Cortana or Google Now?

[iBlazed]

Which do you prefer? I won't even bother bringing Siri into the discussion because Apple has a long long looonnngggg way to go with Siri to keep up with the other two. Of course, you're welcome to disagree.

In my opinion, Cortana is the best of all of them. Google Now is great, it has the functionality but it has no personality. It's not really a virtual assistant in the "Samantha" type of way, if you know what I mean. Cortana has the functionality and the personality and doesn't sound as robotic. I would really like to see this technology advance to the point where you could talk to your phone as if it were human without having to think out what you're going to say before you say it to make sure it comprehends it correctly.

As for Apple, I would like to see a complete overhaul and massive upgrade to Siri in iOS 9. Progress on Siri has been pathetic. It's my least favorite feature of my iPhone.

Thoughts?

 

[iososx]

Cortana is too new to judge, yet I do find it interesting.

Unless you have a top of the line Android phone, you don't get the complete and very useful benefits of Google Now. Compared to Siri on my iPhone 6 Plus, my personal preference is Google Now on my Nexus 5 and 6 models.

Using all the latest and very innovative Google apps like Inbox and the new Calendar enhances the Google Now experience immensely. The amount of useful info for those like myself who travel extensively, internationally, is incredibly impressive.

I'd really like to see Apple do more with Siri, we need more functionality and truly useful info. Being entertaining is no longer cutting it.

 

[TechGod]

I'm fine with Siri. Prefer it more than Now.

 

[maflynn]

I haven't used Google Now, but from my experience I think Cortana is better then Siri. I've been hoping that Apple would improve Siri, to catch up to both Google and Microsoft but not so.

 

[savdi]

Cortana is best of the both worlds.

Siri is talkative while Google Now is more informative. Cortana is best of the both worlds. Though the best assistant that I have used till now is Braina. Unfortunately, its only available for PC.

 

[tbayrgs]

Haven't used Cortana but what I've seen online leads me to believe she's pretty damn good. I really like the info curation of Google Now but find Siri to be a slightly better personal assistant (i.e. voice activated tasks/actions). Overall, I find both useful, but neither are significant enough to affect my choice of device/platform. Actually, thanks to Google including Now on iOS, they've actually made it a bit easier for me to stick with iOS (though I wouldn't change if Now wasn't available, just a great 'nice-to-have' ).

 

[iBlazed]

A lot of people thought a voice assistant was gimmicky when Siri was first released but I really think that they will play a huge part in how we interact with our phones in the future. That's why I really pay close attention to how they develop and I'm getting worried about my favorite, Apple. I have a Lumia 635, Moto G, and iPhone 6 so i can easily compare the 3. Siri is very primitive, but Im hoping apple has something up their sleeve.

 

[burgman]

Google Now shows so many irrelevant cards I stopped using it. Basic voice search is good, but Cortana is the best. The ability to do followup questions is amazing.

 

[azure247]

I trialed a htc one windows and the UI around cortana is not user friendly. You have to hit the search icon to bring up the cortana app and then you tap another icon to speak into the mic. Too much effort for what is supposed to be saving you time.

With google, I can say ok google and its ready for my input.

I also owned an iphone 5 and 6 and find siri to be better than cortana but worse than google now because you have to press the home button and wait for siri to appear.

Google now is definitely a winner

 

[jamezr]

I trialed a htc one windows and the UI around cortana is not user friendly. You have to hit the search icon to bring up the cortana app and then you tap another icon to speak into the mic. Too much effort for what is supposed to be saving you time.



With google, I can say ok google and its ready for my input.



I also owned an iphone 5 and 6 and find siri to be better than cortana but worse than google now because you have to press the home button and wait for siri to appear.



Google now is definitely a winner

You can put a Cortana tile on your home screen in Win8. So you just have to tap the time to activate Cortana

 

[azure247]

But once you are in cortana app, it doesnt automatically allow you to say your input. You have to tap the mic icon and then speak.

With google, I just say "ok google" "set alarm 5 pm"

With cortana, I open the app, tap icon, "set alarm 5 pm

 

[jamezr]

But once you are in cortana app, it doesnt automatically allow you to say your input. You have to tap the mic icon and then speak.



With google, I just say "ok google" "set alarm 5 pm"



With cortana, I open the app, tap icon, "set alarm 5 pm

I agree with you on Google now being the better assistant. But Cortana is a little easier to use than what you first described.

 

[tbayrgs]

Google Now shows so many irrelevant cards I stopped using it. Basic voice search is good, but Cortana is the best. The ability to do followup questions is amazing.

You dictate what cards are shown in Google Now--just have to go into settings and hit the associated switches for the info you want.

 

[rhinosrcool]

If you have an 800 snap dragon processor in your lumia, and you get the lumia denim update, you will be able to use Hey Cortana which will allow you to launch like Ok Google.

 

[burgman]

You dictate what cards are shown in Google Now--just have to go into settings and hit the associated switches for the info you want.

Gee thanks Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't and cards keep popping up. The travel time cards are really bad, converting a search into a favorite and showing you commute times. Having work and home listed as favorites makes no difference. Just one example, Cortana doesn't do that.

 

[AustinIllini]

I prefer Apple and iPhones, but Siri is a joke next to Google Now. I would be interested in trying Cortana. I imagine it to be quite good.

