To the shock of no one, Windows 10 users who upgrade to the Anniversary Update (scheduled for release next week), will not be able to disable Cortana using the settings.
If you compare the start menu settings of Cortana of the current version of Windows (version 1511) with those of the Anniversary Update (version 1607) you will notice that Cortana's off switch is no longer available (thanks Ian Paul @PC World for spotting that)
Cortana, the digital assistant that Microsoft touts as one of the major features of Windows 10 supports interaction via touch, typing, ink and voice.
Microsoft integrated Cortana deeply with the native search functionality of Windows 10. While linked to search, Windows 10 users may turn off Cortana currently to use search without it. While you might have to turn off web searches on Windows 10 as well, doing so ensured that you got search functionality that matched those of previous versions of Windows.
Windows users who turned off Cortana had two main reasons for it: either they did not need Cortana functionality, or they did not want it because of privacy implications.
[...] It is still possible to turn off Cortana, but not by using the preferences. The policy to disable Cortana is still available and you may use it to turn off Cortana on the device.
Please note that the Group Policy Editor is only available in professional versions of Windows 10. Most notably, it is not available in Windows 10 Home.
The linked article goes into detail on how to disable Cortana using the Registry in Windows 10 Home, and Group Policy Editor in Windows 10 Pro. However, Microsoft no longer makes disabling Cortana anywhere near as easy as it was.
(Score: 3, Funny) by turgid on Wednesday July 27 2016, @08:57AM
Open the pod bay doors, HAL.
I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent [wikipedia.org].
(Score: 3, Funny) by fido_dogstoyevsky on Wednesday July 27 2016, @11:45AM
I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.
It's NOT a conspiracy... it's a plot.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 27 2016, @01:58PM
HAL, see this hammer?
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Wednesday July 27 2016, @02:23PM
You must know I have only the greatest enthusiasm for the mission, Dave...
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"