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dimanche 18 décembre 2016

Best Android tablets (December 2016)

Android tablets make great gifts, and the best thing about them is that everyone can use them, from a three-year-old to your grandma. But with so many devices out there, how can you make sure you get the best Android tablet for your money? There are probably hundreds of Android tablets on Amazon, and avoiding the overpriced and the plain bad can be daunting. But it doesn't have to be that hard.

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Just take a look at the tablets below – they are the very best Android has to offer, and you really can't go wrong with any of them. Without further ado, here's our list of the best Android tablets available so far in the year 2016.

Editor's note – We will be updating this list as more devices hit the market.

Update, December 2016: We made no changes to our list this month.

See also:

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October 18, 2016

Google Pixel C

Google surprised many of us at its 2015 Nexus event when it unveiled the Pixel C, an in-house built tablet that's made for productivity. While it may be a tad overpriced, the Pixel C does a lot right. It comes with a big 10.2-inch display, a 34.2WHr battery and Android 6.0 Marshmallow, all powered by NVIDIA's Tegra X1 processor and 3 gigabytes of RAM. There are quite a few decent official accessories available for the tablet, too, like the official keyboard or folio keyboard.

Like we mentioned earlier, the Pixel C is overpriced for what it offers, though it's still a great Android tablet if you have the extra money to spend. It's available now from the Google Store starting at $499, with official accessories adding an extra $149 to your purchase.

Specs

10.2-inch LTPS LCD display with 2560 x 1800 resolution, 308ppi
64-bit 1.9GHz octa-core NVIDIA Tegra X1 processor
3GB of RAM
32/64GB of on-board storage, no microSD expansion
8MP rear camera, 2MP front camera
Non-removable 34.2WHr battery
Android 7.1 Nougat
242 x 179 x 7mm, 517g

Read more

Buy now at Amazon

Nexus 9

While it's a little dated at this point, the Nexus 9 is still a great Android tablet. It was created by Google and built by HTC, which is basically an Android lover's dream. It runs the latest version of Android, and will continue to receive timely software updates for another year or so.

The specs aren't bad, either. It comes with an 8.9-inch display, a NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor, either 16 or 32GB of on-board storage, a big 6700mAh battery and weighs only 436 grams. Thanks to this device's specifications, navigating around the device, switching applications, playing games and streaming movies or videos is a breeze. It also has a nice soft touch material on the back (similar to the original Nexus 5) that makes this tablet easy to hold, as well.

Specs

8.9-inch IPS LCD display with 1536 x 2048 resolution, 281ppi
64-bit 2.3GHz NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor
2GB of RAM
16/32GB of on-board storage, no microSD card expansion
8MP rear camera, 1.6MP front camera
Non-removable 6700mAh battery
Android 7.1 Nougat
228.2 x 153.7 x 8mm, 436g

Read more

Buy now at Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0

samsung galaxy tab s2 8 3

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 was one of our tablets of choice in the past, and its successor is here to make it an even better option. The Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 comes with a smaller 8.0-inch display, which makes it more portable without sacrificing too much on screen real estate. It's also only 5.6 mm thick and 265 grams.

Don't mistake it for the "little guy" in the playground, though. It has plenty of power to keep you going through all your tasks. It may be a bit too similar to an iPad, but it's still a great Android tablet that many of you will enjoy.

Specs

8.0-inch Super AMOLED display with 1536 x 2048 resolution, 320ppi
1.9Ghz octa-core Samsung Exynos 5433 processor
3GB of RAM
32/64GB of-on board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB
8MP rear camera, 2.1MP front camera
Non-removable 4000mAh battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
198.6 x 134.8 x 5.6mm, 265g

Read more

Buy now at Amazon

NVIDIA Shield Tablet K1

Did you love the original NVIDIA Shield Tablet? Well, you'll probably feel just the same about the Shield Tablet K1, its direct successor. The specifications and design are pretty much the same with both tablets, aside from the addition of a rubberized surface next to the speakers and brushed metal lettering on the back of the K1.

NVIDIA also removed the stylus holder on the K1, which brings us to our next point – the stylus is gone! So are the charging cable and wall adaptor. The big news here is that NVIDIA is trying to cut costs, and they did just that by not including a stylus or charger. With that said, this tablet is now only $200, which makes it not only one of the best Android tablets out there, but also one of the most affordable.

