Cortana on Windows 10 Can Control Your Android Device, Other Smart Gadgets

Voice-based virtual assistant Cortana, which Microsoft introduced to the desktop operating system in Windows 10, is a super useful service. It lets you take notes, play music on your computer, get reminders, and also check real-time traffic information. But its application doesn't end there - Cortana can be made to work with third-party services to control your Android device as well as your smart bulbs, speakers, and other IoT devices linked to the device.

This is possible because of a handy Android app called Tasker, which lets users automate several things on their smart devices. Its creator João Dias wrote a post to reveal just how one can use his app and a bunch of plugins to do all sort of amazing things via Cortana on Windows 10.

As he explains, one needs to use AutoRemote and AutoVoice to enable voice and remote access to Cortana. Both are Android apps, and need to be installed on your smartphone or tablet. In addition, you'll also need to download and install AutoRemote Chrome extension

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/autoremote/hglmpnnkhfjpnoheioijdpleijlmfcfb

and go to the Option settings and enable Cortana.

Once done, you should be able to speak to Cortana to control the notifications and other things on your Android device. As for the smart bulbs and other gadgets that you may have and want to control using Cortana, you will need to first link it to the Tasker app.

The easiest way to do that is to integrate it its app with Tasker. You can do so by opening the Tasker app, and adding the app of the gadget you want to control as a profile. For instance, for the Philips hue, you will need to integrate its app with Tasker.