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Microsoft Home Hub: Your Windows PC might just ‘crush’ Amazon Echo & Google Home

Microsoft is reportedly planning to make a HomeHub feature to bring in the Windows updates, in a bid to challenge Google Home and Amazon Echo, the smart home speakers.

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Microsoft had earlier made many smartphone-specific Windows OS, but now processors from Qualcomm will make it easier to support programs from Windows like MS Office, Edge browser, Games, and various other third-party software. (Reuters)

Microsoft is reportedly planning to make a HomeHub feature to bring in the Windows updates, in a bid to challenge Google Home and Amazon Echo, the smart home speakers. But according to rumours, there is a catch. The HomeHub is expected to be a software, not hardware. Windows Central which produces information from many unnamed sources, says that HomeHub will be a software and an update of the Windows 10 OS which will turn your computer into a smart home speaker.

Smart assistant Cortana for Windows already is able to answer the questions by the user, even during times when the display is closed. Cortana will feature in the HomeHub and reach higher goals by adding more optimised features like sticky notes, shopping lists and appointments. The computer enabled by Home Hub is expected to have a Welcome Screen and full-screen app which will display all the features. Windows Hello may be used, or a family shared account, so as to let every member of the family use the features of the Home Hub.

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Also read | China’s answer to Amazon and Google; LingLong DingDong smart home speaker to challenge ‘Echo’ and ‘Home’

A better use of Cortana will result in making the Home Hub more powerful, ie. by adding controls of home appliances and lights among other things. The features will work on any PC with Windows 10 as the operating system, and the computer will be the epicentre of the home experience. Yet, third-party manufacturers will be needs to build appliances and devices which support the Home Hub.

Also read | Apple’s answer to Amazon: Echo-like smart-home device based on Siri

However, there has been no information, directly given from Microsoft and one can expect many changes in the information already there about the device on the internet. However, if speculations are to be believed and things go according to plan, Microsoft is expected to unveil the update in 2017.

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First published on: 05-12-2016 at 17:25 IST
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