Feature update: Looks like the HK Invoke is about to get multi-user support

So, I was poking around in my Cortana iOS app this evening, and I noticed something new under the Invoke settings page:

https://twitter.com/gregsedwards/status/1069401002095378436/photo/1

I am running the Cortana beta iOS TestFlight app, and I’m not yet seeing the option in any of my other Cortana endpoints. Also, when I tried to run through the TEACH CORTANA MY VOICE setup process, it told me to ask my speaker, “Cortana, learn my voice,” but both of my Invoke speakers just responded – repeatedly – with a digest of a Windows Central article explaning how to teach Cortana your voice…on the PC. Yeah. Not a great first experience. I’m supposing it’s just not fully baked yet. Still, it’s promising, and from the look of the page in the app, you’ll be able to have up to 6 distinct users configured per device. For me, that would immediately make the Invoke about 100% more useful. I can’t wait to try it out.

Conversation 6 comments

  • bbold

    03 December, 2018 - 1:02 am

    <p>Nice. It would be even nicer if I could 'daisy chain' my HK Invokes or play on both simultaneously. I bought an extra one for $50 recently during a MS store sale and I have to use the Invokes separately. I also wish that I could stream my Groove Music from it. As is, I can only use Spotify.</p>

  • Paul Thurrott

    Premium Member
    03 December, 2018 - 8:53 am

    <p>Of more use: Multi-assistant support so you could use this with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. </p>

    • gregsedwards

      Premium Member
      03 December, 2018 - 9:52 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#376500">In reply to paul-thurrott:</a></em></blockquote><p>Sure, but for those of us who are still invested in Cortana, this is huge. And it certainly bucks the rampant speculation of late that Cortana and the Invoke are being somehow "abandoned" by Microsoft. If the Invoke suddenly becomes user aware, then that opens up a whole bunch of scenarios like my wife playing her Spotify on the upstairs speaker without interrupting me listing to Windows Weekly on the kitchen speaker. Not bad for a $39 speaker, eh?</p>

  • zbecka

    03 December, 2018 - 10:14 am

    <p>Thanks for the heads up. I was beginning to wonder if the Invoke would ever receive a feature update. I would really appreciate it if it could support the calling/phone Bluetooth profile in addition to the existing media profile. Then it would be usable as a great speaker even if Cortana support goes bust.</p>

  • ggolcher

    Premium Member
    03 December, 2018 - 10:42 am

    <p>I had bought an Invoke for $50 with the vain hope that it would be good enough for my simple smart assistant needs.</p><p><br></p><p>My two key use cases are: weather check-ins and timers for cooking. As well, I expect the device to be reliable.</p><p><br></p><p>Cortana failed me on all three counts, incredibly!</p><p><br></p><p>Cortana doesn't support more than one timer at a time (!!!), and inexplicably does not remember my desire to hear the weather in Celsius. Even more inexplicably, it's rage-inducing how often it says "I cannot currently reach the Internet", for then it simply to respond normally to the next voice command.</p><p><br></p><p>It's too bad, because an Invoke for $40 now is a great deal.</p>

  • skborders

    03 December, 2018 - 10:46 am

    <p>I used IFTT to write a task to control my smart lamps. Other than that, I mostly use it as a Bluetooth speaker. Really good sound for $50.</p>

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