Amazon

Amazon announced today that it is going ahead with its Project Kuiper, its rival to SpaceX's Starlink orbital global internet service, by launching a pair of prototype satellites into low-Earth orbit under an experimental license from the FCC.

After four years, Amazon subsidiary Zoox is taking its autonomous L3 vehicles from the automotive kiddy tracks of Las Vegas and the San Francisco Bay Area to the off-road rally course that is the streets of Seattle.

For decades sci-fi has been promising us helpful home robots, but progress and uptake have been slow. Amazon may have heeded the call with Astro, its new Alexa-on-wheels – and whether this future is more The Jetsons or Black Mirror is up to you.

It's been a while since Amazon treated digital bookworms to a new version of its Kindle Paperwhite ereader, and now the company is making up for that with a bigger display, longer battery life, USB-C, a special Signature Edition, and a kids version.

Amazon is understandably keen to make the job of deliveries easier. The latest idea is a new patent for a system where delivery vans would carry items almost to their destination, then send out and direct ground drones to do the final drop-off.

Having recently upgraded its Echo Show 10 to add a rotating screen, now Amazon has refreshed its smaller Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 5 devices too. A special Kids Edition of the smallest model has also been introduced.

Amazon's budget Fire HD tablets offer a more affordable alternative to the Apple iPad, and the 10.1-inch models just got a refresh. With brighter screens, a tweaked design and improved specs, they're the best tablets Amazon has put out to date.

For many of us, cuckoo clocks are something quaint that we remember from our grandparents' homes. Nonetheless, Amazon is now looking at giving the device a 21st Century makeover with its Smart Cuckoo Clock.

After a highly icky tender process, Amazon has selected the final location for its "HQ2" campus and released renders of its spectacular architecture, including a landmark spiraling nature walk called the Helix that visually recalls the poop emoji.

The first of 100,000 electric trucks Rivian is making for Amazon have taken to the streets of Los Angeles, as the e-commerce giant takes the first steps in a low-carbon overhaul of its delivery fleet.

The next 12 months promise a huge assortment of treats for fans of science fiction. Here are our picks for the most anticipated upcoming projects, from fresh TV adaptations of classic stories to a long-awaited new cinematic entry in a classic sci-fi franchise.

Joining a slew of electric transport pods built for autonomous travel in congested areas, such as the Nuro, the LUTZ Pathfinder and Toyota’s e-Palette people mover, is a new electric robotaxi from Amazon subsidiary Zoox.