Microsoft Is Coming With ‘Windows 10 HomeHub’: Will The Upcoming Feature Destroy ‘Amazon Echo’ And ‘Google Home’?

By Jeff Thompson - 05 Dec '16 16:44PM

Microsoft is reportedly coming up with a new feature that is expected to threaten the smart speaker systems Amazon Echo and Google Home. The new feature named "Windows 10 HomeHub" will be part of the OS and are expected to be introduced in late 2017 or early 2018. Microsoft would strengthen Cortana voice assistant to take care the functions a smart speaker perform.

Windows 10 HomeHub is actually making the PC a smart device to function similar to how a smart speaker system works. This means that users do not want to buy an extra device and also expected to work with the PCs quite simply in an already known user interface. Though more details regarding Windows 10 HomeHub is not made available, the Cortana enhancement will have schedule appointments, shopping lists, sticky notes etc.

This is Microsoft Home Hub, the future of the connected home https://t.co/WQwJBuNjaR pic.twitter.com/iOVyyNFyMD

— Zac Bowden (@zacbowden) December 2, 2016

There is an additional option in Windows 10 HomeHub that enables multiple accounts including a shared family account being used in the software, whereas Google Home can only have one account logged in. Also, users will get an additional feature which no smart speaker is able to provide right now - the screen. It should be noted that Amazon Echo is planning for a design modification for next year that will add a screen to the device.

It is reported that Windows 10 HomeHub is capable of creating login-free PC and it can recognize the voice commands from larger distances which are not possible for normal computers or laptops. The report also says the Microsoft has requested Lenovo and HP to make PCs with compatible hardware for Windows 10 HomeHub. Interestingly, the next Surface line of PCs will be expected with the smart speaker feature enabled.

It was known that Microsoft is the only tech giant who is not working on its own smart speaker. But, the recent report about Windows 10 HomeHub brings the tech giant also into the foray. It can be expected that the competition of the system from Microsoft, Amazon Echo, Google Home and other smart speaker systems will ensure innovative and quality features to the users.