Forum Discussion
Ask Cortana / Ask Bing - Discussion
Hello Insiders! You have told us that you really want the Ask Cortana / Ask Bing feature in our next version of Microsoft Edge.
In the current version of Microsoft Edge, you can select text or click on an image and get a result from Cortana / Bing in a side panel, without leaving the page you are browsing.
We hear you and from your feedback we understand you would like similar contextual search functionality in a way that does not pull you out of your browsing flow.
We are investigating our ability to add this to the next version of Microsoft Edge and we would like to understand what makes this feature useful for you.
How did you use this feature? If you ever attempted to use Ask Cortana / Ask Bing and couldn’t get the answer you were looking for, what steps did you take, if any, to get the answer you were looking for?
What aspects of the Ask Cortana experience do you like or appreciate? What improvements would you like to see?
Please let us know, either in the comments below or by using the Send-A-Smile feedback.
Thanks – Jared Brown and the Microsoft Edge Search Team
Hello Insiders!
Thank you so much for your feedback. We are excited to announce sidebar search - the first step in our evolution of contextual search in the new Microsoft Edge.
You can find more details about sidebar search in this post - https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/discussions/introducing-sidebar-search-in-microsoft-edge/m-p/1406242
Thanks!
123 Replies
There are reasons to say that they don't integrate it into Cortana, but it has shown to be useful in different aspects, such as Suggesting products similar to the one you're looking for (I know there are extensions that help, but using that integrated would be better). Suggesting to see the lyrics while listening to a song I know I didn't have many options, but it would be great if you could strengthen these suggestions and add others. This way it would be more productive and more interactive to search for a product or just a hobby. That's my opinion and I'm in favor of integrating Cortana to the new Edge, or at least that there is an option to activate it and depending on each one of you use it or not.
- Yeah I miss Cortana's ability that used to identify song names and lyrics, now both of those features are removed from Windows 10 and Edge legacy. i hope they are brought back in Cortana 2 (beta)
I think the "whats that tune" feature was using the Kazaa backend service - MS probably didn't want to pay the license fee. I still have the icon on my Lumia's search screen, but it hasn't worked for years
Edge on Android just got "Contextual Search" which is exactly what the "Ask Cortana/Bing" feature on Legacy Edge is. So just bring it to the desktop version of the browser. More info here: https://techdows.com/2020/02/microsoft-edge-for-android-rolls-out-tracking-prevention-and-contextual-search-features.html
- Spoiler
Migue333 wrote:Edge on Android just got "Contextual Search" which is exactly what the "Ask Cortana/Bing" feature on Legacy Edge is. So just bring it to the desktop version of the browser. More info here: https://techdows.com/2020/02/microsoft-edge-for-android-rolls-out-tracking-prevention-and-contextual-search-features.html
Nice but like you said it's contextual search, doesn't need an AI (artificial intelligence) like Cortana.
if Microsoft wants to bring Cortana to Edge, they should make Edge really smart with it.
like how Firefox is doing
it is true that "ask Bing" is useful when looking for info on a word!
- For me, Cortana was the top feature I want to see returned. Not having to search in a second tab was very useful. Though it was irritating that it didn't work in the same with with words that were part of embedded links.
Elliot Kirk I'll be controversial here. I'm not sure whats the point of Cortana? I was a big fan (being a Halo nut - shame that doesn't run on Windows 10 - another gripe) and I started using her services as soon as my Lumia 920 received the update. She worked pretty well for a year or so, but these days she just says "Cant connect at the moment". If I buy a droid, I'll be able to ask Google, if I buy a fruityphone I'll ask Siri, but I like my Lumia.
Am I likely to start shouting at my Surface in the office or on the tube? Possibly, but it wont be because I'm talking to Cortana...
I was one of the suckers who bought a Band 2 thinking I'd be able to help my blind mother-in-law - let her wear the band and talk to Cortana to check the time etc. The Band was way too fragile to give to a blind person, the replacement (after the strap broke) actually dropped off my wrist. Yes I got the refund, thanks. I bought a Casio resin watch for £20 - I'll probably need to change the coin cell some time in 2025.
