When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. From Amazon's Echo Look to the Nest Secure security system, these doomed smart home products were destined for the dumpster. Imagine if that refrigerator you bought just five years ago suddenly up and died--and not because of some technical glitch, but because the manufacturer deliberately reached out and deactivated it, permanently. And you'd probably want a refund, too. As wild as that scenario sounds for a major appliance like a refrigerator or a TV, it happens more often than you'd think in the smart home world.

Earlier this year, Amazon announced that Amazon Sidewalk--a program that uses Ring cameras and Echo devices to transmit wireless signals that other smart home devices can use--would open to all hardware developers. Anyone who wants to make a smart home gadget, like a speaker or lawnmower, can now make it Sidewalk-enabled to help it and other compatible devices stay online. Of course, to make this work, you need a smart home populated by Echo and Ring devices. According to Amazon, sales of Alexa-enabled devices have surpassed half a billion, and the use of its voice assistant increased 35 percent last year. To help keep the momentum going, the company announced four new Echo devices: the next-generation Echo Show 5 with an upgraded speaker system, a redesigned Echo Show 5 Kids, all-new Echo Buds, and a new speaker called the Echo Pop. Below, we've rounded up all the details on the latest additions to the Echo line.

Keeping your home clean, organized and secure can be a chore, and your loved ones likely feel the same way. Fortunately, there are gadgets that can help make it a little easier. We review smart speakers, robotic vacuums and Instant Pots all year long, and for the holiday season we've compiled a list of our recent favorites in the home tech space that will make excellent gifts. And your giftee doesn't have to be tech savvy to use all of them either -- plenty of our recommendations amount to baby steps into the smart home world for those who would rather start off slow. We almost always recommend the multi-purpose Instant Pot in our holiday gift guides and this year is no exception.

We're all spending a lot more time at home lately, so when it comes to the holidays, it makes sense to give a gift that'll make the humble abode a lot more enjoyable. To that end, we've recommended an assortment of home-related goodies, from innovative kitchen gear to attractive smart speakers, to give that special someone in your life. It might not stop them from getting cabin fever, but it just might bring them a sense of home sweet home. Google's latest smart speaker is the Nest Audio, which delivers a huge upgrade over the small puck-like Nest Mini. It has automatic tuning so that its audio quality improves over time as it learns more about your loved one's listening habits and the room it's in. Your giftee can use it to play their favorite tunes, and thanks to Google Assistant, they can also ask it for info like the weather, upcoming calendar appointments or their to-do list simply by using their voice.

"Alexa, play Beyoncé!" Ever wondered how this works? Want to find out about the technology behind virtual personal assistants and other smart home gadgets? Then this course is for you! Performing via cognition, today's computers, software and devices can recognize people and speech, as well as write, speak and read handwriting. This course is perfect for teens with previous Python experience who want to develop a practical understanding of ML.

There are hundreds of smart home devices available today, but some of them are more popular than others. In fact, there's a select group of smart gadgets that have near cult followings--we're talking thousands of users who swear by these devices. Here's why people are obsessed with them and whether they're worth the investment. The second-gen Echo is the best in its class. It should come as no surprise that the Amazon Echo makes this list.

Mobility, as well as app ecosystem, have made remarkable changes in our daily lives. I believe that it has transformed the way we deal with our activities whether it is online shopping, entertainment etc. The emergence of Artificial Intelligence is equally having a greater impact on our interactions with our gadgets along with mobile apps. AI is now multi-faceted with a wide range of impacts, especially in mobile app solutions. From deep learning, advanced machine learning to natural language processing as well as advanced algorithms, AI currently works at various levels. It assists in creating new as well as unique applications.

Ring founder and chief executive Jamie Siminoff holds a Ring Video Doorbell, left, that has a video camera so residents can see who's knocking with a smartphone app. Ring founder and chief executive Jamie Siminoff holds a Ring Video Doorbell, left, that has a video camera so residents can see who's knocking with a smartphone app. Before you buy any "smart" gadgets, make sure they're not dumb. This holiday season, a third of Americans plan to buy a smart home device, according to the Consumer Technology Assn. The trick is figuring out which ones are worth the cost, trouble and inevitable security risks.

Before you buy any "smart" gadgets, make sure they're not dumb. This holiday season, a third of Americans plan to buy a smart home device, according to the Consumer Technology Association. The trick is figuring out which ones are worth the cost, trouble and inevitable security risks. I've been in those weeds. After reviewing dozens of smart home products, I've learned to be skeptical of any gadget that feels like a Star Trek prop--and a little paranoid about things that are listening, watching or collecting data.

The inventor of Android is set to re-enter the phone market - and believes he can take on Apple and Google. Andy Rubin has revealed a glimpse of his firm's new handset with what appears to be a 360 degree camera. It has raised speculation the handset will has a port on top to enable accessories to be plugged in - including the camera, which could be used to create augmented reality apps. Earlier this year it was reported Rubin had recruited over 40 people to his new firm, to be called Essential, according to Bloomberg. It aims to build an entire technology ecosystem using AI - from phones and smart home gadgets to app stores.