Another Invoke Review

Microsoft Expert looks at the Microsoft Cortana Invoke:

My week with Harman Kardon's Cortana-powered Invoke speaker
My "non-reviewer's review" of the Haman Kardon Invoke speaker that works with Cortana: A solid device, but still not something I want or need. .... "     By Mary Jo Foley

First Review of MS Invoke Assistant

Well hardly a full service Butler, but we know that they mean.  Play music, order things and turn on the lights with your voice.  Breaking the existing infrastructures will tough without a real killer functionality, and I don't see mixing drinks emerging.   Smoother voice intelligence would be good.  Cost less than I was expecting, and I was already expecting better audio quality.    Have used Cortana from time to time under Windows,  and was never very impressed, but lets see what she does as part of a smart home.   Again I note that Harman-Kardon is part of Samsung, so lets see that than may imply longer term.

Review: What It's Like to Have Microsoft's Virtual Butler in Your Living Room  By Lisa Eadicicco in Time

Microsoft is out to prove that Amazon's Alexa and the Google Assistant aren't the only virtual concierges worth inviting into your home. After first teasing its Cortana-powered speaker last December, Harman Kardon's Invoke will finally launch on October 22 for $199. With Microsoft's Cortana butler built-in, the Invoke can recite the weather, control smart home devices and more, just like its Amazon and Google rivals.

Invoke's arrival along with similar high-end devices also marks a turning point for intelligent speakers. Potential buyers no longer need choose between high quality audio and having a smart assistant they can summon by voice. Early Internet-connected speakers, such as the first generation Echo and Google Home, provided good enough sound for casual listening. But audiophiles still turned to premium dedicated speakers to get superior sound. .... " 

Samsung Bixby to Expand

Despite my less than stellar interaction with Samsung appliances, we saw that they were likely to be champions in the Smart Home through sheer presence in complex devices.  Saw a demo of their Tizen systems in our own innovation settings, with indications of AI abilities.

Recall Samsung's acquisition of Harman-Kardon for advanced audio.  Now since, their Bixby voice recognition and intelligence is expanding, I will be following.  What will appliances and smart home look like in 2020?   Expect to hear much more of this

Samsung to expand Bixby, voice recognition features to more smart home appliances by 2020 By Deidre Richardson

For four consecutive quarters up through May, Samsung has dominated the home appliances market. With the announcement of the Galaxy Note 8 and its expanded Bixby capabilities such as Quick Commands (using small phrases to perform multiple actions simultaneously), as well as the global rollout of Bixby voice in English to over 200 countries earlier this week, Samsung is making a firm statement: that its Bixby AI, whether you want it or not, is here to stay. ... " 

Coverage of other AI Assistant systems in this blog.

Cortana Predicting Future Travel Plans

Been watching virtual assistants for some time.    The key appears to be getting as many as possible out there,  on many kinds of hardware,  keep them cheap and for attentive use with voice,  something you use every day,  but not as part of your phone and computer,  link it to a few key common entertainment functions (like music), open them to external skill development and keep coming out with new capabilities.  

Cortana has been available for some time now, but I remain unimpressed.  Note I am a satisfied Windows 10 user, always up to date, so it should be an easy sell. It should be linking to all my office functions, building intelligence into their use, but does not.  I spend more time shutting Cortana off than using it.  Still awaiting its implementation on a stand-alone on what looks to be a premium price  a Harman-Kardon device.

Now word is out that Cortana will predict your future travel plans.    Nice idea, but still not something I do every day,  will try it, but suggest you would be better to get it out in many users and developers hands.   Soon.

More of my coverage of personal assistants. 

Assistants in the Hospital

One of the earliest suggestions for virtual assistants was to have them answer questions and perform simple non-medical tasks in hospitals and other health care facilities.  Huge amounts of professional time are expended this way.   Issues of data and patient security quickly came up.  It was said the popular assistants could not handle those issues.  But it appears work has been under way by Harman and IBM Watson to address the problem.  Note that Harman is now owned by Samsung.

 " .... Thanks to AI, you'll never be ignored at a hospital again  From CNET Magazine: IBM's Watson takes on the scut work at a Philadelphia hospital, so nurses can focus on what matters.   By Shara Tibken

It's why Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals in Philadelphia decided to work with audio giant Harman and IBM's Watson artificial intelligence technology. Together, they developed smart speakers that will respond to about a dozen commands. When a patient says "Watson," the speakers can, for instance, play calming sounds and adjust the room's lighting, thermostat and blinds.

"This is a way for patients to get some simple comfort measures addressed just by speaking," says Dr. Andrew Miller, associate chief medical officer at the Philadelphia hospital group. "How great is that?"

