Gudi Padwa Gifts Gudi Padwa Gift Ideas

Table of Content

• Flower Combos
• Gift Services
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Gudi Padwa Ugadi
• Express Gifts
• Festivals

You can easily send ugadi Gudi padwa gifts to your family and friends in India and celebrate the commencement of Hindu New Year. Visit Gift Across India to find exceptional gifts ideas specially designed for Ugadi and Gudi Padwa. Choose the best ones and send them to India via the guaranteed service for same day delivery in India. In Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, it is celebrated as Ugadi while Sindhis celebrate it as Cheti Chand. However, there's one common factor that binds the celebration of this festival across many Indian states. It goes without saying that every festivals remains incomplete without gifts.

It is a wonderful gift to send on Ugadi to your friends and family. The purity and innocence that is there in flowers add to the spirit of this event. As per custom, people offer the flowers of neem, mango, and tamarind to appease the almighty on this day. Celebrate the festival by dissolving the difference amongst your family, friends and relatives. Send them popular Gudi Padwa gifts online at the comfort of your home and rejoice at the occasion. We have even come up with many Gudi Padwa gift hampers too with a personalized message to add to the occasion.

Flower Combos

Even we provide other facilities while sending gudipadwa gifts to India such as online order tracking, easy refund, 24x7 customer support as you feel convenient for it. There is nothing to worry when you can avail the service for Online Gudi Padwa gifts delivery to send gifts and best wishes to your friends and family. Make a wish list of gifts and add mix dry fruits with kaju burfi to it. Send your chosen gifts to a specified location by hiring the midnight gifts delivery service to surprise your loved ones on the festive days. You can also add a fresh fruits basket with the gifts you have chosen.

It is known to be the best and the most thoughtful gifts for all. Therefore, you can always choose one to order Gudi Padwa gifts for your loved ones. At MyFlowerTree, you can get silver statues to wooden idols and plant combos. Ever since Internet has taken over our lives, a number of E-commerce sites have cropped up. It is an undeniable fact that in today's times, the busy professionals opt for online shopping rather than conventional shopping. Online shops give us the opportunity to shop 24/7, and thus you do not need to disturb your schedule in any way.

Gift Services

Flowers Bouquet- Flowers are one of the most suitable gifts for this occasion as they convey the real feelings and emotions without even voicing a single word. Send your dears a bouquet of a flower which is perhaps the most beautiful and easily available gift. You can now purchase from the comprehensive variety of home decor items available at our online store. Here you will have over 10,000+ choices that are seamless for the occasion of Gudi Padwa. This allows you to get the privilege to buy everything at home within your budget. Some of the best online gifts for Gudi Padwa are home essentials and home décor items that are deliverable at the comfort of your house.

On Ugadi, both Lord Brahma and Vishnu are worshipped and shown gratitude. If you’re still confused thinking about what gift you should give to your loved ones, visit Gift across India, and we will help you in your search. If you are gifting a teenager or a kid in your house, then you can always select from the wide collection of Mugs and cushions for Gudi Padwa as well. Giftacrossindia.com can delivery Gudi Padwa Ugadi on the Same Day at major locations across India. This festival holds a special place among Hindus in other states of India as well, where it is known by different names. The Gudi Padwa prasad prepared using neem leaves with jaggery is a bitter-sweet prasad.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Gudi Padwa Ugadi

Right from being an important part of Puja offerings to completing every festive meal, these can never be left out. So, sweeten a dear one’s Ugadi celebrations by gifting him/her an assorted box of sweets. Dry fruits are crispy and crunchy apart from being extremely healthy gifting options. Thus, a gift of dry fruits is very much welcome on any occasion especially if it is a festival like Gudi Padwa.

Gudi Padwa is a nice occasion to distribute gifts among your loved ones whom you really care about. A list of gifts for Gudi Padwa is given in this article for your reference. Home Décor Items- Home décor items are one of the finest choices to gift your loved one memories of a lifetime. There are a plethora of home decor items available online to be gifted to the right from the statues to paintings, murals, wall hangings, antique showpieces, wooden items etc.

