Microsoft Cortana is now available on iPad. The smart assistant comes with all the features you’ve been enjoying on iPhone since July, combined with an interface that’s optimized for massive iPad screens. It also promises a much faster experience.
Cortana doesn’t enjoy the same applause that rivals like Alexa and the Google Assistant do. Much like Siri, it hasn’t quite kept up with the competition. But for those tied into the Microsoft ecosystem, Cortana is a capable assistant that’s becoming more and more accessible.
Cortana meets iPad
Cortana, like Edge, launched without support for iPad. Eight months later, Microsoft is finally fixing that. Its latest update adds a larger interface that’s perfect for 7.9- to 12.9-inch iPad displays. Cortana also launches 20 percent faster than before for a “lightening-fast” experience.
Cortana can be used to schedule appointments, set reminders and timers, answer questions, and more. It can work alongside third-party services like Netflix and Spotify, and it control certain smart home accessories from the likes of Nest and Philips Hue.
Sadly, Cortana has the same limitations as other third-party assistants on iOS, which means you can’t invoke it with a voice command like you can with Siri. You can’t set it to be your default assistant on iOS, either.
The latest version of Cortana can be downloaded from the App Store now.
