Microsoft's Windows 10 OS is now on 220 million computers worldwide and counting. While Cortana, the personal digital assistant, is not available in all regions its presence is indeed growing.
Now, a new, free app lets you customize how you call up Cortana by giving the assistant any name you want.
Currently, Cortana's optional voice activation works by saying 'Hey Cortana' with the command following. Users can say things like "Hey Cortana…what is the current weather" or "Hey Cortana…remind to pick up milk next time I'm at the supermarket". The common element in all of that is saying "Hey Cortana", which wakes the assistant.
MyCortana is a free x86 application (.exe) from LazyGuyz that runs in the background. It doesn't use any CPU when not in use and only consumes 38MB of memory (something like Skype for PC is double that size).
MyCortana just hit version 2.0.0.1 and with it a few new changes:
- Removed the limit of 5 custom names
- Check for updates added
- Visual improvements
- Bug fixes
The app is running well on our machines, and we have no complaints. The one thing we noticed was with the default 'Hey Cortana' you could just go right into your command without a pause. Renaming Cortana, however, results in you having to break slightly until Cortana is listening. This pause is hardly a big deal, but worth pointing out the slight difference.
Other than that, you can now call Cortana 'Lady' or 'Adrian' (from Rocky) or whatever you want. It's fun, it's free, and you can't beat any of that.
Download MyCortana from SourceForge
Source: LazyGuyz
Daniel Rubino is the Executive Editor of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft here since 2007, back when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Microsoft Surface, laptops, next-gen computing, and arguing with people on the internet.