It increases blood circulation, tones muscles, smoothens skin, and even helps in getting good sleep. So on this auspicious day, you could gift your dear one wellness through a set of Abhyangam oil bottles. Ugadi originates from the word Yugadi - which roughly translates to the origin of a new age. It is believed that on this day Lord Brahma had started creating the universe. Lord Vishnu is said to have had a huge role to play in this creation as well.

Heralding the onset of spring, Gudi Padwa symbolises the traditional New Year merriment for all the Marathi Hindus. It showcases a beautiful transition of two seasons, wherein it marks the end of the harvest season and the onset of spring. It is held on the first day of the Chaitra month and marks the first day of spring. Giftacrossindia.com value your emotions behind sending Gudi Padwa Ugadi and hence we have enable users to convey emotions and personal messages & wishes to the receiver of their gift.

It is a tradition to buy something sweet on New Year's Day called Gudi Padwa. So, what can be better than to order or send online Cakes to ensure prosperity throughout the year. It adds joy to the faces of your toddlers and the equally enjoyed by elders too. Yes, it can be considered an excellent option for a Gudi Padwa gift. Giftacrossindia.com is highly reliable gift portal for Gudi Padwa Ugadi delivery. Giftacrossindia.com has been delivering Gudi Padwa Ugadi on time for more than 10 years in 500+ cities of India.

The dry fruits that are available here on this online gifting portal can be found separately, in combos or as part of a hamper. They include goodies like cashew nuts, almonds, raisins, pistachios, walnuts, mango candies, dry apricots, dried plums and blackcurrants. Buying artificial jewellery for girls is considered auspicious too on this festival.

The festival is marked with colourful flower decorations, Gudi Padwa Gifts, and rangoli. Moreover, a special Gudi flag i.e. garlanded with flowers, mango with neem leaves. The decorations are topped with upturned silver or copper vessels to delight the tradition, street processions, dancing with relatives and festive foods.

A Gudi is prepared and hoisted at the doorstep of every Maharashtrian household and various rituals are performed thereafter. As this is an occasion to celebrate, everyone exchanges gifts, makes merry and enjoys themselves. If you are still confused thinking about what gift you should buy and give to your loved ones, then here are a few gift ideas. Even if you’re away from your friends and family, you can send greetings and your best wishes to them via an efficient online gift shop.

Best Gudi Padwa Gifts Ideas

Table of Content

• Hamper Type
• Special Occasions
• Top 5 Gift Ideas on Gudi Padwa
• Same day gifts delivery to India
• By Price
• Get Best Gudi Padwa Gifts Online at MyFlowerTree - Same Day Delivery

We have an exquisite range of gudi padwa gifts for wife, which will definitely take your better half by surprise. If you want to pamper your hubby for a change, our gudi padwa gifts for husband will make it worthwhile for you. We also provide the additional facilities of USA, UK, and Australia delivery so that you can surprise a dear one even from miles away. Our makar sankranti special gifts will speak volumes to convey to your family/friends how much they mean to you. With our exclusive lohri gifts online delivery, you can occupy a special place in someone's thoughts.

You can send attractive gifts for them that will surely brighten their and thus you can become a part of the celebrations. Sending online gifts is quite easy as well as hassle free and thus you can opt for this mode because it will save a lot of your time. We have enlisted here the top five Gudi Padwa gift ideas that are available online.

Hamper Type

It is known to be the best and the most thoughtful gifts for all. Therefore, you can always choose one to order Gudi Padwa gifts for your loved ones. At MyFlowerTree, you can get silver statues to wooden idols and plant combos. Ever since Internet has taken over our lives, a number of E-commerce sites have cropped up. It is an undeniable fact that in today's times, the busy professionals opt for online shopping rather than conventional shopping. Online shops give us the opportunity to shop 24/7, and thus you do not need to disturb your schedule in any way.

