I'm not a NAS guy, well, I certainly wouldn't have ever considered myself one until today. I'd think, "Home servers with hundreds of terabytes of storage? What on earth could people possibly be storing?", but now I'm starting to understand after testing this entry-level UGREEN option — turns out you don't need to go all-out in some effort to rival enterprise-grade server farms.

The crux of my quaint little NAS adventure wasn't even unique, by any means. In fact, if you're even remotely interested in the category, you've probably seen the question asked a million times: Can I ditch streaming services and just digitize all of my media without burning even more money away? Yes, you can, and I did it as a novice with no notions of how you're "supposed" to use a NAS.

Yes, you are encouraged to use RAID-optimized storage drives that are explicitly designed for this situation, but I decided to dive into this hobby about a week before Christmas — no chance of ordering multi-terabyte mechanical drives in this festive chaos. So, why not throw in any old drive I have lying around and see if it works for this UGREEN NASync DH2300 review? Worth a shot.

Where can you buy the NASync DH2300?

UGREEN's broad range of cables, chargers, and other tech accessories is often available from local US retailers, but its NAS options are slightly more limited.

Easiest of all, you can pick up the NASync DH2300 from Amazon.com for $209.99 at its MSRP, though it has recently dropped as low as $167.99 in sales.

Alternatively, you can grab the DH2300 from Newegg below MSRP on occasion, and even Walmart lists this UGREEN NAS with first-party shipping.

You get a DC 12V/6A power adapter and a Cat7 Ethernet cable in the box, along with screws and a screwdriver to fit 3.5" or 2.5" SATA drives into its drive bays. It's a diskless system, so you'll need to provide your own storage, using UGREEN's compatibility list for official (but optional) guidance.

Is the NASync DH2300 a good NAS?

To say my NAS opinions are limited would be like saying your local beach is the shallow end of the ocean: I've never needed to compare individual enclosures like this. There's a proverbial iceberg of considerations that experienced enthusiasts would explain to me if I asked, but I wanted to approach this from a beginner's perspective. In that scope, the NASync DH2300 has been great.

Now, I know UGREEN recommends drives designed for home servers, like WD Red Plus, Seagate IronWolf, and Toshiba N300, but they can be an expensive commitment if you're on the fence about a NAS. I've built more custom desktop PCs than I can count, and moving exclusively to M.2 NVMe SSDs has left me with a pile of discarded but functional 2.5 and 3.5-inch drives.

Sure enough, proper NAS drives will almost certainly offer better dollar-per-terabyte value at the extreme high end, but I threw in an old WD Blue 3.5-inch mechanical drive, and it worked just fine despite never being designed for a NAS. It's not that I'm encouraging this practice, but it does work with regular drives. That might be obvious to some, but it was enlightening to me.

You can set up the DH2300 in a variety of ways, including with NFC-compatible smartphones with UGREEN's mobile app. Personally, I usually stick with browser-based dashboards for anything on my network, and that's the avenue I took by navigating to find.ugnas.com, which was laughably easy. After that, I could create folders on the NAS and drag any files I wanted directly into the browser tab.

Does the NASync DH2300 have any issues?

The NASync DH2300 only has one glaring software issue and one hardware gripe. First up, my driving goal behind this NAS experiment was to see if one of the cheapest examples could run a Jellyfin (an alternative to Plex) home media server and stream DVD, Blu-ray, and UHD backups to each device in my house. To do that, I first needed an app called Docker, which was curiously absent from the "App Center."

Now, I know that Docker was available for the DH2300 after seeing recommendations from NAS enthusiasts. UGREEN had apparently delisted it from its App Center because the 4GB of RAM in this unit isn't technically enough for its minimum requirements. Despite its removal, I can still install a Docker .upk package intended for the DH4300 Plus, and that works on the DH2300.

Otherwise, the plastic drive-bay caddies are relatively basic. They aren't toolless, so you'll need to use the screws included in the box to secure your drives. This isn't a problem; more of a reflection on its price range and the omission of luxuries, since I know that UGREEN's more expensive DXP2800 keeps it toolless. Removing Docker, however, gives it less of that "idiot proof" edge.

Should you buy the UGREEN NASync DH2300?

✅ You should buy it if..

• You want to run a basic home media server
• You're overpaying for cloud backup services
• You're interested in NAS but don't want to overspend

❌ You should not buy it if..

• You need high-end hardware transcoding
• You want to transcode media to multiple devices
• You can't run an Ethernet cable to your network

The NASync DH2300 can stream backups of my Blu-rays, stored as .mp4 files with H.264 (AVC) video and Dolby Digital (AC3) audio, without transcoding via Jellyfin to nearly every device in my house — and for that, it's perfect. Once I enable more intense streaming, CPU usage spikes, and brief hardware encoding experiments with RKMPP and VA-API both failed, so I stick with direct streams.

Again, this is a whole new world to me, and I'm perfectly happy with streaming one file at a time, finally able to watch the movies and TV shows in our physical library that have always been missing from streaming services. It's disappointing that UGREEN removed Docker from its App Center, leaving users to figure out the DH4300 Plus workaround, but it hasn't soured my opinion on the DH2300.

Amazon pioneered the progression of voice-controlled ambient computing with its Alexa-powered smart speakers. The Google Assistant-powered Google Home and Apple's Siri-powered HomePod eventually followed. In 2017, Amazon upped the ante with its Amazon Echo Show smart display. The Echo Show brought the ability to display interactive content to the smart speaker battle.

Microsoft was notably absent from this space until the embarrassingly-neglected Cortana-powered Invoke Harman Kardon smart speaker hit store shelves. With little marketing and an assistant with limited skills, mindshare and geographic reach, Microsoft's initially-$200-priced speakers remained unnoticed by consumers. A recent Invoke price cut and Microsoft's repositioning of Cortana as a business-focused assistive agent may signal Microsoft has little intention of recommitting to the consumer-focused ambient computing space.

This would conflict with the company's professed commitment to the professional and personal user across work and play. In a nutshell, Microsoft's recently revisited commitment to users across their professional and personal lives demands Microsoft ensures Cortana-powered ambient computing is available to users at home just as it is at work. Two years ago, Microsoft revealed a Home Hub plan to turn hundreds of millions of Windows 10 PCs into Cortana-powered smart speakers with screens. Microsoft's plan was great, but the execution poor, and competitors like Google introduced products that are everything Microsoft's should have been.

Related: How Amazon and Alexa are crushing Microsoft's Home Hub dreams

Microsoft's Home Hub, a dream deferred

In 2016, we saw Microsoft's vision for smart displays. Unlike rivals, Microsoft wouldn't have to build dedicated smart speakers, try to create a market, and then develop distribution channels to get them to consumers. With a home and business PC install base of more than one billion and a growing Windows 10 presence, Microsoft planned to use software to turn existing Windows 10 PCs into Cortana-powered smart speakers. Microsoft's OEM partners were also expected to create dedicated intelligent displays to complement this strategy.

Microsoft's Home Hub was going to provide families with communal access to calendars, apps, and Sticky Notes via a Welcome Screen on a shared PC. Windows Hello would also recognize users and keep individual data private.

Home Hub was supposed to connect Windows 10 PCs to various smart home devices allowing users to control them via Cortana. Sadly, with the failure of Windows on phone, Microsoft's consumer-facing commitment to Cortana has further waned. With a two-year virtual silence on Home Hub and an apparent lack of interest in making Cortana relevant to consumers, Microsoft's Home Hub dreams seem destined to remain unrealized.

Google Home Hub, a dream realized

During its 2018 "Made by Google" event, Google announced its seven-inch Assistant-powered smart display, Google Home Hub. This diminutive device is three inches smaller than Amazon's latest 10-inch Alexa-powered Echo Show and is bedroom-safe due to the intentional omission of a camera.

The $149 device is more affordable than the $230 Alexa Show. Reports also claim that Google's superior speech recognition supports more natural language and has fewer mistakes than the Echo Show. Still, Alexa's 50,000 skills and the Echo's compatibility with thousands of smart home devices beat Google Home Hub.

Still, even in its shortcomings, Google Home Hub brings the reality of hands-free, voice navigated computing with a display to users in a way Microsoft has not. And though the Lenovo Smart Display and the JBL Link View brought Assistant-powered smart displays to market earlier, Google Home does so in a sleeker package.

Microsoft, the dreamer

Google Home Hub is equipped with far-field microphones, stereo speakers and a seven-inch LCD touch display. From browsing YouTube videos to following recipes and invoking music services, Google's Home Hub will begin impacting consumer behavior in a very real way.

Home Hub features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth which allows users to cast their phone content to the device. It also acts as a digital picture frame for users' cloud-based photos when not in use. As "everyone's personal Google," Assistant on Home Hub will continue answering questions effectively as Google leverages its progress in organizing the world's information. Home Hub also connects to smart home gadgets and provides a Home View Dashboard of the entire state of a smart home. No longer will users have to access separate apps to control connected devices.

As Google brings all of this and more to users on its first-gen smart display, Microsoft's Home Hub dreams may remain an unknown concept and yet another frustrating miss Microsoft watchers can add to Redmond's pile of what could have been.

Windows 10 IoT stands for "Internet of Things," and it's a lightweight platform designed for developers and engineers to create smaller, embedded devices that might not need a full-blown OS.

Windows 10 IoT has free versions for developers to build apps and devices for, and if you've been working with the platform or have purchased an IoT device like the GLAS thermostat, we'd love to hear from you!

There is a growing, untapped domestic IoT market on the rise, including everything from connected coffee machines to smart speakers. Microsoft hasn't been too aggressive on the IoT front, but partnerships with Harman Kardon for the Cortana-powered Invoke speaker, and Johnson Controls for the gorgeous GLAS thermostat certainly exemplify the potential.

What do you make of Windows 10-powered IoT? Have you had experience with the devices mentioned, or any others? Jump in the forum thread and let us know.

• Microsoft launches IoT core into public preview
• How to install Windows 10 IoT on a Raspberry Pi 3

Smart plugs are extremely useful pieces of tech that can actually change your daily habits. However, purchasing multiple plugs can be a costly task. Many of the smart plugs available even end up blocking the unused outlet above or beneath it which can be a huge hassle when you want to plug in multiple devices which sit near each other in your home. Luckily, TP-Link just introduced a product to alleviate these concerns: the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip.

This power strip features six smart outlets which can each be controlled independently just as you can control a smart plug, which makes it perfect to use with your home entertainment setup, home office, or kitchen appliances. With the free Kasa app for iOS and Android devices, you can turn on and off any of the outlets on the strip one by one and see whether you accidentally left them on while you're away from home. There are three built-in USB ports as well which max out at 4 amps.

Using the app, you can set icons and a name for each outlet to remind you of what's plugged into it. You can also set schedules for each outlet so it will turn on or off at a specific time each day.

TP-Link designed this power strip to function as a surge protector too. As such, it's ETL certified to shield your electronics from power surges. It also offers voice control if you have a device with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Microsoft Cortana, such as the Amazon Echo Dot. Kasa claims HomeKit support is coming, though it hasn't given a release window for it at this time.

If the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip has you interested, you can order yours now at B&H for $79.99. Though that seems like a pretty steep price for a power strip, just consider the price of a single smart plug by TP-Link which is generally $25 at least. Here you're getting the power of six plugs and also three USB ports at a much more affordable price.

See at B&H

Microsoft today announced it is expanding its partnership with GE, focusing on expanding the adoption of Industrial IoT (IIoT) applications and the Azure cloud. Through the partnership, GE will also standardize its Predix platform, which gives developers tools to develop and deploy IIoT applications, on Azure.

In terms of GE's own Predix, the platform will now integrate with Microsoft Azure capabilities, such as Azure IoT and Azure Data and Analytics. The combination, Microsoft says, will bring together "GE Digital's expertise in industrial data and applications with Microsoft's enterprise cloud, helping customers speed deployment of industrial applications and achieve tangible outcomes faster, ultimately fueling growth and business innovation." Additionally, GE says it will use Azure across other portions of its business to handle IT workloads and productivity tools.

