
How hackable is your smart device? The UL IoT Security Rating and UL Verified Mark will tell you
The UL Verified Mark will indicate the level of IoT device security based on a series of standards, and using a five-tier rating scale. GE is the first company to achieve UL certification.

Royole, that foldable phone maker, now has an OLED-wrapped Alexa smart speaker
Royole's Mirage takes an 8-inch OLED and wraps it around the most expensive Alexa smart speaker you'll ever buy.

IOGear's wireless HDMI extender embeds 5GHz technology in a USB-C dongle
IOGear's new GWHDKIT11C is a bit pricey, but uses a convenient dongle format that doesn't require an available HDMI port.

Comcast xFinity xFi Advanced Security will protect all your connected devices for $5.99/mo
Comcast taps CujoAI's IoT cloud protection service to protect any and all connected devices in your home via the new Xfinity xFi Advanced Security, using its Xfinity xFi gateways.

Qualcomm begins shipping 802.11ay silicon, a multi-gigabit derivative of Wi-Fi that you may see in specialized applications like untethered VR gear.

Microsoft is rolling out an Xbox Skill that will allow PCs and smart speakers that use Amazon Alexa or Microsoft Cortana to communicate with and control the Xbox game console.

Alexa, Cortana officially become BFFs as Amazon and Microsoft integrate the two assistants
You can now access Amazon Alexa from Windows 10's Cortana, and Microsoft Cortana from Alexa devices such as the Amazon Echo. We'll show you how to use Alexa within Cortana, too.

Cortana's smart-home powers grow with IFTTT, Honeywell, Ecobee support
Microsoft's Cortana has added support for the IFTTT conditional platform plus a number of smart services, both helping bring Cortana more in line with competing services from Amazon and Google Home.

Sick of NBC's vapid Olympics coverage? Use a VPN and you can watch the BBC's coverage instead
How to use a VPN to watch the Olympics online via a foreign broadcaster, and avoid the vapid banter of NBC's games coverage.

WPA3 is coming to Wi-Fi routers in 2018, with better encryption and login management
The Wi-Fi Alliance announces the next-gen WPA3 standard, which will help secure routers even with lousy passwords.

Mattel cancels Cortana-powered Aristotle smart speaker for kids, citing privacy concerns
Mattel has cancelled its Aristotle smart speaker for kids, in the face of government opposition to monitoring kids' activities and their privacy.

Stringify-the automation tool that's more powerful, but less well known than IFTTT-will be incorporated into Comcast's smart-home system.

How to use Miracast to mirror your device's screen wirelessly on your TV—even 4K
Everything you need to know to figure out device support between newer and older devices, and setting it up with Windows or Android devices.

Google's Standalone Daydream VR and VPS fight the clutter and clumsiness of virtual reality
At Google I/O, Google launched both a new category of cable-free standalone Google Daydream VR devices, as well as a new Visual Positioning System for helping phones navigate via augmented reality.

Cortana's coming to your living room via HP, Intel partnerships
While Google Home and Amazon Alexa devices are manufactured by a single supplier, Microsoft appears to be using a PC-like strategy to create Cortana devices.