If you want to let your sibling know how treasured they are to you, there's no better way than to buy rakhi gifts online through us. New Year is a very festive time for everyone and this is what Gudi Padwa mean for the people living in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Thus, this day is celebrated with a lot of fun and enjoyment and they spend the day quite happily with friends and family. Being apart from loved ones during this time can be tough and if you are in such a situation then we can offer a solution to your problem.

Special Occasions

A perfectly designed tray set is a beautiful way to celebrate and serve in style. So, here is the dry fruits box set in which you can fill up your yummy snacks or dry fruits and present them to your guests more elegantly and aesthetically. With these exceptional gift ideas, you can now occupy a dear place in someone’s thoughts. Make the most of the festival and get the excitement up in the air with gestures that will delight the heart of your loved ones.

It is a wonderful gift to send on Ugadi to your friends and family. The purity and innocence that is there in flowers add to the spirit of this event. As per custom, people offer the flowers of neem, mango, and tamarind to appease the almighty on this day. Celebrate the festival by dissolving the difference amongst your family, friends and relatives. Send them popular Gudi Padwa gifts online at the comfort of your home and rejoice at the occasion. We have even come up with many Gudi Padwa gift hampers too with a personalized message to add to the occasion.

Top 5 Gift Ideas on Gudi Padwa

Send presents to your family, husband, wife, mother, father and other relatives and neighbours on this beautiful event of Gudi Padwa through our website in Cheap Price. It is a holy festival that welcomes the fertile season of spring. You can now do Gudi Padwa Gift Shopping on our website for every loved member of your life.

Due to some reasons i had to change the delivery location from one to another state and the staff really supported to change the location. Special Thanks to Leena who really took so much of efforts to complete the work. Purchasing gold, new vehicle, or starting a new business is considered quite auspicious on this the occasion of Gudi Padwa, which is known to bring good luck. According to legends, Gudi Padwa is linked to the day when Brahma created time and the universe. Mythologically, Gudi Padwa symbolizes the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana and his successful return to Ayodhya. Gudi Padwa is known by many other names in different regions of India.

Gifts for Him

Right from being an important part of Puja offerings to completing every festive meal, these can never be left out. So, sweeten a dear one’s Ugadi celebrations by gifting him/her an assorted box of sweets. Dry fruits are crispy and crunchy apart from being extremely healthy gifting options. Thus, a gift of dry fruits is very much welcome on any occasion especially if it is a festival like Gudi Padwa.

They draw rangoli on the floor of their houses by using powder colors, flowers, and petals. It is considered the best way to give a warm and colorful welcome to all the guests and loved ones. The women of the houses prepare traditional sweets and dishes that all the family members relish together. The section on sweets here on this online gift store has been divided into three parts.

It is a tradition to buy something sweet on New Year's Day called Gudi Padwa. So, what can be better than to order or send online Cakes to ensure prosperity throughout the year. It adds joy to the faces of your toddlers and the equally enjoyed by elders too. Yes, it can be considered an excellent option for a Gudi Padwa gift. Giftacrossindia.com is highly reliable gift portal for Gudi Padwa Ugadi delivery. Giftacrossindia.com has been delivering Gudi Padwa Ugadi on time for more than 10 years in 500+ cities of India.

Avail this unique way of sending gifts to India to make everyone happy. With our portal by your side, you can now get Ugadi gifts at ease. Just a few clicks, and you can find gifts for Gudi Padwa that fit your needs and preferences perfectly. Sending Ugadi gifts to India is indeed a smooth and delightful experience with us. You can send Gudi Padwa presents to your close ones, and make them feel overjoyed. Our wide range of gudi padwa gifts online, coupled with other facilities will surely leave a positive impression on you.

