Great news for iPhone users, especially those who prefer Cortana over Siri, as Microsoft has just released a new version of its personal digital assistant. Cortana 2.0 brings an entirely new UX, increased performance, as well as lots of UI tweaks.
Cortana 2.0 was already released on Android three months ago, but iOS users were skipped from the initial launch, Thurrott points out. If you didn’t know that, then you’ll be pleased to know the new version of Cortana features a redesigned user experience, as well as new features.
A new UX that’s been described by Microsoft as “a fresh new look with an improved user experience” is now available to those using Cortana 2.0. The new look consists of a brand new purple UI, which replaces the dark gray one.
Also, Microsoft announced that it decided to redesign calling, texting and reminders, which now feature a cleaner new UI. Furthermore, the developers have implemented more immersive full-page answers. These remain to be discovered by users since Microsoft hasn’t disclosed any information on the matter.
Last but not least, Microsoft promises better performance with this release, as Cortana 2.0 should offer “faster page transitions and improved app responsiveness.”
The new version of Cortana has already been published in the App Store, so if you haven’t yet downloaded it, you can now give it a try. If you have it installed, then make sure you update to the latest version in order to take advantage of the new features and improvements.
On a side note, Microsoft plans to release another important update for its personal digital assistant, which will be first available on the Android platform.
The new version is supposed to add support for the lock screen on Android devices, but it’s unclear whether or not this feature will be pushed to iOS as well.
