Hey Cortana!' brings passive-listening to Windows Phone this fall for a hands-free experience

Berlin, Germany – Invoking Cortana on Windows Phone is a straightforward affair with a single button press of the Search key (or swipe-down on the HTC One for Windows with Dot View case). However, newer technology found on the Xbox Kinect and some other Android devices is making the jump to Windows Phone: passive voice activation.

Arriving later this fall with the newly announced 'Lumia Denim' firmware update, some Lumias are getting the hands-free feature named 'Hey Cortana.' Users with smartphones featuring the Snapdragon 80x chipsets, like the Lumia 930, Lumia Icon, and Lumia 1520 can all take advantage of the Cortana extension.

After a brief training session whereby the phone learns your specific voice, users will be able to call up Cortana by simply saying 'Hey, Cortana' (or any other name they bequeath to the voice-assistant). Cortana then wakes up and takes your inquiry. Such a feature allows users to use Cortana without ever touching their phone, which is perfect if you are across the room, have your hands full, are driving or other situations where it is more convenient to go hands-free.

Presumably other phones like HTC's new One M8 for Windows Phone can do the same, as that phone has the necessary hardware, but it also needs a firmware/OS update to enable the new feature. For Microsoft and their Lumia line, 'Hey Cortana' is supposed to launch with the new Lumia Denim firmware and OS update expected later this fall.

Hints of passive-voice activation for Cortana being enabled came earlier this summer from Microsoft's Marcus Ash who oversees development of the voice-assistant.

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007 when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and for some reason, watches. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.

341 Comments

Now I really feel like selling off my 920........
And my 1020 too....
I'd also love to have it on my 1020, but even if it was possible, I don't think the battery would survive. It's already hard enough to get through the day without charging it or carrying the camera grip, if it was listening all the time it probably wouldn't last half a day. But yeah, it also kind of makes me want to get a new phone... I'd love to be able to automatically turn on the music while I'm cooking without having to stop what I'm doing and clean my hands first. But I guess for that they'd also need to add an option to rename the different Bluetooth connections I have and then add an option to use Cortana to select which one I want to use between the kitchen speakers and the bedroom speakers.
Do u really want to sell ur 1020??? Cus i was thinking to upgrade my 820 to 1020... but now i heard people are giving up 1020 so i have to think again.. tel me the reason why u want to sell it??
To get a new phone with more options. I love the camera but the gimiks on others sound cool!
While the camera remains the best of any phone, the rest of the handset is falling behind on technology that is hardware just cannot support. This voice activation of Cortana is an example of the issue.
Just the normal slow slide into obsolescence of any handset, but Nokia camera enthusiasts, myself included, are worried by Elop's comments and the cancellation of McLaren, Thai MS will not release an up to date successor to the L1020, that it, a phone with a camera that equals or surpasses the L1020.
How much?
Did Lumia Cyan help you at all? The developer preview was KILLING mg battery and the life wasn't great before then either. Lumia Cyan doubled my usage, and that is not an exaggeration.
Actually I'm still on the developer preview with the new update for folders (folders are amazing, but I wonder if they're not one of the reasons my battery is so bad)... Even though Microsoft apparently fixed the issue with updating to Cyan on preview phones I still haven't received the update... If that could help with the battery life it'd be great because these days it's pretty bad.
I tell you this my wifes 925 was a dead battery mess when I updated to 8.1.1 it could not make it through a half day. It was already bad after DPing to 8.1. Just when I was going to just pull the trigger and wipe the phone because she was annoyed Cyan came. I updated and wow the battery just jumped up like crazy. She can easily get through a entire day now before needing to charge.
Good to know!! Can't wait to receive the Cyan update!! It's strange that I still haven't received it. Microsoft says the problem with the update is fixed (and you confirmed that your wife received it even though she's on the developer preview) and I know for a fact that the Cyan update is available for the 1020 in my region...
You might want to review what your apps are doing in the background, I've found that sometimes app or game updates enables them to run in the background when they were disabled initially. Also some updates have made those that I do run in the background to consume more battery. I have a 1020 and although I took a hit in battery not having cyan and running Dev Preview I still get a day off of one charge, unless an app or game is messing with it.
Thanks for the suggestion R0bR, but I don't think the problem is with the apps running in the background in my case. The battery is ok when I'm not using the phone (not as good as some other phones, but still not that bad). I verified and the apps running in the background all show minimum battery usage in the Battery Saver app. It's when I use the phone that I can really see the battery go down fast, much faster than on my friends' phones. So on days that I don't really use my phone I can get through the day no problem, but once I start actually using the phone it's a different story. Anyway, I'll see once I finally get Cyan if it helps.
Batteries get old and mine is also getting old :(
1020 here as well with no Cyan. I have an unlocked att model, but I've heard some of the unlocked models aren't receiving cyan yet.
