Consumer Technology Association SmartBrief
Subscribe Now: CTA Trade Matters Monthly
Created for NPkvdejmf6@niepodam.pl | Web Version
 
September 17, 2025
 
 
Consumer Technology Association SmartBrief
News covering the consumer technology industrySIGN UP ⋅   SHARE
ADVERTISEMENT
 
Today's Digital Pulse
 
Knock, knock! TCL smart lock is here with four ways to enter
 
Knock, knock! TCL smart lock is here with four ways to enter
(TCL)
TCL's latest K1 budget smart lock consolidates all essential electronics for easy installation on interior doors without deadbolts. The K1 features a built-in fingerprint sensor, supports key and PIN entry and can be managed via TCL's mobile app.
Full Story: The Verge (9/17)
share-text
 
Strategic Guide for AI-Driven CMOs
Empower your company with future-ready strategies. This strategic playbook equips CMOs to embrace AI, guiding them to forge brands that transcend mere optimization, ensuring enduring market presence. Download now.
ADVERTISEMENT:
 
 
 
Smart Home
 
Survey: Streaming now first stop for most viewers
Streaming services are the starting point for 57% of viewers, with 40% turning to subscription video on demand and 17% opting for free streaming, a Hub Entertainment Research survey says. Netflix is the most popular initial choice, but its dominance is gradually eroding with its default share declining from 23% in 2020 to 19% in 2025.
Full Story: TV Tech (9/15)
share-text
 
 
Whisker Labs debuts real-time outage tracker in Ting app
The Verge (9/17)
 
 
Govee strings along the holidays with smarter lights
T3 (9/16)
 
 
In the row with AI workouts on Hydrow Arc
Engadget (9/16)
 
 
 
 
Wireless
 
See clearly now with Liquid Glass via Apple's iOS 26 update
 
See clearly now with Liquid Glass via Apple's iOS 26 update
(Apple/Future)
Apple has released iOS 26 for iPhones from 2019 onward, featuring the new Liquid Glass design that gives apps and screens a translucent look. Notable features include enhanced spam text filtering, live translation in Phone and Messages, and the ability to create polls in group texts. The update also brings a redesigned Phone app, visual intelligence for image searches, and a more customizable lock screen.
Full Story: Engadget (9/16)
share-text
 
 
Nothing but innovation ahead with AI-first smartphone
TechCrunch (tiered subscription model) (9/15)
 
 
Stay cool with A17 cases that warn when iPhones heat up
Notebookcheck (Austria) (9/17)
 
 
Bounce into tracking mode with Garmin's kid watch
Forbes (tiered subscription model) (9/17)
 
 
 
 
Free eBooks and Resources
 
Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors
 
 
 
 
 
Tech News
 
Report: AR/ VR game does the brain health good
AR and VR sports games offer psychological benefits similar to physical sports by helping users feel more connected and reducing loneliness, according to a study from Michigan State University. The immersive nature of these games allows players to interact via real-time communication, avatars and nonverbal cues, fostering a sense of social presence. These effects are especially pronounced for individuals who experience loneliness, suggesting that AR/VR sports can support mental health by enabling meaningful social interactions in virtual environments.
Full Story: Medical Xpress/Michigan State University (9/14)
share-text
 
 
Apple Sports keeps fans in the game with scores, Live Activities
Engadget (9/16)
 
 
Xbox PC pulls games together for one-stop play
The Verge (9/16)
 
 
Unbox your inbox with Gmail hacks
Forbes (tiered subscription model) (9/13)
 
 
 
 
Retail Trends
 
Best Buy invites brands to take over in-store messaging
 
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 29: People shop at a Best Buy store on May 29, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Best Buy stock fell by more than 7 percent today after the electronics retailer lowered its full-year outlook because of tariffs. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
(Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Best Buy will introduce "takeover packages" next year, allowing advertisers to dominate store spaces for 30 days, with messaging in areas such as windows, entrances and digital screens. The program will be available to brands that are sold in Best Buy stores and also non-endemic brands, including third-party sellers on the retailer's online marketplace, said Lisa Valentino, president of Best Buy Ads. The initiative is part of Best Buy's efforts to grow its media offerings, which also includes new partnerships with Dude Perfect, the NFL and TMRW Golf League.
Full Story: Modern Retail (tiered subscription model) (9/16)
share-text