Now what about the Kinects I have sitting in the drawer? I'm so glad I didn't spend £3500 on a Hololens (with no warranty!!!).
Anyone spotting a pattern here?
Integrating Cortana into a Windows 10 version of Halo, so I can play as Master Chief & tell her what to do, now that would be a killer game, but about as likely as the Halo movie.
As Neill Blomkamp said "a clusterf**k from day 1"
Please do not bring back something that's works only for US Elliot Kirk
Yannick Plavonil wrote:Please do not bring back something that's works only for US Elliot Kirk
I truly agree with you!
Microsoft needs to use these open source voices contributed by Millions of people in the world from all parts of the world and use them in Cortana to make it multilingual and responsive to all languages.
multilingual doesn't mean only a few popular languages such as English, German, Fresh etc, nope, there are LOTS of languages and they are all important.
These commands would be useful to implement in Cortana to make Edge smart and control it by voice
Search the web
Returns results from the default search engine.
(Example)
Search for hiking in Denver
Look up recipes for fish tacos
Search a specific websiteReturns results from search feature on a specific website.(Example)Search my Gmail for tickets to Hamilton
Look up The Book Thief on GoodReads
Search CSS grid on MDN
Go to website / webpageOpens new tab with requested website or a specific web page based on the top search result.(Example)Go to the New York Times
Show me the 49ers schedule
Go to the Health section of the BBC
Ask a questionDisplays answer in a card.(Example)Who created breaking bad?
Who won the World Series game last night?
How deep is the Marianas Trench?
Play music / videoPlays a song, video, or artist.(Example)Play Green Day on Spotify
Play yesterday's Daily Show
Play Old Town Road
Audio / video controlsControl playback within the browser.(Example)Play (to control active tab)
Mute (all tabs)
Pause
Next
Read to meReads an active article out loud.(Example)Read this page
WeatherDisplays weather for the requested location(Example)Show me weather in Flagstaff, Arizona
What's the temperature in San Antonio?
TranslateTranslate a webpage, phrase, or word.(Example)Translate this webpage (to English)
How do you say 'what time is it' in Spanish?
Traffic and Maps(Example)Find the nearest sushi on maps
How long will it take to get to Springfield?
How do I get to the hardware store?
TimerSets a timer using a webpage.(Example)Set a timer for 5 minutes.
Find tabFinds one tab among many by making requested tab active.(Example)Find calendar tab
Browser controlsUse your voice for common Firefox actions.(Example)Close tab
Pin tab
Duplicate tab
Move tab to a new window
Open new tab
Open new window
Reload this page
Print
Save as pdf
Open my single sign on bookmark
Clipboard / copy and pasteCopy and paste from the clipboard(Example)Copy (copies whatever is selected)
Copy link
Copy title
Copy Markdown link (copies [title](url))
Copy rich link (a link you can paste into docs.google.com etc.)
Copy screenshot
Copy full page screenshot
Paste
Giving commands nicknames (experimental)Create names or shortcuts for actions.(Example)Say "open new york times", then "Give that the name news"
news (will open nytimes.com)
Give the last 3 the name news
Remove the nickname news
That link, Mozilla is providing voices for lots of languages, Not just English.
if Cortana is going to be implemented into Edge, it needs to support lots of languages other than English.
- This is How Microsoft should implement Cortana by learning from Firefox Voice
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/discussions/this-is-how-microsoft-should-implement-cortana-by-learning-from/m-p/1116849 Firefox has recently released the beta version of their open source AI add-on that makes Firefox smart and controllable by voice commands, called Firefox Voice.
