Update README.md

README.md

@@ -1,72 +1,74 @@
+[![GitHub Discussions](https://img.shields.io/github/discussions/OpenVoiceOS/OpenVoiceOS?label=OVOS%20Discussions)](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/OpenVoiceOS/discussions)
 [![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-Apache%202.0-blue.svg)](LICENSE.md)
+[![PRs Welcome](https://img.shields.io/badge/PRs-welcome-brightgreen.svg)](http://makeapullrequest.com)
 ![Unit Tests](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/ovos-core/actions/workflows/unit_tests.yml/badge.svg)
 [![codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/OpenVoiceOS/ovos-core/branch/dev/graph/badge.svg?token=CS7WJH4PO2)](https://codecov.io/gh/OpenVoiceOS/ovos-core)
-[![PRs Welcome](https://img.shields.io/badge/PRs-welcome-brightgreen.svg)](http://makeapullrequest.com)
-[![Chat](https://img.shields.io/matrix/openvoiceos-general:matrix.org)](https://matrix.to/#/#OpenVoiceOS-general:matrix.org)
-[![GitHub Discussions](https://img.shields.io/github/discussions/OpenVoiceOS/OpenVoiceOS?label=OVOS%20Discussions)](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/OpenVoiceOS/discussions)
 
-# OVOS-core
+# 🗣️ OVOS-core
+
+🌟 **[OpenVoiceOS](https://openvoiceos.org/)** is an open-source platform for smart speakers and other voice-centric devices. 
+
+> `ovos-core` (this repo) is the central component. 
+
+---
 
-[OpenVoiceOS](https://openvoiceos.org/) is an open source platform for smart speakers and other voice-centric devices.
+## 🚀 Installing OVOS
 
-[Mycroft](https://mycroft.ai) was a hackable, open source voice assistant by the now defunct MycroftAI. OpenVoiceOS continues that work and ovos-core (this repo) is the central component.
+🛠️ If you have an existing system, we strongly recommend using the [ovos-installer](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/ovos-installer) to install OVOS and its dependencies. This tool simplifies installing everything in one go!  
 
-All Mycroft Skills and Plugins should work normally with OVOS-core, with the exception of Common Play and other media-related skills. Other Mycroft-based assistants are also believed, but not guaranteed, to be compatible.
+📦 For Raspberry Pi users, the [RaspOVOS](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/RaspOVOS) image is a perfect choice. It runs in a "headless" mode (no GUI) and is optimized for Raspberry Pi 3B or higher. 💨 Enjoy even better performance on newer devices!  
 
-The biggest difference between OVOS-core and Mycroft-core is that OVOS-core is fully modular. Furthermore, common
-components have been repackaged as plugins. That means it isn't just a great assistant on its own, but also a pretty
-small library!
+🔧 For embedded systems, check out [ovos-buildroot](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/ovos-buildroot) – a custom Linux distribution for minimal and efficient setups. Stay tuned for updates!  
 
-## Table of Contents
+📚 More detailed documentation is available in the [ovos-technical-manual](https://openvoiceos.github.io/ovos-technical-manual).  
 
-- [Installing OVOS](#installing-ovos)
-- [Skills](#skills)
-- [Getting Involved](#getting-involved)
-- [Links](#links)
+🎯 Developers can install `ovos-core` standalone via:  
+```bash
+pip install ovos-core
+```  
+This includes the core components, perfect for custom assistant development.
 
-## Installing OVOS
+---
 
-If you have an existing system that you would like to install OVOS on, we strongly suggest the [ovos-installer](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/ovos-installer) to install OVOS and its dependencies. The full assistant requires several repositories and the installer makes it easy to install them all at once.
+## 🎛️ Skills
 
-If you would like to install OVOS on a Raspberry Pi, we suggest using the [RaspOVOS](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/RaspOVOS) image. This image is based on Raspberry Pi OS and includes OVOS and its dependencies running in a "headless" mode (no GUI). It is designed and optimized for a Raspberry Pi 3B, so on a 4 or higher its performance is even better.
+🌟 OVOS is powered by **skills**!  
+While some skills come pre-installed, most need to be installed explicitly.  
 
-If you would like to install OVOS on embedded hardware, we suggest using [ovos-buildroot](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/ovos-buildroot). This is a buildroot configuration that can be used to build a custom Linux distribution for embedded hardware. It includes OVOS and its dependencies, and is designed to be as small and efficient as possible.
+🔍 Browse OVOS-compatible skills on [PyPI](https://pypi.org/search/?q=ovos-skill-) or explore the [OVOS GitHub organization](https://github.com/orgs/OpenVoiceOS/repositories?language=&q=skill&sort=&type=all).  
 
