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Harman Kardon's Cortana-powered speaker is called the Invoke

By Ng Chong Seng - on 8 May 2017, 9:34pm

Harman Kardon's Cortana-powered speaker is called the Invoke

Late last year, Microsoft unveiled the Cortana Skills Kit and Cortana Devices SDK to help developers and device makers easily integrate Cortana into their products. Harman Kardon is widely expected to be among the first to bring such third-party Cortana-powered devices to market, and it went as far as to join hands with Microsoft to tease a new premium speaker that’s said to be coming sometime in 2017.

As discovered by Brad Sams on Thurrott.com, Harman Kardon has now created a page on its website introducing said speaker, which is named “Harman Kardon Invoke with Cortana by Microsoft”, or simply “Invoke”. (Update: Microsoft and Harman Kardon have confirmed it.)

Slated to arrive in the U.S. in fall 2017 (to coincide with Windows 10’s next major update in September?), the Invoke lets you make and receive calls with Skype, control your music and smart home with voice, and get things done with Cortana (e.g., manage calendars and activities, set reminders, check traffic, get the latest news).

Harman Kardon says the speaker, which is available in pearl silver (white) and graphite (black) color options, is crafted from “premium materials” with a “striking metallic speaker cabinet”, and is able to project 360-degree sound through three woofers and three tweeters. More importantly, it sports seven microphones and uses beamforming, echo cancelation, and noise reduction algorithms to ensure Cortana can hear you in challenging environments. Set up is done via the Cortana app, but thankfully that can be the Windows 10 PC app, Android app, or iPhone app. (Does that mean a Cortana app revamp is on its way, too?)

Microsoft is holding its Build developer conference in a couple of days’ time, and may well take the opportunity to unveil this product onstage and perhaps even do a demo of the Cortana Skills Kit using the speaker. Hopefully, more Cortana-powered devices would be unveiled at Build.

Pricing for the Invoke isn't announced yet.

Source: Harman Kardon (via Thurrott.com).

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