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Anyone with a Windows phone - is Cortana really this good?

I find myself using Google now more and more. I don't give a damn that I occasionally get odd looks asking it things. It is annoying having to say "OK Google" then the question after the beep. I would much rather say OK Google then ask what I need. I was with a colleague and we couldn't find a business address in the middle of a city centre. I whipped out my phone asked Google and then asked it to navigate is there. Found within five minutes. Now my colleague is no phone geek, he hates tech, and has a simple flip phone. He was blown away it could do that. I have also had complete strangers see me use it and overheard Google's response and be impressed. I have also noticed more and more people using it themselves. I have yet to see Cortana (clever Microsoft named her after the Master Chief's side kick from Halo) in the wild. Is that really her voice, as per the ad? She sounds almost like a real person. I know that her slight bitchiness at the end to poor dumb Siri is obviously faked, but the voice quality is fabulous.
 
dynomot said:
I find myself using Google now more and more. I don't give a damn that I occasionally get odd looks asking it things. It is annoying having to say "OK Google" then the question after the beep. I would much rather say OK Google then ask what I need. I was with a colleague and we couldn't find a business address in the middle of a city centre. I whipped out my phone asked Google and then asked it to navigate is there. Found within five minutes. Now my colleague is no phone geek, he hates tech, and has a simple flip phone. He was blown away it could do that. I have also had complete strangers see me use it and overheard Google's response and be impressed. I have also noticed more and more people using it themselves. I have yet to see Cortana (clever Microsoft named her after the Master Chief's side kick from Halo) in the wild. Is that really her voice, as per the ad? She sounds almost like a real person. I know that her slight bitchiness at the end to poor dumb Siri is obviously faked, but the voice quality is fabulous.
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The only way I would know (as I use android myself) would be to watch an in depth review on YouTube
 
Indeed, my daughter has a Nokia Lumia 520, no Cortana on that. She got a contract phone for her Birthday last year, rarely uses it (She was 11 back then). I think I have actually played with it more. Hate the thing, I know it is an aging Windows phone, but it is awful. No lag, true enough, but nothing anything worth while either. The Metro UI is utter garbage, I detest those "flippy" tiles. It makes me sad to look at the word "Nokia" on it. How that name has become synonymous with failure, Microsoft, and burning platforms just makes me ever so slightly sad. :(
 
dynomot said:
Indeed, my daughter has a Nokia Lumia 520, no Cortana on that. She got a contract phone for her Birthday last year, rarely uses it (She was 11 back then). I think I have actually played with it more. Hate the thing, I know it is an aging Windows phone, but it is awful. No lag, true enough, but nothing anything worth while either. The Metro UI is utter garbage, I detest those "flippy" tiles. It makes me sad to look at the word "Nokia" on it. How that name has become synonymous with failure, Microsoft, and burning platforms just makes me ever so slightly sad. :(
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And to think those Windows 7 phones were considered top of the line lol
 
Nah, the 520 was always a budget model, she gets 1000 minutes 2000 texts 500meg of data for just over £10 a month (roughly $16) and the phone was "free". Pretty sure Virgin will be making a slight profit on that over two years, even if she used her entire allowance a month.
 
My coworker in the cube opposite of me has a Nokia. She was excited to get Cortana, but I've yet to witness her use it. I hear the IT guys using OK Google fairly often.

I haven't heard somebody use Siri for ages now.
 
Oh I agree, I've never used a Windows phone flagship. I'm just going on what I see. I'd love to try a 1020, just for its camera. I'm not bashing Windows phones, I have no real experience of them. I just don't think their restrictions (limited file management, restrictions on email attachments, poor versions of Twitter and Facebook the metro UI), from what I know I could live with.

I'm sad That Nokia became a part of Microsoft, disgusted that Microsoft in the shape of a CEO called S. Elop killed Symbian, destroyed Nokia, didn't go Android and allowed Microsoft to buy it after he'd killed it. The temerity of Microsoft giving the Lumia range the Nokia brand just seemed to rub salt into the wound.... but this discussion is hackneyed, done to death, and more importantly moot, what's done is done it is finished. Please excuse my indulgent rant.

I want Windows phone to succeed, I really do. It will push Android OEMs to innovate. My daughters 520 is to Windows phone what My wife's old Galaxy Ace is to Android - old awful examples of both. I want Microsoft to give a new flag ship 8.1( +?), with all the bells and whistles. So far the newer models are a bit mid range. I'd love to see a powerhouse of a device from them with external SD card support, A Pure view 41mp camera with ios (optical image stabilisation), Xenon flash, front facing stereo speakers. They've done this already over a range of devices (well perhaps not the stereo speakers ;) ) a flagship might even tempt me.
 
dynomot said:
Oh I agree, I've never used a Windows phone flagship. I'm just going on what I see. I'd love to try a 1020, just for its camera. I'm not bashing Windows phones, I have no real experience of them. I just don't think their restrictions (limited file management, restrictions on email attachments, poor versions of Twitter and Facebook the metro UI), from what I know I could live with.

I'm sad That Nokia became a part of Microsoft, disgusted that Microsoft in the shape of a CEO called S. Elop killed Symbian, destroyed Nokia, didn't go Android and allowed Microsoft to buy it after he'd killed it. The temerity of Microsoft giving the Lumia range the Nokia brand just seemed to rub salt into the wound.... but this discussion is hackneyed, done to death, and more importantly moot, what's done is done it is finished. Please excuse my indulgent rant.

I want Windows phone to succeed, I really do. It will push Android OEMs to innovate. My daughters 520 is to Windows phone what My wife's old Galaxy Ace is to Android - old awful examples of both. I want Microsoft to give a new flag ship 8.1( +?), with all the bells and whistles. So far the newer models are a bit mid range. I'd love to see a powerhouse of a device from them with external SD card support, A Pure view 41mp camera with ios (optical image stabilisation), Xenon flash, front facing stereo speakers. They've done this already over a range of devices (well perhaps not the stereo speakers ;) ) a flagship might even tempt me.
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I agree. It's not to shocking to see something Microsoft do fail especially with lack of apps and such.

Anyone remember what a zune was?
 
Lol - Elop didn't allow Microsoft to buy it.

He swore he was an ex-Microsoft guy when he started. I predicted on day one that he was a quisling, there to gut the company so Microsoft could buy it.

Elop set up the whole sham before he walked in the door.
 
EarlyMon said:
Lol - Elop didn't allow Microsoft to buy it.

He swore he was an ex-Microsoft guy when he started. I predicted on day one that he was a quisling, there to gut the company so Microsoft could buy it.

Elop set up the whole sham before he walked in the door.
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Couldn't agree more EarlyMon :

Post #9 of mine of this thread from a now basically defunct Nokia Forum ( :( ) is the earliest of some of my "Elop Rants" I can find quickly :

http://www.nokiausers.net/forum/rum...rosoft-buy-out-nokia-smartphone-division.html
 
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