I also have a 820 as a second for myself still waiting for it to get Cyan and the battery went to hell on it also after updating with DP. I am not mad it is Beta and I know what that means. I have to much stuff on it to wipe and go back. Even though Cyan has been available for a month now with it.
Im still waiting for Cyan on my DP 1020, if you say that Cyan brings better battery life, then i should wait for the update :D
+1520
The CYAN helped alot seriously no jokes.
And my axe... err... my 925
I just removed the casing that I use on my 1020. That's because my 1020 is up to a year, and I'm ready to let it "age" so that I may soon change it. (nice justification).
I never used a casing on mine (except for when I use the camera grip). I had one back when I had a Samsung, but I think Nokia phones are strong enough not to require a casing. I've had my 1020 for over a year and it still looks like new!
I've been considering an upgrade from my 925 for a little while, this is a decision maker to the 930 for me. Now to be able to afford it ...
Exactly the same here. The 830 is very, very tempting but no Glance and "Hey Cortana" on the 930 probably just trumps Glance and no "Hey Cortana" on the 830.
Why do you think that the 830 dont have "Hey Cortana", the did showcased the feature on stage with the Lumia 830 or am I wrong?
On reading the article on here it said
the 800 chipset would support it and only named the 930, Icon and 1520.
If that article is wrong then good, but that's what it says, on this very article we are commenting on.
OK thx than I was wrong
In conservation thread, Its mentioned Passive Voice activation is due to SensorCore and Lumia 830 has SensorCore. I don't understand why doesn't it get the "Hey Cortana"
Yes SensorCore AND the more powerful processor.
Would recommend getting the 930. Recently upgraded from the 920 and really happy. I use it in the car often so this additional feature would be awesome. Also, for setting alarms, playing music etc, perfect.
Me too!
920 had a great time smartphone market has been moving so fast. it's time even for me to change my 720. I have good experience with windows phone.
Me too, but i wonder if it's worth getting 930 or my favourite (and dream-phone) 1520 right now. I say that because of Microsoft trying to merge Windows Phone and RT. If that happens, I wonder if they'll come out with new flagships with much more capability (for example, ability to ink on the phone in ONeNote with a pen, like Note lineup from Samsung). And if so, will these now-flagships will be able to be upgraded to that new OS (considering, unlike me, you don't want the inking capability).
If there's a new Lumia where I can use Inking capability in the future... I'll buy it in a heartbeat! Can't live without that feature anymore after using it in my VAIO Multiflip... It's a great thing to be able to write, draw, cut, etc using your phone (but I don't want android)
I'm in the same boat as you; I feel you.. But when they merge the RT and WP, will it look like how the RT screen looks or the same as it do now? I have been wondering this for a while.
so it wont come to the lumia 920??
Don't worry, at this rate you have another 14-15mos before you can get denim on one of today's phones...
I keep telling you, my fine WP comrades, the 1520 has been the gift that keeps on giving!
You ain't lying. I think the chipset makes it future proof for at least a two year span as well.
Yes, I'm liking that the 1520 is still getting all of the new toys. A seriously good purchase!
And my 928...
i will do the same thing. Good bye 920.
Ugh.... I feel ya man :(
Nah I will wait for the next TRUE FLAGSHIP
Cool! Was much-needed
no hey Cortana on other devices??? Shhhiiiii+++
At last they finally implement this, but as I expected it will be only for Snapdragon 800 devices. So for what we know newly released 830 and 730 will be joining to budget 530 and 630 not having this passive-voice feature, especially 830 that's marketed as "affordable high-end". :(
I hope they just gave us option to have it even for the rest of devices existed, just gave warning for more battery drain or allow that option while charging like on iOS8. Hope they can push that later on.
It's a chipset issue boss, aka "Sapdragon 80X". So nope, it's not coming...
Sweet!
Yay!
Ah. Webcast just ended :/
Nice! I'll have to try it on my 1520, hopefully since the One has update 1 already the changes needed get pushed out soon. I'd like to have it on my daily driver
sweet cant wait to test this out
This fall? If I can get it in winter, it's already a miracle. I'm still on Lumia Black, thanks to developer preview
If they don't fix DP issue by the time this come out, I will turn to recovery tool
I'm thinking the same
I did. even I should. they even updated recovery tool for that.
Do it. I used the recovery tool and my phone landed directly on cyan, and the battery life is way better. I own an 820.
I'm on cyan with dev preview on my 1520.
Is downgrading to 8.0, getting cyan and then upgrading back up to 8.1 GDR1 going to work?
and iPhone users will be like u copied hey from us. lol
and android users just know it better since they where the first to implement this
all have become the same. u cant say u copied me. still Microsoft earns 2 bilions on android per year than google in only millions
Millions? Google said last January for 2012 their revenue was 50 billion. Posted via the Windows Phone Central App for Android
Actually, they are getting this feature in IOS 8, and Android already has this.
Now this is awesome.
I'm super pumped. This is what I was really looking for to make Cortana a truly daily driver.
This 1520 is the best device I've ever had....
