IF YOU OWN AN INVOKE: Microsoft is discontinuing support for Cortana on the Invoke Speaker. Music streaming will still work. Cortana will not. However, if you have asked Cortana a question after July 31, 2019 and before July 31, 2020, you can get a $50 Microsoft gift card as compensation. You must request it before July 31, 2021, and you have a year to use it.
“After the update Is installed, your Invoke will perform like other Bluetooth speakers – you will be able to pair it with your phone or other audio source and stream music to it. But Cortana and other Wi-Fi functions will no longer be available.”
We are saddened to hear this news since Cortana has proven the most accurate of our devices when asking questions, even better than Siri on iOS. Sadly, that is going away, too.
Just before Christmas, my husband and I bought a Harman Kardon Invoke speaker with Microsoft’s Cortana. For Christmas, we were given an Amazon Echo Dot with Alexa and a Tp-Link smart plug and thus the comparison began! A few months after that, we got a Google Home Mini.
We are teachers, both in tech, and my husband is an audiophile. He is VERY picky about speaker quality. I am picky about ease of use. As a tech trainer, I look for user-friendly tools to recommend. While we both love music, he definitely notices sound quality.
So, here is our review after a few months of use. Overall, Cortana wins and here is why:
Answers questions most accurately? Cortana. We’ve gotten inaccurate results from Alexa and Google doesn’t seem to be able to use Google since we can find answers on the computer using Google that the Google Home Mini couldn’t answer.
Best speaker sound? Cortana, no contest.
Controls other devices? Alexa and Google Home Mini
Cost? Alexa and Google Home Mini were less expensive than the Invoke.
Set up? All were pretty straight-forward, but we purchased a Google Home Mini for older family members and they had no problem setting it up so I’m going to say that one.
Best Listener? Toss up between Invoke and Google Home Mini. Love that we can use our Google Home Mini was the free version of Spotify. Definitely NOT Alexa. We’ve had to yell loudly to turn it off.
We love how Alexa (Amazon Echo) controls the plug. It was perfect for turning Christmas tree lights on and off without reaching behind the tree. Jeopardy is fun to play. It is nice to have access to Amazon Prime Music.
However, it is NOT nice how often it seems to not be able to answer questions and instead of playing music, at times, it wants a subscription. A former student of mine had a new album. Alexa suggested I subscribe to Amazon Music Unlimited. Cortana started playing the album. (Point for Cortana and check out Jessica Andrea‘s album! Yes, shameless plug, but I was her 2nd grade AND her 5th grade teacher!)
Now for Cortana. Cortana definitely has better sound quality (as it should being larger than the Echo). Cortana responds quickly (until early 2021 😞) and currently we are using it with iHeartRadio. Answers are more accurate (I use Cortana rather than Siri on my iPad -until that feature goes away.😒) Music sounds great.
The downsides? Though it hasn’t done it lately, during the first month or so, if we asked for a song that wasn’t on iHeartRadio, it often suggested we sign up for Spotify. No, we do not have a paid Spotify subscription so the “commercial” got a little tiring. We aren’t great fans of iHeartRadio and how it plays live radio, at times, and you cannot skip. It also doesn’t control our plug, YET (and now probably won’t due to Cortana being removed from it.9/6/2020)
Bottom line? Want good sound quality? Get the Harman Kardon Invoke with Cortana. Want more accurate answers when you ask questions? Invoke with Cortana. Want to control devices in your home? Amazon Echo with Alexa or Google Home Mini.
New bottom line? Google Home Mini. It can control multiple wi-fi plugs, plays the free version of Spotify, and now answers more questions than when we initially purchased it a few years ago.
#Cortana #Alexa #Microsoft #Amazon #Echo #GoogleHomeMini #comparison #ProsAndCons
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