Invoke (smart speaker)

Invoke was a smart speaker developed by Harman Kardon in partnership with Microsoft. Released in 2017 and discontinued in 2019, the Invoke was powered by Microsoft's Cortana voice assistant. It competed with other smart speakers like the Amazon Echo and Google Home. Key features included voice control of music playback, setting alarms and reminders, making calls, and controlling smart home devices.

The Invoke distinguished itself from competitors with its premium audio quality, attributed to Harman Kardon's expertise in audio engineering. It featured a cylindrical design with a fabric exterior and touch controls on the top. Internally, it housed multiple microphones designed for far-field voice recognition, allowing it to accurately hear voice commands even in noisy environments.

While primarily a voice-controlled device, the Invoke also integrated with Microsoft services such as Outlook and Skype. Users could, for example, access their calendar information or make Skype calls using voice commands.

Microsoft ended support for Cortana on the Invoke in 2021, rendering many of its smart speaker functionalities obsolete. Users were offered compensation in the form of Microsoft gift cards as the device effectively became a Bluetooth speaker. Despite its discontinuation, the Invoke remains a notable example of Microsoft's foray into the smart speaker market.