When my 1020 broke I could have chose the 1520... But I opted for another 1020. It was a very tough call. The screen was just too much :/
How would you know it's too much if you didn't use it for a few days?... Everyone always thinks its too much.. I thought it was too much until I tried it..... Unlike you I made the best decision possible❗ .... Next time around you should try a larger screen.. Trust me.
It was tough. It was mostly the giving up a 41mp shooter :P
I understand.... That's why I hope that rumor of the next 1020/1520 being the same device, with 2 sizes, is true... They were able to make the camera module much thinner with the 830, and I'm sure they are doing the same thing with the next late MP sensor.
That's because you don't have a 930 in u.s. Big mistake making icon exclusive to wcdma Verizon. Hopefully at&t release 930 before or alongside 830 and 730. This carrier exclusive shit has to stop. Yeah 1520 is a great device esp with micro SD I just find the huge screen unnecessary as it provides no multi screen to take advantage and I have a nex7 for media.
What are you talking about?
Can you not read? Btw some people know they look like a wanker holding a phablet up to their head without having to carry it around for a few days to convince themselves they made a good choice. Geez just because u post on every single article does not mean u are a moderator or your opinion holds any more weight than others rodney
WTF are you babbling about, again❓
cdma verizon, wcdma is a gsm protocol.
You'll still have to unlock the phone for lots of stuff, though.
They've gotta bring it to all the Lumia phones.....
Passive voice activation is something not every chip is capable of, so it's kind of a hardware limitation.
Not necessarily.... It is only really limited by hardware because of battery drain... i.e. Having her listening all the time on an older chip is like having an app running constantly from my understanding.... But, maybe... Maybe they could add an option to have her always listening only while phone is on charge for sub 8** chips?
That's how Google Now voice activation works. Posted via the Windows Phone Central App for Android
Ok, I honestly didn't know that. I've only used it from the drag up search screen thingy on Droid.
No, it doesn't have anything to do with battery. It has to do with Snapdragon Voice Activation, only on 800-series.
Cortana scans for words in its existing state... It would be like pressing microphone constantly in a background task until "Hey Cortana" is detected, launching Cortana app for the user.
I agree. With you
Awesome, this is exactly what I wanted, will be perfect for driving in the car and I forget to run my gps. That being said I still don't have cyan so hopefully denim isn't plagued with similar issues.
Driving it's the only time I can imagine using it. Drives me nuts the way one coworker walks around the office saying, "Ok Google..."
Do. Not. Want. I hope there is an option to turn off passive listening as I do not want the feature active because of privacy and abuse concerns. And don't give me any apathetic, defeatist slave crap "Oh, they're already spying on you anyway", NO, they're NOT and you can take ur braindead, mega-corp worshipping reasoning and shove it where the Lumias don't shine! Making it easier for hackers, nation-states or rogue gov'ts to abuse my rights is not a feature!
Of course it's optional.
So it means that NL 730, 830 will not be able to take advantage of this feature? As they have snapdragon 400..
See post below with the ⭐
No.. No they can't.
What do you mean "of course"? How do you know? It's not even in beta yet and you are so sure? Gimme a break! What we know of tech these days is the basic funtionality of our phones is not changeable without rooting or jailbreaking. It's only thru fierce outcry that we can get mega-corps attn as with Kinect and its all seeing, all hearing orwellian functionality that could NOT be turned off by the user. Let's just see if this is optional.
Is your real name Jennifer Lawrence by any chance? :P
Lol.... To the point :D
Microsoft has a history of strong fighting for privacy for its consumers. They would not put a feature like that out if it could be abused. Hell, developers still can't use many APIs... and there is no way around that to my knowledge. The Windows phone is an extremely secure phone.
Don't be ridiculous! MSTF violated a customers privacy and searched his Hotmail accts for the source of company leaks without his permission. You sure are misinformed.
Actually, you are misinformed. He was an employee, not a customer.
I'm not convinced taking that tact is being a defeatist. More like resignation and willingness to give up those freedoms. Lets be honest... Unless one is a politician, someone of other import, is a diabolical villain, or we've become some kind of police state interested in silencing individuals, no one really cares. As for these things not being a remote possibility I would ask if you have heard of Edward Snowden?
They are possible. But seeing as WP is pretty much not a hackable phone, it is not in the scope of possibility. To crack it they would need the go ahead from Microsoft, which won't happen. Active call listening activation is possible on any phone anywhere right now, and there is nothing anyone can do for that since it runs off the towers. Always manage your precautionary measures within the scope of plausibility and feasibility.
"But seeing as WP is pretty much not a hackable phone", Boyohboy have u drunk the koolaid! Tech blogs encourage this ignorance by focusing on specs and glossy color backs and by not actually explaining how cell phones and computers work.
If it's so 'hackable', then you'll be able to get in and switch off the passive listening. There, you've solved your 'problem'. So now you can go back to being a dick somewhere else.
Just don't call it out!!!... Wow!!! Some people will find something negative about anything..
