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Windows 10 to display and allow response to mobile notifications

by Mark Tyson on 1 April 2016, 12:39

Tags: Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Windows 10

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During a breakout session at BUILD 2016 Microsoft detailed some interesting plans for the Windows 10 Action Centre. This is an important part of Windows 10 which currently doesn't really live up to its potential for convenience, or for integrating the bulk of notifications in your daily connected life. With the launch of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update this summer the Action Centre will become quite a lot more useful for many people.

According to a report by WinBeta the new Action Centre will cloud sync and look identical between Windows Mobile and other Windows 10 devices like PCs and tablets. The synchronisation means that if you dismiss a notification on your computer or phone you won't get a repeat notification when you turn on the other device.

For me, one of the most interesting new features is that these notification actions aren't fenced-in within the Windows ecosystem. Android device users with the Cortana app installed will also be able to enjoy the same level of notification sync and integration.

So what do you do when you get, say, an Android text message notification on your desktop PC? Well, you won't have to pick up and unlock your Droid, you will be able to type a reply from within Windows on your lovely Romer Gs, Cherry MXes, or Razor Greens. Microsoft has a Cortana app for Apple iOS but the intergrated sync functionality isn't going to arrive on iPhones or iPads. Access to the underlying OS is too restricted on Apple's devices, explains Liliputing.

Other features coming to the new improved Action Centre include; widgets and tiles, via which developers offer information-rich cards to users. WinBeta says that the weather app, for example will be able to push weather forecasts, animations and interaction directly into the new Action Centre.



HEXUS Forums :: 11 Comments

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This increased integration with Android is an interesting path for MS to take. I was seriously considering Windows Phone for my next mobile precisely for the integration and sync, but if a lot of that's going to be available on Android it might not be so clear-cut…
scaryjim
This increased integration with Android is an interesting path for MS to take. I was seriously considering Windows Phone for my next mobile precisely for the integration and sync, but if a lot of that's going to be available on Android it might not be so clear-cut…

Yeah, the reason I got Windows phone in the first place was specifically for integration. Now I feel like Android will be better if they will get that feature-set too.
scaryjim
This increased integration with Android is an interesting path for MS to take …. but if a lot of that's going to be available on Android it might not be so clear-cut…
Each to his own. The Android integration apparently requires Cortana app installed on the Android device. As Cortana is one of the main reasons I reject W10, it certainly isn't going on my Android devices.

The T&Cs for the Cortana app might make an interesting read. A cynic might suspect that having snooped on Win10 users, this is a backdoor attempt to snoop on Android users too.

Of course, I'm not that cynical …… oh, wait …. :D
Saracen
Each to his own. The Android integration apparently requires Cortana app installed on the Android device. As Cortana is one of the main reasons I reject W10, it certainly isn't going on my Android devices. …

As you say, each to their own. I suspect they'll get no more information off an android phone running Cortana than Google are already combing, and since my main email address is hosted by outlook.com I'm pretty sure MS already know as much about me as they're likely to get from my laptop/tablet/mobile anyway!
scaryjim
As you say, each to their own. I suspect they'll get no more information off an android phone running Cortana than Google are already combing, and since my main email address is hosted by outlook.com I'm pretty sure MS already know as much about me as they're likely to get from my laptop/tablet/mobile anyway!
It'll vary user to user, I'm sure, depending on what hardware they have, what they use devices for, and indeed, how careful they wish to be in what info they choose to put on or through such devices. It's the old trade-off, isn't it …. privacy versus convenience. My position on that is no secret. :D