Lastly, the two companies are teaming up to on a co-sell and go-to-market strategy with a lineup of IIoT solutions across verticals. Part of this strategy also involves exploring deeper integrations between Predix IIoT and Power BI, PowerApps, and "other third-party solutions."

The GE partnership is just one Microsoft announced today, kicking off its Inspire 2018 partner conference. The company will also be teaming up with Campbell Soup Co.{.nofollow} to migrate its IT platform to the Azure cloud. Microsoft is also joining with National Geographic on its AI for Earth initiative, opening up a $1 million grant program that will give financial support to "between five and 15 novel projects that use AI to advance conservation research."

Microsoft today announced that Azure IoT Edge is exiting preview, just a year after it was initially launched. Now generally available, Azure IoT Edge is also going open source and picking up some improvements for enterprise users to check out.

From Microsoft:

In terms of enhancements, Microsoft says Azure IoT Edge now supports the open-source Moby container management system and the exosystem of certified hardware is expanding to certify additional functionalities like device management and security. As of this release, IoT Edge is now open source and available on Github, which Microsoft recently acquired to the tune of $7.5 billion.

IoT Edge has also picked up support for Device Provisioning Service and Automatic Device Management (ADM). Device Provisioning Service allows for devices to be automatically and securely provisioned, while ADM allows for deployment of IoT Edge modules to devices based on metadata.

Finally, the developer experience is seeing some love as well with broad programming language support and support for developing, coding, debugging, and deploying directly from VSCode.

The news of Azure IoT Edge's general availability comes as Microsoft is expanding Azure to two new regions in China.

Cloud computing and the intelligent edge are two important focal points for Microsoft going forward. Earlier this year, the company announced a major reorganization of its internal teams, largely focused on AI and edge computing. IoT devices, along with their security and management, stand to play a larger role in Microsoft's efforts going forward.

Microsoft and the London College of Fashion recently wrapped up its "Future of Fashion Incubator," debuting a variety of cutting-edge concepts within the fashion industry. Under a partnership between the duo, students were provided with the opportunity adopt upcoming technologies and apply them within fashion space. Following several months of workshops and developing innovative concepts, students pitched their creations under a showcase event.

In line with Microsoft's company ethos, the program set out to inspire individuals with new tools and overcome limitations through digital solutions. Leveraging Windows Mixed Reality, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT), this highlighted how technologies can be approached from a creative standpoint and disrupt the existing norms. And while few, if any creations will make it to market, they show how Microsoft's growing progressive impact the world.

Microsoft provided resources to select students drafted into the program, familiarizing them the three technologies and how these can be applied in the real world. Unifying students from varying fields of study in fashion, the six groups prototyped products to enhance the design process, marketing, and retail.

Styled through a new lens

Windows Mixed Reality was prominent within the showcase, with two concepts targeted at different audiences in the industry. Both made note of Mixed Reality's ability to design and create otherwise unfeasible spaces while cutting down the material expense and time. The visual element of the technology also lends well to creative industries.

A consumer-facing implementation of technology, dubbed "Hololux," visualizes a merge of online and physical retail spaces. Designed to offer the material nature of traditional storefronts with the comfort of e-commerce, the solution aims to enhance the process of buying luxury goods. Making use of custom environments that express communicate brand identity and interactive 3D models of garments, this allows for faux-stores at little expense. The team behind the project envisioned this in airport lounges, capturing its target demographic during free periods.

"Augmenta" placed its focus on sales instead, helping in the layout of retail spaces using digital objects. Taking advantage of HoloLens, Microsoft's untethered holographic headset, the project allows stores to configure full 3D plans, with the ease of adding, moving and deleting components. The concept also showcased heatmaps and custom lighting arrangements, with suggestions provided based on existing store data.

A helping hand in fashion

Growing interest in AI was also identified, showing how clothing can be better tailored to customers than ever before. Helping assist users with their fashion, while targeting bespoke marketing, the concepts build on existing norms of today.

SmartSigns utilizes AI to better target marketing, by serving tailored adverts through intelligent billboards. Cameras on the billboards reference neural networks, to identify key elements of a user's style. These were designed to be deployed in department stores, malls, and other high-traffic shopping areas to make adverts more relevant to passersby. After being used to serve up an advert, images are discarded to maintain privacy.

Voice assistants also make an appearance with a fashion twist, helping consumers make smart day-to-day choices. The assistant can be used for advice on fashion, with tips provided to improve outfits and recommend complementary pieces. This also factors in weather, time and calendar data when making these decisions. Features were also integrated to drive commerce, helping users search for products and deal online.

Keeping technology in the background

The Internet of Things is shaping up as a natural in the creation of garments, allowing designers to seamlessly integrate technology between fabrics. Serving up to new data for consumers or designers without the technology defining the product, these look to be the next step beyond today's smartwatches.

"Design by Data" leveraged IoT to seamlessly add connectivity to garments, to provide anonymous data back to designers. Using low-cost Radio-frequency identification (RFID) and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) chips in garments, the lifecycle of clothing can be tracked beyond production. This can be used to collect various data affecting usage and longevity, to improve future product revisions. And for consumers, this could provide quick access to washing and fabric details and backstory on garments.

Expanding on the capabilities of wearables, "Heroes" pitches a gamified leg wearable, using tracking to collect various fitness data. Based on a superhero theme, its paired app allows players to customize heroes, complete missions, and gain rewards – all while keeping fit. And with other social elements, this brings a discreet way to add further enjoyment to exercise.

While the average user may see Microsoft for their consumer products, programs like these show the greater effect of their investments. In the right hands, these future-facing technologies can lay the foundations for some strong ideas – potentially reworking the standards for industries in the future.

With Microsoft continuing to support programs like these, upcoming generations could begin to leverage the full capabilities of these concepts. To find out more about the Future of Fashion Incubator and individual student projects, check out the dedicated page on Microsoft's site.

Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are both much more established in the market, but Microsoft's Cortana is gradually growing. Of course, Cortana is much more than just a smart home assistant, so in some areas it has the leg up on Alexa in particular.

Cortana is also platform agnostic. You can interact with it on Windows 10, iOS and Android, so it really doesn't matter what your preference is — try using Google Assistant or Apple Siri on your Windows 10 PC.

Cortana's only real drawback is the limited availability of smart home features. Right now, if you're not in North America, you're pretty much out of luck. But if you are, here's all the awesome stuff you can use.

harman/kardon Invoke

The only smart speaker you can buy right now with Cortana integration, but also only costs $99. The speaker part is superb, harman/kardon's hardware both looks and sounds excellent. So you can definitely use it for music.

The Invoke has full access to the Cortana smart home skills which means any device you can hook Cortana up to you can control in your home with your voice. Ask Cortana to turn on the lights or turn the thermostat up and it will oblige.

See at Microsoft

Johnson Controls Glas

The Johnson Controls Glas is a smart thermostat that not only harnesses the power of Cortana — and is pretty much the best-looking thermostat you'll find.

The Glas looks downright futuristic with its translucent display, and it'll be packed with features for not only warming and cooling your home, but monitoring your energy use. It's not yet on sale, but pre-orders are slated to begin sometime in Spring 2018.

See at Johnson Controls

Samsung SmartThings

SmartThings is a smart home system that has both its own hardware and seamlessly integrates with that from other companies.

And Cortana integrates with SmartThings, so it opens up a whole world of possibilities.

To get started you need the $100 hub, but there are various other bundles you can acquire which include things like smart plugs and motion sensors.

See at Amazon

Nest

Nest is probably the one smart thermostat product most people recognize, and thankfully Cortana has support for the Works with Nest program built in.

Once you've connected your Nest account with Cortana on your PC or smartphone, you can use voice control to interact with your thermostat.

The latest version costs around $220 and is available in a range of different finishes to suit your home decor.

See at Amazon

Philips Hue

Philips Hue is an incredible smart lighting system that basically works with everything. Cortana can directly interact with it, but there are official apps and third-party apps alike available across iOS, Android and Windows.

Hue also has a range of different styles and fitments available, so it's the one system you can rely on being able to kit out your home with, whatever you need. And for gamers, Razer and Philips have just announced a partnership to integrate Chroma with Hue. So your game room can light up in perfect harmony.

Getting started with Hue is fairly affordable, too, with a basic white light kit available for around $70.

See at Amazon

Wink

Wink is another smart home system that incorporates lighting, but also goes beyond that into home security, too.

There's a hub at the center of everything to which you can pair bulbs, sensors, alarms and more. For around $200 you can get a home security starter kit, or at $115 get started with lighting instead.

See at Amazon

Insteon

Insteon has been Windows-friendly for a few years now so it's great to see the company's products supporting Cortana integration.

You're not getting bulbs or anything with Insteon, rather it's a system designed to help you automate your home. The starter kit is around $100 with no monthly fees. From there you've got a wide ecosystem of sensors and add-ons you can connect to the hub to automate your entire home.

See at Amazon

ecobee

Ecobee hasn't ever officially supported Windows, but thanks to excellent third-party support its a smart thermostat we recommend highly. What is official is Cortana integration, so you can use voice actions on your Invoke, phone or PC to interact with your thermostat.

Ecobee also makes some pretty bold claims about being able to help you save money on your heating and cooling bills, in part thanks to room sensors that can help you manage hot and cold spots so you're not unnecessarily heating or cooling any one part of your home.

The new Ecobee 4 is around $240, but the previous generation products are still available for quite a bit less.

See at Amazon

Honeywell

Honeywell has a couple of smart thermostats that offer Cortana integration: The Lyric and the Total Connect Comfort.

The Lyric can be had around $100, which makes it excellent value, and is still packed with smart features like temperature alerts, 7-day programming which includes geofencing and a neat feature that learns how long it takes to heat to the desired temperature then automatically runs a program to achieve it.

See at Amazon

TP-Link Kasa

TP-Link has a range of smart home accessories under its Kasa brand that while requiring an iOS or Android device to set up, has full Cortana integration from there on out.

The Kasa ecosystem includes light switches, bulbs, smart plugs and cameras. Besides being able to activate all of the with Cortana and your voice, the companion app can be used to set smart programs for things to turn on and off without you needing to talk or lift a finger.

It's a very affordable system to get into as well. A smart plug, for example, is just $24.

See at Amazon

Geeni

Geeni's products have some neat features that work with Cortana. Their Wi-Fi-connected surge-protected smart power strip, for example, allows you to name and control outlets individually or as a single combined outlet.

There's no hub required, just a connection to your home network. And the products are affordable, too, with the power strip costing just $40. There are also bulbs and individual wall outlets under $20.

See at Amazon

LIFX

LIFX is another smart lighting system that doesn't require a hub and has some quite affordable bulbs. The official app for Windows 10 may no longer be supported, but with Cortana you can still interact with your lights with ease.

LIFX has a variety of different bulbs starting with the $25 dimmable white bulb, but also has color changing options as well as LED strips to get the lighting setup of your dreams just right.

See at Amazon

Microsoft committed today to a $5 billion investment in the Internet of Things (IoT) over the next four years. As part of the investment, the company says that it will focus on IoT research and development, security, development tools, services, and growing its partner ecosystem.

"With our IoT platform spanning cloud, OS, and devices, we are uniquely positioned to simplify the IoT journey so any customer—regardless of size, technical expertise, budget, industry or other factors—can create trusted, connected solutions that improve business and customer experiences, as well as the daily lives of people all over the world," Microsoft said in a blog post. "The investment we're announcing today will ensure we continue to meet all our customers' needs both now and in the future."

News of the investment comes a week after Microsoft announced a major reorganization, focusing the company more on AI and edge computing. "Computing experiences are evolving to include multiple senses and are no longer bound to one device at a time but increasingly spanning many as we move from home to work and on the go," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella explained in an email to employees announcing the reorganization. With a focus on the "intelligent edge," IoT devices stand to play a big role in Microsoft's strategy, and the investment announced today drives that home.