Agreed. Privacy is pretty much fucked these days anyway, everywhere you go you are on camera, and its pretty much an Orwellian society at this point. See also: Mirrors Edge, Getting Up: C.U.P., Watch Dogs
1984
If you're concerned about privacy, you need to get rid of your smart phone. You also need to run all your PC communications through Tor, use Bitcoin as your currency, and do some identity theft to keep your own one safe.
Or just join the world in its current state. It ain't so bad.
Don't be native, they can tap into your phone's microphones irrespective of this feature.
Do you wear a tin foil hat?
Wow... Reptilian presidents got your back. Maybe don't use a smartphone as ALL data, calls and text is a privacy issue as governments can access it no problem. I ain't no drug dealer or terrorist so I care not.
Wow, how does that white jacket fit? Snug?
I dream to have a Microsoft Home so that wherever I am Cortana here's me when I say hey Cortana.
I would, but I would need new pants.
Yeah, that'd be great, a Microsoft house with Scarlett Johansson's voice, like in the movie Her. That would be awesome.
I just died
really amazing we can have custom voices of selected vocal artist that can be included. Microsoft build a home please. hire architecture and consultants for that.
"Eureka" :)
That's why we need a smartwatch❗
Oh, nifty. Early this fall seems optimistic, however.
Brilliant. 930. Sold!
Why Android doesn't need Sd800 plus processors to activate hand free?
Why Cortana need?
Anyway premium feature.
Cortana is now for highend phones only.
⭐ Please explain. Cortana does a lot of heavy lifting in the background and even more on command. It needs more processing power. Running a low grade processor at a higher wattage equates to more battery drain. The high end procs are more efficient, and can handle the load without killing the phone with the feature.
Moto X & all Android phone can also do what Cortana can do. They doen't need SD 80+ processor. I think Moto devs are more talanted than Cortana team.
No. The Moto X has a dedicated low power processing chip for passive listening.
& Android?
Without the 800 series processor the only time you can activate Google Now with your voice is if the phone is already awake or if it's plugged in. Posted via the Windows Phone Central App for Android
A high end phone usually has a heavy user... A low end phone usually has a light user... Problem solved.
Actually I think WPCentral got it wrong. I believe all the Lumia *30 phones will be getting this. It is based of the Sesor Core, that is in the SD80*, SD400 and even the SD200. So if Microsoft does not implement it on those phones they are just lazy.
It's just a way of making people buy their next windows phone. Eg I have an 820 but there is not much advantage in buying a new windows phone, because aside from a few hardware improvements it is still capable of everything a 930 can do. There will be more and more software updates in the future that only apply to newer phones, just like hey cortana.
But all devices which upgraded to Android 4.4 have this hand free feature then why MS doing this? Anyway I get your point. MS want X20 user's to buy 930 & 1520.
This is incorrect, please stop. Posted via the Windows Phone Central App for Android
You mean why the Moto X doesn't need Snapdragon 80x to use passive voice activation? That's because it contains a custom low-powered co-processor that can always be on without draining the battery. Other androids do not have this feature without a custom processor or a Snapdragon 80x processor either. Snapdragon 80x processors have this feature built-in, which means they do not need a separate hardware to enable it. This is why phones with other processors won't support it, both on Windows Phone and Android.
Is there a "Hey Kool-aid!" easter egg with a "Oh yeah!" reply? asking the important questions.
This. +1020
Lol :D
So bad...why 920 is not getting this :(
See my post above with the ⭐
The phone is almost 2 years old.. What do you expect❓
Did you think the 920 would be the only phone you ever buy? Microsoft has a business to run!!
I prefer hey B**ch..
Just name her bitch then. Lol
good for sales. ethically bad.
I think you with be able to name her whatever you like. When Cortana quotes your words she censors you with the chime sounds. Lol
Got her swearing a fair bit in Aus Alfa ;)
Cannot make any conversation with Cortana.
Is this a bug report?
Had a few drinks :)
She's just not that into you ;)
Not much luck with the ladies tonight for him eh? It's okay Dennis, just try asking her out, she might just tell you to work on being more digital.
I think it will be much more better if I talk to Cortana, than... well it will be more sensible : )
Sigh, if only Lumia Icon/930 worked with T-Mobile 3g/LTE bands. I'm not willing to switch carriers for that.
So the codename "Denim" is finalized eh? By the way, is there a colour with the name Denim? I thought Denim was the fabric used to manufacture jeans.
I think it's usually understood to be a blueish color. But not necessarily. It is technically the fabric.
So far update names are taken from Crayola standard colours so yes, there is a 'Denim' coloured crayon.
It is a recognized color as well. Hex: #5566cc or RGB: (85,102,204)
So I guess this just made my 1020 obsolete :'(. Come ms, give me 1020 successor.
+1020
+1020+10
Another reason not to get rid my 1520.. Thanks #Microsoft
Damn with all the features coming to the 1520 I might have to keep it. I was complaining about the screen size but if it gets all these updates even though it's several months old I might just put up with it.
