Apple is looking to broaden Siri's footprint and usefulness with help from third party app developers and a software development kit. The big question is whether the move will be able to thwart rivals such as Google Assistant and Amazon's Alexa. From connected light bulbs, to plant sensors, to smart locks, and beyond, smart home tech is growing and evolving rapidly. Here you'll find the latest product reviews, news, and how-tos to help you connect your surroundings to the internet in the smartest way possible. The Information is reporting that Apple is opening up Siri to third-party applications.

Welcome to Mossberg, a weekly commentary and reviews column on The Verge and Recode by veteran tech journalist Walt Mossberg, now an Executive Editor at The Verge and Editor at Large of Recode. Fifteen years ago, when the time became ripe for post-PC devices that put a premium on integrating software and hardware, Apple was the best-positioned company to lead the charge -- and it did. The company's vertical integration, its attention to detail and innovation in both software and hardware, and its willingness to make big bets gave it an edge. And it used that edge to reel off its now-familiar string of game-changing products like the iPod, the iPhone, the MacBook Air, and the iPad. Now, the iPod is essentially gone, and the other products are in mature or maturing markets, with either pretty flat or dropping sales.

The puck-shaped Nexus Player is no longer available for sale from Google, as The Verge first reported. Other retailers haven't stocked the device for months. If you count the ill-fated Nexus Q, the Nexus Player was Google's third run at creating a set-top box, following a run of over-priced devices powered by the now defunct Google TV. The Nexus Player was first introduced in late 2014 as one of the first devices running Android TV. At the time, we said the player was a "fine first draft."

Apple is looking to broaden Siri's footprint and usefulness with help from third party app developers and a software development kit. The big question is whether the move will be able to thwart rivals such as Google Assistant and Amazon's Alexa. From connected light bulbs, to plant sensors, to smart locks, and beyond, smart home tech is growing and evolving rapidly. Here you'll find the latest product reviews, news, and how-tos to help you connect your surroundings to the internet in the smartest way possible. The Information is reporting that Apple is opening up Siri to third-party applications.

As the executive chairman of Alphabet, the parent company for Google, he would be expected to be an avid user of his firm's Android mobile phones. But Eric Schmidt has an embarrassing secret - he uses an iPhone 6s, a device made by his company's rival Apple. The technology chief made the admission during an interview at a seminar in Amsterdam, admitting he carries both the iPhone and a Samsung Galaxy S7, which runs on his company's Android software. Alphabet executive chairman Eric Schmidt has admitted to using an iPhone 6s alongside the Samsung S7 that runs his own company's Android software. He made the admission after interviewer Julia Chatterley said she had seen him before taking to the stage with two phones in his pocket.

When they write the business school case studies about innovation in the future, one story they're sure to spotlight is the Amazon Echo, better known these days as Alexa. Amazon's Echo Dot, Tap, Alexa equate to Amazon Everywhere strategy The company's Alexa platform--along with integration with third parties and replenishment systems like Dash--highlight an ambitious smart home and Internet of things effort. The Echo gave birth to what has become the Alexa ecosystem (which has spawned three devices at the time of this writing) and to a ton of supporting services that interface with everything from home control to smartphones. But when Alexa was first introduced, the tech pundocracy collectively scratched its head in bafflement. Was this another Amazon strategic blunder, like the Fire phone had been just a few months earlier? Why would anyone want to talk to a Pringles-can sized speaker, especially when our phones already had Siri and Google voice recognition?

If the global professional services company has its way, digital workers may be just around the corner. Accenture has partnered with IT and business process automation company IPsoft to create artificially intelligent technology to perform a variety of tasks at enterprises worldwide. This new AI arm of Accenture is based on IPsoft's cognitive agent, Amelia, which IPsoft bills as "your first digital employee." Amelia, which uses natural language to communicate with customers "just like a human," can perform a host of service desk duties. This can include helping customers open new bank accounts, processing insurance claims and checking in patients at hospitals.

Nasa has announced that it has found evidence of flowing water on Mars. Scientists have long speculated that Recurring Slope Lineae -- or dark patches -- on Mars were made up of briny water but the new findings prove that those patches are caused by liquid water, which it has established by finding hydrated salts. Several hundred camped outside the London store in Covent Garden. The 6s will have new features like a vastly improved camera and a pressure-sensitive "3D Touch" display

For the last century, we've imagined a future where we're surrounded by robotic butlers that are classy, smart, and discreet. We wouldn't think twice of asking an embarrassing question of a robo-assistant, or entrusting him/her/it with sensitive information, because the robot's directive would be to serve only its owner. Already, there are millions of proto-Jarvises running around in pockets, in the form of digital assistants like Apple's Siri, Microsoft's Cortana, Amazon's Alexa, and (soon) Google's search assistant. These virtual helpers use artificial intelligence to parse what users say or type, and return useful information. More recent updates to Siri and Google have taught the assistants to guess at what users want to know before they're asked, chiming in with notifications about a traffic jam at the appropriate time.

Apple is planning to launch a rival to Amazon's popular Echo connected speaker that will be powered by its voice-activated digital assistant Siri -- a feature the company is also planning to finally open up to developers, sources told the Information. The report, quoting sources with knowledge of Apple's plans, said the Echo rival was in development long before Amazon launched its product in 2014. However, it is still not clear when Apple plans to launch the device. There is also no indication in the report what the device would look like or how much it would cost. Last week, Google launched its own version of Amazon's Echo called Home, which will go on sale in the coming months.