Harman Kardon Invoke Cortana Speaker

Anonymous
2020-03-04T03:48:09+00:00

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.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Cortana and search

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-06-11T14:23:51+00:00

    Cortana is no longer used to set up the device. There's a separate app in the store now called "Cortana Device Setup". You have to be on English US language in Windows for it to work. However the new Cortana in W10 2004 actually got Devices added recently so after set up you can still change the Invoke settings there.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-06-11T14:13:54+00:00

    Yes, having a speaker dependable on online services, even for Bluetooth, is beyond me.

    I'm having doubts ever getting a smart speaker again. It becomes dumb really quickly when the backend services drop out.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-06-11T14:07:31+00:00

    Has anyone tried to set her up with W10 v2004 and the new cortana app in the store?

    I would imagine that really is the end of her for good...

    :(

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-06-11T13:57:44+00:00

    I don't think so. According to my research Harman Kardon are hosting the firmware update servers and Microsoft are responsible for the Cortana service.

    I had no problem setting up the Invoke. Even with new Cortana released. Except the firmware update part. My problem is the Invoke suddenly went dead and I can't even get to the set up point on the speaker.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-06-11T12:10:24+00:00

    Nothing at all works for me of all the suggestions, so unless it ever somehow simply becomes a Bluetooth speaker with no setup/Cortana required, it's staying in the loft :(

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