Man 1520 is a great device I have 1320 same screen size I got used to it I dnt see my self with a 5" or 4.7" device don't let go of it atleast wait for 1525
1530*
Hey, if u need a smaller one, get the 930
Hmm will have to wait for more reasons to upgrade from my 925, and maybe by then new chips and new features might have kicked in on new Lumias
Yeah I'm pretty much just sitting on my upgrade :/
Upgraded my 925 to the 930, awesome phone! Only miss glance, found a few glance "like" apps to fill the void while on charge and I'm fine with that... But, I also have 2 phones and am keeping the other upgrade handy for later this year (fingers crossed) ;)
Yes! Yay! Yippee!!! ❤ my 930^^
Yes! She is the smartest of the bunch. I did find the songs she only recited last week she now sings. She should keep her day job, though.
So my 1320 will not have this feature I always wanted Cortana to have this call up feature man this sucks!!!
I'm glad Im waiting for my upgrade lol
Lucky you the 1520 is close to 10 grand here in SA so its not a good idea for me to upgrade.. I recently bought the 1320 il keep it for a while longer and hopefully the 1520 price will drop
Oh good, another hardware specific feature to be released. Oh, just let me run right out and buy... Oh wait. I'm on at&t... Nevermind.
I flippin knew my L820 will not support passive voice.... How saddening :(
First time when I feel bad with my 925, it's such an awesome feature!
High end Lumia only????
One of my favorites today
Yeah.. That's what we need....
Now Microsoft is on a home run already. After all these news, WP9 will def be a killer!!
I'm guessing wp9 will be available for 8x CPU family
Don't say that!
True but its going that path
Microsoft cannot afford to do that..
And they won't..
if voice calling not possible give Rudy Huyn the API we will definetely make it possible for all lumias.
We are treating Rudy Huyn as of he is the Rajinikanth of Windows phone world!! :D
Get a 1520
Hey, Cortana ! When my lumia 820 gets Lumia denim update ㅠ.ㅠ
It wont
I really hope in the UK you can say "Hi Cortana" rather than "Hey". Sorry, but Hey is really American. :p
They might make it "Oi Cortana"
'hey cortana' passive voice activation with come to all devices along with lumia denim.....right??
No
No. Only those that have the necessary 8xx chip. So all older devices won't get this feature.
But the 1320 is still a new device
Not really. The 1320 has been around for a while now and is relatively old in terms of mobile phone age.
Nope. Not even the brand new 830 will get 'Hey Cortana'.
Can anyone confirm this?
Is Lumia camera only coming to 1520,930,730,830 only as in Nokia conversations they said that ONLY SELECTED LUMIAS WILL GET THIS APP!
Is this true?? If yes than GOD WHY I BOUGHT THE 1020 IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!!
I should have bought 1520 when I had the chance!
You bought it because the camera on the 1020 still beats the crap out of the camera on the 930/1520.
But the app....
Which has slow opening time,slow capturing speed heck even 5 mpx only are slow,slow processing. I know 34,38 require some time to process but the 5 mpx???
Then again, I did buy the phone only for the reason you stated!
I'm hoping they get their act together and release a true successor to the 1020. I'm hoping it comes out before the end of January, so I can upgrade my current out-of-date useless 1020. They keep releasing these stupid 'beefy' spec'd low-budget phones, that HAVE the processing power for all these new features, but lack everything else. (with the 930 being sort of an exception) Not that I'll ever really use 4k video (that's gonna be a storage and battery killer), but the Hey Cortana! will be really cool. =(
It's the end of life for Lumia 1020... I almost bought one then I saw that article about the end of life for Lumia 1020
The 1020 is still the best camera you'll find on a phone. If nothing else, your should keep it as a camera because the 930 and the rest can't reach the 1020's imaging quality, not even with these gimmicks.
There's one more thing to make my 925 even more irrelevant..
Wouldn't say that. Everybody cares about design e.g., despite being a subjective issue, and the 830 is just as thin as our phone (both gorgeous). I believe thickness pawns a phone's look, but this is just my opinion, and also the other dimensions, like the 1520, so big, this makes the phone look weird too. 930, 920, bricks, just don't, in my humble opinion, soo, sticking with design award winner 925! Next year's wp9? Yes! Take my money! Oh well, could also be wrong here! Lol! One never knows! Cheers!
And now the 1020's watch has come to an end... Why wouldn't Microsoft future-proof the 1020?
Probably because of low sales and the high cost of manufacturing.
I seriously doubt the 1020 had low sales. This phone single handedly pioneered so much positive exposure for the Lumia line and backed it up. I just feel like a phone of this caliber should have come with hardware that was ahead of its time so when software like this became possible, it would've been upgradeable yo the new software features. I really don't want to give up my 1020 and I'm sure a lot of other 1020 owners feel the same way. This is one of those classics and now it is starting to feel classic as in left out of the loop with all the new kids in town. For at least the 1020 I wanted it to be different. I didn't expect much for the 920, 820 or other phones but the 1020, this one is special.