For the hospital, it's just the beginning. ... "

Unclear what plans are underway to roll this out more broadly.   Beyond just the voice interaction it does imply that considerable infrastructure changes have to be made to implement physical interactions with rooms, say to close the blinds or even adjust the lights.

(Update 8/12/17)
Why Hospitals Are In Pursuit Of The Ideal Amazon Alexa App  In Forbes: 

Robert Glatter, MD , 

Consumers now enjoy using Alexa, the super-cool voice technology in the nifty Amazon Echo device that helps make life around the home easier. In its short time on the market, it has become almost indispensable according to some tech aficionados. .... " 

Personal Assistants Come to the Fridge

Assistants spreading out through the home.   Note again that Samsung owns Harman-Kardon, which is embedding Cortana in a future smart speaker.   This is getting complex.

Samsung’s Bixby assistant is coming to smart fridges
by Ashley Carman    @ashleyrcarman

Samsung announced yesterday that it’s now preloading its Bixby virtual assistant on its Family Hub 2.0 refrigerator. The company will also roll it out via an over-the-air update for units that have already shipped, according to Pulse News Korea. The assistant will let users search for recipes and weather information with their voice. This definitely makes more sense than having to rely on the 21.5-inch LED touchscreen while in the kitchen.

Bixby launched with the new Galaxy S8 but is still only partially active in the US. Phone owners have only been able to use Bixby Vision augmented reality, Bixby Home, and the Reminders features. The full voice commands aren’t available, and we don’t know when they will be. Still, Samsung envisions its assistant being implemented in all its products, including TVs and wearables. The fridge is just the start. .... " 

For links to all my coverage of virtual assistants.

Harman-Kardon Announces Invoke Virtual Assistant

 (Samsung Owned) Harman-Kardon releases many more details of the Cortana-Powered  assistant Invoke with partner Microsoft speaker.

What does this mean regarding Samsung's Bixby assistant?  Perhaps that Bixby will remain on Samsung phones only?

In a press release: " ... STAMFORD, CONN. – HARMAN International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics C o., Ltd. focused on connected technologies for automotive, consumer and enterprise markets; today announced new details of the Harman Kardon Invoke™, an elegant voice-activated speaker featuring the intelligence of Cortana, your personal digital assistant, from Microsoft.

Combining Harman Kardon’s rich audio heritage with Cortana’s intelligence, Invoke is developed for busy people balancing the competing demands of work and home. This sophisticated device is perfect for those who want to make the most of every moment of their day.

“We’re excited to work with Microsoft to develop a premium speaker that will deliver an exceptional experience to every customer using 360-degree Harman Kardon sound and the intelligence of Cortana,” said Michael Mauser, President, Lifestyle Audio Division at HARMAN. “Voice-enabled technology is the future; by teaming up with Microsoft, we’re delivering on our promise of elevating a connected life through smart technology, superior sound and the stunning design that is Harman Kardon’s hallmark.” .... " 

For links to all my coverage of virtual assistants.

Harman-Kardon and Cortana

More details, but still some time before release.  Will Siri also participate?

Harman Kardon’s Cortana-powered speaker leaks ahead of launch

Microsoft wants in on the Google Home and Amazon Echo party. This Echo-lookalike is made by Harman Kardon and it’s powered by Microsoft’s Cortana voice platform. The device apparently launches this fall and could be officially revealed later this week.

Update: Microsoft and Harman Kardon have now confirmed this. The device will go on sale in the fall of 2017.

Called the Invoke, the product page for the unannounced product was discovered by Thurrott.com before it was pulled. According to Thurrott’s report the cylinder speaker has a light ring on top, 360 degree sound and supports Skype calling and the ability to ask Cortana questions.

by Matt Burns (@mjburnsy  .... " 

For links to all coverage of virtual assistants.

More Assistant Competitors to Alexa

Rumors out about assistant oriented competitors to Amazon Echo.  The latest being a collaboration between Harman-Kardon and Microsoft.  In Neowin: " .. .Harman Kardon is working on a Cortana-powered speaker for a 2017 release ... "    By Rich Woods @TheRichWoods  ...

More previously in Neowin on the idea.  The idea makes sense, use the speaker/entertainment idea to drive adoption, then use Cortana as a way to lead the idea to an assistant or to a smart home hub.

Microsoft has already been talking about a home hub announcement this year.   This may be the year to see this competition expand.   In another piece, we see that Sonos says it will integrate Alexa voice smarts into its new offerings.   The question remains, beyond voice control, what kind of actual intelligence will be seen in these offerings?   Will it be enough to sell the devices beyond convenient entertainment?