Microsoft has updated Cortana on Windows 10 so searches can only be made using its Bing search engine via the Edge browser.
The crafty move might boost Microsoft’s share of the search and browser markets, but users of Google’s Chrome, Mozilla’s Firefox or Apple’s Safari might be put off using the voice-activated personal assistant entirely.
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“The only way we can confidently deliver this personalised, end-to-end search experience is through the integration of Cortana, Microsoft Edge and Bing – all designed to do more for you,” wrote Ryan Gavin, Microsoft’s general manager of search and Cortana.
The company claims the shift in stance is because some programmers were working around the design of Windows 10 to redirect users to other search providers which were apparently not designed to work with Cortana.
This, Microsoft says, results in a “compromised experience” as Cortana depends on using Bing and Microsoft Edge to properly complete its tasks. However, the company is keen to emphasise that users are able to continue to use their favourite browsers and search engine on Windows 10 – just not with Cortana.
“Our promise to you is that Windows 10 will provide you with great search results and a personalised, reliable search experience through Cortana and Microsoft Edge,” added Gavin. “We will continue to work hard to provide you with the amazing experience you expect from Windows, while keeping you in control and helping you do great things.”
To show off this inter-dependence, Microsoft is also launching a number of new features which it hopes will enrich the Cortana experience. This included an example of a request to Cortana for concert ticket information, which would then open up a page in Edge with most of the registration information (learnt from previous purchases) already filled in.
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