Microsoft's Cortana is similar to Apple's Siri and Google Now -- it is the voice-activated personal assistant that can assist users in various tasks.
During Microsoft Build 2015 Conference in San Francisco, the tech giant unveiled a new build, the 10074, of the much-awaited Window 10. It marks the first "Insider Preview" by the Bill Gates-led company.
As the launch of the Windows 10 approaches, Cortana's getting a major update, reports Engadget. The publication noted that the virtual assistant has gotten a "visual refresh" giving it an enhanced design aesthetic and more fluid with the rest of the system.
The users will be able to activate her by simply searching for apps on the Start menu.
In addition, Cortana's abilities has been expanded, because of Bing Instant Answers, allowing it to answer a larger range of questions that include conversions, flight tracking, weather and much more.
Lastly, if you're looking for a more masculine tone with your assistant, Cortana's gender can can be changed and a male version will be made available.
"If you want a dude, we're doing it," quoted Gizmodo of engineering director Michael Calcagano. "Will it still be called Cortana as a male? I don't know. Cortano?" He teased.
"Windows 10" Details
"Windows 10 is not just another release of Windows, but a new generation of Windows," quoted CNet of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. "The tech business is about being able to know before it is conventional wisdom that that is where the market is going ... and knowing that you can get there first, get there with the best innovation."
The publication continued to share that by 2018, Microsoft aims to have 1 billion devices running on Windows 10. As previously shared, Nadella believes that the future of the company lies in the unified platform that runs across a range of products.
"The challenge Microsoft still has is they have to get a critical mass of apps," said Gartner analyst Merv Adrian, . "They have a lot of catching up to do."
"In general, the pace [of change] has been extraordinary," added Adrian who foresees a larger future for Microsoft. "That message sits very well with the developers," and continued, "who see themselves as having a much larger audience" that goes further than the Windows platform.
Windows is due to be released to the public this summer.
Stay tuned for more.
