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simpler

Forget 'Hey Cortana,' you can now just say 'Cortana' on the Invoke speaker

Microsoft is making it easier to invoke Cortana on...the Invoke.
Daniel Rubino
6 Mar 2018

In a small, but significant, change Microsoft has dropped the requirement that users say "Hey Cortana" to call upon the digital assistant when using the Harmon Kardon Invoke speaker. Now, users can just say "Cortana" to light up the speaker and begin making requests or asking questions.

The shortened command does not work for Windows 10 PCs or on Android or iOS (yet).

Bye bye "Hey, Cortana". Now on the Invoke you can just say "Cortana" 😀 May come to other Cortana devices. Also, tomorrow is gonna be bad ☃️❄️🌨️

A post shared by Daniel Rubino (@daniel_rubino) on Mar 6, 2018 at 12:04pm PST

One potential benefit of being able just to say "Cortana" is it prevents multiple Windows 10 devices possibly from triggering. In saying "Hey Cortana" the Invoke and any nearby Windows 10 PCs (and Mobile devices) could all awake and take the command.

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The new ability comes on the heels of many new features in Cortana – at least in the U.S. – including support for Ecobee, IFTTT, and the ability to do things like check for new emails and even responding to them.

Harman Kardon Invoke review

Microsoft also hinted during its official Windows Insider Mixer stream that more smart speakers may be coming soon, including to the U.K. For now, we'll have to wait and see.

See at Microsoft

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