Specs

8.0-inch LCD display with 1920 x 1200 resolution, 283ppi
2.2GHz quad-core NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor
2GB of RAM
16GB of on-board storage, microSD card expansion available
5MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
Non-removable 19.75WHr battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
221 x 126 x 9.2mm, 390g

Read more

NVIDIA Shield K1 announced (quick hands on)

Buy now at Amazon

Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet

Sony may be struggling in the mobile device market, but that's certainly not because of a lack of good products. The company has always done quite well in the high-end smartphone market, and that carries over to the tablet market as well. The latest flagship tablet to come from the company is the Xperia Z4 Tablet.

This is a sleek, thin and very attractive tablet offering from the company. It comes with a 10.1-inch display, a Snapdragon 810 processor, 3 gigabytes of RAM, plenty of on-board storage and microSD expansion up to 128 gigabytes. It also comes with a big 6000mAh battery that should be able to last a very long time on just a single charge. It should be noted that while this tablet still runs Android 5.0 Lollipop, Sony has plans to skip the 5.1.1 update and roll out Android 6.0 Marshmallow as soon as it's ready. This isn't the best news for some folks, as 5.1.1 brings many great bug fixes and performance improvements over 5.0. Still, a promised upgrade to Android 6 is the best Sony can do at this point, which is definitely more than what some other tablet makers can say about their devices.

Specs

10.1-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1600 resolution, 299ppi
2.0GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor
3GB of RAM
32GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB
8.1MP rear camera, 5.1MP front camera
Non-removable 6000mAh battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
254 x 167 x 6.1mm, 389g

Read more

Buy now at Amazon

There you have it – our picks from the best Android has to offer right now. Missed anything? Tell us in the comments!

For more tablet information, head on over to the TabTimes blog for more tablet news, reviews and information.

See also:

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October 28, 2016

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Must read: top 10 Android stories

This week we reviewed the Huawei Mate 9, compared all of the latest flagship processors, and talked about Huawei's latest AI-powered phone, the Honor Magic. Here's the news of the week!

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Huawei Mate 9 review Huawei's new Mate 9 is a big improvement over last year's Mate 8, but is it worth your hard-earned cash? Find out, in our full Huawei Mate 9 review.

SoC showdown 2016: Snapdragon 821 vs Exynos 8890 vs MediaTek Helio X25 vs Kirin 960 Which is the best Android mobile processor for 2016? We test Qualcomm, Samsung, MediaTek and Huawei. Which one will come out on top?

Fitbit Charge 2 vs Garmin vívosmart HR+ If you're looking to keep better track of your daily activity, the Fitbit Charge 2 and Garmin vívosmart HR+are two devices that may be on your radar. Find out who comes out on top in this battle of Fitbit vs Garmin!

The Huawei Honor Magic is official and it looks stunning Huawei's Honor brand has announced its new concept phone, the Honor Magic, featuring a striking curved design and AI features.

Aren't flagship phones just status symbols? $700 or more is an awful lot to spend on a flagship phone when powerful alternatives cost half the price. Are flagships just turning into a status symbol?

Cyanogen: where did it go wrong? After bitter disputes and company infighting, the future of Cyanogen, Inc. is pretty uncertain. Here's a recap of where it all went wrong for the company.

How to become a Nova Launcher power user Nova Launcher is one of the most powerful, customizable launchers in the Play Store. Here are some tips and tricks on how to master it.

Here's what we know, and what's rumored, about the Nokia 2017 comeback The Nokia brand will return to smartphones in 2017: here's what we currently know about it, along with what's been rumored.

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8 things you didn’t know you could do with mobile wallets in India

In the past couple of years, mobile wallets like Paytm, FreeCharge, and MobiKwik have become quite popular in India, and the recent cash crunch in the country due to demonetisation has accelerated the adoption.

Mobile wallets allow seamless financial transactions instead of using cash, cheque, or debit/credit cards. The traditional methods have a friction associated with them, and because of the two-factor authentication mandated by the Government of India, credit card transactions too aren't seamless.

Mobile wallet companies have thrown in a slew of promotions in the form of discounts and cashbacks and have worked hard on increasing adoption by online services as well as offline merchants – both driving the adoption and product maturity.

