Amazon's Echo devices show up on the Microsoft Store

[nir]

It's no secret that Microsoft and Amazon have been pals lately. It all started in August 2017, when the two companies announced that their voice assistants - Cortana and Alexa, respectively - would be able to talk to each other.

 

It would seem that the two firms are living happily ever after. At CES this year, four OEMs announced Windows 10 PCs that were shipping with Alexa, and the Alexa app is now in the Microsoft Store. There's even a skill to control your Xbox, and of course, a skill to talk to Cortana.

 

The next step is that Microsoft will begin selling Amazon's Echo smart speakers in its stores. While they're not available for purchase just yet, listings for the Echo and Echo Dot were spotted by Microsoft leakster WalkingCat.

 

If you still want a Cortana speaker, the Harman Kardon Invoke is still available for purchase. You probably won't want to hold your breath for future Cortana hardware like that though, given how close Microsoft and Amazon are getting.

 

If you want to check out the listings on the Microsoft Store, you can find the Echo here and the Echo Dot here.

 

Source

[steven36]

Microsoft admits Cortana is an epic failure by shamelessly selling Amazon Echo Dot

 

Stunningly, Microsoft lost the smartphone wars despite getting a huge head start with Windows Mobile, and going back even further, Windows CE. Despite having a stranglehold/monopoly on desktop computing, the company made too many missteps with mobile, and ultimately, has been forced to exit the very profitable business. Microsoft even took down Nokia in the process, destroying a once beloved company.

 

Following smartphones, the next big thing was voice assistants, and Microsoft was ready with Cortana. Unfortunately, unlike Apple and Google who had successful mobile operating systems to push their assistants, Microsoft was once again left trailing behind since consumers passed hard on Windows Phone. Online retailer Amazon came out of nowhere and dominated this field too. Ultimately, Cortana has become a thing that exists solely to annoy Windows 10 users. This is a shame, because Cortana is actually pretty good.

 

 

But good things fail too, and when Microsoft announced a partnership with Amazon to add Cortana to Alexa -- and vice versa -- it was clear that Cortana was doomed. The deal was one-sided in favor of Amazon. Microsoft touted the Harman Kardon Invoke as a last-ditch effort to revive Cortana as a viable alternative to Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa, but once again, consumers just didn't want it. Also a shame, as the Invoke was a great piece of hardware.

 

And now, as a final deathblow to Ms. Cortana, Microsoft is selling the Echo Dot directly. Yes, the Windows-maker is selling a device that outshined its own failed assistant. While it is embarrassing, there is a precedent -- Microsoft also sells the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy S9. Yes, the company sells a device running Linux that helped destroy Windows Phone. Sigh. What's next? Microsoft selling Chromebooks?

 

Microsoft may claim that selling these devices are a way to push its own services, and there may be some truth to that, but make no mistake -- it is still a self-imposed public shaming. Rest in peace, Cortana.

 

Source

[steven36]

Lol  when I see big companies like Microsoft partnering with Amazon . Sears comes to mind witch done the the same thing  before Amazon put the death grip on them..  Microsoft the land of broken promises and shattered dreams . Only thing the ever had any real success at is selling desktop  software and that is falling apart at the seams . Amazon rules the cloud and voice assistants , Google rules the smart phone market  .