The Verge

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.

Smart Home

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Share this story

The first GTA VI trailer is here

After unexplained bans, PlayStation users report their accounts have been restored

There’s a new iMessage for Android app — and it actually works

DoorDash makes tipping an afterthought to protest New York City’s wage raise

Sony’s WH-1000XM5 have dropped to a new all-time low price

More from Microsoft

The latest AI copyright lawsuit involves Mike Huckabee and his books

Amazon, Microsoft, and India crack down on tech support scams

OpenAI is opening up DALL-E 3 access

Microsoft tests support for hearing aids in Windows 11