Microsoft has been striving to grab a bite of out of Google’s userbase and while it can no longer achieve it by launching its own smartphones, the tech giant is pushing out alternatives to Google’s apps. The list of Microsoft’s apps for Android includes tasks and events planners, a phone-to-desktop notification mirroring app, an SMS organizer as well as the relatively more famous Microsoft Launcher and the Edge browser for Android. The Launcher is now getting improved conversations with Cortana while the Edge browser gets some new accessibility features.
The Microsoft Launcher was recently updated to version 5.7 and the update brings an improved UI. The Feeds tab has been moved to the bottom of the launcher to make it more accessible while the drag and drop actions on the home screen are likely to be smoother.
One major improvement that this update adds is to the “Cortana conversation experience,” which will allow users to have conversations with the digital assistant instead of having to start it again after each question. This feature is limited to only US English for now. There’s a Cortana icon right on the homescreen of the Microsoft Launcher and you can strike a conversation right away.
Microsoft Launcher (Free, Google Play) →
Meanwhile, the Edge Browser will be getting a Read Aloud mode using which users with special visual needs can listen to the text written on any webpage. Even for users without any disability, the feature can come in handy when they’ve to obtain any information but have time limitations. It may also be useful for those who consume a lot of information on-the-go and prefer listening to news than reading it.
The feature is currently in beta and you can download it from the link below if you are unable to sign up as a beta tester in the Play Store.
Microsoft Edge (Free, Google Play) →
The post Microsoft Launcher 5.7 adds a new Cortana conversation UI while Microsoft Edge adds Read Aloud appeared first on xda-developers.
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