Cortana Enters the Home Voice Assistant Market Via the Harman Kardon Invoke

cageymaru

cageymaru

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Microsoft's Cortana voice assistant has been chatting with us on the new Windows 10 desktop for a few years now. Recently with the Windows 10 Creator's Update she was uncorked to bring her uncanny jibber-jabber during fresh installs of the new OS update. Now the Microsoft digital assistant has finally infiltrated our homes as a direct competitor to the crime sleuth Jr. Amazon Echo, via the Harman Kadron Invoke which launches late 2017. Harman Kadron, which is owned by Samsung, has craftily gotten around the OEM screen requirement for Windows 10 IoT Core by using Linux as the OS for the device. According to esteemed tech writer Mary Jo Foley, in this TWiT podcast video ~ 3:10 mark, the device uses Linux to bring Cortana to life in our daily lives. Embarrassing for Microsoft or just business as usual? I think they will be happy to just have someone willingly pay for Cortana's voice.

At the heart of Invoke is Cortana, your personal digital assistant, helping you stay on top of what’s important. Enhance every moment with captivating sound, voice control your music and smart home, make and receive hands-free calls with Skype, get answers to your questions, and more*. * Home automation works with select providers. Works with select music subscription services. Set up requires Cortana app for Windows 10 PC or phone, Android or iPhone (requires Android version 4.1.2 or higher, or iPhone 4 with iOS 8.0 or higher). Microsoft, Cortana and Skype are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.
 
They are so damn behind everyone. They just can't get ahead of anyone and just play catch up. If is wasn't for business/enterprise and gaming who would use a Microsoft product anymore? Microsoft is a joke now. For most of their business they just react to the trends now instead of creating them.
 
Diseaseboy said:
They are so damn behind everyone. They just can't get ahead of anyone and just play catch up. If is wasn't for business/enterprise and gaming who would use a Microsoft product anymore? Microsoft is a joke now. For most of their business they just react to the trends now instead of creating them.
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Seriously, I don't even know why they bother. There are already a bunch of competiting systems. Why does everyone have to make their propitrty version of everything?
 
My favorite thing about Microsoft is they don't even come up with new names for things they do. Cortana, got that from acquiring the Halo franchise. The windows redstone update, got that from acquiring the Minecraft franchise. Try being original.
 
Travolta said:
My favorite thing about Microsoft is they don't even come up with new names for things they do. Cortana, got that from acquiring the Halo franchise. The windows redstone update, got that from acquiring the Minecraft franchise. Try being original.
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Cortana was the codename for Cortana and the codename ended up being popular so they kept it as the product name. Not original but one of Microsoft's better attempts and naming something.
 
vegeta535 said:
Seriously, I don't even know why they bother. There are already a bunch of competiting systems. Why does everyone have to make their propitrty version of everything?
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Fucktard shareholders.

Shareholders want this shit, so they bow down and do it, even though the company may know its a waste of time. Shareholders have too big a voice in how companies operate. And before you tell me I'm an idiot, I own stock in companies, and I don't presume to tell them how to operate their company.
 
heatlesssun said:
Cortana was the codename for Cortana and the codename ended up being popular so they kept it as the product name. Not original but one of Microsoft's better attempts and naming something.
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You missed the point, they still copied it from Halo.
 
Travolta said:
You missed the point, they still copied it from Halo.
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I got the point. My point was that the name proved popular in testing with users because it was copied from Halo, down to using Jen Taylor's voice. What you call copying a lot of others saw as a clever reference to a classic video game franchise where the name makes a lot of sense.
 
heatlesssun said:
I got the point. My point was that the name proved popular in testing with users because it was copied from Halo, down to using Jen Taylor's voice. What you call copying a lot of others saw as a clever reference to a classic video game franchise where the name makes a lot of sense.
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And then only because Microsoft acquired the rights to Halo. So if they didn't own Halo what would they have called it? Knowing Microsoft it would have been "Digital Assistant".
How about the Windows Redstone update? What does that even have anything to do with Windows? Nothing. Again, they couldn't come up with a name so they copied Minecraft. And again, yes they own Minecraft.
 
Nah, I'll pass.

Also my response to all other forms of digital voice assistants.
 
Diseaseboy said:
They are so damn behind everyone. They just can't get ahead of anyone and just play catch up. If is wasn't for business/enterprise and gaming who would use a Microsoft product anymore? Microsoft is a joke now. For most of their business they just react to the trends now instead of creating them.
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I agree MS are almost always behind the curve. However in specifically the digital assistant market, I don't see any company having a killer "must have" leading the pack, so MS entering the market now just means they are just bunched up with all the other players jockeying for position.
 
Wait. Samsung, Linux, cortana. Cortana on Samsung galaxy in 3, 2, 1. Now you have both MS and Sammy spying on you.
 
All jokes aside, Microsoft sometimes can quietly produce a fantastic product even if late to the game. People forget they still have some of the best engineers on the planet working for then.
 
tbonepat11 said:
All jokes aside, Microsoft sometimes can quietly produce a fantastic product even if late to the game. People forget they still have some of the best engineers on the planet working for then.
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I still hold to that the zune was the best mp3 player, the audio quality was fantastic.
 
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