Microsoft keeps adding new server-side features for its Cortana digital assistant in Windows Phone 8.1. The latest such update now allows owners of those smartphones to see recommended news stories, along with currently trending articles.
It looks like this feature went live late on Friday in the US market, based on the many tips we have received. Cortana can also now show local news stories based on a person's current location. Again, this is a server-side update and does not require a new firmware download for Windows Phone 8.1.
Thanks to everyone who tipped us!
Reader comments
Cortana now shows recommended news and trending stories on Windows Phone 8.1
Cortana is not displaying any of my interests on its live tile (no live tile at all). I soft resetted the phone, turned the location on, I even redefined my interests again, but still nothing on Cortana's live tile... Help anyone?
This is odd I thought that this was a basic feature that was there for a while. I guess US updates are truly late. I'm in east Africa and it works like a charm albeit western trendy news not local.
@sarim ashrafi . And Tamil Nadu too! I bet it takes a hell lot effort to make it come in Indian languages! We've a vast difference in slangs
LOL =D , there would be a great confusion while working on Indian languages..
Yeah, I've had this in the UK for most of this month I think? Nice added extra. What are they based on? Bing News searches I guess?
Make available in other languages like Hindi, It will gain a much popularity in India if Microsoft develops cortana in Hindi. Indians are crazy about these types of apps..
Work also in Cortona FR.
When is Cortana going to be available worldwide on every Lumia?
Even though I tipped this it probably isn't worth a fresh article so I'll also mention it here.
This morning Cortana told me I should leave for work if I want to make it there on time, this is a first so it looks like this functionality has been added to the alpha of Cortana (pretty sure its still called an alpha here in Australia). Not sure if this also applies to the gym reminder thingie as I have been to the gym recently, but I'm sure when I have a lazy week I'll find that out too and let people know (I'm hoping it is).
I particularly like that it did it all itself, for starters Cortana created my work location for me a little while ago, and note, even though today is a Sunday (not when normal people are at work) it knew I should be here at 9am.
This is the kind of stuff that I am appreciative of, so bring more of this to this region and I'll be stoked.
When in Portuguese?
US only, again.
This is old news. I've had the feature for months!
Can we have Windows Central (US) and Windows Central (Worldwide) so readers can filter out all this US only stuff.
Good idea
The article is inaccurate in stating Cortana "allows" this new feature, it instead seems to be forcing it on us, allowing no option to decline.
Anyone able to tell me how to permanently delete the feature from my interests list? Because I am very not interested. It keeps reappearing. I thought it was a list of MY interests, not Microsoft's.
this had me so confused. i didn't see anyone reporting on it, so i assumed it was there all along and i just then noticed.
It's live in the UK as well, started getting it yesterday
Yep, really annoyed with this. I had it set show business and tech news only. Now I have allsorts of sensationalist headline rubbish on my start screen. I keep altering settings, but it keeps coming back. Now I'm going to have to disable the start tile.
Without any control over the source of the stories all I got was a load of rubbish I'm not interested in and even worse every time I disabled it each section came back. So now its completely disabled.
Yes, I'm not happy about this lack of control. I don't want Cortana to foist information and trending rubbish on me. That's what Faecesbook is for.
That's why you can select "Hide Trending Stories."
I don't care about Cortana new features until it launch for Latin America!!! Ya me harté!!!!
Here in canada we only have news and weather but now it also shows watchlist on my msn money app eventough its not listed on my interest.
I have stopped using Crotona just because all reply and news I get are in Chinese as I am in China. This is one of biggest draw backs I would say.
Not quite sure I understood that - you mean that the big disadvantage of that regional setting of Cortana... is because it is suited to that region?
<p>instead of providing new features or extending features across borders they can fix one simple issue first. I had been giving the same comment in Crotona feedback as long as its been active in my region. The crotona search results, news and other info is displayed in language of the region (probably displaying its results using local bing) instead of the mobile language settings or crotona language setting.</p>
Is local news really new? I clearly remember having it last summer at the latest... I thought it was really cool how, as I'd travel, I keep getting local news wherever I was.
