The coolest, best and strangest tech of IFA 2017 – CNET

If you want all the hottest new tech gathered in one place, you want IFA. 

CNET spent the week in Berlin for this year’s edition of the long-enduring tech trade show to find out what we’ll be talking about over the next 12 months.

IFA 2017 featured companies coming up with a vast range of increasingly connected, increasingly smart and increasingly voice-controlled devices. Amazon’s Alexa dominated the show by appearing in a wealth of products that talk back to you, while products in the burgeoning smart home section ranged from the very useful to the increasingly wacky (like appliances with multiple doors and a mobile mini fridge that trundles round after you). 

Voice control

As with CES back in January, Alexa has been the talk of the show, so to speak. We’ve counted 24 products (so far) introducing Alexa support here. Third-party device support for Alexa has flourished in the US, and the trend appears to be continuing in Germany. You can ask smart speakers, docks and TVs like the Lenovo Home Assistant or Toshiba 4K tellies to play music or movies, or you can order robots like the Bosch Roxxter vacuum and LG Lawn Mower to take care of your chores. Here’s a full list of Alexa-powered products.