These apps and services allow you to add money to your account, spend it for online or offline purchases, and send or receive money from other users (on the same service). But that's not all. In this fierce competition, these companies are working hard to offer differentiated experiences to aid your daily financial transactions and stand out in their marketing pitches.

Here's a look at eight unique features of mobile wallets that a lot of people don't use or aren't aware of, but can come very handy once you try them out.

Cash Pickup

Last year, MobiKwik introduced 'Cash Pickup' service in limited cities that allows users to add cash directly to their MobiKwik wallet. The service is aimed at people who do not have access to bank accounts or credit and debit cards, yet can be empowered to take the advantage of mobile wallets. I often use it when I end up with a few spare thousands at home since I prefer to keep only petty cash with me for random, trivial expenses.

In order to use the doorstep cash pickup service, you'd need to use the 'Request Cash Pickup' option on the app that will activate the nearest MobiKwik agent who then arrives within 30 minutes to process the request. Like Uber, for example, the user also gets to view the name and photo of the agent coming over for the pickup on the app. Once the agent arrives, all you need to do is handover the cash and share the OTP, and the updated balance would be reflected in your account immediately.

Accept Card Payments from Customers

Recently, Paytm introduced a new feature allowing small and medium businesses to accept card payments from consumers.

The RBI approved and PCI-DSS compliant payment option enables businesses to accept payments at 0% fee. In this P2P payment system, a payment link is sent to the customer where the credit/debit card details can be entered. In this way, customers do not need to share card details with anyone.

Payment can be made only if the mobile number entered by the customer matches the mobile number entered by the merchant and the payment link is active only for a single transaction and only for 30 minutes.

Seamless recharges in MIUI 8

In June this year, when Xiaomi announced MIUI 8, the company also showcased a nifty, little feature in partnership with MobiKwik that allows Xiaomi users to make seamless payments on Mi Phones.

Launched with the MIUI8, the feature allows users to pay bills and recharge their phones or DTH connections from within the messaging application. When a user receives a message from their telecom or DTH operator regarding low balance or bill payment, there is a 'Recharge Now' button just below the same for instant recharge through MobiKwik.

The integrated call to action allows users to complete the online recharge without having to navigate to or install separate apps. This also allows quick payments without delaying it for another time, that sometimes leads to one forgetting to make the payment. Users can also sync the MobiKwik account with the Mi Account to enable 'One Click Recharge'.

Virtual Card

In a country where the plastic currency is not the norm because of low credit and debit card penetration, virtual cards are a boon.

In the past, few banks have offered virtual cards that can be used as credit cards in online transactions, and now, FreeCharge has introduced FreeCharge Go that allows you to pay from your FreeCharge Balance just like your regular card, on all online platforms that support Mastercard. The PCI-DSS compliant payment mode is secured by a MPIN. At the moment though, the FreeCharge Go card is restricted to Indian websites and apps only.

Last month, MobiKwik too announced their virtual card – MobikKwik Card – however, it is not available at the moment, and is coming soon. Once launched, you'd be able to use the MobiKwik Card on all online platforms and PoS machines.

Auto Maintain Wallet Balance

MobiKwik offers a handy feature allowing users to maintain balance on a daily basis automatically. This is useful if you use MobiKwik for daily expenses, and you know that you'd need a certain amount every day.

Once configured using a credit or debit card (American Express not supported), your wallet balance will be topped up daily to the amount that you've specified from whatever it is at the time.

Redeem Points as Cash

This one is a pretty neat integration. If you have a Payback loyalty program membership or a debit or credit card from one of the 'Max Get More' supported banks (there's a long list of those), you can redeem points as cash in your MobiKwik wallet.

WhatsApp Integration

Since a while, FreeCharge offered a 'Chat n Pay' feature allowing for chat-based communication with your friends and settle bills and payments. The company then took the feature to the next level by introducing FreeCharge on WhatsApp.

The integration allows FreeCharge users to send and receive money via WhatsApp. Once setup, all you need to do is type in the amount followed by FC in a chat window on WhatsApp, and choose from send, request or recharge money options.

Split Bill

This is a pretty straightforward one. And I'm surprised not all mobile wallets offer this feature. MobiKwik allows you to split bills with friends who are MobiKwik users as well.

