Consumer Technology Association SmartBrief
Mercedes-Benz tests solid-state batteries in EQS prototype
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July 7, 2025
Consumer Technology Association SmartBrief
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Today's Digital Pulse
Roblox logo is seen displayed on the screen of a smartphone. (Photo Illustration by Sheldon Cooper/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
(SOPA Images/Getty Images)
A recent survey by Altman Solon reveals that nearly all Roblox users are active spenders, with 93% having spent money on the platform. The majority engage with Roblox frequently, as 65% of users spend Robux on a daily or weekly basis.
Full Story: Chain Store Age (7/3) 
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Smart Home
Icon of "Online shopping with TV" in a retro illustration with old textured paper and a black long shadow (colors used: blue, green, beige and black).
(Getty Images)
Broadcasters should embrace shoppable TV and interactive ads to compete with digital-native companies such as Meta and YouTube, writes Matthias Guille of Broadpeak. "By embracing shoppable ads and interactive formats, broadcasters can take the monetization fight right into the digital giants' backyard," Guille writes.
Full Story: TVNewsCheck (free registration) (7/3) 
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Gaming
Roblox's Jurassic World Rebirth video game with view of baby triceratops peeking out of backpack as player traverses a jungle scene
(Roblox/Youtube)
The Grow a Garden game on Roblox has released a dinosaur-themed update with unique seeds, dinosaur pets and event-driven content such as hourly quests and weekly rewards. The update's release coincides with the premiere of the movie "Jurassic World Rebirth."
Full Story: Game Rant (7/6) 
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Tech News
Mercedes-Benz is testing a prototype EQS equipped with solid-state batteries, aiming to launch an electric vehicle featuring the battery technology by the end of the decade. The tests, which began earlier this year, are designed to evaluate real-world performance, safety and efficiency, as Mercedes works to translate laboratory progress into mass-market readiness. Hyundai, Kia and Stellantis are among those also pursuing commercialization of solid-state batteries.
Full Story: Automotive World (U.K.) (7/3) 
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Retail Trends
Best Buy has transformed its procurement function from a reactive, transactional team into a strategic partner, driven by Vice President Anna Barej through the "Propel" program. The company emphasized integrated technology solutions, such as SpendHQ, to unify data and improve decision-making, which enabled procurement to deliver greater value and align closely with the company's strategic growth initiatives. This shift resulted in doubled financial contributions and a central role for procurement in enterprise-wide optimization, marking a pivot from its previous operational model.
Full Story: Supply Chain Digital (7/7) 
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Association News
Did you know CTA members are eligible to save on the application fee? With five new categories for 2026, the annual CES Innovation Awards program celebrates outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products. Apply today -- must be a CES® 2026 exhibiting company to qualify.
When vision meets investment, innovation hits the road. In this month's CTA Member Spotlight article, discover how CTA member FM Capital's $240 million fund is accelerating progress in the transportation and mobility space -- supporting trailblazing CTA member companies like Aurora Labs and Gatik.
Just about every home has electrical wiring in it. With a powerline carrier system, a device plugged into one outlet can communicate with a device plugged into another outlet anywhere in the house. CTA's newest standard, CTA-2002-A, describes how makers of powerline carrier systems can test their products in a standardized way to confirm they will work under a wide variety of installation conditions. Access the standard today.
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SmartBreak
The first modern Olympics in Athens in 1896 awarded only silver and copper medals, and at which Olympics did they start awarding the gold, silver and bronze?