Windows 10: Windows 10 build 10036: Cortana gains a few new features

Read more: Windows 10: Cortana gains a few new features in latest builds

:)

 

Cortana speach download error

This is a bug in this build of windows. Though it was reported to be fixed, unfortunately it was not for most users. To use Cortana with your localized settings you have to restore phone back to production build again.

As for Cortana, I found that she works in this build even if you do not have the correct speech pack albeit missing a few features.

 

Cortana will not use mic

Deepika,

that means it is a known problem with the Hey Cortana feature using microphone with the new build 1607?

And you are suggesting the workaround to not use Hey Cortana?

 

Is this the 'leaked' version or actual version as released?

 

Hi there

Difficult to test this as Cortana still seems restricted to USA alone -- it's unavailable in the leaked 10036 builds OUTSDE the USA.

Cheers
jimbo

 

I am in Greece but downloaded the US version of the OS and I can play around with Cortana.

 

I honestly hate all kinds of "localization features" in PCs. I do not understand why TVs, cars, phones, etc. have to be different in different countries, but at least there are feasible explanations such as legal differences - again, not logically necessary, but at least that's a fact. However, the OS on PCs - there is certainly no need to make it different in different countries. The UI language does not count - that is not a serious change of the OS. One could argue, that all kinds of relevant news and shopping suggestions are local by nature, but then it's not the job of the OS to make shopping suggestions.

But anyways, that's just a rant, I see me using Cortana anyways (just as I don't use Hello Google or whatever it's called on my phone). My PC is not a friend, I don't need it talking.

 

Windows 10 Build 10036 Core / Pro 64-bit
Key: NKJFK-GPHP7-G8C3J-P6JXR-HQRJR

• OneDrive
• MEGA

 

Hi there

Some features ARE actually worthwhile when designed for specific countries -- for example Air conditioning is hardly a required feature for Cars in Iceland but decent extra powerful heaters probably ARE -- conversely would you want to have a car WITHOUT air conditioning in the middle of Texas in the height of Summer. Similarly some countries still drive on the left so different models are needed.

Where I think the line needs to be drawn is against all this regionalisation of Movies / TV shows / Sports feeds etc -- all artificial restrictions do is simply ENCOURAGE Piracy. Nothing whatever the "powers that be" have done has in any way reduced Piracy - blocking torrent sites and adding DRM have largely proved ineffective as well as locking DVD's with that stupid regionalisation code - especially on Laptops for international travellers.

While you will Never stop piracy 100% a good deal of it would simply vanish if artificial restrictions were removed and SENSIBLE pricing was introduced.

Cheers
jimbo

 

I wasn't talking so much about optional equipment, but about availability and major features. Try comparing a Honda Accord in the US, in Europe, and in Japan - these are three completely different vehicles. You can't even buy a Toyota Camry in Germany, but the one sold in the US differs from whatever they sell in Japan. And this is just an example. My TV for example, is an EU model. There also exists a US model, a Russian model, a Japanese model, and it's the same size screen, with the same basic parameters, even the power supply is now external, like in a laptop, so it would work in any country, but still the EU warranty would void in the US, as if something particularly bad happens with the thing if I put it on a boat and transport across the ocean.

Now, try opening any Google site in a different country on your laptop. If you don't do anything special, it will automatically switch to the local language. I mean, on my phone, if I just go to Google, it will be in German in Germany and in French in France. Do I really want it to be in a different language just because I drove for 10 minutes? It's so annoying, I don't even use it anymore, I just have a bookmark for encrypted.google.com which is always in English.

If I want to watch History channel in Germany, I have a choice of the language, German or English. On the Discovery channel I don't have such a choice, it's always in German. But it's not dubbed, it's a voice-over, so I can hear both languages all the time and it's rather distracting. Similarly, Amazon Prime, Netflix and so on, carry a lot of American movies and TV shows, all in German. Why would I want to watch a dubbed movie? Yes, I know, there are people who don't speak English, but is it so hard to give me an option? Technically it's not a problem, but apparently there are licensing issues. Well, I'm paying for cable, I'm paying for Amazon Prime, and if a show that I want to watch is not available in English, I just download the show from the internet. Strictly speaking, they still call it piracy and my arguments probably won't stand in court, but to be honest, I'd like to see them try to sue me for watching a show I paid for. I certainly have no moral issues with doing that.