Share this article
Latest news
With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low
Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app
Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities
Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount
Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier
Hidden Cortana Beta app in Windows 10 build 18922 appears to be in UWP format and ready for other devices
2 min. read
Published onJune 21, 2019
published onJune 21, 2019
Share this article
Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more
Two days ago, Microsoft released anew Windows 10 20H1 previewbuild that contained a couple of hidden features, including anew Cortana Beta app. Once enabled, the app still appears next to Windows Search in the taskbar, but it comes with a revamped design and the same conversational UI that is already available on iOS and Android.
Here’s the new Cortana app in action. Very reminiscent of current mobile experiences.pic.twitter.com/2wX7oLXVuX
— Albacore (@thebookisclosed)June 19, 2019
This hidden Cortana Beta app was first discovered by Twitter user Albacore, but Rudy Huyn, the former prolific Windows Phone developer has since revealed more secrets about the new client. According to Huyn, this new Cortana app is a full UWP app that could work on other platforms where UWP apps can already run. However, it appears that the app does rely on a separate Win32 process that can work in the background, as do other UWP apps such as Dropbox (Rudy Huyn had a big role in the development of the Dropbox UWP app, FYI).
The confusion comes from a second process named win32Bridge.Server. If you aren’t aware, a full-UWP app can run a secondary win32 process in background to get access to more API (Only when running in desktop). Article from@StefanWickDevhere:https://t.co/BFOYUeC7I1
— Rudy Huyn (@RudyHuyn)June 21, 2019
In the same Twitter thread, Huyn also added thatCortana Beta is actually a Store app, which means that Microsoft will be able to update it at convenience, in a similar way to the Xbox Game Bar on Windows 10. The existing Cortana didn’t always require a full new Windows 10 build to get new features, as Microsoft has been able to do some server side changes over the years. However, this new Cortana Beta app, which the company has yet to officially announce, could be updated much more frequently.
The Windows 10 May 2019 Update (19H1) finally separated Cortana from Windows Search, it seems that Cortana could finally get some love with the 20H1 Update. The digital assistant has been pretty much stagnating in recent years, and Microsoft can’t really afford to rest on its laurels now thatAlexa is available for everyone in the Microsoft Store.
Radu Tyrsina
Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).
For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.
Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.
User forum
0 messages
Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes
Comment*
Name*
Email*
Commenting as.Not you?
Save information for future comments
Comment
Δ
Radu Tyrsina
