Microsoft is tentatively planning to support Hue, Nest, Insteon, Wink, and SmartThings devices with its connected home app. Microsoft’s plan for supporting smart devices looks a lot like Apple’s own Home app, with the ability to manage and control smart devices directly within Windows 10. This update should also include improvements to Cortana, and support for third-party smart home devices. Microsoft is aiming to include the new welcome screen, shared desktops, and easy calling in the Windows 10 update due in September. Microsoft will support a range of smart home devices

Microsoft’s differentiator is that it wants these devices to be considered full Windows 10 PCs. Microsoft appears to be readying Windows 10 for future devices that are similar to Amazon’s new Echo Show hardware, with easy access to voice search, calling, and smart device control. The welcome screen is really designed for kitchen PCs and new smaller hardware with screens that will support Cortana voice commands from across the room. The major addition is a new welcome screen that includes an “always-on” digital corkboard to let families use to-do lists, calendars, and notes. While we’ve heard about HomeHub before, The Verge has obtained internal concepts of exactly how Microsoft is imagining HomeHub will work. Microsoft is even planning to support smart home devices like Philips’ Hue lights, to enable Windows 10 to act as a hub to control and manage smart home hardware. HomeHub is designed to create a family environment for a PC with shared access to calendars, apps, and even a new welcome screen. Microsoft has been working on a new HomeHub feature for Windows 10 to better compete with devices like Amazon’s Echo.

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