This comes in addition to Microsoft's efforts with Windows 10 IoT Core. According to Microsoft, customers can expect to see new products, services, programs, and more stemming from its investment.

Right now you can pick up an Etekcity smart plug for just $12.99 at Amazon when you enter the coupon code 7FRQNW4M during checkout. This is a savings of $3 and happens to drop this plug down to its lowest price. While it may not seem like a huge discount, this actually makes it one of the most affordable smart plugs on the market, and it's even Amazon Certified to work with Alexa.

This means that you'll be able to use your Echo Dot to control the plugs with just your voice. It also works with Google Assistant, so you can put that Google Home Mini you picked up over the holidays to good use.

• Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control. Power your devices without lifting a finger. Does NOT currently support SmartThings, Homekit, or IFTTT
• Track power usage for connected devices and figure out which devices use the most energy. You can effectively cut your usage so that you can save money on your next electric bill
• Easy to install and stable connection. Controlled from different devices and manage your home on your smartphone or tablet from anywhere
• Get ready to have a smart home and create customized schedule to automatically turn on and off any home electronics or appliances such as lamps, Christmas lighting, coffee maker, etc

The two-pack of these plugs is down to $26.99 right now, which is a deal we've seen in the past. If you've been waiting to try these out but only wanted one to start, you won't want to miss out on this deal.

See at Amazon

We're at a crossroads — smart home products have never been more affordable and accessible to the general public, but at the same time, they're often insecure, and most connected devices are susceptible to attacks. Criminals have caught onto this trend and smart home hacks are on the rise. What can you do to secure your IoT products?

Fortunately, there are smart folks working to combat those hackers with ingenious new devices like the Akita. What does the Akita do? Simply plug this little device into a LAN port on your router and the Akita will scan your network for any unusual activity and immediately shut things down if it notices any hackers or malicious programs running on your network. It will then notify you that an attempt was made. You wouldn't want hackers to access any of the sensitive information stored on your connected devices, so Akita does all the policing for you passively. You won't know it's there until it springs into action and prevents a hacking attempt.

Best of all, Akita cares about your privacy enough to not use an invasive Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) method for scanning and reading data to determine if it is safe or not, according to the maker. Akita's architecture has been structured in a way that nobody has access to look at your data at all, which is meant to ensure your privacy is completely protected. Akita is also backed up by Axius Smart Home experts who are always on-call and ready to offer support for any issues, and there's also an Akita app available for both Android and iOS for monitoring your network's security.

Akita has already well surpassed its initial goal, with nearly a full month to get in on the Kickstarter discounts. With a pledge of $89 or more, you get the Akita at a great Kickstarter special price (36 percent off the retail price of $139) and an expected delivery time of April 2018. Once that deal runs out, you'll have to wait for the second batch and pay a bit more — $109, which is still 32 percent cheaper than retail. Pricing continues to scale if you buy multiple Akitas, and one of these would make a great follow-up gift if you're giving someone an Alexa speaker, Google Home, or another smart home device for Christmas.

As more and more products start incorporating IoT technologies, these security risks will persist. Do your part to keep your smart home secure with Akita!

See Akita on Kickstarter

In a multi-device, multi-OS world, Microsoft is now positioning the cloud, Microsoft Graph, Windows Mixed Reality and quantum computing as the platforms that all other platforms will run on. In simpler times, personal computing, to most people and businesses, meant sitting at a Windows PC using first- and third-party programs to get things done or to be entertained. Other desktop OSes offered little competition to Microsoft's Windows.

Smartphones, the mobile OSes they would popularize, and the app ecosystems they would introduce hadn't yet challenged Microsoft's personal computing hegemony. And the internet, which would become the backbone that would power the mobile OSes that would rival Windows PCs as the nexus of personal computing, had not yet been mainstreamed.

The world was smaller, and the realm of personal computing was Windows - until it wasn't. Many people argue that Microsoft needs a mobile presence to become relevant in the age of mobile computing. Perhaps it does, and there is indeed a place for that. But the company's ambitious cloud and Microsoft Graph platform strategy, which is meant to support the breadth of the industry's apps, systems and devices, is a far grander prize.

Put another way, if you own the ocean, do you really need a boat?

The power of Office 365 and Microsoft Graph

When Microsoft moved Office 365 to the cloud, it moved more than just the workload. The data plane, made up of all the people, their relationships with others, projects, documents, schedules and more, were all brought to this intelligence-enhanced interconnected space. Microsoft's professional and personal, dual-user vision was also addressed through the merging of the authentication parameters of Office 365's Work, School and Personal accounts.

In this intelligent cloud environment Microsoft's services from OneNote, Azure, OneDrive, SharePoint, Outlook, Office, Active Directory, Teams, Cortana and more are all interconnected. The previously siloed infrastructure has been replaced by unified services that act synergistically as one service. And Microsoft is steadily adding more services and capabilities to this space.

Microsoft Graph provides a singular access point to all of this data. Previously the collective information from this conglomerate of services required a developer to target the separate application program interfaces (APIs) for each service. Microsoft Graph provides a single API that provides access to the now unified data.

Cloud is the new Windows

Microsoft, realizing Windows was no longer the center of users, enterprise and developer computing experiences, evolved with the times. Moving its range of interconnected services to the cloud provides a device- and system-agnostic platform for a device- and system-diverse world. Microsoft Graph brings the platform to everyone.

Developers can build custom apps that connect to the Microsoft Graph API and not only access raw data, but traverse across data points, providing insights through the support of the intelligent cloud. Simply put, AI can get to know users based on their profiles, activities and associations, and then provide information based on that user's intent. Business-to-business connections can also be facilitated through the Graph, optimizing integration of data between collaborating systems.

Microsoft's Laura Jones demonstrates an end-to-end interconnected experience that transcends devices.

The user experience facilitated by and founded upon Microsoft's cloud and services is the goal here, much like the user experience was based upon Windows and Win32 programs in the past. The device used is irrelevant in this scenario. Microsoft is striving to remain the world's primary computing platform, just on a much larger, cloud-based scale.

The cloud, IoT and intelligent edge

Microsoft's cloud strategy also encompasses the Internet of Things (IoT) and the range of enterprise and consumer devices it currently and hopes to support on the Intelligent Edge. IoT devices are internet-connected objects (like thermostats, refrigerators, and cars) that can collect and transfer data using embedded sensors.

The intelligent edge represents an area of the cloud where data is analyzed and aggregated close to where data is captured. Processing that would have occurred in the cloud is now relegated to the edge. As the processing power of connected devices continually improves and network speeds increase, AI on the edge becomes more capable and proactive.

Microsoft's cloud and AI strategy is to expand its IoT and intelligent edge footprint to incorporate more devices, businesses and networks. As more devices connect to its edge, run on its cloud, and are powered by its AI services, Microsoft becomes a more pervasive and relevant platform for modern computing.

Cross-platform apps, connecting Microsoft's cloud strategy

Under CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft has expanded its brand throughout competing ecosystems by providing Microsoft apps on iOS and Android. It even offers a Samsung Galaxy S8 Microsoft edition (infused with Microsoft apps) in the Microsoft Store.

Many Windows phone fans bemoan this strategy, citing Nadella's promise of a best on Windows Microsoft experience that was never fully realized. Windows 10 is vitally important to Microsoft, and provides a nexus for smartphones, as Microsoft Graph integrates Windows and mobile experiences. Still, Microsoft is focused on its cloud-based experiences and services as the primary computing platform, which includes but isn't focused on Windows.

Thus, Microsoft has ensured that all of its apps and services are accessible from the primary platforms: Windows 10, iOS and Android. Ironically, Microsoft neglected to bring some first-party apps to Windows phones (like Sway) or provided versions that are less capable than iOS or Android versions.

Windows Mixed Reality and quantum computing

With Windows 10 Microsoft provides developers and OEMs with the tools to build augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) apps and devices via Windows Mixed Reality.

HoloLens is an aspirational device to inspire OEM-designed AR headsets. We're beginning to see mixed reality VR headsets from various OEMs now. Microsoft hopes to be the industry's platform for holographic computing.

In November of 2016, Microsoft announced its quantum computing strategy. Quantum computing takes advantage of microscopic particles' abilities to exist in two states simultaneously.

In traditional computers, bits, or data, is represented as a 1 or 0. Sequential ordering of these binary instructions tells computers what to do. A quantum bit can exist as both a 1 and 0 simultaneously. This theoretically increases the computational power of quantum computers exponentially.

Microsoft's "do more" vision of quantum computing

This year Microsoft introduced a programming language developers can begin using to develop quantum apps. These apps will run on simulations since the quantum computer Microsoft envisions doesn't exist yet.

Microsoft, as a "do-more" company, is providing the tools and a platform for what it sees as the future of computing. In the future, it hopes to provide companies access to quantum computers to support their systems.

Own the ocean ...

Microsoft is securing its position as the industry's computing platform through the cloud, Microsoft Graph, the intelligent edge, holographic computing and cross-platform apps and is attempting to position itself as the platform for quantum computing as well.

Windows may not be where most personal computing occurs anymore, but Microsoft is striving to provide the platforms that support computing everywhere it occurs.

We recently reviewed the Ring Video Doorbell Pro – a smart doorbell with full HD video and security support – including how well it worked with Windows 10 and Mobile. While the app works just fine the lack of significant updates was a little worrying.

In that review, I was concerned that Ring may not be 100 percent committed to Windows 10 for future Ring products. Looks like my fears were unfounded. Ring has an update in testing that's a complete overhaul and rewrite for Windows 10 and I got an early look. Here is the forthcoming Ring Video Doorbell 2.0 app for Windows 10.

Ring Video Doorbell 2.0 for Windows 10

The updated Ring app for Windows 10 is a complete rewrite using more native, and modern Universal Windows Platform (UWP) controls. The app works on Mobile and PC too, and best of all it is significantly faster to launch and jump into your recorded videos or live view.

Most of the changes so far are in the redesign for streamlined access to your Ring accessories and device management. There are five main sections including:

• Dashboard – A quick overview of Ring activity like rings, motion, live view, and starred.
• Devices - Manage your Ring devices and accessories.
• Setup - Setup and add new Ring devices.
• Help - Help and support.
• Feedback - Leverages the new Windows 10 feedback hub to leave comments/requests.

Interestingly, the "setup" area currently states "To set up a Ring device, please use the Ring app on iOS or Android." While that seems like a bad sign, I'm assuming it's just a placeholder until that section is rewritten for the new app.

Update 8/28: Ring has updated the app and the "add" device section now states that the company is working on a new "add device" experience for Windows 10 and Mobile.

There are not a ton of new features yet as it appears that various components are still being worked on, but there are a few already live including a new "health" area for your doorbell. Health, which is already found on iOS and Android, simply gives a status of your Ring device like battery life (if applicable), voltage, network, signal strength, firmware, etc.

Not yet visible are sharing, new neighborhood feature or security zone management.

The app even has a new icon for when minimized that is more in line with Windows 10.

When is it coming?

Unfortunately, I don't have an estimate when Ring Video Doorbell 2.0 for Windows 10 will be coming, but the beta I'm currently using is very stable with no crashes or red flags in the first 24 hours of usage. I'm hoping we'll see newer Ring features ported to the 2.0 Windows 10 app to keep it feature parity with iOS and Android.

Either way, it's exciting to see that the company is actively developing a new re-written app for Windows 10 and Mobile users. The faster performance, smarter redesign, and updated graphics should be worth the wait.

Ring Video Doorbell Pro review: A smart doorbell for Windows 10

If you were thinking of buying a Ring smart device, hopefully, this peek will reassure you that the company is still committed to Microsoft. I hope that also means we'll see some Cortana and connected devices support native to Windows 10 in the future as well.

We'll, of course, keep you posted on any further developments and when the app goes live for the general public.

See Ring at Amazon

Thanks, Windows Central member emigrating, for the Ring app info!

