- On this episode of Ask Dan, we're going to talk
about whether or not Build 2018 is actually happening.
Should you buy that Android phone,
or hold off for the rumored Andromeda device
later this year?
And whether or not the Invoke Cortana speaker
will ever get multiple user support.
Stay tuned.
(dynamic instrumental music)
Will Build 2018 actually happen,
or is Microsoft skipping it this year?
Okay, before we get started here let's talk about
what the Microsoft Build Conference actually is.
So every year Microsoft holds a developer conference,
and it is to basically talk about
all their new developer tools and what they're doing.
Sometimes they give a preview of what's coming
to Windows as a platform.
They also talk about Azure, and other kind of boring,
enterprise-y things, but that's the main focus there.
We do cover it every year, and the reason for that
is a lot of stuff is coming out there
that helps us understand what is going on
with Microsoft for the next year, year and a half.
They've also, sometimes in the past, announced
consumer products, so we've seen phones announced
once in awhile, and sometimes stuff
with the Surface-related, but it's primarily been
developer driven, and that's been the focus
for the last few years, with less emphasis
on the consumer space.
Nonetheless we still go there.
So what about this year?
The reason why this question's being asked now
is because at this time Microsoft has usually
announced Build, the dates, when it's happening,
where it's happening, and when the tickets
go on sale for developers.
And that has not yet happened.
However, no, Microsoft is not skipping Build this year.
In fact, I can tell you it's probably gonna happen
in the first two weeks of May.
And yes it'll be back at Microsoft Campus again,
as opposed to San Francisco, which I'm happy about.
As to when Microsoft will actually announce Build 2018
and when the tickets go on sale, and all that stuff,
I don't really know yet, but look for it
in the next few weeks.
But it is still actually happening.
We'll be there, of course, covering it live as it happens.
Is it smart to buy an Android phone
now that Microsoft's new device is around the corner?
Okay, so this question is in reference
to the Microsoft project Andromeda
which is a rumored foldable device
that's supposed to come out later this year.
It's gonna be smartphone-ish but not quite.
It's gonna be a foldable computer that fits in your pocket,
runs a version of Windows Core OS.
You can see my previous videos where I talk
a little bit more about it.
So, the question is, should you hold off on buying
Android phone in anticipation of this?
It's a very tough question to answer.
First of all, this thing could get canceled at any moment.
We don't get actual status updates from Microsoft
about what's happening with this project so we don't know.
We also don't know its full feature set.
So, for me to tell you, yeah, you don't need a smartphone,
this thing is all you need, is way premature.
Plus everybody has their own views about what is necessary
in a smartphone device.
Some of you need banking apps or specific applications
that this may not have or can't do.
And, in fact, I don't think Microsoft's
gonna position this as a smartphone replacement.
Instead they'll position it as a companion
to your smartphone at first.
Sure, we're hearing it can make phone calls
and probably text message, but that doesn't mean
it's gonna be an actual smartphone
or can replace a smartphone for all of you.
We also don't know its full capabilities.
Although we're hearing some internal discussions
about things that this thing could possibly do,
I don't wanna talk about it quite today.
It may be too early.
I still wouldn't necessarily not buy an Android phone
in anticipation of this.
Don't forget, I expect this thing to cost
at least a thousand bucks.
I don't know, maybe more, maybe less.
It's not gonna be cheap, though.
So, for now, I would just sit tight.
If you can hold out till the end of the year
and not buy a phone, you can make a better evaluation
at that time.
But otherwise, just go buy that phone you want now.
You'll be happier for it.
Do you think we'll see multi-user support
for the Harman Kardon Inoke Cortana speaker?
Okay, so a lot of questions going on
with the Harman Kardon Invoke.
Make sure you check out my review of that device.
I actually just bought my third one
'cause I actually like it a lot
so I want one for all my rooms.
It is still $99 at the Microsoft Store
so I think that's actually not a bad deal.
It's an incredible speaker.
Well, let's get to the main question here.
Multi-user support.
So, right now when you sign up with the Invoke,
you're gonna have to log in with your own Microsoft account
and it links everything there.
Cool stuff, but if you have a family,
obviously that is not ideal.
You wanna be able to access a multiple calendars.
I can't tell you right now multiple user support
is there or it's coming right away.
I can tell you you can add multiple calendars now
to the Invoke speaker and that helps a lot.
I can also tell you that there is an insider program.
It's private, but it involves people who are consumers
who have this speaker who are testing new features.
I would describe this as very active development.
Every week they're almost adding new features.
And, a lot of that comes through the Cortana backend.
That means the actual Invoke doesn't need,
like, new firmware updates.
It's just being turned on because Cortana is in the cloud.
That's a really cool thing.
Regarding multi-user accounts,
I can tell you that Microsoft has acknowledged this feature.
That is, a lot of people are requesting it
and it's very popular and they are trying to work on it.
I can't give you a specific ETA on it,
but I do expect it to happen at some point.
It does make sense if Microsoft ever wants
a smart home hub system to have multi-user support there.
So, I would expect it to happen.
I just can't give you a specific ETA.
All right, so that does it for this episode.
Remember, if you have a question,
use #AskDanWindows on Twitter or go to Windows Central
and use our forums where you can ask me a question there.
If you like this video, give us a thumbs up.
And, don't forget to subscribe.
Thanks for watching, take care everybody.
So, you have a Microsoft,
oh, I hate the (beeping).
- [Camerman] Yeah, yeah, I'm hearing it.
That's not good. - I know.
I don't know what to do about that.
- [Cameraman] Can you zips?
No?
- I mean, I can zip 'em down.
But, I don't think it's gonna
help.
I don't know.
I'll just try keeping my sleeves off.