-You can find detailed documentation over at the [community-docs](https://openvoiceos.github.io/community-docs) or [ovos-technical-manual](https://openvoiceos.github.io/ovos-technical-manual)
+🤔 Did you know most classic **Mycroft skills** also work on OVOS?  
 
-This repo can be installed standalone via `pip install ovos-core`, which will install the bare minimum components common to all services. This is useful for developers who want to build their own custom voice assistant. For more details, [please see the community docs](https://openvoiceos.github.io/community-docs/042-install_ovos_core/).
+🎉 Feel free to share your creative skills with the community!
 
-## Skills
+---
 
-OVOS is nothing without skills. There are a handful of default skills, but [most need to be installed explicitly](https://openvoiceos.github.io/community-docs/080-ht_skills/). OVOS skills are all pip-installable, and can be found on [PyPI](https://pypi.org/) or by [browsing the OVOS organization on GitHub](https://github.com/orgs/OpenVoiceOS/repositories?language=&q=skill&sort=&type=all). Most classic Mycroft skills will also work on OVOS.
+## 🤝 Getting Involved
 
-Please share your own interesting work!
+🌍 OVOS is **open source** and thrives on community contributions. Whether you're a coder, designer, or translator, there's a way to contribute!  
 
-## Getting Involved
+🌐 **Translate!** Help improve OVOS in your language through our [Translation Portal](https://gitlocalize.com/users/OpenVoiceOS).  
 
-This is an open source project. We would love your help. We have prepared a [contributing](.github/CONTRIBUTING.md)
-guide to help you get started.
+🙋‍♂️ Have questions or need guidance? Say hi in the [OpenVoiceOS Chat](https://matrix.to/#/!XFpdtmgyCoPDxOMPpH:matrix.org?via=matrix.org), and a team member will be happy to mentor you.  
 
-The easiest way for anyone to contribute is to help with translations! You can help without any programming knowledge via the [translation portal](https://gitlocalize.com/users/OpenVoiceOS)
+💡 Join our [Discussions](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/OpenVoiceOS/discussions) to ask questions, share ideas, and learn from the community!
 
-If this is your first PR, or you're not sure where to get started,
-say hi in [OpenVoiceOS Chat](https://matrix.to/#/!XFpdtmgyCoPDxOMPpH:matrix.org?via=matrix.org) and a team member would
-be happy to mentor you.
-Join the [Discussions](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/OpenVoiceOS/discussions) for questions and answers.
+---
 
-## Credits
+## 🏆 Credits
 
-The OpenVoiceOS team thanks the following entities (in addition to MycroftAI) for making certain code and/or
-manpower resources available to us:
+The OpenVoiceOS team extends gratitude to the following organizations for their support in our early days:  
+- **Mycroft** was a hackable, open-source voice assistant by the now-defunct MycroftAI. OpenVoiceOS continues that work
+- [NeonGecko](https://neon.ai)  
+- [KDE](https://kde.org) / [Blue Systems](https://blue-systems.com)  
 
-- [NeonGecko](https://neon.ai)
-- [KDE](https://kde.org) / [Blue Systems](https://blue-systems.com/)
+---
 
-## Links
+## 🔗 Links
 
-* [Community Documentation](https://openvoiceos.github.io/community-docs)
-* [ovos-technical-manual](https://openvoiceos.github.io/ovos-technical-manual)
-* [Release Notes](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/ovos-core/releases)
-* [OpenVoiceOS Chat](https://matrix.to/#/!XFpdtmgyCoPDxOMPpH:matrix.org?via=matrix.org)
-* [OpenVoiceOS Website](https://openvoiceos.org)
-* [Open Conversational AI Forums](https://community.openconversational.ai/)  (previously mycroft forums)
+- 🛠️ [Release Notes](https://github.com/OpenVoiceOS/ovos-releases)
+- 📘 [Technical Manual](https://openvoiceos.github.io/ovos-technical-manual)  
+- 💬 [OpenVoiceOS Chat](https://matrix.to/#/!XFpdtmgyCoPDxOMPpH:matrix.org?via=matrix.org)  
+- 🌐 [Website](https://openvoiceos.org)  
+- 📣 [Open Conversational AI Forums](https://community.openconversational.ai/) (previously Mycroft forums)
+```