Microsoft goes light with new Windows 10 theme

Dark mode is all the rage these days and Microsoft has been following the trend. But this time, it wants to give those who want a lighter theme an option, too. The company just showed off its new light theme through a new test build of Windows 10. It brings the white theme to the entire UI, even up to the point of tweaking the default wallpaper a bit to fit the theme. The new light theme is expected to come to all Windows 10 machines when the next major update hits the system in April next year.

For now, the test build codenamed 19H1 also brings improvements like tweaking the brightness slider in the notification center, a new snipping tool, updates to the printing app, a new dark theme for the OneDrive app, and more intelligent hours for Windows Update so it doesn’t randomly reboot your machine on you.

Source: The Verge

Alexa to let you use voice commands to add smart home devices to groups

Smart home devices are designed to make living easier for you. Setting said smart home devices? Not-so-smart. Or rather, it can be a tedious, complicated process. But looks like Amazon and its Alexa assistant wants to ease things a bit for you. Appearing on the Echo newsletter, it looks like you can create device groups and add smart home devices to it simply by using your voice. Here’s the description for it: “‘Alexa, add the lamp to the living room group.’ Organize your smart home devices into groups and control them all with one command. Just ask to create a group or add and remove devices from your smart home group.”

There is no information for this yet on the help page for creating device groups but it might show up soon. If you do have access to it, let us know what you’re experience has been like. Was it easier to setup your smart devices?

Source: Android Police

First look at Alienware's M15 gaming laptop

This is a first look at Alienware's M15 gaming laptop with the latest 8th Generation Intel Core processors and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 with 6GB GDDR5 graphics. At just under 5 pounds, this thin but powerful 15-inch laptop is ideal for people who need a great work or school laptop that doesn't look and feel like an aggressive gaming-focused laptop. 

Amazon Echo Button gets a bit more useful

While first marketed as a fun accessory for playing party games, the Amazon Echo Buttons are getting some added, useful features. These can now perform Alexa routines by simply tapping a button. It’ll let you do things like turn on the lights without talking to your speaker or let guests cue music without having to remember specific commands. You can enable this feature by creating routines in the latest version of the Alexa app. To activate them, you just choose the Echo Button as a trigger and then you’re good to go.

Source: Engadget