the news when Cortana apps for Android and iOS are officially released, but Microsoft is obviously intent on getting as far into Android as it possibly can. Only last month the Redmond firm released an alternative launcher app that replaces the core Android interface, and it looks like it’s not finished yet.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
David Nield
David Nield
Contributor
Dave is a freelance journalist from Manchester in the north-west of England. He's been writing about technology since the…
I used a new type of smartphone that could replace Android
Two phones running Apostrophy OS, sitting next to each other on a chair.

When you buy a phone today, your first decision is to decide which operating system you want: Android or iOS. We've seen other platforms come and go over the years, from Windows Phone to Palm OS, but Android and iOS remain your two sole choices in 2024.

One of the last things I saw at CES 2024 earlier this month was a smartphone operating system that's trying to be that third choice between Android and iOS. It's called Apostrophy OS (also referred to as AphyOS), and I got to play around with it while also chatting with Apostrophy CEO Steve Cistulli to learn about the could-be Android and iOS alternative.
What is Apostrophy OS?

Read more
Sharing files on Android is about to get much easier
Android 14

During CES 2024 in Las Vegas, Google announced a collaboration with Samsung to make file-sharing easier through a new feature called Quick Share. This feature is designed to create a unified cross-Android solution, enabling seamless sharing of files within the Android and Chromebook ecosystems. Additionally, Google intends to pre-install the Quick Share app on Windows PCs, further expanding its reach.

A list of nearby devices will appear when you tap the Quick Share icon. You can then choose which files to share with whom without compromising your privacy. You have complete control over your phone's settings and can decide whether to share files with everyone, only your contacts, or just your own devices.

Read more
Check your Google Pixel Watch now for a big software update
Someone wearing the Google Pixel Watch 2 with a yellow/green fabric band.

The Google Pixel Watch 2 (and its less successful predecessor) are both getting a significant software update, which has begun rolling out today. It doesn't overhaul the Pixel Watch experience, but it adds some very welcome new features.

One of the most interesting features included in this update is Call Screen. If you're using your Pixel Watch with a Pixel smartphone that has a Tensor processor — like the Google Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro — you'll now see a transcript of the person who's calling you so you can decide if you want to pick up the call or ignore it. Pixel phones have had Call Screen for years now, but with this update, it's finally coming to your wrist. It works for both the first Pixel Watch and the Pixel Watch 2.

Read more