GE Appliances, a Haier company, has announced its plans to invest more than $3 billion over the next five years in its U.S. operations, expand its air conditioning and water heating portfolio, increase production output across all product lines, and further modernize its 11 U.S. manufacturing plants with new automation and capital equipment.

Lowe's Companies Inc. has made another deep dive into its pro business with a multi-billion dollar investment. The home improvement giant has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Foundation Building Materials, a North American distributor of interior building products, for $8 billion.

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.

Hisense has announced the launch of its flagship 116-inch 16UX RGB-MiniLED TV and the debut of a new 100-inch UX RGB-MiniLED model, both building on the company's UX lineup and intended to deliver cinema-level performance at home. Both models are powered by Hisense's Hi-View AI Engine X to optimize picture and sound in real-time.

Most people don't think of Google when they think about smartwatch makers, but the latest Pixel Watch might change that. A surprising number of updates are coming to the Pixel Watch 4, and I was impressed by how these changes add up to make it less of an iterative update than I initially expected.

In a time when consumer focus is less on devices and more on the content those devices deliver, how have major consumer electronics retailers and e-tailers fared? Find out by purchasing the latest editions of TWICE's annual Retail Reports, produced in partnership with Senex, an industry research and analysis firm.