The year 2016 paved the way for some intelligent digital assistants in the form of Amazon Echo and Google Home. Amazon and Google are working with multiple brands to integrate IoT and media streaming related features into their respective smart home hub speakers. Now, Microsoft seems to be jumping in the race, but with its personal take on the concept. The software giant is reportedly working on a new feature that will rival Amazon Echo and Google Home.
According to a report from WindowsCentral, Microsoft is readying a new feature called Home Hub, and that it is being integrated into Windows 10. The Cortana-powered feature would be able to answer questions and fetch information for the users. Some of the features of the Home Hub will be built into the Windows 10 Creators Update, while other features would be introduced in 2017 (with Redstone 3 update) and 2018 (with Redstone 3 update). The Home Hub feature will work with any Windows 10 PC, and Cortana can be summoned from the lock screen.
Another Microsoft Home Hub feature is that it can create a family environment for Windows 10 PCs where different users can see shared things like calendar entries and to-do lists on the PC as well as any other Home Hub integrated smart speakers. Microsoft will show this information on the lock screen as if it’s a virtual fridge door for the family members. Users can also access personal information on PCs fitted with Windows Hello compatible authentication hardware. We have to wait until next year to see if any of these features get announced.
Take this information with a pinch of salt as any company’s plans can be changed or even dropped in the process.
[Source: WindowsCentral]
