The Invoke Cortana Speaker is a new smart speaker that offers enhanced voice control and a personal digital assistant. With Cortana, you can keep track of important tasks, play music, or make hands-free calls. The speaker brings together the legendary audio heritage of Harman Kardon with Cortana from Microsoft.
Contents
- 1 What Is Invoke Cortana Speaker?
- 2 Invoke Cortana Speaker Black Friday Deals
- 3 How Does Invoke Cortana Speaker Work?
- 4 Benefits Of Invoke Cortana Speaker:
- 5 Pros And Cons Of Invoke Cortana Speaker:
- 6 How To Use Invoke Cortana Speaker?
- 7 Why Buy Invoke Cortana Speaker During Black Friday Sale?
- 8 Watch Invoke Cortana Speaker Review Video:
- 9 Conclusion:
What Is Invoke Cortana Speaker?
Invoke is a smart speaker that integrates the power of Cortana, Microsoft’s digital personal assistant, into your home. Whether you’re a music fanatic or need to stay on top of important tasks, Cortana will be there to help you get it done. The Invoke Speaker lets you use your voice to control music, your smart home, and even make hands-free phone calls. This hybrid device brings the best of Harman Kardon audio heritage and the power of Cortana by Microsoft.
Microsoft says that the Invoke speaker will be updated with new firmware in 2021, which will remove Cortana functionality and turn the device into a dumb speaker. The new firmware will connect to devices via Bluetooth, rather than WiFi. However, Microsoft hasn’t made it clear whether this update will be automatically delivered to devices connected to WiFi in six months or if users need to manually update the device. If you’ve already purchased an Invoke speaker, you can upgrade the firmware on your device by talking to Cortana through the device’s setup app.
The Invoke is similar to the Amazon Echo, but with a more premium design. It’s a tall, cylinder with a rounded top and a tempered metal casing. The Invoke has six powerful speakers – three woofers (45 mm) and three tweeters (13 mm). The Invoke is a serious audio speaker that can fill a large room. Its acoustics, resonance, and timbre are excellent, making it a perfect companion for those looking for a high-quality speaker.
Invoke Cortana Speaker Black Friday Deals
Cortana speakers are some of the most popular devices on the market right now, and for good reason. They are packed with features and offer a great user experience. If you’re in the market for a Cortana speaker, Black Friday is definitely the time to buy. Check out our list of the best deals on Cortana speakers this year!
How Does Invoke Cortana Speaker Work?
The Invoke with Cortana speaker works in a similar way to other smart speakers. Users wake Cortana with a three-second touch on the top of the device. Then, they can ask her about the weather, latest news, or directions. It will send them basic directions or navigate them to a destination.
Invoke works with Microsoft services, so you can only use it with your Microsoft account. However, it only supports a single account, which means the calendar information, reminders, and To-Dos will be pulled from your Invoke account. This limits the device’s usability as a shared device. In contrast, Google Assistant and Alexa can be used in multi-room systems.
The Invoke has several features that are unique to it. It has a Bluetooth connection, which makes it compatible with other smart speakers. However, you will lose the hands-free connectivity and the semi-futuristic blue circle on the top. If you need Bluetooth connection, you will need to touch the top panel to activate Bluetooth.
Benefits Of Invoke Cortana Speaker:
The Invoke is an impressive speaker. Not only is it compatible with all major music streaming services, but it can also make phone calls and support Skype. Spotify integration is another plus, and the speaker supports Bluetooth pairing. It also has an excellent build quality. But despite its impressive capabilities, the Invoke is not without faults.
To start using the Invoke, you’ll need to download the Cortana app on your Windows 10 PC. The Invoke will appear in your Cortana settings, and it takes a few seconds for it to connect. Once connected, you can ask it for information, like the weather, and directions. You can also dictate a phone number and Cortana will find the number.
The Invoke Cortana speaker is powered by Microsoft’s intelligent personal assistant, Cortana. It offers real-time information and can be integrated with other devices such as smart home devices and calendars. It even offers voice control of compatible smart home devices.
