It's all too easy to overlook the quality of the remote control when picking a streaming device, as I've written before. You might not realize it from the price tag, for instance, but the $180 Apple TV 4K has one of the worst remotes on the market. The slim design too easily slips between couch cushions, and its trackpad-based controls have a steep learning curve. Conversely, the $29 Roku Express seems like a great value until you realize that its remote lacks basic TV controls. What's a cord-cutter to do, then? If you're stuck with a bad remote, consider a third-party replacement instead of buying an entirely new streaming device.

While voice assistants have grown in popularity over recent years, many people still hesitate to use them in public spaces, and that's a problem Microsoft is looking to tackle. In a patent filing, the company notes that for a number of reasons -- not wanting to disturb those nearby, not wanting to share private information around strangers -- people often avoid issuing voice commands when in public. "Although performance of voice input has been greatly improved, the voice input is still rarely used in public spaces, such as office or even homes," says the patent filing. "These are not technical issues but social issues. Hence there is no easy fix even if voice recognition system performance is greatly improved."

Ditching a TV remote for simple voice commands sounds great in a lot of circumstances. And, with a little help from Alexa (and some other digital assistants down the road), the Sonos Beam comes as close to executing that as anyone has so far. And while the Beam won't let you toss your clicker just yet, it's still one of the best home audio devices around, even with its $400 price tag. The Beam is the latest in the Sonos series of speakers meant to pull double duty, handling both music as well as the sound that comes from your home entertainment center and TV. It's the smallest and cheapest option in the Sonos lineup to handle that kind of task, sliding in under both the Playbar and the Playbase.

Sky is ditching the humble remote control thanks to an experimental new feature that will see Sky Q owners able to control their television using only their voice. The firm is developing technology that allows viewers to bark orders to switch channels, record live TV and even look-up shows featuring their favourite actors. Sky has confirmed plans to start trialling the experimental feature, which it describes as'hands-free TV', later this year. It is not yet clear whether the technology will come loaded onto a new set-top box, or as a downloadable update to existing hardware. Sky is asking viewers to ditch the TV remote.

But in the last few years, Alexa and Siri have moved in. With this invasion of AI assistants comes incredible command over technology: Don't set a timer or check the weather; ask. And don't spring for that spinning, oak coffee-table caddy to house your obnoxious array of remotes. With the latest TV innovations, all you'll need to say is "Alexa, play'Dawson's Creek'" to immediately power on your TV, streaming device and soundbar, search for the show (now on Hulu), and start where it you left off. "The control and convenience that comes from the next generation of voice is really going to enhance the TV experience," said John Taylor, senior vice president of LG Electronics and friend of Eugene Polley and Dr. Robert Adler, engineers who invented Zenith's original 1950 remote.

Sony today announced PlayStation Vue subscribers can now control their TVs, hands-free, with Amazon's smart assistant, Alexa. The addition is a welcome one. As good as Sony's TV remote is, there's nothing quite as simple as barking orders at a digital device instead. Besides, if we're being honest, the menu system in Vue isn't all that great to begin with. Now, instead of fussing with it, you can just say things like "Alexa, go to NBC" or use any number of playback commands, like: Alexa can be used both from Echo devices -- like Dot or Echo 2 (the original Echo works too) -- or the Fire TV remote.