Microsoft has rolled out a Cortana update for users on Android, iOS, and Windows 10. Specifically, the release is focused on bringing more functionality to the assistant for smart home accessories. Both features can be found under Cortana>Notebook>Manage Skills>Connected Home and are described as: Scenes allows users to pair smart home functions together. For example, users can sync lights and thermostats to work together through a single command with Cortana. For example, if you say, “getting home”, Cortana would set the lights and thermostat to a prearranged level. Microsoft says users can create complex scenes where multiple smart home functions are merged. Rules is a little simpler than Scenes, but still useful. Users can give smart home devices a single command that will be followed. For example, “Cortana, set the lights in the living room on dim at 10:00pm”.
Availability
Windows Central reports both features are now live, although appear to be rolling out in stages. That suggests Microsoft is in A/B testing or beta testing and the features are still on the Inside. We guess Rules and Scenes will make their way to users across Android, iOS and Windows 10 in the coming weeks and months.
