Microsoft has finally opened up Cortana for Android for public testing, following a number of leaks of the software.
It's important to note that the version on the Google Play Store is not the final version of the software but is instead a public beta. Microsoft has been tweaking the app quite a bit since the software was leaked, with one big addition being that users can now have the app replace Google Now when they tap the home button on their device.
"The Cortana app can do most of the things Cortana does on your PC or on a Windows phone," said Microsoft in a blog post. "With the app, you can manage your hectic lifestyle by setting and getting reminders, searching the Web on-the-go, tracking important information such as flight details as well as starting and completing tasks across all of your devices."
While Cortana for Android is a great personal assistant for anyone, the service will be especially useful for those who use Windows-based operating systems, as it will help bring together the multiple devices used by the user. Like on Windows 10, users can access the notebook to tweak what kind of information is being stored about them. Of course, users can also bring up information like the location of a good place to eat nearby or what the weather will be on any given day.
One feature that is lacking on Cortana for Android is the ability to activate it by saying "Hey, Cortana." This is because of the fact that different handsets limit an app being able to always listen for commands. It is likely that we will see the feature on some handsets as time goes on, however.
Unfortunately, those who want to download the app might have to wait a little longer. It seems as though Microsoft had set a limit on how many people could download the app during the public beta. It is likely that the app will be released in full in the near future, however.
