Cortana’s new list skill was revealed by Microsoft today. Lists can be managed entirely with voice commands, making it simpler to manage a set of to-dos with nothing more than Cortana. Previously, Cortana could create reminders and voice notes but had no listing functionality.
Cortana will now automatically create Grocery, To Do and Shopping lists to help you get started with the feature. To add a new list, the “Hey Cortana, create a list” command can be used on Windows 10 or supported mobile platforms.
Items can be added to a list with similar ease. A new command, “add (item) to my (list name) list,” will create a new entry in the stated list and display its contents. Items can be checked off using tick boxes or completed with a voice command.
The feature comes in advance of the holiday season when lists are widely used. Microsoft anticipates Cortana’s new skill will be used to keep track of gifts to buy and locations to visit, helping people stay organised in the weeks to the end of the year.
“Whether it’s planning a holiday meal, buying gifts, getting things done before you head out for vacation, or keeping track of who’s naughty or nice, you can use your voice or type to quickly create a new list, add to an existing list when inspiration strikes, and pull up your lists just when you need them on any device,” said Microsoft.
Cortana can also integrate with popular to-do list app Wunderlist. Once enabled in Cortana’s “Connected Accounts” menu, the digital assistant can access and add items to existing Wunderlist lists. Wunderlist sync also enables the option to add due dates to to-do items and other advanced functionality from within Wunderlist’s app. Wunderlist effectively has Cortana integration now, except it’s built into the assistant rather than being part of the app.
Microsoft bought Wunderlist over a year ago. At the time, it said it would be integrating the company’s tech into its existing productivity programs. So far, little has changed since Wunderlist was purchased. Recently, there have been signs that the companies are getting closer together though. Aside from Cortana’s new support for Wunderlist, the app is also mentioned in Microsoft’s new Office Hub app, launched in preview today.
Microsoft is creating its own to-do list app called Project Cheshire, although how it fits into the bigger picture remains unclear. Cheshire looks similar to Wunderlist and appears to be aiming at casual users who want something simple to manage their tasks. How it will sit alongside Wunderlist is currently unknown.
It is thought Microsoft will integrate Wunderlist more tightly into products such as Office 365, Outlook and OneNote going forward and Cortana could bind everything together. The new lists experience is available in the U.S. on Windows 10, Android and iOS from today.
