Microsoft Shutting Down Cortana App for iOS and Android

[MacRumors]

Microsoft today announced plans to "shift toward a transformational AI-powered assistant experience" in its Microsoft 365 apps, which will involve refocusing its "areas of innovation and development."

As a result, Microsoft is ending all support for third-party Cortana skills and eliminating the Cortana apps for iOS and Android devices. Third-party Cortana skills will be deprecated on September 7, while the iOS and Android apps will stop being supported in early 2021.

Microsoft says that the Cortana Windows 10 experience, Cortana integration in Outlook mobile, and upcoming Cortana voice assistance in the Teams mobile app can be used to do things like manage calendar and email and join meetings.

Microsoft also plans to end support for the Cortana integration in the Harman Kardon Invoke speaker in January 2021. Speaker owners who used Cortana are eligible for a $50 Microsoft gift card as compensation.

Article Link: Microsoft Shutting Down Cortana App for iOS and Android

 

[farewelwilliams]

a digital assistant that you had to launch the app manually in order to use turns out to be not very useful? who would have seen that coming?

 

[BeatCrazy]

I was an early buyer of the original Surface Headphones, which are somehow (?) also impacted by this. I never used Cortana.

I went to the Microsoft site, put in my Surface Headphones serial number, and was immediately give a $25 Microsoft account credit code. No complaints here, thanks Microsoft!

Cortana changes for Surface Headphones (First version) FAQ

Learn more about Surface Headphones and Cortana.

www.bing.com

 

[eoblaed]

Translation: No one was using this thing.

 

[elbowrm]

Bye, I was Cortana.

 

[Zaft]

a digital assistant that you had to launch the app manually in order to use turns out to be not very useful? who would have seen that coming?

Google assistant on iOS seems to be doing fine and has to be launched manually.

 

[Rychiar]

who knew it existed??‍♂️ and what was it even for?. AI assistants that aren't system wide are kinda useless...
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Google assistant on iOS seems to be doing fine and has to be launched manually.

does anyone use that?

 

[reubs]

I was always kind of jealous that the Microsoft AI assistant was Cortona. I wanted to feel like Master Chief telling it to remind me to get my library books.

 

[Plutonius]

So Siri won the fight ?

 

[Black Magic]

This is why I don't jump on Microsoft or Google consumer products. They more than likely will be abandoned. I posted this many years back in this forum and MS fanboys got heated.

 

[biosim]

Cortana would be a lot more useful if she could change or at least open some configurations on windows. I mean, i can’t even turn off my pc by asking her.

 

[Slendrman]

a digital assistant that you had to launch the app manually in order to use turns out to be not very useful? who would have seen that coming?

Just like siri

 

[farewelwilliams]

Google assistant on iOS seems to be doing fine and has to be launched manually.

*seems* to be doing fine, but is it really?
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Just like siri

you don't launch an app to use Siri.

 

[Jack Burton]

Cortana would be a lot more useful if she could change or at least open some configurations on windows. I mean, i can’t even turn off my pc by asking her.

I can. "Hey, Cortana. Shut down" It also works with "go to sleep."

 

[KrispE00]

Just like siri

Huh? ? Siri has never been an app that you had to launch manually. It’s never even been an app.
Edit: ok yes, it was an app in 2010 before Apple acquired it. But I don't think that counts, or even what you’re talking about.

 

[Blkant]

How long ago was this added to App Store?

 

[ApostolisApo]

Google assistant on iOS seems to be doing fine and has to be launched manually.

no it does not. There is a shortcut that you can assign a manual phrase to and trigger it vocally.
What I do is I invoke Siri, then say “hey assistant” and then Google Assistant is triggered. it takes a little longer than using Siri itself but hey, it’s better late (Google Assistant) than never (Siri) ?

 

[nutmac]

Google assistant on iOS seems to be doing fine and has to be launched manually.

Google Assistant rank on the Utilities category is consistently well above 1000.

 

[rp2011]

As to using Siri, the only time I’ve thought of using it is when I needed to ask a hands-free question, which is when I am driving. Turns out it won’t allow asking a question while I’m driving. Probably a easy workaround but I never think about Siri again until actually do need a hands free question, and that’s usually only while I’m driving

 

[alexandr]

oh yea.. i remember that there is, well - was such a thing!

 

[Infinite Vortex]

While on the surface of it this is fab. The assistant that sucks to the same level Cortana is Bixby so hopefully that'll come to an end just the same. However, the part where I wonder if this is an overall good thing is if they replaced the AI with Google Assistant.

 

[Kabeyun]

Microsoft today announced plans to "shift toward a transformational AI-powered assistant experience"

That would be quite a shift.

 

[nfl_brah]

As to using Siri, the only time I’ve thought of using it is when I needed to ask a hands-free question, which is when I am driving. Turns out it won’t allow asking a question while I’m driving. Probably a easy workaround but I never think about Siri again until actually do need a hands free questio, and that’s usually on only while I’m driving

Most Siri use I have is for directions and setting timers/reminders. Curious what others use it for

 

[MRwonderful1]

Do even windows users use Cortana?

 

[P-DogNC]

Microsoft is ending all support for third-party Cortana skills and eliminating the Cortana apps for iOS and Android devices.

I have attached a photo of the actress who played the voice of Cortana. My, what is that she’s holding in her hand?

This photo probably sums up why Cortana has been such a flop.