Judge Michael Topolski said Mohammed, 36, had been "planning an explosion to kill and maim innocent people in the cause of Islamic State." The judge said El-Hassan, 33, was "ideologically motivated to provide him with support, motivation and assistance."

CES 2018 has kicked off. And with it comes all sort of tat -- except, because it's the future, now that tat is connected to the internet. The Las Vegas spectacular is a gadget show, above all else, and there are thousands being released this week. But gadgets are ultimately a distraction. Toys might be fun, but they aren't where the future of technology can be seen.

Ring is the brand most people think of when it comes to floodlight cams, but Maximus (and its corporate ally Kuna, which provides the underlying technology) is trying harder to get noticed. The Maximus Camera Floodlight, first announced way back at last year's CES is finally available--and it's a compelling value. The Maximus doesn't have an answer for every feature that you'll find in the Ring Floodlight Cam, but it offers some features Ring doesn't (I'm in the process of reviewing Ring's product). The biggest difference is in the floodlight itself. Both companies build their floodlights with LEDs, but where the Ring's are inside somewhat conventional cans, the Maximus' lights are flat rectangular panels.

Amazon's Alexa is headed to Windows PCs, as Amazon aggressively forged partnerships with Acer, Asus, and HP here at CES. Both Amazon and Microsoft had already planned to bring the Alexa digital assistant to smart speakers like the Harman Kardon Invoke, as part of a set of "skills" that allowed third-party app integrations to add additional intelligence. But this is a bit different: Amazon and PC makers are bringing an Alexa app to select Windows PCs, challenging Microsoft's Cortana on her own turf. "Hands-free access to Alexa on PCs can be helpful to customers in many ways, like making it simple to interact with your smart home, get news or weather, set timers, and more," said Steve Rabuchin, vice president of Amazon Alexa, as part of the Acer announcement. "This is a big step toward making Alexa available wherever customers might need her." One of Cortana's greatest weaknesses is a lack of smart-home controls, as our review of the Invoke from our smart-home site, TechHive, indicated earlier this year.

Smell is a powerful thing. The wrong odors can ruin ambiance, wreck your appetite, and even turn a good mood sour. But the right scent creates a sense of peace and calm, boosts your mood, and adds a little extra something that can make any day better. There are a lot of aromatherapy diffusers out there, but none are quite like Moodo. This all-new device, making its official debut at CES 2018 in Las Vegas, offers dozens of scent themes, personalization, and smart features like Amazon Alexa integration--but it does come at a high price around $200.

Whirlpool's smart appliances have already had some voice assistant control, but they're about become particularly AI-savvy. The company has unveiled a 2018 lineup where many appliances support both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, letting you control most of your home using the smart speaker (or mobile app) you prefer. You can check the time left on the washing machine, start the dishwasher or change the temperature of your fridge without lifting a finger. Certain appliances have extra perks. The Smart Front Control Range and Smart Over the Range Microwave tie into Yummly's recipe app to help you cook -- you can send instructions directly to the appliance, complete with images and video.

A voice assistant can't help you chop vegetables, but it can talk you through how to get your own to look like they were sliced by a professional. It's one of the reasons that Philips has crammed Google Assistant into its new Android TV for kitchens, the 7703. The 24-inch Android TV comes on a large plinth that is also a 16-watt Bluetooth speaker to fill your kitchen with tunes. The unit also has Chromecast integration, letting you push content from a mobile device to the display with very little fuss. The headline feature here is, of course, the presence of Assistant, which will let you bark instructions at the display when you're otherwise engaged.

Competition is heating up between two of the world's largest tech firms in the battle to dominate CES 2018, held annually in Las Vegas. Coverage of last year's trade show detailed the rise of Amazon's smart assistant, which was used to enhance everything from cars to refrigerators. Now Google is hoping to fight back with its own Assistant set to take on its rival and the company's largest presence at the Consumer Electronics Show in a decade. Voice-commanded virtual assistants packed into speakers and other devices will be a'game-changing' trend this year, CES researchers have said. Competition is heating up between two of the world's largest tech firms in the battle to dominate CES 2018, held annually in Las Vegas.

Hauling around a heavy suitcase may soon be a thing of the past, thanks to an AI powered suitcase that follows its owner like a well-trained pet. The robotic luggage is fitted with facial recognition technology that lets it lock on to you and stick by you, no matter what gets in its way. It also comes equipped with a smart-connected wristband the features an alarm that sounds if the case starts to go out of range or if someone tries to steal it. Hauling around a heavy suitcase may soon be a thing of the past, thanks to an AI powered smart suitcase that follows its owner like a well-trained pet. The annual technology convention doesn't open until Tuesday, but CES Unveiled is an early chance for attendees to see the trends likely to dominate the show this year.

Just as Apple's iOS is forever linked to the iPhone, Alexa has been synonymous with Amazon's Echo speaker. But Amazon's digital assistant is becoming increasingly independent -- integrating into speakers made by Sonos, the Nest thermostat or lights made by Philips. Now it's also finding its way onto computer towers and notebooks made by PC makers, a move that could simultaneously ratchet up tensions between Amazon and Microsoft. PC makers like HP, ASUS and Acer are announcing Alexa integrations at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, and in some cases the partnerships see hardware being upgraded to make Alexa more accessible, according to GeekWire. HP, for instance, plans to add a custom LED to its Pavillion Wave desktop computer tower that can glow when it hears Alexa's name, activating the digital assistant.