Microsoft announced a number of new features for Cortana today, including a Devices SDK, which will allow OEMs to build devices that are powered by the firm"s digital assistant. The company noted that it already has one partner on board, which is Harman Kardon.
In fact, the companies even released a teaser video:
The speaker appears to be an Amazon Echo-type device, which would allow you to talk to Cortana from across the room. The technology used is likely far-field speech communication, something that Microsoft has been talking a lot about within the past few days.
Other than the fact that it"s a speaker and it has Cortana, Microsoft isn"t spilling the beans about the device. Harman Kardon will have more to share in 2017.
The Cortana Devices SDK itself is available in preview now. If you"re an OEM or ODM, Microsoft says that you can contact the company by filling out this form to receive news about the Cortana Devices SDK.