Does Siri Really Have Competition?

Windows versus Macintosh. It’s been a battle of the brands for years. From Microsoft Office to those boxy, colorful Mac computers you couldn’t live without, it’s a continuous competition with no end in sight. Even with the excitement over the newly released iPhone 6, Windows phones are beginning to earn back market share, and their new girl in town, Cortana, might just be responsible.

So does Siri really have competition? Like your very own personal assistant built into your phone, Cortana allows users to make calls and send texts and stay organized by adding events to your calendar.

Simple Siri, stuff, right? Siri also lets you send voice messages, make calls, set tasks and answer questions. However, what makes Cortana stand out is her knowledge of your interests. Is your flight running late? Did your favorite shirt just go on sale? She knows and alerts you. Furthermore, she monitors and finds articles online and bookmarks them for you. From prepping for a trip to planning a party, Cortana is there to scour the Internet for you.

If you still aren’t convinced, here are some other features Cortana has that make her different from Siri:

Reminders

When life gets crazy, who doesn’t want a reminder when you have something coming up? Going a step further than your iPhone calendar alerts, Cortana can remind you to do something at a time you want, place you want or when you are on the phone with someone. For example, if you look in you’re refrigerator and you’re out of milk, have Cortana remind you the next time you hit the grocery store.

Traffic

Although you can navigate a Google map and have Siri give instructions, Cortana keeps track of your route and will let you know whether or not to leave early due to traffic or accidents. If you plug a destination into your phone before you get ready in the morning, she’ll buzz you to let you know that you might want to leave a few minutes early.

Inner Circle Only

When you’ve had a long day and only want to take emergency calls or texts, Cortana puts your phone on lockdown. Only VIPs on your list can get through to you via text or call until you turn your quiet hours off.

Events

If you have a friend visiting from out of town or want something to do over the weekend, Cortana has you covered. She can give you the scoop on events, recommend restaurants and tell you what’s happening near and far. Plus, she checks the weather anytime, anywhere so you’re in the know about whether you should sit at the patio or choose an indoor location.

Cortana’s Notebook

This is where it gets personal. The contacts you call and text, places or things you look up on the Internet, the music you download—Cortana keeps track. This info syncs with the cloud to let other apps use it. Plus, there’s a whole Talk to Me feature that allows users to ask Cortana questions. Talk to her about anything. Tell her about your day and anything else you want to share. You never know, she might respond with opinions and maybe even a good joke if you’re lucky.

Although Siri was the first AI and has a large following of die-hard Apple fans, she might have some competition with Cortana. So, who do you choose?