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Microsoft Launches New Cortana vs. Siri Ad Showing Off Context-Aware Reminders

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Microsoft today launched a new commercial comparing its new Cortana virtual assistant to Apple's virtual assistant Siri, demonstrating how the former is able to perform contextually-aware tasks using a number of services.


Titled "Happy Anniversary", the commercial shows Cortana and Windows Phone 8.1 running on the Nokia Lumia 635 as the narrator makes commands related around a wedding anniversary. First, the narrator asks Cortana to remind him to wish his wife a happy birthday he next time she calls, as the voice assistant schedules a reminder around the call. Meanwhile, Siri does not comply to the request.

The narrator then asks Cortana to remind him to get roses when he comes near any flower shop, while Siri once again does not comply. Finally, Cortana automatically gives a traffic reminder prompting the narrator to leave before traffic delays, as Siri finishes by saying "Now that is a smart phone."

This is the first time that Microsoft has demonstrated its new Cortana voice assistant against Siri, however the company has used Siri's voice to poke fun at the iPad in the past. Cortana was originally announced in April alongside Windows Phone 8.1, as Microsoft touted the virtual assistant's ability to tie reminders and tasks around people and locations. Notably, a Windows Phone manager said last month that the company wants Cortana to be "pervasive" among mobile platforms, perhaps indicating that Microsoft could expand Cortana to iOS and Android.

Top Rated Comments

C
Chabba
152 months ago
Having played with Google Now on my Samsung S4, Cortana at the Microsoft store and used Siri on my iPhone 4S, Siri is the slowest and least accurate...by far.
Score: 39 Votes (Like | Disagree)
roadbloc Avatar
roadbloc
152 months ago
Cortana is far batter than Siri in my experience. Although, Google Now is also better than Siri too. What happened to Siri Apple?
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
Chabba
152 months ago
Ugh, still using the old voice even though they're depicting iOS 7. But more glaringly, I create location based reminders primarily with Siri, what are they talking about?

They're talking about what you see. You can't set Siri to remind you of something at general locations, only specific locations. Siri can't remind you of something the next time you speak with someone.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
subsonix
152 months ago
Interesting how the tables have turned on the Mac vs PC commercials. It's now Microsoft that makes them.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
J
Jsameds
152 months ago
Siri has revolutionised the way I set timers.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sir Ruben Avatar
Sir Ruben
152 months ago
All this add really highlights (along with Samsungs) is that Apple is still the bar to which all other companies aspire. Do some of these other phones have better features? Of course they do, yet Apple is still, after all this time, the one to beat.

Remember all those forgotten about phones that were 'iPhone killers'? Remember all those people who said YEARS ago that Apple was doomed and were done for?

Apple has set the bar and is still sitting happily on top after all this time.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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