 

[eclipse01]

I actually disagree with the TC, I find Siri much more useful then Google Now. Also from the 5 min. I was comparing Siri to Cortana it was a big win for Siri.

When was the last time you used Siri, just curious. She has made pretty large leaps over the years since she was released.

 

[AppleRobert]

I do not use Siri that much. I cannot compare Google Now to Cortana yet, I need more experience with the latter before I can comment. Glad I got the Blu Win HD which upgraded my Lumia and without spending a lot.

 

[iBlazed]

I do not use Siri that much. I cannot compare Google Now to Cortana yet, I need more experience with the latter before I can comment. Glad I got the Blu Win HD which upgraded my Lumia and without spending a lot.

BLU left a bad taste in my mouth. I got a BLU studio 5.0c hd and while the phone wasn't bad, the battery life was garbage and the update support was non existent. It became quite clear the phone was never going to see Lollipop. I ended up returning it and getting a Moto G 2014. I highly doubt yours will see the upgrade to Windows Phone 10 next year. If that's an issue for you, I would return it immediately. I don't trust that company. At least Lumias get guaranteed updates.

 

[robjulo]

Examples?

I actually disagree with the TC, I find Siri much more useful then Google Now. Also from the 5 min. I was comparing Siri to Cortana it was a big win for Siri.

 

[AppleRobert]

BLU left a bad taste in my mouth. I got a BLU studio 5.0c hd and while the phone wasn't bad, the battery life was garbage and the update support was non existent. It became quite clear the phone was never going to see Lollipop. I ended up returning it and getting a Moto G 2014. I highly doubt yours will see the upgrade to Windows Phone 10 next year. If that's an issue for you, I would return it immediately. I don't trust that company. At least Lumias get guaranteed updates.

It's OK if it does not get WP 10, I am not sure how far I am going to go with this platform to tell the truth.

The Win HD is pretty good for the money which is all I care to spend presently. The battery life is fine, I do not use it frequently enough for it to concern me. It is a nice upgrade from the Lumia I have, the larger screen size is welcomed and the company has a way to go for sure to be a player but I like what I have seen so far. I may even pick up one of their android phones soon.

 

[MozMan68]

It's always amusing to read responses from people who have no idea what they are talking about or who have tried something for 5 minutes and then give us their wonderful expert opinion.

I've used all three...fairly extensively, but Siri and Cortana more than Now.

First off...you do NOT have to hit the search button and then the microphone symbol to ask Cortana a question...simply hold the search button until it makes the noise prompt; no different than Siri or now.

Cortana is constantly being upgraded and from an information standpoint is about there with Siri but has a little way to go before parsing as well as Now.

Cortana is the definite winner when it comes to personal info, but mostly because of the Windows live tile architecture....was so nice seeing all of the pertinent news, sports, finance, etc. info that I wanted to see on the Cortana live tile (or any other specific live tile I might set up). Google Now is a very close second IMO but probably could be a toss up depending on how folks prefer to see their info. Siri doesn't have anything like this and it is a big miss.

I went back to Apple last month due to the ecosystem and being able to get the larger phone I loved so much on Windows...but I miss Cortana every day and hope it is somehow added to iOS in the future so I can see my daily updates I got so used to looking at every day. Or at least looking forward to having it added to the Windows 10 preview in late January when the more consumer updates hit.

 

[jamezr]

It's always amusing to read responses from people who have no idea what they are talking about or who have tried something for 5 minutes and then give us their wonderful expert opinion.

I've used all three...fairly extensively, but Siri and Cortana more than Now.

First off...you do NOT have to hit the search button and then the microphone symbol to ask Cortana a question...simply hold the search button until it makes the noise prompt; no different than Siri or now.

Cortana is constantly being upgraded and from an information standpoint is about there with Siri but has a little way to go before parsing as well as Now.

Cortana is the definite winner when it comes to personal info, but mostly because of the Windows live tile architecture....was so nice seeing all of the pertinent news, sports, finance, etc. info that I wanted to see on the Cortana live tile (or any other specific live tile I might set up). Google Now is a very close second IMO but probably could be a toss up depending on how folks prefer to see their info. Siri doesn't have anything like this and it is a big miss.

I went back to Apple last month due to the ecosystem and being able to get the larger phone I loved so much on Windows...but I miss Cortana every day and hope it is somehow added to iOS in the future so I can see my daily updates I got so used to looking at every day. Or at least looking forward to having it added to the Windows 10 preview in late January when the more consumer updates hit.

Except with Google Now on most new devices it is voice activated. So you don't have to touch the phone. This is especially true on most Moto phones.
My Note 4 Now is voice activated.

 

[MozMan68]

Except with Google Now on most new devices it is voice activated. So you don't have to touch the phone. This is especially true on most Moto phones.
My Note 4 Now is voice activated.

I'm not sure "most" is appropriate..."most" people do not probably use a voice activated feature for Now.

Having never seen anyone use that feature, my opinion would be that "most" people access Now via a non-voice activated Android phone or through an iPhone...or simply do not use voice activation for fear of battery drain or not being acceptable behavior in public.

 

[laserfox]

Except with Google Now on most new devices it is voice activated. So you don't have to touch the phone. This is especially true on most Moto phones.
My Note 4 Now is voice activated.

As another poster up this thread pointed out - Cortana will also be voice activated with the Lumia Denim update currently rolling out in Europe and soon the US...

See video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3LCxNFzWTA