Don't Know ? Just Ask Cortana..

Tech giants like Apple and Google have given lot of importance to Voice assistants. With the SIRI coming in, Microsoft wants to ensure that it isn’t late for the party and has given Cortana a big push in Windows 10. Cortana was showcased at Windows 10 event held at Redmond. The biggest highlight was Cortana will be coming to desktops as well. At the core, it is similar to what we saw in Windows Phone, but now Cortana is more skilled at natural language, handling your daily appointments and so on.



Improved search is the first and foremost feature of Cortana.It can look up specific Word files or Presentations. It also lets users search for contextual information. For instance, you can look for “videos from September.” It can also go beyond your computer and search for videos or docs from Microsoft’s cloud service – OneDrive.

Another key thing needless to say Cortana learns its users’ tastes and preferences, just like some other voice assistants. There’s a new feature called Notebook that keeps a tab on all the saved information. It also keeps a track of the sports scores, travel, weather and such similar information that you may be interested in. It’s in the Notebook, that you can add other things that you expect Cortana to keep a track.

Sources say Cortana is integrated with Spartan Browser, given that Google has integrated voice-search in Chrome as well. Cortana will bring predictive search into the browser. Cortana also takes dictation. Yes, you can simply dictate an email, now. You can also ask it to play music. In case you are on a page of a hotel/restaurant, it instantly pops up the menu or Maps with directions. In the search bar, it also helps with generating auto complete.

Cortana needless to say just the right move as Windows 10 is expected to bring seamless experience across all Microsoft devices. Microsoft’s move to bring Cortana to desktops  makes perfect sense as voice-assistant are being seen as the future of search.

Invisible Text app - delete message even after it is sent

Worried about wrong message sent to your Parents, boss or friends now there is a Ctrl Z for the same.After a few too many drinks we have all sent that text we wished we hadn't or the text that accidentally got sent to the wrong person.



Invisible Text” app works by allowing the user to delete a sent message as long as it has not already been opened.Another amazing advantage of the app is its timer facility, which allows the user to set a timer for a message to self-destruct itself if it is not read within a stipulated amount of time.

According to Invisible Text, it uses patent-pending technology that combines message encryption with device pairing.

The app is available on Android, iOS and BlackBerry devices using a technology that combines message encryption with device pairing."To date, no other solution can ensure secure data transmission between two devices, including a smartphone, smart TV, computer, tablet, radio or webcam,” the company said in a statement.

So far there is already one small catch, the recipient of the text you want to delete must also have Invisible Text for the app to work. So if you sent that text to your dad but it was meant to go to your boyfriend and your dad doesn’t have the app then unfortunately there is no saving you from that awkward moment.

Nokia + Android = Normandy ??

 @evleaks posted a photo with that caption “Android on Nokia ( -virtual buttons)” that could perhaps be further suggesting a Nokia device running Android is in the works. Code Named Normandy, Nokia's Android smartphone seems to be coming back from the dead.Tipster evleaks have revealed that such a device is in the works, and will be announced in the MWC conference  through the Chinese website tieba.baidu.com, a screen capture of Nokia's Android phone has been leaked, seemingly confirming the existence of an Android running Nokia phone.



Firstly, the model number for this Android Nokia is A110, and it's running Android 4.4.1. It is running a 3.4.0 Kernel.This device is running on Snapdragon Processor with camera spec of 5MP, resolution of 854 x 480 and is a confirmation of the fact that this device is targeted for the low-end market.

The appearance of the phone is a mix of Lumia and Asha series designs, with only a single capacitive 'back' button on the front face.This Lumia-style device, according to a report by The Verge, has “no apparent capacitive buttons for navigation” and ”supports Android applications like Skype, and other popular top apps.”Comparing the above image to smartphones running Windows Phone, the navigation bar is nearly identical as far as the layout of the status bar icons.

According to an India website BGR, this Android phone will be "de-Googled", which means it will not be able to access the Google Play Store, will not include Google maps, Gmail, Google Search services, and instead will be using Nokia's own maps, Bing Search and Microsoft Outlook for the mail client.

Another rumor claims Nokia have been in contact with many top-tier app developers and are in talks to develop apps for their own Android store.There are also app developers who claim that over 80% of the apps in the Play store is compatible with Nokia Normandy, and only needs minor tweaks.

As there is no confimed news on launch of Normandy, we cannot expect it to make it to market based on  the official photos leaked, but it proves that Nokia is in development of an android phone.According to leaks Nokia could be announcing the Normandy in the MWC 2014 in the end of February.

via @evleaks, GSMArena