Earlier this month, Microsoft updated Cortana for Android so that it would work in a read-only mode above the lock screen. Now, you can interact with Cortana above the lock screen.

I recently highlighted Cortana as one of the key ways you can “Redmondize” your Android handset, noting that you could use it to replace Google Assistant and then access your preferred digital personal assistant by long-pressing on your device’s Home button too.

Now, Cortana is getting even more interesting on Android. In addition to letting you view your day’s schedule, which became available earlier in March, you can now interact with Cortana above the Android lock screen. That is, you can “quickly get answers to your questions, set a reminder and more without having to unlock your device.”

Other new features include:

• Improved positioning above the lock screen
• New view for a quick glance of your day
• Buttons to create Reminders and Lists from Cortana home
• Improved reminder experience and location triggering

As always, Cortana is only available in select markets, which I know is irritating to international users. But Microsoft also announced today that Cortana is now available on both Android and iOS in Australia for the first time. So it’s slowly edging out in the world like a good digital personal assistant should.

You can download Cortana for Android from the Google Play Store.

Tagged with Cortana