You can enter amount, mention the purpose such as food or rent, and specify the number of people you want to split the bill with. Once done, you'll get a private link that you can send to those people. At the other end, your friend will have to make payment for his or her share only by clicking the link and logging into the MobiKwik wallet.

Do you have any more tips and trick or know of lesser known features that I missed? Share them with us and our readers by dropping in a comment below.

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5 Android apps you shouldn’t miss this week! – Android Apps Weekly

Welcome to the 170th edition of Android Apps Weekly! Here are the headlines from the last week:

Google Allo limped over the ten million installations mark this week. It's a number to be proud of, but we all know that Allo has had a cold reception from almost everyone. That makes the ten million mark seem both impressive and a little sad. The app has been getting better and we're sure it's only a matter of time before things pick up a little more. As it stands, these things are marathons and not sprints, so it's still too early to call this a success or failure.
Evernote has updated their privacy policy and everyone's pretty mad about it. The policy will give a small number of Evernote employees the ability to view your notes. According to the CEO, this is so the machine learning features that will be implemented soon can work properly. Thankfully, the company will give users the option to opt out of this if they want to. The change will take place in late January so keep your eyes peeled if you use Evernote.
Okay, so get this. Someone actually went and spent $1 million on a freemium game. The guy who did it actually stole the money from the job he was working. He then turned around and blew a million of it on a game called Game of War. He also spent money on plastic surgery and season tickets to the San Francisco 49ers. As you can imagine, the man has been arrested. This also no doubt helped Game of War's bottom line quite a bit.
Google released their top regular search trends for 2016. As you can imagine, it sums up the year pretty well. You see the expected results like Hillary Clinton and Trump along with Prince, the Olympics, David Bowie, and Pokemon Go. The very top of the list was Powerball, which was worth a mind-bending $1.56 billion back in January. Apparently, everyone wanted to see how that turned out.
Super Mario Run was released on iOS this last week. There are tons of game play videos on YouTube now if you want to check that out. It's had a fairly polarizing reception so far with some praising the mobile-centric game play while others wish it adhered to older Mario mechanics. In either case, you can get it on iTunes now. Nintendo is going to release the game on Android. However, they have been a little quiet on when that will happen for right now.

For even more Android apps and games news, releases, and updates, check out this week's newsletter by clicking here! There you can find all of the Android apps and games news that we didn't have space for here. You can sign up for the newsletter using the form below if you want and we'll send it to you every Sunday. Don't forget to check out the Android Authority app!

Android Apps Weekly!

Subscribe to the Apps Weekly newsletter.

Retro Winter Sports 1986

[Price: $1.99]
Retro Winter Sports 1986 is a sports game that is actually comprised of six other mini-games. You'll be able to play retro versions of Ski Jump, Biathlon, Bobsled, Speed Skating, Curling, and Slalom. The graphics are as you'd expect from a game with the word "retro" in it. You'll also be able to play against other people, choose between 12 different nations, and you'll have access to leaderboards and achievements via Google Play Games. It's a cheap game with no in-app purchases.

Download now on Google Play!

Events from Facebook

[Price: Free]
Events from Facebook is the latest arm of Facebook to be spun off into its own app. This one handles all of your events. It also allows you to search for other events that you may want to attend. You'll also be able to import calendars from your phone to keep track of them as well. The interface is a bit clunky but still usable. It's also worth noting that the app's layout isn't all that great either. You can try it and it should work for the most part. However, don't expect the most enjoyable experience right now.

Download now on Google Play!
events from facebook Android Apps Weekly

Kathy Rain

[Price: $4.99]
Kathy Rain is a puzzle-adventure game with a retro style. You'll play as Kathy, a go-getter journalist who is investigating the death of her grandfather. The journey is wrought with peril and some emotional distress. As a player, you'll follow a trail of clues that will lead you to the killer. The game features 40 hand-drawn environments, 40,000 lines of dialogue, and even voice acting. It's a nice blend of old and new and there are no in-app purchases.

Download now on Google Play!

Netflix VR

[Price: Free]
Netflix has officially released their app for Daydream VR. The good news is that it should work with all of their video content. The VR experience puts you in a room with a TV with Netflix playing on that TV. It actually looks pretty cool. The bad news is that the app is suffering from some release bugs which include playback errors. The UX probably could use a little work as well. Still, it does work most of the time so it's worth a shot if you have Daydream.

