Rumor has it that Microsoft is working on virtual assistant software to rival Apple’s Siri, codenamed Cortana. Cortana is also rumored to work across and connect between different Microsoft devices, including the Xbox One.
Apparently, the first clue in that this was in the works was a folder named /zCortana found in preview screenshots of the upcoming update to Windows 8 called Windows Blue. Voice commands are already incorporated into Windows Phone, but Cortana will bring in data from Windows Phone, such as weather, calendar events and push notifications.
This raises more questions than it answers. As we know, Xbox One itself has three OSes under the hood, and presumably it would be the Windows-like interface OS that would interact with Cortana. However, it should be plainly obvious that Xbox One also has the next Kinect, which can presumably also be added as an upgrade to your personal computer.
So are Cortana and Kinect completely separate? Will they work together or be incorporated somehow? And will Cortana take data from Kinect? Aside from the obvious overlap, there may be a new avenue for data collection with the upcoming software.
Overall, of course, this provides bigger incentive for fans to invest in more Microsoft devices, a strategy that looked like it was all but abandoned by tech companies, but may be brought in more discreetly than we expected. Of course, aspects of Sony’s Playstation Plus service and Vita TV are meant to encourage buying more Playstation devices to have them connect with each other. Is this technology that can proverbially tie gamers in to Microsoft or Sony ecosystems?
Whatever the case, don’t hold your breath that they will bring in elements from Halo’s Cortana. By all accounts, this may just be a codename and nothing more. Well ,as far as we know.
Source: IBTimes