I also own the 1020 and don't like the idea of being left in the cold. However, the reality is that it's not worth MS's time supporting it anymore when they have newer devices to worry about.
Wow
Yes!!
Haha! The day that "feedback" showed up at the bottom of Cortana I suggested they add and use "Hey, Cortana" as the launch phrase, because it would promote natural conversation and just be awesome.
Now... Being able to say "Hey Cortana, what movies are playing nearby around 3?" without pausing while the device is locked, and having Cortana launch, catch everything you said, and help you without hesitation, that would be insanely cool.
Thanks Anthony! Haha
And Cortana replies: "hey rich people, I'm here to help you with whatever you want, and F#*#* other poor Windows phone owners".
Sad.... My Lumia 525 is not getting this....
What do you expect? It is a 525 and you still have access to Cortana via the tile or search button :P or the alternative is a bluetooth or wired handsfree?
Cortana to all WP users first, please...!
Same....:(
Additional handset will get Lumia denim after partner approvals?
i just got an xbox one yesterday and am already used to invoking it via voice, its great, so am sad my 920 wont support it
No!!!! L520 RIP
So the newly announced 830 and 730 won't get this feature correct?
The 830, in some credible rumors, is claimed to have a Snapdragon 800. We'll have to see. Also, I this post is misleading. The way I see it: Any device capable of Motion Core and Miracast will also be capable of this, because they have enough cores to assign some of them to low-power functions.
The 830 has an SD400. The phone just went official and you're still clinging to unrealistic rumours? Smh...
Missed the news, didn't catch up until after I posted the comment. This /was/ the first post when I opened WPC, hasn't caught up to the fact the 830 has already been announced.
LOL, so we're launching the 830 as an "affordable high-end" device while simultaneously announcing that launch-day feature announcements can't run on it? Well, isn't that just a self-contradiction of the utter crap being spewed from Microsoft.
thank god the 930 can dot this. if it didnt, i would have seriously raged!
Hey guys,a little off topic here, but is there an app that can lock your screen with Cortana's voice support. Because when I use Cortana with my earphones, the screen stays on in my pocket, and drains my battery unnecessarily.
I've never seen such an app
Amazing windows phone
Hopefully this will be like iOS 8, where devices that lack the modern chipsets to make it passive all the time, can still enjoy the feature while plugged in. Fingers crossed!
What about the 928?
Yes!
Lumia denim will come across all devices which will upgrade your glance and camera but the Hey Cortana feature will be on high end devices due to their high end hardware so 1320,1020,820,720 will not get the Hey Cortana feature....well maybe Microsoft will have to think about this mistake they making.
"Hey Cortana! What flagship phone will I replace my 920 with at the end of the year FFS?" #firstworldproblems
What did she say? Was going to ask the same thing... She already told me my Seahawks are winning tonight...
Do all Lumia's get the updates. And the 930 and 1520 hey Cortana. Of just the selected ones?
Now that's just crap how can MS forget older Lumia devices 720,820,920 etc. How much processing can hey Cortana take?!? They are full of shit.
It's not about processing power, but about the need for the phone to constantly listen. This can only be done with dedicated hardware that does this in a low power mode. Your 920 would just be always on and drain it's battery.
it is unfortunate, the amount of people just presume their older hardware can magically support new features such as passive listening without any negative implications lol.
Is my L920 out dated :(
Lumia denim it is!? I am still waiting for my cyan update :c
Right...
Oh, I was hoping that feature to also be available for other Lumias by having them recognize your voice while being on.
My 920 is starting to feel neglected now.
Hey, moto x does that and it has a great battery life. Ours is a Lumia after all.
How can the battery life be less?
Ok Google... Hey Cortana... Yo Siri...? (Dr Dre would approve)
925 :( wtf Microsoft....
But I heard Snapdragon 400 has SensorCore. So technically phones with those processors, too shouldn't have hardware limitations regarding passive listening. I'm confused, Daniel. Help!
Please clarify..... Will it NEVER EVER come to Lumia 720...??... Not even after threshold or so...??
I hope they bring Passive listening to other lumias at least while charging the phone
That would be silly i guess... Sorry
Not necessarily, it is possible on older hardware but it will constantly drain the battery at a higher rate than phones with SOC's that support low power mode. So if the phone was constantly charging.. that would negate the drain but increase the wear and tear on the battery.
It would be convenient to leave your phone while it is being charged and just say "Hey Cortana" when you are away from the phone.
That is just being lazy :p.
Nice!
1520 here I come
Yes! I can finally address Cortana as "Tiny Dancer" now!
I must have this and the required firmware must be onboard at time of purchase of a new device. Im not waiting/hoping for the firmware release after purchasing a new device whether its the One or 1520.
Time to leave my 1020....
Omg can't wait!!! So glad I have the Lumia 930!!!