Download now on Google Play!

Shadow Bug Rush

[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Shadow Bug Rush is an action-platformer mixed with an infinite runner. You'll play as a little silhouetted robot as you cut your way through various enemies and levels. It features one-finger controls, procedurally generated levels, and dozens of obstacles for your to overcome. You'll also have leaderboards and achievements if you want those. It's a freemium game which isn't great. However, it's a good little time killer that looks nice and plays well.

Download now on Google Play!

Related best app lists:

If we missed any great new Android apps, tell us about them in the comments! To see our complete list of best app lists, click here.

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samedi 17 décembre 2016

ZTE Grand X4 International Giveaway

It's that time again! Welcome to the Sunday Giveaway, where each and every week we give you the chance to win a brand-spanking-new Android smartphone or tablet!

Congratulations to the winner of last week's Google Pixel XL giveaway: Stephen C. (Australia). This week we're putting the ZTE Grand X 4 on the pedestal. Ready to make your entries?

ZTE Grand X 4 International Giveway!!

More Giveaways

Oculus Rift & Oculus Touch VR giveaway – vrsource.com
DJI Mavic Pro International Giveaway – charged.io
Beats PowerBeats 3 Wireless Headphones Giveaway – soundguys.com
iPad Pro 9.7 International Giveaway – tabtimes.com
Best Android Phone (December 2016) Giveaway – AndroidAuthority.com

Winners Gallery

Terms & Conditions

The giveaway is an international giveaway (Except when we can not ship to your Country.)
In the event the giveaway phone prize does not work in your country the prize will be substituted for a phone of at least equal MSRP value that is compatible in your country.
If we can not ship to your country, you will be compensated with an online gift card of equal MSRP value to the prize.
We are not responsible for lost shipments.
We are not responsible if your giveaway prize malfunctions.
You must be age of majority in your Country of residence.
We are not responsible for any duties or import fees that you may incur.
Only 1 entry per person, do not enter multiple email addresses. We will verify all winners and if we detect multiple email addresses by the same person you will not be eligible to win.
We reserve all rights to make any changes to this giveaway.
This giveaway is operated by AndroidAuthority.
The prize will ship when it is available to purchase.

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Microsoft might have some secret weapons in store for its Echo competitor

You may have caught a glimpse of Microsoft's teaser for its Amazon Echo competitor the other day. It's a Harman Kardon speaker running Cortana that aims to take on not just the Echo, but also the likes of Google Home and whatever Samsung eventually comes out with running Bixby (besides the Galaxy S8 of course). But against such fierce competition, does Microsoft's digital assistant speaker stand a chance?

See also:

10 best personal assistant apps for Android

4 weeks ago

In short: absolutely. But there are quite a few things to consider when trying to predict how well a virtual assistant product will do on the market. First, there are the obvious things, like the quality and feature-set of the virtual assistant itself and the hardware in which it exists.

Then there are other less obvious aspects like compatibility with other devices, price points, form factors and other barriers to entry. And then there's the issue of the openness of the platform to third-party developers and manufacturers, which can have an immense impact on its growth.

With these things in mind, how well is Microsoft's Cortana speaker going to stack up? Google Assistant will likely always have the edge on search, and Amazon has a massive array of skills and third-party integrations already thanks to being first to market. Microsoft's product design, which reeks of the Amazon Echo, isn't going to differentiate it, so what secret weapons does Microsoft have?

Google Assistant will likely always have the edge on search, and Amazon has a massive array of skills and third-party integrations already.

Cortana vs the competition

The thing with digital assistants housed in speakers is that, like most things in life, it's essentially what's inside that counts. No one really buys a virtual assistant speaker based on looks. If they did, Google wouldn't stand a chance (air freshener burn!). But Google Home still has a very good chance at being the dominant speaker in years to come, because Google. That is, until Apple releases some overpriced home AI product.

But if you were to ask me for a gut-reaction to which virtual assistant is best, I wouldn't put Cortana at the top of the list, but it probably wouldn't be at the bottom either. Of course, depending on what you use your digital assistant for, your mileage may vary: everyone has their preferred digital assistant for their own particular reasons.