Microsoft has also planned to integrate Cortana with the new Edge browser
discussion link:
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Discussions/Ask-Cortana-Ask-Bing-Discussion/m-p/1017941
but based on what the post says and what most of the people ask, they just want to add a simple side bar to ask Cortana something and then on the sidebar you get the search results. that's it. so simple.
that doesn't need an AI like Cortana because there is nothing Intelligent about it. it can be done using an extension and any browser can do it. in fact browsers like Opera and Vivaldi already incorporate such feature without an AI.
meanwhile Firefox is creating their own AI to make Firefox smarter and Their way is The Correct way.
there are so many useful commands and they just keep evolving, controlling the browser with voice, doing searches by voice, they are just the beginning.
as a Microsoft fan and Edge lover, I sincerely and genuinely do hope Microsoft listen to this feedback and make Edge "Really" smart with Cortana. Not only for just doing simple sidebar searches, but A lot more.
Related links:
https://events.mozilla.org/firefoxvoicecampaign
https://github.com/mozilla/firefox-voice
SpoilerSearch the web
Returns results from the default search engine.
(Example)
Search for hiking in Denver
Look up recipes for fish tacos
Search a specific websiteReturns results from search feature on a specific website.(Example)Search my Gmail for tickets to Hamilton
Look up The Book Thief on GoodReads
Search CSS grid on MDN
Supported sites: Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar, Google Slides, Google Maps, MDN, GoodReads, Spotify, Amazon, Wikipedia, Yelp, Twitter, Reddit, Amazon Music, Google Play Music, Pandora, SoundCloud, YouTube, Vimeo, Netflix, StubHub, TicketMaster, Instagram, LinkedIn, Quora, Pinterest, Facebook, Stack Exchange, Dictionary, Thesaurus, DuckDuckGo, Amazon Maps, DuckDuckGo Images, Google Drive, Google Images, Google Scholar, Google Sheets, Google Translate, OpenStreetMap, TuneIn.Go to website / webpageOpens new tab with requested website or a specific web page based on the top search result.(Example)Go to the New York Times
Show me the 49ers schedule
Go to the Health section of the BBC
Ask a questionDisplays answer in a card.(Example)Who created breaking bad?
Who won the World Series game last night?
How deep is the Marianas Trench?
Play music / videoPlays a song, video, or artist.(Example)Play Green Day on Spotify
Play yesterday's Daily Show
Play Old Town Road
Supported sites: YouTube, Spotify, more coming soon...Audio / video controlsControl playback within the browser.(Example)Play (to control active tab)
Mute (all tabs)
Pause
Next
Read to meReads an active article out loud.(Example)Read this page
WeatherDisplays weather for the requested location(Example)Show me weather in Flagstaff, Arizona
What's the temperature in San Antonio?
TranslateTranslate a webpage, phrase, or word.(Example)Translate this webpage (to English)
How do you say 'what time is it' in Spanish?
Traffic and Maps(Example)Find the nearest sushi on maps
How long will it take to get to Springfield?
How do I get to the hardware store?
TimerSets a timer using a webpage.(Example)Set a timer for 5 minutes.
Find tabFinds one tab among many by making requested tab active.(Example)Find calendar tab
Browser controlsUse your voice for common Firefox actions.(Example)Close tab
Pin tab
Duplicate tab
Move tab to a new window
Open new tab
Open new window
Reload this page
Print
Save as pdf
Open my single sign on bookmark
Clipboard / copy and pasteCopy and paste from the clipboard(Example)Copy (copies whatever is selected)
Copy link
Copy title
Copy Markdown link (copies [title](url))
Copy rich link (a link you can paste into docs.google.com etc.)
Copy screenshot
Copy full page screenshot
Paste
Giving commands nicknames (experimental)Create names or shortcuts for actions.(Example)Say "open new york times", then "Give that the name news"
news (will open nytimes.com)
Give the last 3 the name news
Remove the nickname news
- Default Search Engine support: far and away the most popular request. Firefox Voice now uses your default search engine for any voice search.
- Copy & Paste: try saying things like “Copy link”, “Copy title” and “Paste”
- New browser controls: try “Save as pdf”, “Reload”, “Move to a new window”
Firefox Voice on Firefox 73
HotCakeX Thanks for the feedback! I'm going to merge this thread with the existing Cortana discussion that you linked, so that Elliot_Kirk can track all of the suggestions together.
Fawkes (they/them)
Project & Community Manager - Microsoft Edge- Thank you that's great!
I used this all the time and really miss it.