Artificial intelligence-driven surveillance technology reminiscent of George Orwell's omnipresent "Big Brother" was presented. Microsoft showcased how this technology is capable of recognizing, people, places and objects, and could even act according to what it sees.

Using millions of cameras already in existence throughout our communities, hospitals and workplaces Microsoft explained this technology will allow us to "search the real world" just as we search the web.

Microsoft boasted this represents the coming together of the physical and digital worlds. I believe it represents the early stages of a dystopian implementation of hyper-surveillance, though Microsoft presented it within the context of how it will help keep us safe.

Safety first

Microsoft showed how in the workplace this AI-driven system could autonomously recognize a dangerous chemical spill and proactively notify the appropriate people to address it. It can also search a work site, find a tool an employee needs and "tell" the nearest authorized individual the tool's required elsewhere.

In a hospital, it could alert medical staff that a patient it's "observing" has surpassed prescribed levels of physical exertion. The system recognized the patient, had access to his records, "understood" his actual physical activity in relation to the digital record of his prescribed activity limits and "knew" what staff to alert.

Microsoft's carefully chosen scenarios reveal how this technology can help keep us safe. But how else might millions of artificial intelligence-enhanced cameras that are honed in on our comings and goings, activities, habits and routines be used?

This is just step two

Two years ago Microsoft introduced "How-Old" which uses Microsoft's facial recognition Cognitve Service to guess a person's age.

Beyond its fun aspects I expressed concerns How-Old could be a first step toward more dystopian applications:

Microsoft How-Old, could facial recognition tech turn ugly?

I also referenced Cortana integration, access to the then 1.4 billion tagged faces on Facebook, creative third-party use of How-Old API's and the machine learning-powered image recognition tech of Microsoft's Project Adam.  

Two years ago my prediction of ubiquitous AI-driven cameras that could recognize us virtually anywhere probably seemed like sci-fiction musings or paranoid ramblings. Yet, as I predicted, Microsoft has taken the second step and made it a reality.

To ensure its widespread acceptance, Microsoft has begun marketing it as the "edge of its cloud" for workplaces and hospitals. Framed in the disarming context of making those environments safer Microsoft hopes to preempt the inevitable privacy and abuse concerns. Make no mistake; Microsoft's plans are far broader than work sites and hospitals.  

Step three, making an unsafe world "safe"

After the horrific events of 9/11, the Patriot Act was passed by Congress to provided the US government with greater powers of surveillance. We've proven willing to forgo certain levels of privacy in exchange for professed guarantees of security.

Within this context Microsoft introduced its AI-driven hyper-surveillance system as a means to increase hospital and workplace safety. Expanding that "safety" message to the broader scope of an "unsafe world" is the next step.

The path to widespread deployment of this system will likely meet with relatively little resistance. Particularly in the technological climate of selfies, self-promotion on social media and video platforms and where information-gathering "Terms of Service" are heedlessly and trustingly "clicked" through. Since privacy's an increasingly surrendered commodity, privacy-eroding measures to increase safety may be readily accepted by most.

Companies, governments and school systems that employ this technology will likely point toward our news headlines. School shootings, kidnappings, terrorist attacks, police violence, random public attacks, workplace misconduct and more will likely be used to "justify" its implementation to help keep us safe.  

For the common good?

Fear mongering combined with the willing surrendering of privacy (note the levels of personal disclosure on platforms like Facebook) will likely lead to a general embrace of an ever-watching, AI-enhanced and cloud-connected "eye" sponsored by governments and private institutions.

This will substantially differ from current dumb-surveillance. Even in its present iteration, what Microsoft introduced can recognize people, the context they're in, what they're doing and what objects they're interacting with.

At Build 2016 Microsoft gave us a prelude to this tech. Using smart glasses and Microsoft's Cognitive Services a blind Microsoft employee could "see" facial expressions, his environment and actions:

This technology, therefore, not only allows for viewing what's in a camera's line of sight like traditional surveillance. With Microsoft's "edge of the cloud" surveillance can interpret and act upon what it sees.

Practical applications

In a store, facial recognition and other Cognitive Services may determine a shopper's "demeanor" indicates he's likely to shoplift or attack. The system could proactively alert store staff of this threat. Could such a system be prone to profiling?

Moreover, due to violence, many schools employ security measures like metal detectors and checkpoints. Inappropriate teacher-student relationships are also problematic. Microsoft's AI-driven surveillance could monitor staff and students in and out of school (via school and public cameras) who may be likely to engage in dangerous or inappropriate behavior.

Cognitive Services could potentially recognize emotional cues that are antecedents to dangerous or inappropriate student behavior. If/then programming could cue the system to focus on individuals exhibiting suspicious behavior.

This could be coupled with the system's object recognition capabilities. The system's ability to recognize a student's handling of a gun or dangerous materials via public cameras outside of school isn't far-fetched based on what Microsoft demoed. The system, as it does in hospitals, could then proactively alert authorities. Potential terrorists can be similarly trailed.

Big brother?

Government implementation of this technology is troubling. Via the millions of cameras installed throughout the world, AI could proactively "follow" persons of interest wherever they are and watch whatever they're doing.

Under the presumption of acting preemptively, governments and law enforcement agencies may use Microsoft's surveillance technology and Cognitive Services to interpret patterns of behavior and activity that may indicate a person could be a threat.

What happens if politics begin governing this technology's use and particular groups are targeted? What if religion-oppressing governments use it to root out those who aren't compliant? Will dissenters of oppressive regimes be more easily found and "dealt with?" Can democracies like the United States become "less free" if such powers are placed in its hands? What about hackers?

We're simply not responsible

Like the movie Minority Report, governments may use these tools in an attempt to stop crimes before they occur - but at what cost? These increased powers of surveillance could be abused resulting in a subsequent erosion of freedoms, not just privacy. Innocent people may become the subjects of hyper-surveillance.

Nadella asserted we must use technology responsibly, but history dictates that's a standard we're not likely to attain. Though we've done and will do much good with technology, the good is almost always accompanied by the bad.

The splitting of the atom led to nuclear power and atomic bombs. The study of chemistry yielded both medicines and weapons. Gunpowder resulted in fireworks and guns. The Patriot Act's led to successful anti-terror operations while also paving the way for profound levels of surveillance of US citizens.

My pessimist's view of how things may turn out could be wrong. But given human nature, history and the direction we're headed I sincerely doubt it.

What are your thoughts on the moral and ethical implications of this technology?

Related reading:

Is quantum computing a genie we will wish we kept in the bottle?

Microsoft's Cognitive Services and AI everywhere vision are making AI in our image

Windows 10 on a table is something we've been super interested in. In fact, we're so interested in the idea, we went out and got ourself a decade old Surface Table just to put Windows 10 on it! Today however, we had a chance to go hands on with a much newer table, powered by Windows 10 IoT, a streamlined version of Windows 10 for the "internet of things".

This new table is a lot less bulky than the older Surface Table, with a much bigger and higher quality screen. Like the Surface Table however, this table has been designed for retail scenarios like restaurants, with a UI that works on both sides of the table, again similar to the Surface Table and its UI.

The IoT table retails for around $15,000, which is not cheap. We're still several years away from there being consumer-facing tables that anyone can go pick up running Windows 10. This table specifically is running Windows 10 IoT, with a custom app interface that has games, cool tricks and more.

Keep it locked to Windows Central for more Build coverage.

Now a visit to a local Microsoft store can give you access to a world where alien robots burst through walls. Well, that's as long as you've donned Microsoft's HoloLens. The presence of digital elements in our physical world is a reality.

Microsoft's goal, as seen in the company's vision of a scuba diver's augmented POV in the video below, is to provide a platform where holographic computing is applied in a variety of scenarios.

Redmond envisions a future where fluid interaction with digital elements that populate our world, augment our perceptions and provide additional information about our environment is the norm.

First things first: Holo-foundation

HoloLens is Microsoft's untethered wearable computer that showcases the augmented-reality extreme of Redmond's Windows Holographic mixed-reality vision.

Head Mounted Displays (HMD's) like those coming from Acer, Asus HP, Dell and Lenovo will showcase the Virtual Reality extreme of that vision. VR opposed to AR's overlaying of digital artifacts onto the real world, immerses a user in a virtual environment.

Microsoft's Windows Holographic platform (as part of Windows 10) is being positioned to mainstream AR and VR. Redmond is working to democratize the technology so that everyone has access to it. Affordable AR glasses, I believe, are the long-term goal.

Ambient computing, interfaces in our faces

To understand Microsoft's augmented reality goal, we must consider their ambient computing goal. Ambient computing refers to computing that is part of our environment and not restricted to a localized device such as a desktop PC. Static sedentary computing is personal computing's past.

I expounded on Microsoft's vison of a device-less future in October 2015:

Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella has been reinforcing his mobility of experiences vision since he took the helm in 2014. The mobility of a user's digital experiences, not the mobility of our devices is the focus. You are the hub. The Cloud, as an intelligent omnipresent backend, powers these experiences and conveys them across devices. Microsoft's cloud-based services, Universal Windows Platform and Windows 10 family of devices are foundational to this vision. They, however, are not the totality of the mobility of experiences vision.

Microsoft's platform company, "do more" vision, includes every medium through which a user's digital experiences will travel. Thus, a countless array of Internet of Things devices, which Microsoft is determined to infuse with intelligence, are also part of Redmond's mobile strategy.

Connected devices are expected to reach 34 billion by 2020. Microsoft hopes its intelligent cloud, Cortana and bots will be the platform for the majority of those devices. In time, IoT devices may permeate our environment and "know" us at work, in public, and at home. This is Microsoft's (and its rival's) goal.

Seeing the screen-less interface

Microsoft's Home Hub strategy will utilize low-cost ARM-based devices with screens that give us a visual interface to communicate with the IoT:

There will, however, also be millions of devices in our general environment and many in our homes that will be screen-less. Voice will be one way to interact with these devices as Microsoft's investment's in far-field communication indicates. Vision and motion I believe will be another.

I believe augmented reality will enable us to "see" digital interfaces and the data associated with screen-less devices. It's conceivable that companies like Microsoft envision a world where the IoT will have both a physical and digital make-up. Not unlike a human being can have a physical body and an invisible soul. This digital component would be visible with AR glasses (that would connect to devices) and could be interacted with via gestures like those we currently see employed with HoloLens.

In the video below London designer, Keiichi Matsuda, explains a vision of AR that helps us visualize this concept.

I contend that Microsoft's IoT and augmented reality visions are not independent of one another. I believe Redmond's goal is that holographic computing will supplement the ambient computing platform IoT may make ubiquitous.

Microsoft shares their vision

Microsoft has produced several videos over the years that provide inspiring imagery of incredible technological vision. At the time of the videos releases most of their content seemed like science fiction. I recently noted, however, that the videos foreshadowed technology that ultimately became a reality.

Continuum, OS-level digital inking, real-time language translation, 3D computing, computer vision and more were once mere concepts in Microsoft's future vision videos. They are all now real.

The following future vision video which shows a woman using AR glasses (0:01 mark) and a young girl interacting with holographic images at home (4:23 mark) may hint at Microsoft's IoT/AR computing vision.

The realization of this vision is years away, but its foundation is being laid by the industry's fervent embrace of AR and a battle for IoT dominance among the likes of Google, Microsoft, and Samsung.

An all-encompassing ambient computing environment that will be a composite of physical and digital structures is before us. AI that will recognize and "perceive" us via those intelligent devices may work in concert with AR glasses that will allow us to perceive and give us the option to interact with the "digital extensions" and "digital interfaces" of those devices.

Mobile is bigger than we think

Microsoft's IoT, Home Hub and AR visions are components of its mobility of experiences vision. Redmond's vision of facilitating a user's digital experience goes beyond the PC, phone, HoloLens and other members of the Windows 10 device family. The IoT computers that will permeate our environment and help us "do more" at work and play are part of Microsoft's mobile vision.