Preference for an AI assistant boils down to two things: the quality of its voice recognition and enhanced functionality.

But ultimately, that preference boils down to two things: voice recognition and enhanced functionality. A virtual assistant is no good if it can't understand you or is incapable of doing much.

Unfortunately, Microsoft's teaser don't exactly inspire us with confidence. The only 'skills' shown in the short video are playing a song and setting a reminder. This is not the stuff of AI dreams.

Hardware options

Let's face it, as important as the virtual assistant inside the product is, the hardware in which it is encased also matters. But not necessarily just for what it looks or sounds like, but also for what choices it offers. Microsoft, perhaps recognizing Cortana's current weaknesses, has wisely identified that limiting Cortana's home-assistant life to one product would put it in a very tough position.

Not only would it have to have better (or at least comparable) software abilities when compared to Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, it would also have to be a better speaker than both of them. Partnering with Harmon Kardon certainly gives Microsoft's first swing at bat a much better chance of outdoing the competition on audio quality. But why stop there?

This is where Microsoft diverges from the competition. That is because the speaker teased in the video isn't a Microsoft product per se. It is a Harmon Kardon product that runs Cortana, much like a Dell PC running Windows. This is a critical difference.

Microsoft will only have third-party products running Cortana: the same approach it traditionally took to getting Windows on PCs.

Microsoft won't make hardware

While Amazon and Google have released their own branded speakers running their own digital assistants, Microsoft will come out of the gate with only third-party products. This is the same way it traditionally approached hardware and software for computers (before the Surface, that is). These new products won't just be relegated to speakers either: a recently-leaked Microsoft slide shows Cortana will live inside a wide range of household consumer products next year.

Of course, there are already third-party Alexa-powered devices available, but they tend to be less fully-featured when compared to Amazon's own hardware (requiring a tap before speaking commands for example). They also tend to be cheaper and nastier than Amazon's offerings, clearly pitching them beneath Amazon's own products. And as far as I'm aware, there isn't an Alexa-powered fridge in the pipeline.

Microsoft, Google and Amazon have all opened their platforms up to third-party developers.

Meanwhile, Google indicated way back at I/O that it was working with various audio companies on third-party speakers as vehicles for Google Assistant. But it seems to be prioritizing giving its own hardware a head start first, because we've not heard anything more on that front since May.

Both Google and Amazon have already opened their platforms up to third-party developers, just as Microsoft has done this week.

Third-party support

By opening up the Cortana Devices SDK to anyone that wants to include Cortana in their connected products, Microsoft is taking a two-pronged approach: get an uncrippled version of Cortana into as many products as possible, and remove itself from the hardware side of things as much as possible. This is important, because as mentioned above, Microsoft is going to need all the help it can get.

To get an idea of how Microsoft's approach might pan out, just think of the distribution model of iOS vs Android. With Home, Echo and Dot, Google and Amazon released their own device running their own software with very little choice for consumers. This is Apple's approach with the iPhone. It's essentially take it or leave it.

Microsoft hasn't made an Echo competitor so much as asked others to do it on their behalf.

On the other hand, Microsoft will allow basically anyone that wants to use its software to do so, much like Google did with Android. So Microsoft hasn't made an Echo competitor so much as it is getting others to create those products on its behalf, covering a much wider product portfolio than it could ever hope to manage on its own.

That's not to say that making Cortana open to all OEMs and ODMs that wish to incorporate it means Cortana will suddenly become the Android of virtual assistants. Far from it. If Google does start releasing third-party speakers at the high end and Amazon continues its low-end Alexa-powered expansion, Microsoft will be squeezed from both sides.

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Microsoft's edge

For Microsoft to really compete against the cheap, third party-friendly and very capable Alexa products, Microsoft needs Cortana-powered products at the high and low end of the scale. Fortunately, Microsoft won't cannibalize its own sales by doing so as it is strictly focused on getting Cortana out there. But if Microsoft wants to compete against the power of Google Assistant it really needs to beef up its software.

This is the crux of the software issue: Microsoft can't just settle on letting manufacturers slap Cortana inside their products and hope for the best thanks to greater numbers. After all, Apple successfully proved one iPhone was enough to compete with the multitude of Android options.

Not having to focus on hardware means Microsoft can invest all of its time and resources into making Cortana better.