By Price

The gifting culture is what makes any celebration exciting and interesting. On the auspicious day of Ugadi, let’s dive into gifting ideas that you can give to your family, friends, and neighbours to embrace the occasion in its truest form. The elder and older members of the family offer gifts and money to the younger family members as a token of affection and care. Hence, here is a list of stunning Gudi Padwa gifts ideas that you can offer to your girlfriend/ boyfriend, wife/ husband, family and friends. Thanks for your great service i.e gifts combo quality and price and offers, timely Delivery without calling multiple times and also for great choises you provide on your website. Giving someone Idols of Gods or Goddesses is considered auspicious.

Sending Gudi Padwa Gifts on this auspicious occasion to your loved one can make your relationship and bonds stronger. We also have some combos in gifts like fruits basket with sweets, flower bouquets with chocolates, cakes with floral gifts etc or you can also customize your own combos. Through our Express Delivery service, you can now easily order online and get delivery of gifts anywhere in India. We also offer to you Same Day Delivery and Free Delivery schemes.

The CDs & DVDs contains prayers and hymns for Krishna, Shiv, Hanuman, Sherawali Mata, Mahishasur Mardini and Ram. The Holy Idols showcase statuettes of Krishna, Ganesh, Shiv, Parvati, Sai Baba, Yasoda, Saraswati, cow and calf, Hanuman, Laxmi, Radha, Karthik, Kali, Ram, Sita and Laxman. The Sagun Coins are made from gold and silver and come in various shapes containing images of Gods and Goddesses. The Spiritual Hampers contain gift hampers comprised of various items that are necessary to perform a pooja.

They used to decorate the doorway with all kinds of ornamentations including Bandhanwars which look beautiful and elegant. These door hangings give the entrance of your home a very traditional look; hence, these are the best bet to gift to your loved ones. Sweets are the traditional savories which are served and gifted to all the loved ones. So, for those who like to spend their festive time in the good old traditional way, sweets are the ideal gift. It is better if you can prepare some homemade ones along with the readymade sweets. Flowers are a suitable gift for every occasion as they can convey your emotions and feelings without even uttering a single word.

Now Microsoft's Cortana Can Natively Control Your Smart Home

Table of Content

• Cortana old skills
• Cortana now works with hundreds of services on IFTTT
• Insteon
• Can Cortana Control Smart Home Devices?

We've been expecting Cortana to get smart home integrations on the PC for awhile now, so this isn't the most surprising news. Still, Microsoft hasn't officially announced this update, and we've reached out for more information on when it will roll out to everyone and what services will be compatible. We know that HP is building its own Cortana-powered smart speaker but that's still shrouded in mystery. Other partners including Intel, Qualcomm, Allwinner, Synaptics and Tonly are helping to build reference designs for Cortana in the home too. More, Cortana is now working with IFTTT, a free platform now helps 600 services and apps connect together. The integration even enables users to customize their own phrases to use with services on IFTTT.

I made my connecting flight to Helsinki with 5 minutes to spare. Or for example, since both Geeni’s smart bulbs and power products work with Cortana, users are able to name and control each power outlet separately or in groups. When they say “Hey Cortana, turn off the living room lamps,” then all outlets that’s grouped into the “living room lamps” will be turned off. LIFX is another smart lighting system that doesn't require a hub and has some quite affordable bulbs. The official app for Windows 10 may no longer be supported, but with Cortana you can still interact with your lights with ease. Ecobee hasn't ever officially supported Windows, but thanks to excellent third-party support its a smart thermostat we recommend highly.

Cortana old skills

This is referred to as 'Cortana lighting' but Harman also talks about a 'touch to surprise' user interface on the top of the speaker. While Microsoft is hardly leading the connected home charge, it has its own smart home ecosystem in Cortana, its voice assistant. Applets, a series of motion triggers on IFTTT platform, can also create other possibilities for Cortana users. For example, a command “Hey Cortana, movie time” could turn down the Philips Hue lights, turn on the Harmony TV set the Nest thermostat to the comfortable temperature.