If Microsoft is successful, rather than a hodge-podge of disparate devices, its single cloud-based intelligent platform will be a singular intelligence linking a bulk of the IoT.

What might that content-saturated digital world look like through augmented reality glasses?

Roughly every ten years there's a shift to a new computing paradigm. The computer hardware and process optimization of the 80's gave way to the Microsoft-dominated software and productivity of the 90s. Google-dominated web-based information retrieval of the 00s yielded to the Apple-Android mobile duopoly and the warehouse of apps paradigm of the 10's.

The maturity of the web, intelligent cloud computing, advances in AI and the mobility of our digital experiences are setting the stage for the next shift to more ambient computing via the Internet of Things. By 2020 the number of connected devices is expected to triple to 34 billion (with a global human population of 7.5 billion).

Companies are investing millions in the next phase of computing, which will be a complex interwoven web of things powered by artificial intelligence. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella expounded, "we want to bring intelligence to everything, to everywhere, and for everyone." Other tech companies share this vision.

If Microsoft, Google and Samsung have their way, the Internet of Things will be infused with intelligence that gets to know users and responds to them in very personalized ways. Investments in AI and IoT are leading to a future of decentralized or ambient computing, that departs from our smartphone-centric present.

Google has eyes on AI

Google's CEO Sundar Pichai recently stated he is on a journey from mobile to AI. This realigning of the search giant around AI is a testimony that Mountain View recognizes the paradigm shift taking place. Google's cloud investments, strength in search, and mobile dominance with Android provide them with a position of power on the AI front. As the leader in search, Google has a vast repository of categorized data that gives the company an advantage as the provider of information to users.

Furthermore, Google has the mindshare as the "go to" source when a user has a question. "Googling" something has become part of our common vernacular. Moreover, 20% of the searches in the Google app in the US are by voice.

It is upon this foundation that Google has launched "Google Assistant" as every user's personal Google. Pichai boasted that the Assistant would get to know users over time and deliver a more personal experience. As a part of Google Home, Pixel (and other) smartphones, Allo Messenger and the IoT Google hopes that its Assistant will be a pervasive part of our lives. Google's developer advocate for IoT Wayne Piekarski wrote:

Finally, Google's purchase of API.ai provides developers (over 60,000 so far) a platform for creating bots for this new battleground.

Samsung's living with Viv and harnessing Harman

As the leading Android phone manufacturer, Samsung's Galaxy line dominates the market (despite recent troubles). Still, slim profit margins are even more problematic in a saturated smartphone market. Samsung's purchase of Viv and Harman reveal their vision beyond the smartphone.

Viv was a startup co-founded by the creators of Siri, with the mission to "breathe life into inanimate objects and devices in our lives through conversation." Viv creator Dag Kittlaus described how Viv, as an unbounded AI for the entire industry, would know users across devices:

He gave an example of a consumer buying a product, logging in, and having access to Viv and all of their personal information on the new device. He also explained Viv's unique capability of dynamic program generation or self-programming where the program understands and adapts dynamically to a user's intent. When asked if he'd sell the company to Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg before Samsung acquisition Kittlaus asserted:

After the acquisition was announced, Samsung SVP Jacopo Lenzi said Viv will continue to operate independently, but in support of, Samsung's vision.

Kittlaus is excited about the 500 million devices Samsung ships yearly and is committed to keeping Viv an open platform to enable growth at the global scale he envisions. Though, many consumers are excited about the Viv-powered assistant destined for the Galaxy S8, the bigger picture is Samsung's broad vision for an AI-infused IoT.

Furthermore, Samsung's purchase of Harman gives Samsung's AI an immediate platform in cars.

Final Thoughts

I've written in detail about Microsoft's AI and bot vision and a democratized Cortana. Redmond's hopes to be the platform for an AI-infused world exist within a very competitive space. Low-cost ARM PCs as part of Microsoft's Home Hub vision, a cohesive family of Windows 10 devices and the release of the Cortana SDK may positively affect Redmond's IoT fortunes.

Finally unlike Cortana, Google Assistant, and Samsung's coming assistant, Apple's Siri SDK will not (yet) be infused as broadly within third-party devices as a democratized AI. How will interaction with rival AI that facilitates a user's digital experience in a world where computing is more ambient affect users committed to Apple's ecosystem?

There is a leader during each computing paradigm. Microsoft led the PC revolution, Google the web, and Apple in mobile. Who will lead on the Internet of Intelligent Things?

Microsoft recently opened the doors for third-party apps on the Xbox One. While we are in the very early days of the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) on the gaming console we see quite a few apps already populating the Store.

One of those is Home Remote, a popular universal home automation app found on iOS, Android, Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile, and now the Xbox One.

Home Remote lets you connect up to various smart services, such as:

• ecobee Thermostats
• Insteon Hubs
• IP Cameras
• Nest Thermostats
• Philips Hue
• SmartThings Hubs
• Sonos

…and more. While the app is quite barebones (it's not particularly pretty) it does let you control some of the major features right from your phone, PC, and now gaming console.

In my hands-on video you can see the app in action, and while not everything is working just yet, (e.g. I can't change the temperature on my new ecobee3) things like Philips Hues works just fine. Truth be told, it's not even that awkward to use either and I dig the lighting presets a lot.

I think Home Remote (which I didn't know was a thing even on iOS and Android) could use some polish, but we're just starting with apps on the Xbox. The future for such integration and the home is only beginning. Tying into things like Cortana and making user-interactions easier could be a significant shift in how our homes work.

To grab the app on the Xbox just search the Store for Home Remote. If you're Windows 10 or Windows 10 Mobile hit the Store link below to try it on your PC or phone. You can use the Home Remote site for support including their forums, which will help walk you through advanced setups.

Tell me in comments what app you want to see for the Xbox and whether home automation will be the next big thing.

Download Home Remote from the Store

OK, Back to the Future was set in 2015 and while we're not at the stage of hydrating pizzas and video wall windows, we are living in a world where it's perfectly reasonable to connect our homes to our smartphones. None of this stuff is cheap, but it's also not astronomically expensive, meaning that every single one of us can feel just a little bit like we're living in the future.

The Smart Home market has grown a whole lot in recent years. Big names such as Nest, Samsung's SmartThings and Philips Hue have risen to become more mainstream products, and Sonos is almost a household name when it comes to wire-free, home-filling music.

But there's also a bunch of other stuff out there from less well known brands that's just as good and just as worthy of attention. We've rounded up some of the Mobile Nations editors to talk a little about what they're using in their own homes, and why.

So, without further ado!

Daniel Rubino - Ring Video Doorbell

Not only is Ring a rather smart use of modern technology, it also serves as a safety measure for your home and family. If you suspect someone is going on your property, vandalizing, or maybe you just live in a bad area, Ring can offer you some peace of mind. Additionally, Ring is just useful if you cannot get to your door, or are away from home. You can now make sure the delivery person drops off the package or see when friends of your child come over.

The Windows 10 apps for Ring are well thought out, simple to use and reliable. Each time I've used the app it worked well and alerted me when it was supposed to do so. The night-time vision is a bonus, too. For more on Ring be sure to check out our hidden gems coverage.

See at Amazon

Rene Ritchie - Philips Hue and iHome WiFi Smart Plug

At its very best, the future is indistinguishable from magic. It's what we've dreamt about since childhood and can't believe we can finally do. That's the feeling I get from Philip's Hue Lights.

I have over a dozen of them now — in my studio, my living room, my kitchen, my hall, and my bedroom. And thanks to integration with Apple's HomeKit, I can control them all, or each one individually, with Siri and my voice. It's not "Tea, Earl Grey, hot" just yet, but it is "Hey Siri, turn my studio lights purple." It's also "Hey Siri, red alert" and "Hey Siri, crash the compound!"

Basically, it's any light in any color at any time I want. In bed at night, it's also any lights I may have left on instantaneously going off. In other words, it's the future, and it really is indistinguishable from magic.

I have Philips Hue and they're awesome, but I also have LED panels I use for podcasting that don't have the same built-in connectivity. So, I turned to the iHome iSP5 WiFI Smart Plug.

With the iHome iSP5 WiFI Smart Plug, I can plug in anything — space heater, fan, fountain, massive bi-color LED panels, whatever — and have the same kind of HomeKit and Siri-powered voice control as I do with Hue. And, because I named them cleverly, I can say "Hey Siri, turn on the studio lights" and both Hue and the LED panels go bright.

It's amazing because, if I forget to turn the lights on before I strap the podcast mic and headphones on, or I forget to turn them off after I leave the room, I just speak to turn them on or off them, and I'm all set. It's not the Star Trek computer quite yet, but it's incredibly convenient, and almost indistinguishable from magic.

See at Amazon

Serenity Caldwell - Nest Cam

I picked up a Nest Cam over the holidays, and over the last few months, it's become one of our most-used gadgets — more than my Hue lights, thermostat, Sonos system, or smart plugs. Why? Puppy-watching. While we ostensibly installed a Nest Cam in our house for home security, in reality, the always-on HD camera quickly became a way for my fiancé and I to watch the antics of our two rescue dogs when we were away.

The Nest Cam offers 1080p wide-angle video, audio, and a remote microphone and speaker — though after one attempt to tell our dogs "Off!" the couch that resulted in both of them wandering around for an hour trying to figure out where the mystery voice had come from, we haven't used that very much. Its night vision options and "enhanced" zoom picture not only let us scout for intruders while we're on a trip — they also allow us to take obnoxious screenshots of our dogs in various sleeping positions. (If you have animals, night vision is especially hilarious: Rather than red-eye, pet eyes turn a blinding white, giving them a demonically-possessed look.)

Notifications that send on motion and sound let us know when the pups are up and barking, and Nest's (paid) video archive gives us the peace of mind that if a burglar does get in (or a puppy does something cute) we've got it all on tape.

See at Amazon

Georgia Dow - Ecobee3

The only thing better than controlling my Ecobee3 Wi-Fi thermostat with my iPhone is... controlling it with my Apple Watch! Even though it's still early days and there's lots of room for improvement, being able to control my thermostat from my iPhone or Apple Watch is also absolutely amazing.

The idea that I can monitor and control the climate in my house from the kitchen table, from bed, from the back porch, or from far away is something straight out of science fiction.

See at Amazon

Kevin Michaluk - Sonos

Life with background music is simply better. The problem is, I don't have the time to figure out what to listen to, and even if I did put in the time to build a music library of all my favorite playlists I'd probably end up divorced because my high-school favorites would be judged as pretty atrocious in 2016 (don't be surprised if you catch me whistling Aqua tunes from time to time).

I've been living with Sonos since 2012, and in my first full year with it I listened to more music than I had the previous 15. I could never go back to life without it. Both at work and at home, I love having background music playing all the time, which I can crank up to 11 from my phone or computer whenever the need arises. With Sonos' app supporting services like Google Play Music (which now has Songza's playlists integrated into it) or Spotify or Apple Music (now supported by Sonos) it's easy to pick out playlists or genres of music to suit every one of my many moods in an instant. I'm not picky in one I listen to. I just want good music, and I like hearing new music I never heard before.

What really sells Sonos for me is that my wife loves it. She has zero patience for tech that's annoying or difficult to use. Sonos connects to a lot of music services, but in doing so is still easy to control. Plus, with different music in different zones, she can listen to her music while she's in the bedroom while I'm upstairs on the treadmill listening jogging to Barbie Girl (don't judge). :)

See at Amazon

Ara Wagoner - Philips Hue

Hue lights are an easy way to ease into home automation, especially since they use regular lightbulb sockets and have a lot of compatible apps, such as the app I use: Hue Pro. I have mine in the bathroom, and I have modes set up so I'm not blinding myself turning the lights on while getting ready for bed.

They're also a godsend when I have a headache, because I'm not fiddling with the lights trying to find a dim profile. They're expensive, but they're easy and well-supported. While there are cheaper smart lights out there, Hue has a 'it just works' factor to it. It has cross-platform support on the programming side, and works with several home automation services, including Amazon Echo.

