Microsoft will make Cortana mandatory in Anniversary Update

Microsoft’s Windows 10 Anniversary Update is arriving soon and along with a raft of new features and deeper Cortana integration. In fact, the virtual assistant is set to replace the standard search function altogether in the upcoming software update, and users will no longer be able to disable Cortana after the Anniversary Update.

“With the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, the search box is now Cortana," Microsoft said in a statement. "Customers can expect the same great search experience powered by Bing and Microsoft Edge with the added benefit of Cortana’s personality.

Currently, Windows 10 users can disable Cortana from within the Settings menu, limiting the search bar to scanning files, folders, and apps. With Cortana enabled you also get web searches, notes, reminders, voice commands and so on. Of course this also requires access to more of your personal information and data.

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Yep, step by step they do their thing... Take it or leave it, resistance is futile! 

 

Microsoft’s Windows 10 Anniversary Update is arriving soon and along with a raft of new features and deeper Cortana integration. In fact, the virtual assistant is set to replace the standard search function altogether in the upcoming software update, and users will no longer be able to disable Cortana after the Anniversary Update.

“With the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, the search box is now Cortana," Microsoft said in a statement. "Customers can expect the same great search experience powered by Bing and Microsoft Edge with the added benefit of Cortana’s personality.

Currently, Windows 10 users can disable Cortana from within the Settings menu, limiting the search bar to scanning files, folders, and apps. With Cortana enabled you also get web searches, notes, reminders, voice commands and so on. Of course this also requires access to more of your personal information and data.

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"Wow! Now I can get the same great search experience powered by Bing and Microsoft Edge with the added benefit of Cortana’s personality."

Said no one ever.  

So, not quite as cut and dried, as the majority of writers like to make MS look bad. MS doesn't need any help, they do just fine on their own, in my opinion.

Indeed...

Don't forget, "turn off" sounds like you are completely disabling everything Cortana does, which is not the case.

A bit like clicking on that big red X isn't what it used to be...

Gotta love click bait headlines..... Nobody likes reading fine print.

So, not quite as cut and dried, as the majority of writers like to make MS look bad. MS doesn't need any help, they do just fine on their own, in my opinion.

However this writer says: Yes, you can turn Cortana off in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update

Windows Central article BY DANIEL RUBINO Thursday, Jul 28, 2016 at 6:37 pm EDT

Rats! I wanted something simple to bash on! Not facts...LOL.

However, this line, "From here you'll be able to toggle 'Stop getting to know me', which will turn off Cortana's ears and stop it from learning your typing and handwriting inputs." does kinda creep me out a bit.

I don't buy into all of the Privacy issues that have been debated in these Forums ad nauseam, just figured I'll use all my concern to move into another direction.

I'm transitioning to a 100% Linux machine as we speak - typing this on my test-driving of Mint 18 - and will watch the rest of how this all plays out from the cheap seats.

I love this place.

Winterland

 On the insider versions of 10 I've been using Group Policy to turn Cortana off for several months since MS removed the ON/OFF switch.  That's fine with the Pro version, but my laptop is running the Home version which doesn't have that ability.  So I really hope the "sign off" ability mentioned in #4 works.  I tried it a couple of months ago with the insider version, and it didn't work.  I guess we'll see what does & doesn't work on Tue.

@Winterland #6

You are not alone !

Chris Cosgrove