This happens on W10 TP latest build as well. Since about Tuesday.
And in 8.1 it looks like they managed to keep the background black! Why not in Windows 10?
I'm seeing this feature on Win 10 mobile. Really like it!
Glad it's getting a broader launch, I've started to use Cortana more as a news feed these days. Which in turn encourages me to use it (her?) for searches.
When on android....oh.... Actually now :P
Only if you installed the leaked internal beta version!!!
Hope until the end of the year Cortana appear here in Brazil.
Cortana UK is also doing this, I just checked.
I like the new look. It reminds me of the old newspaper racks and news stands. It also shown new trailers for movies.
I think it has more features, and information, but it just looks too utilitarian.. Lacks beautiful design.
Now can we add what type of stories it shows us? And can we tell her what stories not to show us? Sorry. Don't use Cortana a lot.
Yes it sure does show trending stories. It's good to read about the current WINDOWS MOBILE, because yes we are still in Windows 8.1 for mobile. All these articles about something that's not live yet is very irritating. Windows insider and the preview of Windows 10 mobile is strictly for feedback directly to Microsoft to build a great OS. So let's stick to the basics and talk about what is live now.
Appears on Windows 10 as well. Very nice.
Except the interface in 10M is horrible....
I like the windowsphone 8.1 cortana...its miles better than the new build one.... Well atleast in layout.Also i get movie trailer suggestion!
That's exactly what I said above.
US US US US US
getting sick of it. -ㅁ-
I am currently using Cortana in German just because it easier to speak in German to her for me but damn... That was a major feature cut to me being used to US Cortana. But also she speaks a lot more 'stiff' in German; as we call it here: Sie hat hat einen Stock im Arsch!
When in my country? When in my country? Getting sick of it :p
Lol. Right.
Can you really blame these people? I'd be BS too. For a company whose flagship phones all have that Nokia, European company, name and don't have functionality to use the personal assistant to the fullest is beyond mediocre.
Sie scheinen typisch Deutsch zu sein.
Alle diese Funktionen gibt es seit gestern auch bei der deutschen Cortana.
You can use it also in Germany :)
All this attention for something available to a very limited audience.. wasted efforts
And it wouldn't be a "wasted effort" even if it was US-only; it would have been a test run to see how well it works/ is received before being put out for other regions. Similar to the Insider program - which wasn't/isn't a wasted effort.
EDIT: Presuming, of course, that is what you were referring to :)
I'm not very pleased with the new Cortana interface in WM10... It looks generations older with this odd centered white background. It's too messy... The WP8.1 design is worlds better. What a shame.
Agree. I'm just hoping that the final version looks and works better than Windows 8.1
The iDroid version looks the same, so I think this is what we're stuck with for now... It does have some good functionality, though.. Hopefully MS will continue to evolve the interface to look less clunky.
I hope there is hope still that they add a black theme option.
Yeah, I liked it when it was your theme color over black.... Now, it's these tiny white boxes over dark grey?.. Lol. I hope that's a bug.
Yup, the mish mash of white on black sucks.
My Cortana tiles used to be full width on a 1520, now they are centered with a gutter. Definitely made it worse.
What❔❔ I don't follow you.
The one on the left is how it has been since the 10 preview began for me on a 1520 and is definitely my preferred version. The one on the right (with the gutter) showed up a few days ago. (if the image doesn't appear, look here: http://i.imgur.com/y6KF6Ao.png)
Oh. Yeah, mine looks like that too.. That's what I was complaining about in my original post.. I thought that was the new look.. Hopefully it's just a bug.
I activated this last week - it's been up for much longer. US market
For certain devices, yes. We go through this every time with Cortana: we post a new feature, people chime in they've had it for awhile. The bigger point is this is going wider now as the feature is locked down.
I've had this for at least two weeks now. I'm US market live account but working in Jordan. Being in Jordan, I've been receiving local Jordanian news for quite a while now... Still great to see Cortana features starting to work in many places...
I've had this since Beyonce left destiny's child /s
That traitor...
I've had this on my Gameboy color
I've had this on my MK14 from Science of Cambridge!!!