See at Amazon

Adam Zeis - SmartThings

For years I stumbled around with various smart / connected home devices, but it wasn't until I found SmartThings that I really got carried away. The SmartThings Hub not only works with SmartThings devices, but a slew of other connected devices as well. In addition to the door sensors, motion sensors, water sensors, locks, temperature sensors and proximity sensors, my SmartThings hub also works with my Hue lights, Sonos, Amazon Echo and other connected devices in my home.

For me, SmartThings really changed the way my connected home works, and the possibilities for getting things done remain endless as new devices are added to the SmartThings portfolio.

See at Amazon

Simon Sage - Philips Hue

Hue has a lot of smart lighting products, but the LightSrip Plus has been my favorite to date. In addition to tying in with whatever other hue bulbs you have around the house to create a cohesive atmosphere, the LightStrip can provide even, consistent, and indirect lighting from around corners. The Plus model manages whites better than the previous LightStrip, and can be extended out to 10 meters.

When it comes to the Hue system overall, it's easy to get swept up in the novelty of it all. After all, it's easy to convince visitors that you live in the future when you turn your entire living room into a lava lamp with a few taps on your phone. The more subtle conveniences bubble up over time, though. Turning on all of your lights at once without fiddling with single switches is convenient, especially if you rock the dimmer switch.

The difference between working in an environment with cool white light and warm light was a lot more noticeable than I was expecting it to be. It's gotten to the point where I can't imagine having a home without Philips hue in it.

See at Amazon

Russell Holly - Nest Smart Thermostat

The Nest Learning Thermostat does exactly what it promised to do. The schedule it has built based on my usage keeps my home comfortable and saves me energy almost every month. The only time I mess with is to turn it off when the weather is so nice outside I'd rather open all the windows. It took a couple of months to get there completely, but never needing to mess with my thermostat is exactly why I bought Nest.

I've also found Nest is the central point in my connected home. It tells my Hue Bulbs to occasionally turn on and off when I'm not around to make it look like I'm home. Using my smart deadbolt tells Nest when I'm not home automatically. I'm only scratching the surface of what I can connect to Nest in my personal setup, and that excites me. I can expand at my own pace, and know those products only make my Nest smarter and more capable.

That's really what it comes down to for me. A gadget that doesn't need to be babysat, and makes my life easier. It's only of the few "Internet of Things" devices that actually delivers on that promise consistently.

See at Amazon

Phil Nickinson - Ring Video Doorbell and Amazon Echo

One of my current favorite connected home product is also the newest in my home. The Ring Video Doorbell (which has been marketing the heck out of itself lately) is worth every penny of its $199 price tag. (And $30 a year for 6 months worth of backup recordings.) Yes, that's a lot for a doorbell. But what it's bought me is piece of mind. Installation was a breeze, and the Ring slow-charges just fine on my existing low-voltage wiring from the previous doorbell.

With the Ring I know when my kids get home. Or when they get close to home. Or when they're trying to escape the home. I know when anyone comes near the front door, at any time of day, from anywhere in the world. When packages are being delivered. If someone tries to swipe something off my porch before I can get to it. But more important is that when I'm traveling my wife and kids can see who's at the door without actually having to open the door or look through the window. That's a big deal, and it's better for my piece of mind than I thought it would be.

This isn't quite as serious a dedicated security system, but it's a perfectly easy way to keep an eye on things.

See at Amazon

The Amazon Echo may be the best — and most important — connected device you can have in your home today. While companies such as Google and Apple have things like Brillo and Weave and HomeKit, nothing's really taken off. Meanwhile, Amazon has swept in with a singular product — a Bluetooth/Wifi-connected speaker that gains new functions weekly.

And Echo has personality in the form of "Alexa," the default female voice you interact with. That goes a long way toward moving Echo from a member of the Internet of "Things" to a truly connected experience.

And in March 2016 Amazon unleashed a couple new devices in the Echo family — Dot, which is a smaller, Alexa-powered, speaker-less controller; and Tap, a portable Alexa-powered Bluetooth/Wi-Fi speaker.

If you had to pick just one connected device for your home, this would be what I'd go for.

See at Amazon

Daniel Bader - Kwikset Kevo smart lock

Your front door lock is the first thing you touch before coming home, and the thing that protects you while you're away. That's why Kwikset's Kevo smart lock has become such an integral part of my quickly smartening home.

What's so good about the Kevo is that it looks and functions like a regular front door lock. You can use a standard Kwikset key inside of it and never have a clue of its potential.

But when you connect it to your phone, the magic begins. You can assign people permanent or temporary eKeys while you're away, so all they have to do is have their smartphone nearby and touch the doorknob to engage the lock. Similarly, when your smartphone is within range, the deadbolt can be triggered from within the app.

The Kevo isn't perfect, but the beauty of cloud-enabled smart home equipment is that it can be improved with firmware updates. The Kevo hasn't let me down yet, and it's become a valuable member of my smart home.

See at Amazon

#Windows10DoesMore

With these Windows 10 Gem apps

With support from Microsoft

• 
• Duolingo
• Yummly
• PicPlayPost
• Ring
• Sphero BB-8
• Two Dots
• Yoga Studio
• AMC TV
• Nexia
• Garmin Connect
• 1-800-Flowers
• Flipagram
• 

Nexia Home Intelligence

One of the most exciting post-smartphone technologies to come along has to be home automation. And like in the early days of smartphones home automation is a little chaotic with many competing companies, standards, technologies, and even ideas of what home automation should be.

Nexia Home Intelligence is one of the more well-known home automation systems. What makes Nexia interesting is its support for the open Z-Wave specification. Well, that and Nexia's awesome Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile apps to control and monitor your home from anywhere in the world. That's why today I'll take Nexia for a spin and tell you why you should consider it.

Download Buy at Amazon

What is Nexia?

Nexia Home Intelligence comprises of a few parts. The first and foremost part you need is the bridge, and this piece of the puzzle costs around $71 on http://Amazon.com?tag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUwpUdUnU38499.

Technically that and the Windows 10 or Windows 10 Mobile apps are all you need to get started.

However, your bridge (or hub) cannot do much without any smart appliances. This part is where you need to allocate some funds to start hooking up your home. There are some broad but common categories that apartment and home owners typically "wire up" to their Nexia system. I put wire up in the quotes because technically there is little to no actual wiring as everything works over WiFi on your home network.

Here are some of the things that Nexia Home Intelligence can control:

• Thermostats by Trane/American Standard
• AC outlets to turn on and off appliances (and control light dimming)
• Light bulbs
• Motion detectors
• Door and window open/close sensors
• Water sensors
• Security cameras
• Sprinkler control
• Automated window blinds

You can see all the sensors and gear right on their website to get an idea of the wide range of Nexia-compatible products.

What is fun about home automation is you can build it out over time based on your finances and needs. You could just pick up the Nexia bridge, a door sensor and an power outlet appliance module to get a feel for it and not break the bank. Later, you can pick up a door lock, security camera, and more and just add them to your Nexia network piece by piece.

The Nexia Home Intelligence system can be setup and managed through three different ways:

• The Nexia website
• Windows 10 app for PC
• Windows 10 Mobile app for smartphones (also iOS and Android)

Using the apps, you can remotely control, monitor and use all the connections on your Nexia system. More on this below.

Monthly subscription

Nexia Home Intelligence requires a $9.99 a month fee. There is no contract, and there are no cancelation costs, but you do need to pay the $9.99 a month fee to utilize Nexia.

This added cost is a bit different from some other systems. However, there is a reason for it. The added monthly fee lets you add up to 231 Z-Wave appliances, an unlimited number of Schlage Home Cameras and you get 250MB of video recording (for an extra $1.99 a month you can bump that to 1GB).

Nexia also adds a programming layer to their setup, which is why you can use the web to set up, configure, and monitor your system. This addition makes creating and using Nexia much more streamlined than competing products.

Nexia is assuming you will want to add a Schlage camera with recording ability. A competing (but proprietary) system like Nest Cam also starts at $9.99 (for the first camera) per month, but you are not getting a full home automation system — just a smart security camera. Nest Cam is also not compatible with Windows 10.

I won't skirt around the issue: paying an extra $10 a month is something to take into account for your long-term costs if you are thinking about Nexia home automation. That said, I found setting up and using the service to be one of the best I have used so far, and that includes my SmartThings (now owned by Samsung) and Insteon systems.

While neither of those other systems requires a monthly fee, I found Nexia and its Windows 10 apps a superior experience. In short, you get what you pay for, and that applies here as well.

Why Z-Wave?

The other aspect that makes Nexia an attractive investment is Z-Wave. Think of Z-Wave like Wi-Fi and USB. It's an agreed-upon standard for home automation and connected technologies. The idea here being that you can buy any Z-Wave appliance, and it will connect up to your Z-Wave Nexia bridge.

By going with only Z-Wave, you are not locked into buying one company's products (looking at you, Nest). You can buy Z-Wave supported devices from GE, Schlage, and hundreds of other businesses.

You can see all the Z-Wave compatible devices on the Z-Wave website or just go to http://Amazon.com?tag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUwpUdUnU38499 and search for 'z-wave' to see many more. This ability lets you mix and match products for your home automation instead of waiting for one company to release something in particular you want.

As someone who owns and who has used Nest, Dropcam, Philips Hue Lights, SmartThings, Insteon, and more I find the open Z-Wave format easily the best. Competing proprietary technologies are excellent, but they're hard to extend and require separate apps.

In theory, you could have an app for your Hues lights, Nest Cam, and your home automation system e.g. Nexia, SmartThings, totally defeating the drive for simplicity that home automation is supposed to provide.

My advice: invest in just Z-Wave technologies and stick with one system and one (really good) app.

Connect your home

Tweet at us how you're making your home smarter and include the hashtag #Windows10DoesMore!

Tweet your smart home improvements and include #Windows10DoesMore!

Setting up Nexia

For my review of Nexia I picked up the following on http://Amazon.com?tag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUwpUdUnU38499

• Nexia Bridge
• GE 12718 Z-Wave Wireless Lighting Lamp Module with Dimmer Control
• Schlage Z-Wave Home Door and Window Sensor
• Nexia Home Intelligence Z-Wave One Touch Control
• Nexia Home Intelligence WCW200 Schlage Wireless Indoor HD Camera

The biggest issue with home automation is setting it all up. Luckily, Nexia was a breeze. This is how I did it:

1. Opened up the Nexia bridge and read the sticker telling me to go to the Nexia website
2. Signed up for an account and registered my bridge
3. Plugged in the bridge to power and Ethernet

From this point on it was just adding the other components to the Nexia system. You can also run the setup all through the Windows 10 app where I just hit the 'Connect a new device' button.

Nexia walks you completely through the setup, and I had not one single problem, hiccup or moment of frustration. Within about 30 minutes I had my camera on, door sensor working, and my living room light (AC outlet module) connecting up to Nexia.

The new Nexia One Touch Control is a remote that you can mount on your wall and program up to 15 commands. You can also just keep it on the coffee table as a remote. With it, you can set your lights, close your blinds, change the temperature or do whatever you want.

Since my initial setup and usage, I have also now ordered some Z-Wave light bulbs, a First Alert 2-in-1 Z-Wave Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm, a Trane smart thermostat, and some motion detectors. In short, I'm going all in!

Windows 10 and Mobile apps

In having used both Insteon and SmartThings for home automation and their Windows apps I have to give Nexia a thumbs up for being the best of the bunch. Their app is easier to use and more reliable. In fact, it maintains a 4.1 rating (out of 5) on the store, clobbering the competition (SmartThings doesn't have an app for PC, just mobile).

It's also smart! You can optionally add a PIN to the app (both mobile and desktop) so that you need to unlock it to see and control anything. I appreciate that. Even more neat is how the app requires you to re-enter the PIN after being minimized. I haven't seen other apps do that and thought it was a nice touch.

