The Sweet Suite event celebrated its "Sweet 16" 16-year anniversary in mid-July, with a multi-exhibitor interactive toy show on Pier 60 at New York City's Chelsea Piers -- the latest of its annual salutes to toy innovation and technologies. Here's a brief look at a few of the nearly 50 companies that attended The Toy Insider-sponsored exhibition to display some 2025 toys -- well ahead of the holiday buying season, but squarely on the cutting edge in design and manufacture.

NWIDA has announced the appointment of Matt Zieminski to its Board of Directors, and will serve as the Legislative Strategy Lead.

With back-to-school shopping season in full swing for many, the big three retailers in the space -- Amazon, Walmart, and Target -- are eying what promises to be a significant amount of spend this year, according to analysts.

It's back for 2025 -- the Best of Show awards program that celebrates the best custom installation and home entertainment technology launches at CEDIA Expo! Residential Systems, TWICE, and What Hi-Fi? will once again have judges on-site to examine each of the entries and bestow honors on the most deserving.
Here is what you need to know to participate:
The Details

• What? Nominations for the 2025 CEDIA Best of Show Awards, presented by Residential Systems, TWICE, and What Hi-Fi?
• When? Submissions are open now through midnight, PST on August 22, 2025
• Why? Benefits included with each of awards entry submission: One full-page advertorial for each nominated product -- with special distinction for winning entries -- in the Best of Show Program Guide, published and distributed digitally to all Future B2B's consumer electronics lists after CEDIA, plus additional promotion and brand exposure in the post-show recap coverage of award winners.
• How? Everything you need to know, including fees, frequently asked questions, and the nomination form, can be found here.

I would like to extend our congratulations to this year's winners of the TWICE VIP Awards! 2025 saw a wide range of product entries ranging from gaming laptops, outdoor TVs, and automated swimming pool vacuums to the latest TVs and major appliances.
The response to the 12th Annual TWICE VIP Awards was amazing, with over 70 entries across nearly 50 categories to vote on. One thing that makes the TWICE VIP Awards so unique is that it isn't a public vote by people who know nothing about the submissions or the industry.
No, the awards are voted on by you, the industry leaders, consumer tech retailers, and distributors who know greatness, innovation, and what makes the biggest difference in the business. Earning the respect of your peers is a hard-won accomplishment, especially in our industry, and I am proud to be a part of the 2025 TWICE VIP Awards.

Targeted at small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), the ECW520 is designed to provide enterprise-grade wireless performance at a highly cost-effective price point.

Samsung has somehow added an even bigger battery to a slimmer foldable, which is technically impressive. However, the company made minimal software additions and modest improvements in places. The upgrades are good, but are there enough of them?

CEDIA has announced that Daryl Friedman, Global President & CEO of CEDIA, and Bill Darcy, Global President & CEO of NKBA | KBIS, will debut and discuss brand-new joint research between the two organizations at the exclusive CEDIA Expo 2025 Town Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. MDT.
Friedman and Darcy will give first access to key findings from the NKBA | KBIS x CEDIA research report at the Town Hall, and share details from the comprehensive study on the evolving collaboration between the smart home and design & build communities.