Microsoft has filed a patent for a connected station equipped with a pico projector

It’s hard to find a place in the affiliate stations market. Google’s dominance with Google Nest and Google Home Max and Amazon with Echo Input Portable among others is undeniable. In fact, you need to have some good ideas before you go shoulder to shoulder with these two giants in the connected speakers space. And Microsoft seems to have one.

According to a patent recently filed by the manufacturer, Microsoft is currently working on a new connected speaker with a rather original feature. Indeed, the device can be equipped with a pico-projector. With this technology, users will be able to project content directly onto a wall or canvas. For example, a feature that can be extremely practical for video conferences only or to easily show a Youtube video to the whole family.

This project may be really promising, but it should be noted that the Redmond firm started several years behind its main competitors. The multinational company has little experience in developing connected speakers. In 2018, Microsoft released the Invoke, a connected speaker developed in partnership with the Harman Kardon brand. It was equipped with Cortana, Microsoft’s smart assistant.

Unfortunately, Cortana’s flaws and weaknesses turned out to be better than Invoke. vAs a reminder, the company is gradually pulling Cortana out of circulation. From February 2020, the smart assistant will no longer be available on iOS and Android. Still, Microsoft may have learned from these failures. Once again, the company called on Harman Kardon to develop this connected speaker with pico projector. But you have to be careful, this is just a patent and nothing says this device will be marketed.

Source : ubergism