Google Home

I never once dreamed of having automated blinds. I was hesitant at first because I live in a rental, but then I thought I'd for sure get my deposit back when we eventually move out after an upgrade like automatic shades, right?

Now more than ever, it's important to get your news from sources you trust – not just from whatever the first hits are that come up in a Google search. That's why Google has launched a Preferred Sources function … and you can use it with our site!

Voice-activated smart speakers can be handy around the house, but they come with a privacy trade-off. Appropriately named start-up Paranoid has unveiled a set of devices that can make sure smart speakers are only listening when you want them to.

First came the Google Home speakers, then we got Home speakers with screens, and now we've got the Google Nest Hub Max – the ultimate Google-powered smart speaker for 2019.

​You may think that the humble coffee table is something that couldn't be subjected to a high-tech makeover, but … yeah, you'd be wrong. The currently-crowdfunding Coosno is equipped with a mini fridge, voice control, Google Home and more.

'Tis the season to be buying smart speakers, with both Amazon and Google revamping their line-ups before the holidays, and Apple promising to join the market with its own entry in 2018. But with an increasing number of models available, how do you choose between them? We've got all you need to know.

If you haven't joined the Internet of Things (IoT) train yet, now's the perfect time to get on board. Smarts have been crammed into pretty much every household appliance, with more options than ever. New Atlas rounds up some of the best IoT gadgets to smarten up your home this holiday season.

​Google Experiments is a showcase of the many creative ways the company’s tools and resources can be used. The latest "experiment" to launch is called Voice Experiments, and it offers a variety of fun and strange ways to play with the voice-controlled Google Assistant

For this year's Glastonbury Festival, EE is pitching a high-tech tent to keep festival-goers connected. Acting as a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, the camper packs VR headsets, voice-activated mood-setting, livestreams of performances, a solar-powered boot warmer and a fridge that reminds you to restock it.

Homewares are a tried-and-true gift avenue, but candelabras and doormats can be pretty dull. That's why we've rounded up some of the coolest home gadgets and gifts to help your friends and family (or yourself) relax and make the most of the holiday season.

Here's how Amazon and Google's voice-based virtual assistants compare when we put some slightly goofy questions to them, along with our pick of which one we'd rather hang with at a party.