In the Windows 10 May 2019 Update, Microsoft separated Cortana from the Windows search to innovate both features independently. With Windows 10 20H1 update, Microsoft is turning Cortana into an independent app that would change the way Microsoft delivers updates its digital assistant.
Cortana is coming to the Windows Store as a standalone app, allowing Microsoft to add new features to Cortana at a swifter rate.
With the new Cortana Beta app, Microsoft has also focused on improving the UI for conversational experiences. You can chat with the digital assistant through texts and get answers to the questions without involving in a voice-driven exchange.
The new beta version of Cortana is now available for Windows 10 20H1 in the United States. Microsoft says support for additional markets and languages will be added in a future release.
At the moment, Cortana beta supports the following features:
- Chat-based assistant conversations.
- Bing answers.
- You can use it to open apps, manage Microsoft To-Do, set reminders, alarms, and more through texts or voice.
- Support for both dark and light theme.
- Cortana is now more reliable and faster than ever before.
It’s also worth mentioning that the new Cortana app does not have all the features from the previous Cortana experience. The app is still in beta and new features will be shipped through Microsoft Store updates.
