Logitech says it will release a new Alexa skill this week that renders its Harmony Hub-based universal remote controls (e.g., the Harmony Elite or the Harmony Companion) compatible with Amazon's Alexa digital assistant. So if you own an Amazon Echo and one of these Harmony remotes, you'll soon be able to add your entire entertainment center to the list of devices you can control with your voice. This Alexa skill wasn't available for to test at the time of this writing, but Logitech's press release indicated that Harmony Hub users would be able to choose from 270,000 devices to include in voice-activated Harmony Activities, as Logitech refers to its control scripts. In addition to TVs, set-top boxes, and A/V receivers, Logitech's Hub can also control many smart-home devices, such as smart light bulbs, motorized window shades, and even smart entry locks. Harmony Activities are essentially scripts that you define to control the devices you've previously enrolled into the remote's app.

When email first became popular twenty-some odd years ago, the conventions for writing email didn't exist. A species of notes like the ones you pass to your BFF in class? I expect if I could dredge up those first 100 electronic messages I sent, I'd find some fairly stilted language--and definitely no emoticons. We were all just getting the hang of a new communications platform, and it took some time for us to collectively arrive at the rules of engagement (which invariably changed over time). A growing number of people use an AI assistant to schedule meetings or manage their finances or help find flights, but it's still a small set (we're working on that).

A new update to the Google's Cast app rebrands it as Google Home. The update makes the app compatible with the Google Home hardware and the 4K-capable Chromecast Ultra. The company has also changed the icon -- it now has the shape of a house in Google's signature blue, yellow, green and red color scheme. Unlike other Android 7.1 Nougat icons, the Google Home icon is not rounded. The app, which was formerly called Chromecast, is now Artificial Intelligence- and smart home-compatible.

Alexa now (officially) works with Logitech's Harmony Hub, meaning it's a lot easier to get voice control over your home entertainment and automation devices. After you enable the Alexa skill on an Amazon Echo, Dot or other supported device, you'll be able to start and stop Harmony Activities, change channels and control devices using the AI assistant. Simple commands include "Alexa, turn on Netflix," or "Alexa, turn on my TV." You also get a certain amount of programmability, thanks to Logitech's Activities. If you say "Alexa, turn on my evening activity," the bot will trigger a prearranged sequence that can involve entertainment as well as home automation devices.

Almost before a week, my system got crashed at the office. And I needed to switch to a Mac system from Windows. It was an awful moment for me! As I never used Mac system. Honestly speaking, while using Mac system, I realized actually it is not so difficult to use.

Alexa Amazon's Alexa is a voice control interface, like Siri on your iPhone. Have you ever imagined an amazing future in which you can verbally ask your appliance, "How much time until my casserole's finished?" Alexa is one way for appliance manufacturers to easily support this functionality. Echo …In fact, manufacturers can support Alexa without built-in microphones or speakers, thanks to Amazon's Echo. The cylindrical Echo and miniature Echo Dot are devices placed around the home, and you can talk to them to interact with any connected device.

Microsoft's press event in New York City is almost here, and that means there are plenty of rumors to be excited about. The company announced the event earlier this month, only giving details like the place, date and time. Microsoft is working on a brand new Surface PC, but this time, it's getting rid of the kickstand and keyboard case. The new Surface PC will be an all-in-one desktop rather than a touchscreen laptop. The new Surface PC is expected to include a large display that will lay flat on a desk.

Within five years, the virtual assistants on smartphones -- such as Siri or Cortana -- should be able to talk to a refrigerator, a car or anything else that can be connected to the internet. A virtual assistant could ask a car to check its own oil and tell the owner if it's time for an oil change. It could figure out how to fix a broken dishwasher by contacting the virtual assistant for that dishwasher's manufacturer. It could tell the coffee pot to brew a morning cup of joe. That's the vision Andrea Sahli, senior implementation manager at noHold, presented Thursday during the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing.

Google has taken itself down a very promising road with its new Pixel phone line, offering a level of polish and power that makes it very competitive with the market's top phones. I admit that I was a bit underwhelmed by the Pixel's first appearance, which came at a Google launch event earlier this month. Google's Nexus line of phones had always appealed well to the niche Android superfan audience, and on paper it did not seem that the 750 Pixel would really offer that much more. Yet my mind changed after the company sent me a Pixel XL to review. The Pixel XL proved to be an elegant, capable and -- best of all -- useful phone.

Wealth Management is the highest growth businesses for any medium to large financial institution. It also is the highest customer touch segment of banking and is fostered on long term (read extremely lucrative advisory) relationships. This three part series explores the automated "Robo-advisor" movement in the first post. We will cover the business background and some definitions . The second post will focus on the overall business model & main functions of a Robo-advisor.