Harman Kardon Invoke Cortana Speaker

Be careful with pinhole reset after March 10th, when the new firmware is pushed. Official setup/reset instructions:

Reset my Invoke

The reset instructions are only for Invoke speakers that have not yet received the firmware update that removes the Cortana service from your Invoke. To learn more about the firmware update and how to check if your speaker has received the update see, Cortana service on the Harman Kardon Invoke.

If there’s a problem setting up your Invoke, or your Invoke is unresponsive after completing the set up process, you can usually resolve the problem by resetting your device. 

To reset your Invoke:

• Press and hold the Microphone button for 5 seconds until you hear Cortana say, “Ready for setup. We'll do this from Cortana App from your phone or PC, so go grab that first. Then type, setup my Invoke.”
• If that doesn’t work, you can try a factory reset. Left of the Microphone button, there's a pinhole factory reset button. Insert a small pin into the hole and briefly press against the button. You'll know the reset started when you see two spinning white lights on the touch surface. Once it's complete, three white lights will appear and Cortana will say, "Ready for setup."

Q: How do I know if I received the firmware update?

A: Signs you have received the update:

• When you press the Bluetooth button, you see three spinning white lights and hear a sound that lets you know it’s in pairing mode.
• There’s a blue light and no voice response when you tap the touch surface.
• There's no voice response when you say, "Hey Cortana."
• There's no red or white light when idle.

If you haven’t received the update (and your device is plugged in and not muted) Cortana will response to “Hey Cortana” or when you tap the top of the device.

This has been poorly handled by BOTH Harman Kardon (beyond their control) and Microsoft abandoning Cortana. But, HK could've come up with an alternative to keep the "smart" speaker instead of just rolling over and playing dead with "hopefully" a dumb speaker/bluetooth only. The Microsoft Cortana server keeps crashing but I finally found an inside person at Microsoft who I can get updates from. HK in the Philippines "service" center personnel are absolutely clueless and ignorant about the issue, including confusion around who will do the firmware update once Cortana is officially removed. The email I got last week from MS365 said THEY will remove Cortana and issue the firmware update in the 2-4AM timeframe IF connected to the internet. My issue is Cortana keeps getting disconnected from the server so who knows when/if it will happen. And once Cortana is dead, if not updated you have a black, cylindrical brick.

What made me angriest was Harman Kardon's response of "out of warranty" when the unit works perfectly fine.

And Microsoft - how about WEEKLY updates with specifics on before/after this will all work. A "basic" consumer request, especially since your abandonment of a weak assistant at best has left us all high and dry.

For removing Cortana MS is offering a $50 gift card, not the best but at least it is something

Additionally, we are offering the opportunity to receive one Microsoft Store $50 promotional gift card per active Invoke. This offer is for the owner of the latest U.S.-based Microsoft account used to set up an Invoke speaker that sent a voice request to the Cortana service after July 31, 2019, and prior to July 31, 2020. SEE THE TERMS BELOW AND REQUEST A GIFT CARD AT THE INVOKE REDEMPTION WEBSITE BEFORE JULY 31, 2021.*

This was all in the email the sent all Invoke Harmond users, if you read it.

Have a Happy New Year

This may help if you haven’t receive one already. 

I found this info on YouTube: 

Windows 10 May 2020 update Cortana app questions and answers June 2020