Amazon is building a bigger toy box with the release of its new Alexa Gadgets Toolkit, a collection of self-service programs and gadget interfaces that facilitate direct pairing and connectivity, communication, and over-the-air updates between interactive devices and their paired Echo device.

Ikea's Copenhagen-based future living lab Space10 is a trip on a normal day but two Danish design students have just outdone themselves by designing a 500-square-foot tiny house that can be open-sourced around the globe and manufactured for less than $10,000.

Hampton Products International manufactures a host of home security devices but is just now entering the lucrative smart home market by launching a new line of interoperable home security hardware products, starting with its flagship product, the Array Connected Smart Lock.

A California-based manufacturer of consumer electronics is getting into the niche side of the smart home market with a new line of Qaio smart mirrors that come outfitted with Alexa, an HD camera and display, onboard speakers, and even a night light with a motion sensor.

A new survey of more than 1,000 American consumers about voice assistants and smart speakers offers dramatic new intelligence about shopping, adoption rates, types of usage, and a widening diversity of voice activities that reflect an expansion beyond music and weather.

A small - make that tiny - house manufacturer high up in the Alps of Rhone, France, is manufacturing tiny homes that are transportable, can be operated completely off the grid, and have roofs that can open up to the skies.

Google Assistant is getting off to a rocky start this month as a bunch of the digital assistant's users are reporting a new rash of glitches, including the loss of non-US accented English language speakers, some sex changes, and a refusal to respond to the "Hey, Google" wakeup command.

Lenovo is debuting a wide range of low-cost to high-end laptops at IFA 2018 but the biggest news for smart home users is the launch of a new "Smart Home Essentials" line of products that will initially include a smart bulb, plug, and a surveillance camera with remote access.

Nest's new smart door bell the Nest Hello has gotten rave reviews and achieved wide popularity among users but now the company has launched an investigation into widespread reports of delayed and false notifications, random disconnects, and outages.

A refreshed security system from Yale is making its way to Europe, the company announced at IFA 2018 this week. The security systems and lock manufacturer is bringing the new Yale Sync Alarm, its next-generation home security system, to European customers starting October 1.

Google has always had the lead on language support in the war between it and Amazon for digital assistants and smart speakers, but Google just widened its market considerably by announcing that Google Assistant now supports two languages interchangeably, making it fully bilingual.

Best Buy is the latest enthusiast to help Google win the smart speaker war as it's now being reported that the retailer is giving away a free $49 Google Home Mini with every purchase of the $199 8-inch Lenovo Smart Display, striking yet another blow in Google's mortal combat with Amazon.

It's a hack that's more akin to boosting a car than cracking a code but researchers at Chinese firm Tencent Holdings were able to use a modified Echo to crack the security and recording functions of other Amazon Echos running on the same network. Amazon has already released a fix.

Today the DIY security cam manufacturer Swann became the first in its market to roll out Google Assistant voice commands for its wired 4K Ultra HD video surveillance system, giving customers the ability to control, record, and receive alerts from their 1080p resolution security cameras.

VAVA, based in Fargo, North Dakota, makes a wide variety of electronics, accessories and other gizmos but it's following up on one of its most successful products, the VAVA Dash Cam for automobiles, with a new weather-resistant, wireless security camera designed for homeowners.

New reports from two separate data analysis firms indicate that a year after Amazon bought Whole Foods for nearly $14 billion, the boutique grocery chain is starting to attract customers from Trader Joe's and other grocers with discounts on popular foodstuffs and new delivery methods.

A new Bay Area startup named Gjemeni is hitting the furniture-in-a-box market with a transforming new line of furniture that includes a couch that folds down to a bed, a chair, and an ottoman, with features like USB and traditional socket power, memory foam, and temperature-controlling technology.

A new portable, USB-charged sterilizer called Klistem uses 253.7nm wavelength UV-C light, the most potent germicidal wavelength on the spectrum, to kill 99.9% of germs that are harmful to the human body within 90 seconds.

It's a $2 billion market that is expected to expand to $40 million by 2022, so why does a new report reveal that only 2 percent of Alexa-enabled Amazon device owners use them to shop? Out of a reported 50 million devices on the market, it's a widely untapped opportunity that Amazon has yet to figure out.

Consumer research firm MusicWatch has been digging into the habits of 5,000 smart speaker owners to see how they're using devices like the Amazon Echo and Google Home and the research indicates that users still have concerns about privacy while streaming music.

Philips has introduced a new range of Hue lights and fixtures that are designed to go all over the home including water-resistant outdoor fixture, new lighting for inside the home, and new bathroom fixtures including a smart mirror with a built-in dimmer.

Modular construction is a booming trends in the hotel industry and Hilton is embracing with construction strategy, recently breaking ground on a new Home2 Suites by Hilton build in South San Francisco that will use modular construction to cut costs and retain quality.

Some home alarm companies are accused of making false claims about safety in order to get people to sign up, according to a new report from the Consumer Federation of America that says many consumer advocates and law enforcement agencies are receiving complaints about sales of alarm systems.

A Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based startup is moving beyond its original Kickstarter goals to sell directly to customers a new smart pantry, the WePlenish Java Smart Container, which connects with Amazon Dash via Wi Fi to automatically keep a smart home stocked with snacks and coffee.

Alexa goes to college, as one of the country's largest private universities is about to experience a whole lot of Amazon Alexa as Saint Louis University prepares to start the fall semester by distributing more than 2,300 Amazon Echo Dots into every dorm room on campus.

Trulia is taking a long look at American life with a new digital experience called Trulia Neighborhoods, a multimedia experience focused on neighborhoods designed to enhance and educate via its website and mobile app.

Amazon sought common ground with the French in June with a redesigned version of Alexa and its Echo smart speaker series featuring a new French voice, a help function designed in French, local knowledge and hundreds of localized skills. Amazon told developers Alexa will be in Mexico later this year.

'N Sync's Lance Bass is a good loser this week as he gracefully admits being outbid on the iconic Studio City home that was dramatized each week as the home of Mike and Carol Brady and their titular Brady Bunch, the mixed-family sitcom that ran on ABC.

Starting in Sacramento, California and Virginia Beach, Virginia, with more cities to come throughout 2018, Amazon is launching a new Amazon Prime perk that allows members to pick up groceries from Whole Foods Market in as little as 30 minutes without ever leaving their cars.

With a new feature, Swann has become the first security camera provider to launch Google Assistant voice control on its multi-camera wired surveillance systems, enabling users to see live video from home security cameras on their mobile devices or televisions on command.

It was a competitive player in a nearly $2 billion market but ultimately a lack of capital and a high burn rate for its cash has forced meal kit delivery service Chef'd to close, laying off approximately 350 employees and rattling investors who are watching the market closely.

Silicon Valley startup Naked Labs is using it multi-million dollar venture capital to launch an eclectic new product called Naked, a 3D-scanning smart mirror that can deliver body data that is far more complex and detailed than anything a simple scale could deliver.

Zillow, the world's leading database and service provider for the real estate market, is making an aggressive move into the property management services market by integrating a new function that allows users to submit rental applications and background checks for a single fee.

Smart apartments are still evolving, but Roomrs has figured out a way to offer reasonable rents and smart technology to its community of students and young professionals navigating their way into a life in the Big Apple.