Ugh, gotta wait for another firmware push from Verizon
YES!!! Finally!!! +1520
I already scream at my Bluetooth headset in public and at work by saying "Hey Cortana" (double tapping on the bluetooth launches Cortana) so this is no big deal, plus have spare battery for my 520 in my wallet :-)
Denim upgrade! I'm not holding my breath. I still can't get Cyan for my Icon. C'mon Verizon.
I need my 930 more than ever now!!!!!!
Wow one of the coolest features and my 1020 is out to lunch. Dang.
Finally, yes!!!!
Glad that i bought 930 and didn't wait for HTC One :) It would probably take long time for HTC to update firmware for this feature ...
Is available for 630
I am just waiting for Cortana to be released worldwide... In their language style.....
Sooooooo, basically if you're in the US, not on Verizon, and don't want a ginormous phone, you're SOL on a lot of new features. Thanks Microsoft. Exclusives FTW!
My atv SE has the necessary hardware, but I guarantee the firmware will never come out for it. I'm never buying third party again.
YESSS!!! My Icon just got a whole lot cooler!! ......still same feeling, though. I'm hoping Lumia Denim gets pushed to Big Red faster than Cyan has. It's kind of turning into a joke lately. Ranting aside, my Icon is going to get a WHOLE lot cooler by the end of the year! Yay!!! #LumiaDenim and #MoreLumia FTW!!!
Lumia Denim will no doubtly bundle Update 1 with it, the release of which is still months away so you still have some more waiting to do :P. The rumoured release of a preview of Threshold for ARM devices in January for PFD should help with that wait presuming the Lumia Denim wiull also be another slow roll out.
This is amazing! An amazing new feature for Cortana! I wish they are going to find a way to bring it to all Nokia Lumias that don't have the snapdragon 80x chipset from qualcomm.
Would be nice when driving. :D
Cool that it will come to the ICON but, we cant even get Cyan, if they say this will come out in Q4 (fall/winter time), that means on Verizon we are talking Q1 or Q2 of 2015, IF we even get it...
Yeah I'm not holding my breath that we'll even get it this year anymore. T-Mobile pushed 8.1 to "this year".
Now people are gonna complain saying that MS doesn't 'care' for their 520s -__-
Lol, "this fall". Yeah right. And it's still summer right? Because that's when we were supposed to all have Cyan.
Thank you MS. I will convert an android user to WP the day this releases. Promise. +1520!
I have the DP 8.1 and I am thinking about using the developer tool to downgrade to 8.0 in order to get the cyan upgrade... Tired of waiting. However, after i get cyan can I use DP to upgrade again to 8.1 without losing it?
Yes.
Sort of impressed by this. If you want to impress me and use Kinect in the same sentence, let my Lumia recognize me when I get near it like my XBOXOne does. THAT would be impressive.
That could be possible, probably via Wi Fi direct or Bluetooth LE via fitbit type of device. I wonder does the X1 support bluetooth LE? If you want kinect like functionality... then maybe in a few years when they have managed to shrink the kinect camera with skeletal tracking, infra-red, nightvision into a phone :P.
Haha. Probably won't take that long. That gives me a killer idea.
1020 needs a replacement with a 1520 type screen :)
as someone who just bought the HTC One windows phone I hope we get this too!!! How would I be able to find out if it's coming to my phone?
Why not for other phones mam?
I'm on Verizon. No hint of Cyan, and now Denim is being teased? I'm a frog in a blender...
Yay!
And this is creepy I don't want my phone always listening to me
Ok, Google. Its your move.
Now, if I could just get Cortana to recognize the names of my family members. I can't use it to contact any of them reliably.
Set nicknames
Cortana seems to be getting better and better. I just tried it again for a name that used to never work and it was recognized.
Can we drop the "hey" from "hey, cortana" and just say "cortana"? That would be much more ideal. "hey" just sounds so casual. I'd never speak that way to my personal assistant. It's completely unprofessional.
Well either way I hope we don't end up with a phone that wakes up and complete actions just like the xbox one commercial featuring Aaron Paul :p. "Hey, Cortana text mum" "I will be late for dinner" Cortana responds and asks if it is okay to send. Then sends when actor says send. That would be pretty hilarious and creepy at the same time, millions of phones all sending texts at the same time. That might cause a system overload in the process haha..
Yes it is. As of now, I'm not looking to upgrading any time soon. Unless whe have a successor of the 1520.
The only phone launching with Lumia Denim won't be able to use passive Cortana, whereas the phones that do support it won't get Denim for months. Meanwhile I've been sitting here all Summer and still waiting for Cyan. You can't write this, folks!
This is why the 830 should not be considered a flagship phone (affordable or otherwise) and the reason I will pass on it. Imagine your disappointment if exciting new features aren't able to run on your shiny new phone just weeks after you purchase it.
Yep, Carrier dependant......Crap..that means ICON users wont see it till next year, even if we actually get it... I hope there is a fully working Dev preview coming soon....because that would be the only way of getting it soon..
