All eyes are on Microsoft to reveal more about its next major platform update at its BUILD conference next month, but there has already been a steady stream of leaks about Windows Phone 8.1. The update is a bit far off, we don’t expect it to be released before the second quarter. Rumors suggest that it will finally bring a standalone notification center, custom Start screen backgrounds as well as a digital assistant that will rival Siri. The assistant will reportedly be called Cortana, and now a screenshot of said virtual assistant has been leaked online.
From what we’ve heard about Cortana up till now, it will actually be quite similar to Siri, being able to conversate with the user like the former does. The screenshot reveals that Cortana will essentially take the form of a blue circle that will apparently bounce around. An accompanying screenshot gives us a peak of the settings menu, with even contains an option to have Cortana call the user by their name, a feature made popular by Siri.
Other features mentioned in the menu include Cortana’s ability to scan emails to track flights as well as provide suggestions. As always, Microsoft is tightlipped about the changes we are to expect from Windows Phone 8.1, so don’t expect to hear a confirmation from the company on this just yet. [Image via The Verge]
Filed in . Read more about Cortana, Microsoft and Windows Phone 8.1.