The Schlage Wireless Indoor HD Camera was also flawless. It does 720P recording, and you can enable HD viewing in the apps (great if you have the bandwidth). The camera can record at night and although they, unfortunately, do not have microphones the camera just works. Each time I fired up the app on my Lumia 950 or Surface Book I could instantly view the feed with a quick frame-rate.

Tying the camera to a door trigger through the app was also super easy. For instance, I have my Nexia set so that when someone opens the front door (triggering the door sensor) the HD camera will record for 15 seconds and then send my phone an alert so that I can view it. Once again, it worked each time. Nexia's app notifications (toast style) that never failed. Heck, as I was removing the door sensor battery (I'm moving and I'm taking the Nexia system with me) I got a notification that someone was tampering with it! Besides Notifications, Alerts also show up on the Nexia app's Live Tile.

Tying the camera to a door trigger was super easy. When the front door opens the HD camera will record for 15 seconds and then send my phone an alert.

The Nexia apps are true Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps for Windows 10, so you get the same experience and performance across all Windows 10 devices. You can even download the app and run the 'demo' to see what it feels like so don't take my word.

I do think some of the menu animations can be improved upon in the app. But I was concerned with only a few things in my testing: reliability, ease of use and could I do what I wanted to do e.g. dim my lights, view my camera, etc.? To all of those I can answer "yes", and the app did not crash on me once.

I did notice two bugs, however. One is the first time you launch the app there is a dialog screen asking to use your location. That makes sense as all home automation systems require that. However, the dialog was hidden behind the main Nexia screen, which would not respond to input. You need first to unhide the dialog and answer yes before you can log in (or try the demo). The other was in renaming a button in the One Touch Control as it would not complete (you can do this on the web, however). Neither of those is a recurring issue that you will encounter on a daily, weekly or even monthly basis.

For now, I have no problem telling you that the best home automation experience for Windows 10 users is now with Nexia.

The Takeaway

Home automation and security are where all of this internet stuff is heading. Your options today include buying into a proprietary system or going with the open Z-Wave protocol of which Nexia is a part.

While the $9.99 a month fee is not cheap, you do get the video camera and recording thrown into that mix (plus you can add unlimited amount of cameras without extra charges unlike Nest Cam).

But here's the thing: Nexia Home Intelligence works. I had zero issues setting it up and a great experience using the Windows 10 and Mobile apps, which are fast, stable and let me do what I needed to do without frustration. Compared to some other products out there, the Nexia experience was the better one and because of that Nexia earns our nod as a #Windows10DoesMore Gem.

I'm in the process of moving into a new apartment, and I am setting it up with Nexia with no worries — and I'm excited to use it with Windows 10.

Day 9 Sweepstakes:Win an Nexia starter kit and Schlage smart lock!

How to Enter: Log into Windows Central and leave a comment on this post. Tell us how a Nexia kit and Schlage smart lock would work in your home setting. At the end of your comment you must also indicate you are posting as an entry into the sweepstakes, or use #sweepstakes.

Full rules and regulations can be found here, but please note that due to sponsor restrictions, the sweepstakes is only open to Windows Central readers in the US and Canada.

The sweepstakes is open until March 31st, and winners will be announced on the blog shortly after the close date.

The Prize: Two super lucky Windows Central readers will take home a Nexia Home Starter Kit and Schlage lock bundle!

Follow Daniel for even more #Windows10DoesMore

Twitter: @Daniel_Rubino

Instagram: daniel_rubino

Microsoft announced today that it is bolstering the "Internet of Things" (IoT) with the release of the Windows 10 IoT Core Insider Preview for developers and makers working with the Raspberry Pi 2 and Intel's Minnowboard Max.

While we've known for a while that Microsoft was working on bringing free versions of Windows 10 to the IoT space, this marks the first time developers will get a chance to test the operating system out with the Raspberry Pi 2 while providing feedback to Microsoft ahead of a full release this summer.

In addition, Microsoft has also announced a new partnership with Arduino to create a version of Windows 10 that can be employed in a wide range of devices. Microsoft details two key applications that are part of this first release:

• Windows Virtual Shield for Arduino enables developers to tap into the incredible power of Windows 10 devices through wireless protocols. A Lumia 530 contains well over $200-worth of Arduino shield sensors and capabilities, and we've made it easy to access all of those sensors and capabilities from an Arduino as if they were standard hardware shields. Imagine being able to create an Arduino project that includes GPS, Web connectivity/parsing, touch display, speech technologies and more. We're particularly fond of the picture the weather project we've created that lets you bring your children's drawings to life.
• With Windows Remote Arduino we're enabling developers to extend their Universal Windows Application with Arduino commands that execute on a wirelessly-connected Arduino device. It combines the power of Windows 10 device features such as image processing, speech recognition, website parsing, cameras and advanced audio pipelines with the power of physical world interactivity through Arduino.

This looks like a great start to Windows 10 for the IoT, and we're sure to see some interesting applications going forward. You can check out Microsoft's full blog post and how to get started with the Windows 10 IoT Core Insider Preview from the source link below.

Source: Microsoft

Home automation is pretty amazing technology and with the ever expanding Internet of Things we're going to see the space continue to grow. At CES 2015, we caught up with a company called Easydom, whose Nexthome system will automate your entire home with ease. And the best part? With Microsoft on board as a partner the whole system is built on Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone.

It even has a neat party trick using the Microsoft Band.

The hardware from Easydom is a modular, Wifi connected block that you use to connect your existing home systems to. Rollaway blinds, interior lighting, security systems and so on. Using the apps as an interface you can then turn on the lights, roll up the blinds, check on the security system and look at any CCTV cameras you have around. You get the idea.

Easydom also works with the Nest thermostat, allowing you to tie this in to the rest of your home automation system and use the Nexthome app to interact with the Nest.

Both the Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone apps offer the same, full, functionality as each other, but Easydom hasn't stopped there. The company also has the Easydom Glass, a full Windows tablet PC that you can mount to the wall and use as a central command hub using the Nexthome app. But you can also use it to check Twitter, surf the web, absolutely anything you would normally do on a Windows computer. The Glass isn't at all necessary, you can just as easily use any other Windows 8.1 device like the Surface Pro 3 or any laptop or desktop that can download the app.

Besides complete control over each individual item in the system the applications allow you to set up different scenarios based on certain parts of the system, times and situations. For example, you can set a timer to turn on the lights in your bedroom at 7am every weekday to get you up for work, but leave them alone at the weekend so you can sleep in. Or set it up to turn on your sound system and play your Spotify music when you want to party. Endless possibilities.

Oh, and the party piece I mentioned using the Microsoft Band? Cortana support is built into the Windows Phone app and as such you can use it on the Microsoft Band to execute commands through the Nexthome app. I saw it demoed and with the phrase "Cortana scenario disco" the booth erupted with music. Obviously it works just the same using Cortana on the phone, but I won't lie, seeing it done with the Microsoft Band is extremely cool.

All in all it looks like a really well put together, extremely slick home automation system for Windows and Windows Phone users. It's incredibly easy to use yet still powerful enough to allow for some really deep, precise customizations. We've only barely scratched the surface at CES, but it's definitely one to watch. If you want to find out more check out their website here.

Smart thermostats and appliances are the new rage in 2014 and now tado° (tado.com) is on board with Windows Phone.

For those who do not know tado° heat was a Kickstarter project from a few years back. The device connects to your wall mounted heater and makes it 'smart' by detecting your phone's presence and adjusting the temperature accordingly.

The same company is now doing a Kickstarter for tado° cooling, which looks to do the same for wall mounted AC units. These devices are different from something like Nest, which presumes you have a centralized HVAC system for your house or apartment, and instead have smaller, wall-mounted or individual units instead.

The tado° heating apps looks gorgeous with a minimalist UI.

You can learn more about tado° from their website (orders are Europe only). The device itself is a reasonable $149, and it seems like a decent investment if you want to make your abode 'smarter'.

• Download tado° for Windows Phone 8.1 (Free; Requires tado° heat appliance)

Thanks, Heinz M., for the tip!

Microsoft is promising to deliver a custom version of its ubiquitous Windows operating system to developers who own Intel's Galileo, which can be used to power and connect to other devices. Essentially, Galileo is like a Raspberry Pi for Windows developers to use to power the next generation of the Internet of Things.

Developers will soon be able to download and install this custom version of Windows on their Galileo boards. Previously, only Galileo boards sent by Microsoft to a few developers came pre-loaded with Windows.

The OS is said to be a non-commercial version of Windows that's based on Microsoft's consumer release of Windows 8.1.

This version is also said to also be compatible with Arduino as well.

If you're a developer, what other tools are you hoping that Microsoft and Intel will help provide? For consumers, how do you envision the future of the connected home with Windows, Xbox, and Windows Phone serving as controllers?

Source: Microsoft via PC World

Microsoft has partnered up with Qualcomm and other companies to establish standardized ways for connected household objects (such as light bulbs and thermostats – the "Internet of Things") to communicate with one another. The move will see Microsoft working with other tech companies to bring about standards and make integrating said products an easier endeavour for consumers. The company joins around 50 others in the standards consortium called Allseen Alliance and will help develop AllJoyn, the connection standard led by Qualcomm.

Rival chipmakers who compete against Qualcomm are expected to launch a rival consortium as early as next week. It's an interesting development since said standards offered by Qualcomm's band of tech companies would ensure the lives of consumers can be enjoyed with slightly less stress from picking and choosing between brands, products and platforms. Such advancements could make new functionality possible, like flashing living room LED light bulbs red when food is detected to be burning in the kitchen or in the colours of a football team when a goal is scored playing FIFA 14 on the Xbox One.

It's still early days and we're sure some companies are holding off to see how competing standards come to market (think the battle between Betamax and VHS). Who would you back?

Source: Reuters

Home-automation company INSTEON and Microsoft have finally managed to get stock of their kits and accessories to Microsoft Stores, both online and physical. The deal is exclusive to Microsoft.

First announced in mid-May, INSTEON's products support Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 PCs and tablets, letting users control various devices like motion sensors, thermostats, Wi-Fi cameras and more when away from home. Microsoft Stores are stocking three kits, in addition to separate items including Wi-Fi cameras, leak detectors and INSTEON LED lightbulbs.

The three kits range from $199 up to $499, and consist of

• Starter kit ($199 – Link – INSTEON hub, on/off module, motion sensor, Wi-Fi camera
• Home Kit ($299 – Link - INSTEON hub, on/off module, motion sensor, Wi-Fi camera, plus thermostat and open/close sensor
• Business Kit ($499 – Link - INSTEON hub, on/off module, 2 motion sensors, 2 Wi-Fi cameras, thermostat, 2 open/close sensors, 3 leak sensors

Customers can order the kits directly from the Microsoft Store online with free ground shipping in the US.

Home automation is considered to be the next big growth area as the "internet of things" (IoT) gains momentum. Letting people "see" their home through a Wi-Fi camera, remotely controlling their thermostat, or turning on the light bulb can now all be achieved from your phone when you hundreds of miles away. Alternatively, users can set individual appliances to go on or off at specific times. For instance, on a hot summer day, you could have an air conditioner turn on 30 minutes before you get home for work, or have the lights on waiting for you. Some other exclusive features include:

• Visitor Mode – provides restricted access to children or guests in your home
• Live Tiles – get status on multiple devices directly on your Windows 8.1 Start screen (not currently available on Windows Phone 8)
• Enhanced Camera Support – view multiple cameras at once, view full-screen, and camera support without the need of an INSTEON Hub
• Multi-House Support – enables you to control multiple homes or businesses from a single account
• Dashboard View – a quick and organized view of the status of your home

We've ordered up the Home Kit to test ourselves, so make sure to look out for our unboxing and breakdown in the coming days. Let us know in comments if wiring up your home is something you are interested in, and if INSTEON is your next purchase. While you wait, you can grab the Windows and Windows Phone apps below.

