Microsoft is planing to launch a beta version of its Cortana personal assistant for Android users later this month. However, the sultry-voiced app has leaked out into the wild well ahead of schedule, reports on Friday have revealed.
Android users have been able to install the Android version of Cortana on their devices after finding the file online (first reported by Finnish website Suomimobili).
According to those users and reports (via The Verge) from those who’ve also taken it for an unscheduled test drive, the app already works rather well indeed.
Users have been able to access plenty of local events, information, weather, news, sports scores, restaurants and all of the usual stuff. It’s also possible to use the assistant to place location-based reminders.
Apparently, the only notable thing missing at the moment is the inability to activate the “Hey Cortana” assistant, but, of course, the app remains unfinished.
Read more: Windows 10 vs Windows 8: Should you upgrade?
There’s no word yet on whether Microsoft will decide to start the beta early, following this leak, but we were expecting it to come imminently anyway. Cortana is also coming to iOS later this year, while it’ll also be a major part of the Windows 10 ecosystem.
To give the Android beta a spin, Unofficial Windows News says the .APK file can be nabbed here.
What do you think? Can Cortana really win the hearts of loyal Google Now users? Share your thoughts below
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.