It's a firmware update not an OS update, there is no preview for firmware.
So what happens if you name your phone "Xbox" and your in your living room with both your xbox and phone and say "Xbox, play music". I think this is awesome and was actually expecting it at some point as I have been driving and thought about it after having to pull over (...we'll go with that) and felt it not as safe as it could be. I think there will be an issue with overlapping of tech in living rooms for those of us with Xbox Ones, PC's that will soon have Cortana, and Xbox (which I am hoping early next year will also be getting Cortana. I suppose the naming convention will resolve the majority of the issues (Xbox do this, Cortana (Phone) do that, 'thing with buttons' search for a place to eat). We could all make it very interesting and start naming things adverbs or pronouns. Quickly do this, begrudgingly do that, sexy... find me a place to eat...
My dream of calling Jarvis for help coming true!!!
My 1520 keeps getting better and better. Now if only i could change the colour every now and then ;)
You can, send it to Nokia and change the back, once a season. Probably costly, or buy all colors and change them yourself.
Id have no idea how to change the back on my own.
I do like how all the Nokia phone people are upset that they don't get this to give a taste of what us HTC folks go through all the time... My 8X is on its last leg and my future Lumia has not been announced yet. However, pretty sold that it will be a MS/Nokia product.
Now I really wish I wasn't on Sprint.
This " Hey Cortana " feature, long time ago i emailed the Cortana team about This feature, now here it is. Great the team listened to me.
Do you guys believe the 830 and 730 will have this feature available? I was going to sell my 920 soon, but now I think I will wait a bit and get either when this update is out.
I will definately sell my 920.
Waitin on Cyan for months and already talking about Denim.
Will Hey Cortana be available for the Lumia 925?
This is awesome. I've been asking Microsoft about this since last year. Finally coming. I still have vista on my dell xps 420 and I like that the computer just waits for me to say start listening before I control it with my voice. I don't know if it came with Vista or was built in by Dell but it's awesome for a hands free experience. Talking to a phone should be hands free as well especially when you are driving. Especially if your in ear bluetooth keeps repeating "do you want to power off" to everything you say.
Sounds like a really cool feature, I just wonder how long Verizon will sit on the update for my Icon.
You see, I want to get Bluetooth tethering going, but I need Cyan in order to do it. And what phone do I have? An Icon. For free, nonetheless, due to two 822s giving me the "Unable to find a bootable option." error.
I'm grateful to have such a high-end device, but these lack of updates are killing me.
At this rate, Denim will be out before Verizon ever releases Cyan! I hate Verizon now. Today, I actually had a Verizon executive tell me that the "Cyan firmware update is in testing [for 7 weeks now] and when it is complete, you will get it and not a day before. That is all we are legally obligated to tell you." I'm going back to AT&T as soon as I can. When an executive of a company is that rude and uncaring, it's time to leave that company!
Won't be expecting this firmness for the Icon I guess. Verizon doesn't seem to care about WP, I think we will be lucky just to get cyan by early 2015, of at all
About time woop woop
users will be able to call up Cortana by simply saying 'Hey, Cortana' (or any other name they bequeath to the voice-assistant).
So.. I can replace "Cortana" with... Jarvis?
Hope we can just say 'Cortana'.....Hey Cortana sounds like a new Sitcom coming this Fall. Could have been worse i guess, knowing MS they probably thought 'Yo...or 'Sup Cortana' would have been 'cool'.
Will this come to Lumia 928? It has a Snapdragon S4
I'm afraid not.
It would be odd to withhold it from the HTC One & the Ativ SE (if Samsung bothered to update the thing) ... Something like this sounds more like an OS Level implementation than an OEM Specific firmware.
I want it all! New Cortana integration on a new Lumia with Qi built-in... When can THAT phone be out?
This is exactly what I wanted. Unfortunately, with this being released in the fall, that means that Verizon will probably be done with testing in the late spring, early summer.
wooooooow!
any video?
Hahaha imagine you see someone with a WP with Denim update and you call out 'hey cortana' and make their phone do stuff ;)
I would've thought this would be in the 830 as well but they didn't say :/
Passive listening is a massive leap for smartphones IMO. I tried out the Google version on a friend's phone and immediately liked the feature and ease of use.
actually i was looking for this facility . thank u microsoft. but i think its hard to call her by "hey cortana" . its better to call only " cortana" i think thats enough. wen will it reach to india ?
ok. hey cortana will wake up her. and what word we can use for clossing her ???
When and where can I get the update to the the "Hey Cortana" update for my HTC One M8?
Getting the 1320 in a few weeks :( guess I'm not getting this feature.
Hey Cortana is support in Lumia 520
Hey, windows phone
Don't integrate FACEBOOK in Cortana's settings and in STORE settings.. Instead of that integrate your outlook or hotmail,,,
Fu*k denim ... My camera on my 930 has serious problem. It's shaking continuesly

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