IDG Contributor Network: Microsoft: Skip the ‘Home Hub’ and make a high-end speaker

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There's a reason Google and Amazon make a high-end speaker with a voice assistant that can control your home. You can buy a few of them and place one in every room. You can speak to the device at any time, because it’s always listening to you. (On the Google Home speaker, you can disable the microphone using a button on the back.)  There’s no screen, no batteries to recharge, no driver updates, and no confusion.

You say “Alexa” or “OK, Google” and you’re in.

For some strange reason, rumors rumbled recently about Microsoft getting in on the game, but they plan to make a Home Hub that works within Cortana on your Windows 10 computer. It makes sense on one level -- Cortana becomes a one-stop voice assistant for dictating a memo, setting reminders, and turning on the lights in your home.

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