• Download INSTEON for Windows Phone 8
• Download INSTEON for Windows 8.1

Source: INSTEON; via All About Microsoft

As promised last month, the home automation company Insteon (www.insteon.com) has released its Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8.1 apps, designed to give its users an easier way to control their lights, home security systems and more in combination with Insteon's hardware.

The app is designed to connect to Insteon devices in the home so that users can control when lights turn on and off for better energy efficiency. The app can also alert users if there are any water leaks in the home.

In terms of home security, the Insteon universal Windows apps also can send out email alerts if motion sensors are tripped or if any doors or windows are open. The app can be connected to any wireless cameras inside the home so that their images can be viewed from the smartphone. Finally, the app also allows users to connect even more smartphones to the account so that others can gain approved access to the energy and home security options. All of this comes with no monthly fees.

You can download the Insteon for Hub Windows Phone 8 app for free right now and grab the Windows 8.1 app here from the Windows Store. Also, Microsoft Store locations in the U.S. will begin selling Insteon hardware products with special Windows Phone and Windows 8 branding in early July.

Anyone have plans to pick this up? What's your experience been with Insteaon? Help us out in comments!

Thanks to David Strait for the tip!

Ever since Steve Ballmer stepped down to make room for Satya Nadella as the new CEO of Microsoft, the company has been loudly talking about its mobile first, cloud first strategy and the Internet of Things (IoT).

I think this change in how Microsoft talks about itself makes sense. After all, the desktop and notebook markets are not growth businesses anymore, and Microsoft is actually shrinking here as Windows loses market share to Apple and now Chrome OS. Google is making great strides pushing into the enterprise with Chromebooks and Chrome OS desktop boxes. I think the days of Microsoft dominating the desktop computer space are numbered.

So what are they to do? Focus on the enterprise. Focus on cloud-hosted app suites like Office 365 powered by their own Azure cloud technology. And of course, build infrastructure for other businesses to power their own cloud-hosted apps on Azure while feeding them great analytics to make business decisions.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the new way to talking about what Nortel Networks used to call "hyper-connectivity". The idea is that internet-connected devices won't be limited to what we hold in our hands (our devices), but by what those devices connect to. This is a huge market, obviously. Connectedly exists because of this massive trend.

So the question is … can Microsoft do well here? On one end of the argument I'd like to think they can. The cloud has been around for a while but it's still a new thing when it comes to overall penetration into our lives. Microsoft is late to the party (at least marketing-wise), but they are not too late to be huge. But on the other hand, I feel that Microsoft is too disconnected from the mobile side of the equation. And I wonder if they'll never amount to much in the IoT market.

Look at Google and Apple. Together these companies dominate the vast majority of the world market for mobile device operating systems. Microsoft, BlackBerry and any other competing OS represent what a friend of mine calls "a pimple on the ass of progress." They're insignificant on the global scene.

And because the IoT grows based on entrepreneurs developing new products that connect to our mobile devices, these entrepreneurs focus on iOS and Android when it comes to mobile development. Microsoft is an afterthought.

When it comes to cloud-hosting of apps, I can't help but notice that most entrepreneurs tend to model what already works. Startups are much more acquainted with Amazon AWS versus, say, Azure. Discussion sites where coders hang out, like StackOverflow, are far more populated with references to AWS than Azure.

So I'm curious what Microsoft really plans to do here. Maybe they're looking to generate growth in the Internet of Things that operates in the background, not connecting to our mobile devices and not really connected to the consumer market. I can't see Microsoft mattering when it comes to the home or automobile. But I can see them mattering for cloud-based enterprise-focused solutions whether it be security, factory automation, fleet management, or other "things" that don't really matter to the average consumer.

I guess this just highlights how big the IoT market will be. As consumers we'll just see the front end of it. Behind the scenes there will be a whole lot more that remains invisible to us.

What do you think? Will Microsoft be successful here?

Insteon, the company best known for its home automation and control technology, have today announced enhanced versions of its app will be made available for both Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone later this summer – June 1st to be exact. Not only will the company be officially supporting Microsoft's platforms, but Insteon products will be sold at Microsoft Stores and on the Microsoft Store website.

With these upcoming apps installed, consumers will be able to utilize purchased Insteon hardware to transform their humble abode into a fully connected home. The apps will enable users to set up lighting scenes, schedule lights, monitor homes via cameras and even receiving instant notifications as to when doors and/or windows are opened and closed. Insteon really does make it easy for real life to turn into The Sims.

There's an added bonus for Windows and Windows Phone consumers, however. The two new apps for Microsoft platforms will come with exclusive features not available on other operating systems. Insteon CEO Joe Dada provided a short demo of the Windows app in action.

The exclusive feature list is as follows:

• Visitor Mode – provides restricted access to children or guests in your home
• Live Tiles – get status on multiple devices directly on your Windows 8.1 Start screen (not currently available on Windows Phone 8)
• Enhanced Camera Support – view multiple cameras at once, view full-screen, and camera support without the need of an Insteon Hub
• Multi-House Support – enables you to control multiple homes or businesses from a single account
• Dashboard View – a quick and organized view of the status of your home

Microsoft Stores will stock a Starter Kit, Home Kit and Business Kit -- and five standalone devices, including the Insteon Leak Sensor, Open/Close Sensor, LED Bulb, On/Off Module and Wireless Wi-Fi Camera. Prices will range from $29.99 to $79.99, with kits starting at $199. If you've been looking at ways to add automation to the home, Microsoft and Insteon will soon be able to provide ample customization options.

Source: Press Release, via: CE Pro; thanks, Andrea B, for the tip!

INSTEON introducing smart home control and monitoring app for Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8.1

IRVINE, Calif. – March 15, 2014 – INSTEON, creators of the world's best-selling home automation and control technology, today announced that an enhanced version of its INSTEON app will be available for Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8 devices as of June 1, 2014. The app comes with exclusive new features, making home automation even easier for everyone, from the ultra-techie to the average homeowner. Quickly following the release of the INSTEON app for Windows PCs, tablets and phones, INSTEON connected home devices will come to Microsoft retail stores.

The INSTEON family of devices turns any home into a connected home. INSTEON users are able to set up lighting scenes, schedule lights to automatically turn on and off, and monitor their homes via wireless cameras from any mobile device. INSTEON kits and modules allow users to receive instant notification alerts when doors and windows are opened or closed, or when there is a water leak in the home. INSTEON provides all of this and more via a free app with no monthly fees.

Windows-exclusive INSTEON app features

In addition to taking full advantage of the bold design and dynamic interface experience Windows 8.1 provides, INSTEON has included new features to this app release that are exclusive to the Windows platform, including:

• Visitor Mode – provides restricted access to children or guests in your home
• Live Tiles – get status on multiple devices directly on your Windows 8.1 Start screen (not currently available on Windows Phone 8)
• Enhanced Camera Support – view multiple cameras at once, view full-screen, and camera support without the need of an INSTEON Hub
• Multi-House Support – enables you to control multiple homes or businesses from a single account
• Dashboard View – a quick and organized view of the status of your home

"The Windows 8.1 platform provided INSTEON with an unparalleled opportunity to develop a beautiful and easy-to-use connected home experience. The Live Tile architecture is especially well-suited for home automation," said Joe Dada, CEO, INSTEON. "Users are going to love controlling their INSTEON-connected home from their Windows devices."

INSTEON devices to be available in Microsoft stores across the nation

Starting June 1, 2014, INSTEON connected home products will be available for purchase on https://www.windowscentral.com/e?link=https%3A%2F%2Fclick.linksynergy.com%2Fdeeplink%3Fid%3DkXQk6%252AivFEQ%26mid%3D24542%26u1%3DUUwpUdUnU22696%26murl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.microsoft.com%252Fen-us%252Fstore%252Fb%252Fhome%253Frtc%253D1&token=H4Y0RxO6 and by early July they will be available in most Microsoft Stores across the U.S., marking Microsoft's retail entry into the connected home market.

"Windows PCs, tablets and phones are supported by a rich app ecosystem that offers a variety of quality apps that take advantage of the platform's unique features and design such as Live Tiles," said Todd Brix, general manager, Windows Apps and Store, Microsoft Corp. "The unique camera and control features in the INSTEON app really come to life on both Windows and Windows Phone."

Microsoft Stores, in a continuing effort to provide choice, value and service for its customers, will offer a range of INSTEON products, including three unique kits -- a Starter Kit, Home Kit and Business Kit -- and five standalone devices, including the INSTEON Leak Sensor, Open/Close Sensor, LED Bulb, On/Off Module and Wireless Wi-Fi Camera. Prices will range from $29.99 to $79.99, with kits starting at $199.

"Microsoft understands the many benefits of home automation technology, and we look forward to providing the highest-quality experience for their customers now and in the years to come," said Dada.

INSTEON's reliable dual-band technology uses both the existing wires (power line) in the home and radio-frequency (RF) communication instead of relying on spotty Wi-Fi connections and routers, which dictate where smart devices must be placed to work properly. By making every networked device talk to each other via RF and the power line, INSTEON eliminates the need for custom wiring and ensures that every device is always connected. Adding remote control and automation to everything from home monitoring to lighting, INSTEON's dual-band network and devices allow users to manage the home or office in more variations than any other home automation technology.

Verisure is the consumer branch of Securitas Direct, a company in Europe that specializes in safety and security solutions for homes and businesses. Home owners can install a Verisure system to help protect their assets. There’s also now an official Verisure app for Windows Phone so you can control and monitor your home when you’re on the go. Details below.

Have a Verisure (www.verisure.com) system at home? You just might. Verisure is one of Europe's largest home security companies. If you do have it, you’ll want the Windows Phone app so you can:

• Control and monitor your connected smart home on the go
• Arm, disarm and check the alarm status
• Receive notifications when your children come home
• View temperature and humidity information

The app seems like a must have for anyone with a Verisure system at home. If you have the SmartLock module installed you can control the lock with the app. Which means you can unlock it remotely for when you have a friend or family member coming over and you can’t physically be there to greet them.

The design may feel a bit like iOS 7, but we’re sure there are a handful of you out there that are still pretty excited to at least see the app available.  

Want the Verisure app for Windows Phone? Then grab it in the Windows Phone Store or swipe to the right in our app. You can also use the QR code below.

Thanks for the tip Xaphoon148!

AT&T announced their Digital Life Home Security and Automation service back in January and over the weekend, they released their Windows Phone companion app, AT&T Digital Life.

The Digital Life Home Security and Automation service allows customers to remotely manage things such as your home thermostat, lock doors, turn on security systems, turn on lights, and monitor security cameras. The service is slowly rolling out to various markets with the service being available in 58 markets by the end of 2013.

The Digital Life Windows Phone app allows you to manage your Digital Life Home Security and Automation services from your Windows Phone. So if you need to dial up the thermostat on your way home or check and make sure the last one out locked the front door, you can check it while on the go.

AT&T did not mention any cost with the Digital Life service and it is likely dependent on the service package you choose, installation costs, etc. You can sign up to be notified when Digital Life Home Security and Automation is available in your area by visiting this AT&T Website.

The key downside to the app is that unless you have a Digital Life account, you won't make it past the sign in screen. You can find the AT&T Digital Life app here in the Windows Phone Store from your AT&T Windows Phone. The app may not be listed in the AT&T Featured section of your Windows Phone Store app due to the market limitation of the service.  

Thanks, Brian, for the tip!

We previously covered Julien Schapmen, of Touch Xperience, who produced a homebrew solution for Windows Phone owners who desire to use their mobile phone to achieve home automation. From changing the channel on your television, to altering the colour of your LED room lights, the hack was pretty cool, but hadn't reached the Marketplace for the average user to download. 

We can now turn our heads to an unofficial Switch King client for Windows Phone - Home Control. To be able to use the app, you'll need a Switch King server and Telldus Live service set up. There's a free trial available that allows full functionality for up to five (5) devices. To attach more home devices, you'll need to fork out $2.49 (£1.99).

Check out the video after the break for an app demonstration (as well as some funky music), and download Home Control from the Marketplace.

Source: Patte.se, via: WPSauce