No, if Microsoft wants to join the voice assistant speaker over a year late it needs to bring something new and fresh and compelling. Not having to focus on hardware so much means that Microsoft can invest all of its time and resources into making Cortana the best-in-class assistant for whatever hardware it appears in.

Thankfully, Microsoft recently achieved human parity in conversational voice recognition and has confirmed it will make its way into Cortana. This is hugely important, as speech recognition has always been Cortana's weak spot. The recent update to the Cortana app also shows Microsoft is actively working on more than just the back end too, which is equally encouraging.

Differentiation

A display has already been ear-marked as a requirement for third-party manufacturers to incorporate Cortana into their products. While this might sound novel, Amazon is already rumored to be working on an Alexa device with a large screen. So Microsoft won't be able to stand out there.

Likewise, knowing you can buy the toaster, fridge, speaker and washing machine you like and have them all support Cortana is a bonus, but having multiple devices that all do the same thing isn't necessarily a killshot either. (That said, planning multiple devices that all feature a fully featured Cortana is definitely a wise move.)

But Microsoft might have another secret weapon up its sleeve, one very close to its heart: voice controlling your Windows computer. A recent Windows 10 insider preview build includes the ability to wake your PC, put it to sleep, lock it, and change the volume, all with your voice alone. These powers and more will roll out officially in the Windows 10 Creators update scheduled for early 2017.

Microsoft might have a secret weapon up its sleeve if recently leaked plans for a Microsoft Home Hub pan out.

But it might not just be one way control, if recently leaked plans for a Microsoft Home Hub pan out. If these rumors are true, you won't even need to go out and buy a Cortana-powered product to handle all your voice assistant needs in the home: your existing Windows 10 PC will be able to assume that role. All it will take is a software patch, which may well be a part of the Creators update.

There are numerous barriers to entry in this space: price, product range, maturity of the platform, perceived need for what is ultimately an unnecessary if-not-entirely 'luxury' product, compatibility and so on. But if Microsoft rolls out its Home Hub for free to gadgets people already have in their homes, it bypasses several of those traditional obstacles.

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What voice commands can I use with Google Home?

November 10, 2016

Make it free

Betting your PC against an Echo speaker or Google Home is a much safer bet than competing on even ground. Microsoft must know that rolling out a free update to add super-charged AI features to your existing Windows 10 computer is a great way to introduce people to what the new Cortana can do.

Once folks have had the chance to try out Cortana's voice assistant powers in the home will make convincing them to buy into the Cortana product ecosystem a much easier sell. Making multiple other products available without crippling them to push one's own hardware first is also a huge plus. This might just be the way Microsoft manages to turn up late and still come out with a healthy piece of the pie.

We don't know if we'll see Microsoft's Cortana-powered speaker or any other products revealed at CES or MWC, but we'll absolutely be keeping an eye on Microsoft's plans in this space. We may end up being totally wrong with what Microsoft has planned for its Cortana ecosystem, but what at first looked like a weak Echo clone might suddenly turn into real competition for Amazon and Google in your home.

Would you prefer your computer to take the place of a Echo or Home? Who do you think will come out on top?

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AT&T offers Samsung, LG and Apple BOGO deals with $650 free credit for switchers

AT&T is at it again with more buy-one-get-one-free deals on phones ranging from the Galaxy S7 to the iPhone 7 to the LG G5. It's the standard deal you'd be familiar with: buy both devices at full price on an AT&T Next or Next Every Year plan and receive monthly bill credits on the second device to the tune of $695. Naturally, you can pay for the cost of each device on monthly instalments.

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Best AT&T Android phones

4 weeks ago

If you're willing to switch to AT&T for the deal, you can also pick up $650 worth of bill credits to offset the cost of breaking your existing carrier contract. Of course, if you sign up fresh with AT&T without having to break a prior contract, those bill credits can simply offset your monthly bill.

Do note that you will have to pay the tax due on both devices upfront and it might take two or three monthly cycles to see the monthly credits applied to your bill. At that time you'll also be credited for any device device payments you may have already made.

You've got until December 24 to take advantage of the deal and read through AT&T's voluminous fine print. There are also a host of other deals, bundles and offers on various AT&T devices, so keep an eye out for them as well.

Will you be picking up a new Android phone this holiday season? What's the phone to beat?

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