Logitech's popular Harmony universal remotes have long been the go-to solution for tech-savvy nerds who want to replace the bounty of ugly rectangles littering their coffee tables with a single, all-powerful option. But universal remotes are still pretty complex on their own, with dozens of buttons and, in some cases, LCD screens. You're basically swapping several remotes for something that looks like it belongs in one of NASA's Mission Control Centers. Now, there's something simpler: the Harmony Express, a compact universal remote that replaces a slew of buttons with Amazon Alexa voice controls. The $250 Express isn't meant to replace the Harmony Elite, which Logitech released back in 2015 and is still one of the best high-end universal remotes around.

Sky viewers can now search for TV programmes and films using just their voice. The latest Sky Q remote comes with a voice button linked to a microphone which users can speak into to search for content. The new software can search for shows by title, actor, genre or star rating. The voice recognition technology picks up on phrases such as'action movies with Tom Cruise' and'kids' movies rated U' to find personalised content. 'You can search for shows by specifying title, actor, genre or even star rating,' a spokesperson for Sky said.