Cortana is coming to the desktop with Windows 10

Today Microsoft unveiled the next chapter of Windows 10, showing off what the update will look like for consumers on smartphones, tablets and PCs. The digital voice assistant Cortana, will also debut on desktops for the first time when Windows 10 is launched later in 2015.

Cortana first debuted as part of the Windows Phone 8.1 update for mobiles as a U.S. exclusive and has since been making its way across regions around the world. Cortana may have arrived much later than competitors like Google Now and Apple’s Siri personal assistants, but Microsoft managed to use the delay to its advantage. For example, Microsoft could, and did, take the opportunity to learn from the strengths and weaknesses of Google Now and Siri, creating a digital assistant that essentially combined the best bits of both.

In fact Microsoft touts Cortana as the most personal of all the digital assistants. With Cortana, we have a system that performs at a level way beyond its relatively young age, and the fact that Microsoft is ready to throw it into Windows 10 is a testament to its maturity.

Microsoft also stated that Windows 10 will be offered as a free update to Windows 7 and Windows 8 users, allowing a vast number of its desktop user base to gain access to the digital assistant on their Start Menus. Soon users will be able to compose emails on their desktops with a simple voice command, and that's certainly going to appeal to many.

Are you excited about using Cortana on your PC or Laptop?

source (img) - TheVerge