According to emerging reports, Microsoft is planning to take on Amazon Alexa and Google Home with the coming release of its HomeHub features. HomeHub will be built directly into Windows 10 and will (according to Window Central) “crush” Google Home and Amazon Echo.
Whether that happens remains to be seen — what is less controversially known about the coming release is that it will be designed to work with any Windows 10 PC and will be integrated with Cortana such that the AI can be summoned from any lockscreen with useful information on offer. This contradicts initial reports that had indicated that HomeHub would have an Echo-like standalone speaker. That piece of hardware did not appear as expected on Microsoft’s Surface even back in October.
Instead, Microsoft is focusing on a device that most families already own — a PC — and using it to create a family-friendly digital environment. That environment may include features like the ability to share appointments, apps and other data on a PC without it being logged into an account. Cortana will also become a central part of HomeHub, and the integration will allow Microsoft’s take on the virtual assistant to provide HomeHub-like features across iOS and Android. This will include extending the assistant to control smart devices and manage them from the Windows 10 HomeHub feature.
As for the when of this — Microsoft will seemingly be continuing to cede ground to Amazon and Google as it is still in the planning phases with HomeHub, and there is no release planned until late 2017.
Better luck next Christmas.
