It might not get the same kind of attention as Google and Apple, but Microsoft is still one of the biggest and most powerful tech companies operating today. It runs Azure, one of the biggest cloud computing services, and maintains Windows 11 and the whole Office suite of software. It also makes plenty of Surface hardware and has a whole slew of gaming products, including the Xbox Series X. But the company is ever expanding — building new hardware, acquiring new game studios, and making sure that even if Microsoft doesn't run your phone, it can touch plenty of the apps on it. 

Microsoft

The smart home was once a far-flung pipe dream, but it is now a reality. Wherever you live, your home is ground zero for some of the most interesting tech available right now, and tech that’s yet to come. Best of all, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune to get your home up and running with smart hardware and services.

Home security and monitoring solutions can alert you to a burglary, smoke, fire, or just simple motion activity. There are plenty of options with a range of capabilities, from smart doorbells and smart locks to indoor and outdoor cameras that can see in the dark.

Smart speakers, like the Google Home, Amazon Echo, and Apple HomePod each play a big role in helping you out, too. In the kitchen, they can read out recipes, or if you’re cleaning, you can call out to them to change the song on the fly. If you buy smart light bulbs, for instance, you can turn them on and off by using your voice.

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Windows 8 on 82-inch display hands-on demo

Windows 8 on 82-inch display hands-on demo

The new Microsoft Teams is here with big performance improvements and UI changes

Sonos Era 300 review: too ahead of its time

The swagged-out pope is an AI fake — and an early glimpse of a new reality

The TikTok ban is a betrayal of the open internet

Sonos Era 100 review: the new default smart speaker

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Windows 8 on 82-inch display hands-on demo

Windows 8 on 82-inch display hands-on demo

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The new Microsoft Teams is here with big performance improvements and UI changes

Sonos Era 300 review: too ahead of its time

The swagged-out pope is an AI fake — and an early glimpse of a new reality

The TikTok ban is a betrayal of the open internet

Sonos Era 100 review: the new default smart speaker

More from Smart Home

Belkin’s smart home brand Wemo is backing away from Matter

Apple’s second-gen Magic Trackpad hits its best price in months