Microsoft is spreading its Cortana digital assistant abroad, starting with China and the U.K. The companys corporate vice president of operating systems, Joe Belfiore, said Wednesday in Beijing that Chinese and British users of Windows Phones will get the voice-recognizing app in an update to Windows Phone 8.1 that will begin rolling out to developers next week and to users in the coming months. (Disclosure: Microsoft publishes MSN News) In China, the app nicknamed Xiao Na, will speak Mandarin and include locally relevant information, like air quality reports in weather updates and information on local TV shows and celebrities. In Britain, users will get an app that has a British accent and be up to date about English Premier League soccer and other local matters The update allows for phones to use two SIM cards, supports a better screen resolution for lower-end phones and adds support for so-called smart covers that give users brief notifications through a small window in the cover like on Samsungs S4 and S5. Additionally, the update adds support for faster charging and improves support for Bluetooth accessories like fitness tracker wristbands. On the software side, the update will now allow so-called live tile icons to be grouped into folders, a functionality that has long been available on Apple iPhones and devices that run Google Inc.s Android operating system. on-msn/1rSaNvU
Posted on: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 07:44:45 +0000
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