14 DAY TRIAL // We already know that Cortana is set to arrive on the desktop as well in the coming months, but specifics on this new Microsoft project are more or less missing, as the company still struggles to keep details away from users and the press.
A video showing the personal assistant running on the desktop reached the web last week, but what we have here are new screenshots presenting the Windows 10 version of Cortana in all its glory and confirming a number of features that could be part of this release.
Both the original video and these screenshots reveal an early build of Cortana, so although they do serve as living proof that the personal assistant is moving from Windows Phone to the Windows desktop, a lot could change until this thing actually happens.
The same feature lineup as on Windows Phone
As you can see in the leaked screenshots published today by Neowin, Cortana comes with some of the features that are already available in the Windows Phone sibling, but we're hearing that this particular side of the digital assistant is very likely to get a plethora of improvements in the coming months.
Sources say that Microsoft is working to bring all features of the Windows Phone Cortana on the desktop as well, but this would obviously take more time, as this feature is still in its very early days on the popular PC.
Cortana is very likely to become available for all users in spring 2015, when Microsoft is expected to introduce the new Consumer Preview build for Windows 10.
At this point, Cortana can perform only simple tasks and can show you the weather forecast for a specific location, set up reminders, or configure an alarm.
Currently being tested internally at Microsoft
Even though builds featuring Cortana have already leaked, some sources have indicated that Microsoft is internally testing the personal assistant behind closed doors, as the company wants to prevent any leaks from happening.
If this is true, it's pretty clear that Microsoft's plan has actually failed, but do not expect Cortana to become available in the form of an official release sooner than spring 2015.
The next Windows 10 build scheduled to see daylight is the so-called January Technical Preview, which could be introduced next month following a dedicated press event prepared by Microsoft. What exactly is going to be offered in this build is yet to be disclosed, but more information should be provided in just a couple of weeks.
