The announcement earlier this week by Microsoft is good news for Windows users. The update is that Windows will release new software for Windows 10, which is called Phone Companion. As well, Microsoft will release new apps compatible with both iOS and Android to improve user experiences.
The Windows Companion will help direct users as to how to install the new apps onto their iPhone or Android phone. While the Companion is not yet released, it appears from the screenshots that Microsoft released with its announcement that most of the apps are currently available.
Two examples of new Microsoft apps for the iPhone or Android phone are the Cortana digital personal assistant app and the Xbox Music app. The digital assistant application, which is not yet available, will be similar to Siri from Apple or Google Now. You speak commands to it and get answers to what you ask it, such as for food places nearby.
Cortana is only available right now as in beta version for Windows 10, in what is called the Insider Preview Edition, and it works with Windows 8 too. It has value as a trainable assistant that can learn your most frequent commands and preferences.
The Phone Companion app for Windows 10 PC is slated for release in June.
As for Cortana for Android, it will release in the full version (not beta version) for Android at end of June, according to Windows release timeline. As for iPhone users, Windows plans to release its Cortana version later in 2015, with no specific month set yet.
This latest Microsoft announcement came about a week after Microsoft revealed to the public its Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 10122. As for Windows 10, it will likely roll out in late July of this year. Expect the Xbox Music app around the end of June or July for iPhone and Android phones.