Since you have more time now, there is also a little food court one level above the check-in counters in T2. Cortana uses natural language processing so, like the other AI assistants, you should be able to have a conversation with it rather than barking specific commands. For instance, it knows that "I need a taxi" and "call me a cab" mean the same thing. Microsoft reckons 145 million people already use Cortana, and it does have some advantages over the rest; for instance, it integrates with Microsoft software, which could be really useful for work planning. The announcement comes just as Insteon is starting to sell its home-automation products and starter kits in Microsoft Stores across the US. Insteon products are also available online in places like Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Cortana now works with hundreds of services on IFTTT

Geeni’s smart bulbs and power products work with Cortana, and its smart surge protector even lets you name and control each outlet separately or in groups with Cortana. Before the update, Cortana could control smart home devices, such as Nest, Wink, Insteon, SmartThings, Philips Hue, TP-Link Smart Plugs, and Honeywell Thermostats. This virtual assistant used to work with smart devices, but that's not the case anymore. The metallic-looking Invoke comes in two colours – Pearl Silver and Graphite Black – and features a blue, glowing light on the top.

Cortana can do a lot of stuff, but she’s not quite as powerful as more mature voice assistants like Alexa or Google Home. But Microsoft has finally added support for smarthome devices, so you can control Philips Hue, Samsung SmartThings, Nest, Insteon, and Wink devices right from your PC. It took me 2.5 hours from the end of the line until I cleared into terminal A. Unless you have a German residency card, passengers are forced to wait for the manual clearing process. It is a meat grinder with people close together in confined spaces. If you are transferring between flights, passengers must allow lots of extra time.

Insteon

For instance, “Hey Cortana, let there be light” can be the trigger command for turning all lights off in the house. Insteon isn't saying exactly when the Cortana rollout will occur, except to promise it sometime within the next few months. This could set up for a bit of a showdown with Siri, as Apple is promising voice-control support for smart-home devices through HomeKit, set to be released this fall as part of iOS 8. A promised update to Insteon's Windows Phone app will introduce voice controls for smart-home devices. The Kasa ecosystem includes light switches, bulbs, smart plugs and cameras. Besides being able to activate all of the with Cortana and your voice, the companion app can be used to set smart programs for things to turn on and off without you needing to talk or lift a finger.

In March 2020, Microsoft pulled the plug on Cortana's smart home integration and shifted its distribution to devices like PCs and phones. When that’s done, you’ll be shown a list of compatible smarthome ecosystems. At the time of launch, Cortana supports Philips Hue, Samsung SmartThings, Nest, Insteon, and Wink. Click on one to set it up—we’ll use Hue as an example for this post.

LIFX has a variety of different bulbs starting with the $25 dimmable white bulb, but also has color changing options as well as LED strips to get the lighting setup of your dreams just right. Insteon has been Windows-friendly for a few years now so it's great to see the company's products supporting Cortana integration. There's a hub at the center of everything to which you can pair bulbs, sensors, alarms and more.

Their Wi-Fi-connected surge-protected smart power strip, for example, allows you to name and control outlets individually or as a single combined outlet. Once you've connected your Nest account with Cortana on your PC or smartphone, you can use voice control to interact with your thermostat. Cortana helps make your life easier by making it easy to control your smart home devices from afar. No problem, just pull out your phone, open the Cortana app and say, “Hey Cortana, turn off the lights,” and she’ll take care of it for you. According to Windows Central, the Connected Home feature is also available on Windows 10 Mobile, so you may be able to try it if you're one of the few people using a Windows phone.

There's no hub required, just a connection to your home network. And the products are affordable, too, with the power strip costing just $40. Nest is probably the one smart thermostat product most people recognize, and thankfully Cortana has support for the Works with Nest program built in. Using IFTTT, you will be able to customize your experience by creating your own phrases to use with services on IFTTT.

