Page 320 - Windows 10 May 2019 Update The Missing Manual: The Book That Should Have Been in the Box

If you don’t learn to use Cortana for anything else, for the love of Mike,

learn this one.

You can say, “Open Calendar” or “Launch Calculator.”

Result: The corresponding app opens instantly. It’s exactly the same as
hunting around for the app in your Start menu and clicking it—but without

hunting around for the app in your Start menu and clicking it. (If you have
more than one calendar app (or whatever kind of app), you’re asked to
choose the one you prefer.)

Open Settings Panels

When you need to make tweakier changes to Settings, you can open the
most important panels by voice. “Open Wi-Fi settings,” “Open touchpad

settings,” “Open Notification settings,” “Open camera settings,” “Open
wallpaper settings,” and so on.

Result: Cortana cheerfully displays the name of the corresponding Settings

page and then opens it.

Change Your Settings

You can make changes to certain basic settings just by speaking your

request. You can say, for example, “Turn on airplane mode,” “Turn on
Focus Assist,” or “Turn on Wi-Fi.” (You can’t turn airplane mode off by
voice, because Cortana doesn’t work without an internet connection.)

Result: Cortana makes the requested adjustment, tells you so, and displays
the corresponding switch in case she misunderstood your intention.

Reminders

Like any good personal assistant, Cortana will give you reminders
(Figure 5-4). For example, you can tell her, “Remind me to file my IRS tax
extension.” “Remind me to bring the science supplies to school.” “Remind