Cortana? Is it a name to be loved or feared?
Cortana is the “Siri”-like and “OK, Google” personal voice search feature found now in Windows 10 for PC. It was previously available the first part of 2015 for Windows 8.1 Phones. If you read last week’s article on linked and/ local accounts this continues that train of thought. So go check it out if you missed it.
If you set up W10 with a linked account Cortana (or “Hey Cortana” as it is also called) will work just fine. If you choose to go the route of a local account, which I suggest to most, Cortana will not show up.
If you choose a linked account you will need to run an easy setup. After your upgrade to W10 click in the Search box located at the left side of the Taskbar on the bottom of your screen. The Search window will come up and you will then click on the notebook icon, third from the top on the left. Then Settings. In the next screen you will see “Hey Cortana. Let Cortana respond to ‘Hey Cortana’.” Click the button to the “On” position if it is not already on. Then, if you have a microphone on your computer you can just say, “Hey Cortana” and give it a command.
There are many things Cortana can do so I will not list them all here, but you could try some. Like, “Hey Cortana, search for Windows 10 help.” You can also set alarms, search for directions, open programs, send email or try, “Hey Cortana, help” for a list of commands.
If you have a local account not tied into Microsoft, you cannot use Cortana.
Now here is the issue I have with Cortana. Microsoft says, “When you use Cortana, Microsoft collects and uses information including your device location information and location history, contacts (People), voice input, searching history, calendar details, content and communication history from messages and apps, and other information on your device. In Microsoft Edge, Cortana collects and uses your browsing history.” In my opinion that is way too much personal information to be sending to the cloud at Bing.com, which they go on to state is where it resides along with your computer.
When I read that and more I decided for one, that I do not ever find myself speaking to my computer, like Scotty from the Enterprise and two, I do not want to share any of that information with strangers. Who knows how it will actually be used? I immediately shut it off.
You shut it off the same way you cut it on, so feel free to do that if you wish. Microsoft says that you can decide and filter what you do and do not want them to keep track of but I will have none of it. Browse to, “rd.dblclx.com/cortana-faq” to get more details on how to start it, stop it, edit its features and more.