Pros And Cons Of Invoke Cortana Speaker:
The Microsoft Invoke Cortana Speaker is a smart speaker that works with your Windows 10 PC. It connects to Cortana via an app, which is available for iOS, Android, and Windows 10. After connecting the speaker to the Cortana app, you can simply ask Cortana a question to get the information you need. The app will also let you use the speaker to set reminders and calendar appointments.
The speaker’s sound quality is good. The device can play any song you choose, as well as podcasts. It also has a built-in microphone, which makes it a versatile and useful speaker. However, there are some disadvantages to this product. Unlike Amazon Alexa, Cortana works with only a few different services. You can’t use it to play your Pandora account.
The Invoke is also slightly expensive. Though it costs a bit more than the Google Home and Amazon Echo, the Invoke does come with more features than the other two. The speaker is available only in the U.S. through Microsoft, Best Buy, and Harman Kardon. Other competitors in the home speaker category include the Google Home and Sonos products, which sell for between $49 and $399. And it won’t be long before Apple and Amazon release their own versions.
How To Use Invoke Cortana Speaker?
You can use the Invoke speaker to use Cortana on Windows 10. To activate Cortana, say the wake phrase “Hey Cortana” or touch the capacitive touch area on top of the speaker for three seconds. The speaker will then respond to your voice and will synchronize with your Microsoft account. It can also sync with your Cortana Notebook so you can find important information like schedules, reminders, and traffic. The speaker also supports WMA, MP3, and AC playback, making it ideal for music playback.
The speaker comes with simple controls and an LED indicator that indicates whether or not it’s connected to WI-FI. It also has Bluetooth pairing buttons and a microphone ON/OFF button. The Invoke speaker also has a factory reset button on its base. If you need service, it has a Micro-USB port for charging.
The Invoke is the first Cortana speaker that supports Microsoft’s AI assistant. It will receive a software update on March 10, 2021. The update will install silently and turn the speaker into a Bluetooth speaker. However, if you don’t update your speaker, you’ll lose Cortana. Despite this, Microsoft will still send you a $50 gift card.
Why Buy Invoke Cortana Speaker During Black Friday Sale?
Microsoft’s Invoke will have similar functions to the Google Home and Amazon Echo, including the ability to make and receive phone calls. The Invoke will also sync with Skype. Cortana already runs on Microsoft products, including the Surface Pro, Xbox One, and Windows Phone. Other companies are building Cortana into their products, too, such as Nissan and BMW.
During the Black Friday sale, Microsoft has announced a few deals. First off, a discount of $100 on Xbox One S consoles is available, as is a discount of $100 on Windows Mixed Reality headsets. Microsoft has also thrown in a free Harman Kardon Invoke with the purchase of a Surface Laptop.
Invoke also offers Cortana integration and is built on Microsoft’s Cortana platform. This integration enables the device to answer questions and provide real-time information. It also allows users to access calendars, reminders, and to-do lists. The device also supports music streaming services and Skype voice calls.
Watch Invoke Cortana Speaker Review Video:
If you’re looking for a quality Bluetooth speaker, the Invoke Cortana by Harman Kardon is worth considering. In this review video, we take a look at all of the features and benefits of the speaker to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your needs. The sound quality is excellent, and it has some really great features like hands-free calling and integration with Cortana digital assistant. So, if you’re in the market for a new Bluetooth speaker, be sure to check out this video!
Conclusion:
The Microsoft Invoke Cortana Speaker is a decent piece of hardware but it is hampered by its relatively small ecosystem. As a result, most consumers are better served buying a competing smart speaker. These speakers might not sound quite as good, but they may also offer more features. Moreover, Cortana could improve and become an even more compelling smart speaker in the future, especially for those who love listening to music.
As far as design is concerned, the Invoke looks similar to the Amazon Echo, but it’s much more compact. Its cylindrical body is covered with a Harman Kardon logo, as well as a micro USB port for charging. A microphone/on/off button and Bluetooth pairing buttons are also located on the base. The top of the device has a touch-sensitive panel and an adjustable volume ring. Cortana glows when volume is adjusted.
Microsoft has been working with third-party developers to create integrations for Cortana. A comprehensive list of available skills can be found on Microsoft’s website.
