While Microsoft’s OS for mobile devices might be truly dead, the good news is that the company is still focused on creating quality apps for Android. Many Microsoft apps, including the SMS Organizer, and To-Do were even featured on our list of 25 best apps of 2017. But one app that has been critically acclaimed and is still going strong is the Microsoft Launcher.
Microsoft Launcher is the company’s home screen replacement for Android devices, delivering powerful features coupled with a great UI. The recent update for the launcher brought about the ability to create folders in the app drawer, support for Intune data protection, and more. And now, the team has rolled out a couple of new updates for the Beta variant, among which the biggest change is the inclusion of Cortana.
As reported by Phonearena, Microsoft has rolled out a couple of important new features for the Microsoft Launcher Beta. The team has brought Cortana to the launcher, allowing users to directly interact with the voice assistant from within the app. Using the personal digital assistant, users can now make calls, schedule meetings, change wallpapers and more.
Microsoft has also added support for Arabic/RTL languages. Also, users now have an option to share the launcher using NFC or QR code. Also, while the previous update brought support for Intune data protection, the integration should now support remote data-wiping.
Furthermore, there are also a couple of minor changes, including the ability to place widgets into the dock, choose what contacts to display on your People card, and pin searched app/contact to the home screen.
While all these features do sound great, they are currently available only on the Beta channel. As of now, there is no word when these features will make their way to the stable app available on the Play Store. If you’re someone who can’t wait to try out these new features, you can apply to become a tester for the beta app.