The Invoke has full access to the Cortana smart home skills which means any device you can hook Cortana up to you can control in your home with your voice. Ask Cortana to turn on the lights or turn the thermostat up and it will oblige. Just tap Cortana on your PC and say “Hey Cortana, set the living room thermostat to 72 degrees” to control your ecobee, Honeywell Lyric, or Honeywell Total Connect Comfort thermostat. With vivid colors from your LIFX Wi-Fi connected light bulbs, you can set the mood just right for movie night.

Currently you'll find him covering all manner of PC hardware and gaming, and you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Getting started with Hue is fairly affordable, too, with a basic white light kit available for around $70. Hue also has a range of different styles and fitments available, so it's the one system you can rely on being able to kit out your home with, whatever you need. And for gamers, Razer and Philips have just announced a partnership to integrate Chroma with Hue. SmartThings is a smart home system that has both its own hardware and seamlessly integrates with that from other companies. The best option is to move to Alexa, Siri or Google smart home integration.

The longest wait will usually be at the baggage claim, that used to take up to 50 minutes sometimes (pre-covid). As a result now I have no idea what time I can advise my friend to pick me up outside the airport. Competing brands have also made great strides in these segments, confirming the trend that these are the true technologies of the future. We can now register reminders and configure several categories in the “Notebook” section, so as to make our preferences and settings known to Cortana, thus having a more efficient and personal mode of operation. A nice and convenient feature is Skills Chaining, which allows Cortana to link together common actions.

Every smart home device that works with Cortana

Table of Content

• Samsung SmartThings
• Cortana old skills
• What devices [used to] work with Cortana?
• Cortana no longer work with smart home devices
• Weather in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany
• Twitter Blue Relaunched At $11/Month & Includes More Features

Their Wi-Fi-connected surge-protected smart power strip, for example, allows you to name and control outlets individually or as a single combined outlet. Once you've connected your Nest account with Cortana on your PC or smartphone, you can use voice control to interact with your thermostat. Cortana helps make your life easier by making it easy to control your smart home devices from afar. No problem, just pull out your phone, open the Cortana app and say, “Hey Cortana, turn off the lights,” and she’ll take care of it for you. According to Windows Central, the Connected Home feature is also available on Windows 10 Mobile, so you may be able to try it if you're one of the few people using a Windows phone.

In March 2020, Microsoft pulled the plug on Cortana's smart home integration and shifted its distribution to devices like PCs and phones. When that’s done, you’ll be shown a list of compatible smarthome ecosystems. At the time of launch, Cortana supports Philips Hue, Samsung SmartThings, Nest, Insteon, and Wink. Click on one to set it up—we’ll use Hue as an example for this post.

Samsung SmartThings

For around $200 you can get a home security starter kit, or at $115 get started with lighting instead. You can also use Applets on IFTTT with Cortana to trigger multiple actions with one phrase. So if you are watching a movie at home, you can say “Hey Cortana, movie time” and she’ll turn down your Hue lights, Harmony TV turned on, and your Nest Thermostat set to the right temperature. Unfortunately Cortana does not work with smart devices anymore. But now, probably some avid Microsoft fans that could have integrated those devices are certainly not happy with the end of this integration.

Once all of that is done, Cortana can use what it knows about your preferences and schedule to tweak recommendations and experiences. This space is already pretty crowded with Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri jostling for our attention, and playing nice with pretty much every gadget and appliance we might allow into our apartments or houses. So Microsoft has plenty of catching up to do and it's not level yet.

Cortana old skills

Unless they turn off the Windows automatic update to keep using the old Windows version. Now, Cortana's mission is to help people with their daily needs. These five services aren’t a bad start, but hopefully we’ll see even more be added to Cortana in the near future.

