In February, Microsoft revealed that it would be slowly phasing out Cortana functionality in mobile and other devices, implying that the third-party Harman Kardon Invoke would be among them. On Friday, Microsoft clarified that these changes will occur in early 2021, including the Invoke--but the company will offer gift cards of up to $50 to sweeten the deal. Microsoft said Friday that it is eliminating the third-party Cortana skills--Cortana plug-ins that could be used to ask for a Fitbit activity summary, for example--by September 7. In January, 2021, the mobile Cortana app for iOS and Android will stop working. And in "early 2021," Microsoft says, the Cortana functionality for the Invoke will also cease to exist.

Microsoft could be entering the wireless headphone market. The tech giant is reportedly developing'Surface Buds' in an effort to take on Apple's wildly successful AirPods, Thurrott reported, citing sources close to the situation. The device is being developed as part of a secret project, codenamed'Morrison,' and could be coming as soon as later this year. Microsoft could be entering the wireless headphone market. The tech giant is reportedly developing'Surface Buds' in an effort to take on Apple's wildly successful AirPods It's not year clear how Microsoft intends to differentiate its earbuds from others that are currently available from competitors.

A new challenger could be approaching Apple's iconic AirPods (pictured above). Microsoft is developing a pair of Surface-branded wireless earbuds, according to Brad Sams' oft-reliable sources at Thurrott.com. Microsoft surprised the world by releasing the surprisingly good Surface Headphones last October. The sleek, premium-priced $350 headset features an intuitive control scheme and some wickedly good noise cancellation chops, courtesy of four active mics that keep tabs on the sounds around you. "Spin the noise cancellation dial on Microsoft's new cans, and the world fades away," we wrote at the time. Of course, you could also use the Surface Headphones to converse with Microsoft's Cortana digital assistant via its mobile app.

Surface Headphones are Microsoft's high-price, premium noise-cancelling cans aimed squarely at toppling the current kings, Bose and Sony. Headphones seem like an odd choice for the Xbox, Office and Windows maker, but the are being produced by Microsoft's burgeoning consumer electronics arm responsible for its line of Surface computers and accessories. Microsoft has aimed right for the top of the tree in terms of wireless, noise cancelling headphones. The fit and finish of the Surface Headphones is every bit as good as Bose. The large, soft round ear cups encapsulate my ears with their oval openings, while the angle of the band and hinge points give plenty of flexibility, avoiding any obvious pressure points.

Microsoft is a software giant first and foremost. It's where it earned billions of dollars and created an empire that permeated almost every aspect of the corporate office. But it's also been diving head first into hardware from mice to the Xbox to the Surface tablets and laptops -- the tech company is no slouch when it comes to tangible items. So it should come as no surprise that it launched its own noise-canceling headphones. Microsoft made a solid first attempt at building high-quality noise-cancelling headphones.

I always feel a bond with people who tell me they owned a Zune back in the day. Microsoft's also-ran MP3 player never became a hit, but it was a fabulous little music machine and its influence can still be felt in the company's hardware and software a decade later. Its Surface devices have put a focus on high-quality design since they debuted in 2012, and now Microsoft is using the brand to re-enter the audio market with the Surface Headphones. The Surface Headphones look and feel nothing like a Zune, but Microsoft's attention to detail is still intact. The company didn't just plop out a set of headphones for a quick buck; it spent several years meticulously designing them.

If the theme of Microsoft's Tuesday Surface event was about maintaining focus, then the new Microsoft Surface Headphones fall right in line: Spin the noise cancellation dial on Microsoft's new cans, and the world fades away. Headphones aren't usually considered to be a PC accessory, but anyone who's worked in a coffee shop--or the office equivalent, the dreaded open-plan office--knows that casual conversation and cup clinks can be enormously distracting. Enter the $349 Surface Headphones, Microsoft's over-the-ear headphones that feature both active noise cancellation as well as a connection to Cortana, Microsoft's voice assistant. Like mice and keyboards, headphones are a subjective experience--we all experience them differently on our ears. I found the Surface Headphones a bit confining during my first interaction with them, though the noise cancellation worked well in the loud, bustling environment of Microsoft's demo space.

Lots of the news from Microsoft's Surface event leaked ahead of time, but we didn't necessarily expect to see these new Surface Headphones today. As you might expect, the main draw here is that Cortana is on board and easily accessible, but there are some other impressive specs here as well. Microsoft went with over-the-ears design which offers active noise cancellation; the company says it has 13 levels of noise cancellation all told. There are four beam-forming mics and four active noise cancelling mics as well as 40mm drivers. The Surface Headphones work with any Bluetooth-enabled device, so if you work across Mac and Windows or happen to use an iPhone, you're covered.

The biggest surprise during Microsoft's Surface launch event wasn't a computer -- it was a pair of headphones. The Surface Headphones are Microsoft's first entry into premium cans, but they have just about everything you'd want: They're wireless, feature noise canceling and have Cortana directly integrated. But based on my quick demo, the Surface Headphones can easily hold their own. It's clear that Microsoft learned a lot from the competition. The Surface Headphones are light and incredibly comfortable, thanks to a generous amount of cushioning around the earpads and headband.