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Okay, I made the mistake of buying 4 Invokes for $50 at the Microsoft Store. I first bought two and really like them and then bought two more. I have two of them set up.
I love the sound quality (it's better than the Echo Dots and Google Homes that I also have) and I've been pretty happy with them. I use them for listening to the radio (via TuneIn), setting timers, and as my alarm clock.
I have also set up reminders and they showed up in my Windows PC as a notification. That's something that I don't think Alexa or Google Home can do. Really neat! I also like Cortana's personality.
But I made the mistake of waiting too long before setting the other two up. I have been trying since December 2019 to set them up using both my Windows 10 PC and an Android phone. The setup app can connect to the speakers and then have the speakers connect to my WiFi network. Everything seems to be going well but the set up process never finishes.
After connecting to WiFi, the speaker tells me it needs to update the system software/firmware and to please wait. Eventually, the speakers tells me that something went wrong and that I should start the setup process over again.
I keep repeating the setup process and the same thing happens. It seems like it is trying to update the software/firmware to the latest version but a server is down or something so it can never finish the set up process.
Can someone from Microsoft please tell me if it is still possible to setup my two remaining Harmon Kardon Invoke speakers? Is the server responsible for setting up and updating the Invoke still operating?
If not, is there any way I can manually update the firmware on the Invokes to the latest? There is a USB port on the Invoke that is supposed to be used for "service". Can this be used to update the firmware? Is there a firmware file available for download?
If the server is down, can Microsoft put the server back up again so I can set up my remaining two Invokes? I received no warning that this would happen. Perhaps you host the server on your Azure Cloud services? That would seem like the perfect place to do it. It shouldn't take up too much resources as it would just spin up when needed. Please restore the server even if it's only for a limited time. Just give us a warning when it will go down so we would have time to set up our speakers before its too late.
I tried emailing Harman Kardon but I can tell they won't be of much help. Any help or information would be greatly appreciated. These are brand new speakers and I would just hate for them to be useless right out of the box. And I wish that Microsoft wouldn't give up on Cortana like this.
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
I 100% agree with this.
My problem is....even if I wanted to use this just as a Bluetooth Speaker...IT'S NOT PORTABLE??!!!
Other speakers are. If this was JUST a speaker...I would have never gotten it. No matter how it sounds. It requires set up. My other speakers can be charged and placed inside/outside. This requires an outlet...so only one scenario.
...And I am not sure about anyone else...but my Invoke doesn't hold Bluetooth connectivity very well. It will be truly useless..
--D
Nothing they do in consumer pays off and Satya doesn't care.
It's a shame as they had some really good ideas.
My only hope is a business class phone... That isn't a phone...a third alternative to the big two that is somewhat defanged from gooble's evil grip.
Alexa? Why would they bother... They only sold twelve of these and we are all in this room!
Don't you think a more reasonable outcome would have been an Alexa firmware update? You'd still have your speaker functionality and a wealth of additional options.
I'm super bummed, I don't have a want or need for a Bluetooth speaker or rather 3 of them. I emailed a torrent of abuse off to Harman Kardon today and while fault lies mostly with Microsoft, there must be a way to transition these to Alexa instead.
I know it’s contrary to popular views but I’m absolutely thrilled at this news. I’m glad I hung on to my two Invokes after all.
Being in the UK, Cortana was generally poor here anyway.
Why do we keep thinking next time things will be different with Microsoft?
I honestly thought with the retooling of Cortana and the massive uptick in use of Teams and 365 where Cortana will be now living would see them double down on her development. I knew they would concentrate on business integration but I had held our hope due to the cross over now between work and home being more prevalent that ever due to COVID that we would see features return and expand. God I was wrong.
I had expected consumer features would return over time and the Invoke would be delivered with a completely reinvigorated back end. I'd even have been less disappointed had they allowed us to use the invoke in a work environment in some capacity but no they are simply turning the device into a plastic turd.
Their reasons and their hint at telemetry I'd suggest is a lie, I'd still warrant that most that use the speakers daily are using what is left of her productivity features. I hope Harman and MSFT can be convinced to concede they were wrong and at least work towards firmware with Alexa instead. :(
I am even more dirty now that there are rumours they will buy TikTok for billions. It would be nice if they had spent even a fraction of that more recently on Cortana and improving her functionality and availability.