For instance, “Hey Cortana, let there be light” can be the trigger command for turning all lights off in the house. Insteon isn't saying exactly when the Cortana rollout will occur, except to promise it sometime within the next few months. This could set up for a bit of a showdown with Siri, as Apple is promising voice-control support for smart-home devices through HomeKit, set to be released this fall as part of iOS 8. A promised update to Insteon's Windows Phone app will introduce voice controls for smart-home devices. The Kasa ecosystem includes light switches, bulbs, smart plugs and cameras. Besides being able to activate all of the with Cortana and your voice, the companion app can be used to set smart programs for things to turn on and off without you needing to talk or lift a finger.

What devices [used to] work with Cortana?

LIFX has a variety of different bulbs starting with the $25 dimmable white bulb, but also has color changing options as well as LED strips to get the lighting setup of your dreams just right. Insteon has been Windows-friendly for a few years now so it's great to see the company's products supporting Cortana integration. There's a hub at the center of everything to which you can pair bulbs, sensors, alarms and more.

TP-Link has a range of smart home accessories under its Kasa brand that while requiring an iOS or Android device to set up, has full Cortana integration from there on out. You're not getting bulbs or anything with Insteon, rather it's a system designed to help you automate your home. From there you've got a wide ecosystem of sensors and add-ons you can connect to the hub to automate your entire home. The Glas looks downright futuristic with its translucent display, and it'll be packed with features for not only warming and cooling your home, but monitoring your energy use. It's not yet on sale, but pre-orders are slated to begin sometime in Spring 2018. The Johnson Controls Glas is a smart thermostat that not only harnesses the power of Cortana — and is pretty much the best-looking thermostat you'll find.

Cortana no longer work with smart home devices

The Invoke has full access to the Cortana smart home skills which means any device you can hook Cortana up to you can control in your home with your voice. Ask Cortana to turn on the lights or turn the thermostat up and it will oblige. Just tap Cortana on your PC and say “Hey Cortana, set the living room thermostat to 72 degrees” to control your ecobee, Honeywell Lyric, or Honeywell Total Connect Comfort thermostat. With vivid colors from your LIFX Wi-Fi connected light bulbs, you can set the mood just right for movie night.

Microsoft primarily pulled the plug on Cortana's smart home ambitions this week, by shifting the assistant's focus on personal support, and away from connected products. The update will come with the latest version of Windows 10, which will effectively terminate Cortana as a competitor to Alexa and Google assistant. One trend that has been observed is the connection of these assistants with intelligent home devices so that users can control them through the assistant itself. The tech giant Microsoft has taken a step in this direction and brought device support for Cortana to this category. Cortana is the tech giant Microsoft’s personal assistant, being available on devices with Windows 10 and in geographic regions defined by Microsoft. In India, it is already possible to activate and configure Cortana but it is not yet possible to take full advantage of the virtual assistant since it is not yet designed for our country.

Weather in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany

I made my connecting flight to Helsinki with 5 minutes to spare. Or for example, since both Geeni’s smart bulbs and power products work with Cortana, users are able to name and control each power outlet separately or in groups. When they say “Hey Cortana, turn off the living room lamps,” then all outlets that’s grouped into the “living room lamps” will be turned off. LIFX is another smart lighting system that doesn't require a hub and has some quite affordable bulbs. The official app for Windows 10 may no longer be supported, but with Cortana you can still interact with your lights with ease. Ecobee hasn't ever officially supported Windows, but thanks to excellent third-party support its a smart thermostat we recommend highly.

Microsoft is also going to make it harder to access Cortana going forward, telling users that they will have to be logged into their work, school or Microsoft account before using Cortana. Wink is another smart home system that incorporates lighting, but also goes beyond that into home security, too. To get started you need the $100 hub, but there are various other bundles you can acquire which include things like smart plugs and motion sensors.

Some new manufacturers have joined the Cortana-compatible list, including Ecobee, Honeywell, TP-Link, Geeni and LIFX. Users who own thermostat of Ecobee or Honeywell’s Lyric and Total Connect Comfort models can start to ask the voice assistant to set the room temperature to 72 degrees. Find the best phones, apps and accessories with our CNET Mobile newsletter.