Facebook had grand plans for its in-Messenger AI assistant, M, when it was launched in 2015. While the service hasn't quite yet lived up to the hype, the company is continually rolling out new features in a bid to make using it a fun experience, and to make it easier to get things done. From today, users in the US will see three new suggestions when using the app. If you're in a group or one-to-one conversation and type a common expression such as "I love you" or "thanks", a GIF picker bar will appear, automatically showing GIFs that correspond to that phrase. M suggestions for quick replies is a bit more useful. If you're asked a straightforward yes/no question in a one-to-one chat, the function offers quick reply options "yes", "no" or "I think so".

Apple's new mobile operating system iOS 11 might look similar to its predecessor iOS 10, and its functions might be reminiscent of the past, but there are some hidden features any user will want to check out. Over the last few days, I've been digging through all of iOS 11's features, looking at how they work, and wondering what will happen if I use them in different ways. In that time, I've discovered a bunch of hidden functions and neat tools that aren't so apparent when you're using some of the apps built into Apple's AAPL iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch operating system. And in my experience, those features have proven exceedingly useful in improving my productivity. Arguably the coolest addition to iOS 11 is the ability to actually make the operating system's Control Center app really, really useful.

Bose has officially announced the QuietComfort 25 II or the QC35 II, its first wireless headphones with Google Assistant support. The Bose QC35 II still comes with all the features included with last year's model, including the same sound quality and noise cancelling technology. "The QC35 is already the world's most celebrated wireless headphone, and a survival tool for modern life," Bose on-the-go products director Brian Maguire said. "We didn't change anything that people already love – with the Google Assistant built in, and new choices for what you hear, we made it better." The Bose QC35 II is the first pair of headphones to have Google Assitant integration.

A decade ago, the names Alexa and Cortana were just names. These days, however, they're synonymous with intelligent or virtual assistants, which – along with the likes of Samsung Bixby, Siri, IBM Watson and Google Assistant – have redefined how we interact with our devices and software. These "virtual butlers" can carry out a range of tasks, from making lists and scheduling appointments to ordering taxis, opening software and activating smart devices – all controlled by simple voice commands. Originally aimed at the consumer market, advances in artificial intelligence (AI) means that they're becoming increasingly useful in the world of business. "We've barely scratched the surface of what virtual assistants can do," says Henrik Nordmark, head of data science at data and marketing services firm, Profusion.

Last week, we reported that Bose's QuietComfort 35 II Bluetooth headphones might include Google Assistant. Bose has revealed that this pair of QC headphones is the first to have a Google Assistant integration. In order to use Google Assistant, just press the "Action" button on the QC35 headphones. You can then talk to it, the same way you would on your phone. You can hear incoming messages, calendar appointments and more.

Google has announced it's acquiring a $1.1bn chunk of HTC's smartphone business, and with it providing the once leading Taiwanese phone brand a much needed lifeline. But what does Google want with part of a smartphone business? Google gains half of HTC's research and development team – about 2,000 people – and a non-exclusive license for HTC's intellectual property, allowing it to take advantage of some of HTC's advances in smartphone technology. HTC gets a cash injection, which will help it survive in some very competitive markets, and Google gets to continue its "big bet on hardware" according to Rick Osterloh, the company's senior vice president for hardware. It's "a business decision to have access to one of the best R&D teams", said Neil Shah, research director at Counterpoint Technology Market Research.

Columnist Kim Komando helps you navigate services, hardware and content if you're ready to ditch the TV bill. The new Apple TV 4K device ($179-$199) brings Ultra HD 4K video with high dynamic range (HDR) to the iTunes store and other apps. Apple TV is ready to take on 4K. The newest Apple TV devices, out Friday starting at $179, deliver 4K video for the first time. So if you have one of these high-end TVs, you are not taking full advantage of its capabilities if your Internet streaming device only delivers HD resolution.

The Ecobee3 was already our favorite smart thermostat, edging out the Nest Learning Thermostat thanks to its remote sensors and overall functionality, but we weren't sure what to expect from the follow-up. Apparently, the answer is Alexa. The Ecobee4 plays it safe when it comes to evolving the winning thermostat line. If you were thinking of upgrading your home to an Ecobee, but waiting on the latest, that purchase decision relies entirely on your interest in being able to talk directly to your thermostat. While the 4 looks almost identical to the 3, if slightly larger, it's now packed with a speaker and microphone to accommodate its new role as a smart hub that can tell you jokes and the weather, change the temperature in the house, and, if you really want, play music from Amazon's music service (among many other tasks).

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Advertising has changed a lot over the years. There was a time when machine learning, automation, and software-based marketing tech stacks weren't a "thing." There are hundreds of channels across physical and print media and online at present, including social, mobile, and video. Even TV has diversified into hundreds of cable channels on your remote control. And yet, digital ad revenue has gone on to surpass that of TV.