HomeWinBuzzer NewsMicrosoft Adds 'Connected Home' Section to Cortana for Smart Home Control

Microsoft Adds ‘Connected Home’ Section to Cortana for Smart Home Control

Cortana can now interact with smart devices from Hue, Wink, Nest, SmartThings and more, greatly improving Windows 10 smart hub functionality. The release may coincide with that of the Cortana-powered Invoke speaker.

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is rolling out an update to that could make her infinitely more useful. According to Windows Central, users can now use the ‘Connected Home' menu in Cortana to sign into and control their smart devices.

The feature has been seen on both desktop and phone, and currently supports Wink, Insteon, Nest, SmartThings, and Hue. Together they allow control of lighting, thermostat, locks, security cameras, and blinds.

Harman Kardon Invoke

However, the rollout of this feature comes at a very convenient time for Microsoft. Recent leaks suggest that Harman Kardon's Cortana-powered Invoke smart speaker will be coming on October 22.

Thanks to a partnership with Amazon, users will be able to access Alexa from the device, and now other smart devices. It features three woofers and three tweeters versus the Echo's one and has a premium metal grill design.

The idea of both Invoke and Windows 10 PC's working as a hub for smart PCs is a powerful one. Those sitting at a desk will find their smart devices just a word away, while smartphone and Invoke control should cover everywhere else in the house.

 

Source: Windows Central

 

Combine that with the development of shared family environments across PCs, and it could be very powerful.

Yesterday, a store listing for the Harmon Kardon Invoke went live early, suggesting a price of $200. Earlier estimates suggested in the range of $150, so it's not clear how competitive it will be with Amazon's $99 Echo. Either way, it's looking like a premium AI-powered experience.

Ryan Maskell
Ryan Maskellhttps://ryanmaskell.co.uk
Ryan has had a passion for gaming and technology since early childhood. Fusing the skills from his Creative Writing and Publishing degree with profound technical knowledge, he enjoys covering news about Microsoft. As an avid writer, he is also working on his debut novel.

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