The IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin) 2013 trade show is one of the world’s leading consumer electronics and home appliances trade shows.
The main focus of the trade show this year, was on innovative digital products such as smart TVs, tablet computers, smartphones and networked home appliances. First initiated in 1924, the tradeshow has traditionally been a hub of cutting-edge technology, allowing exhibitors to present their latest products and offerings to the mass consumer market.
The following are some of the most impressive gadgets showcased in IFA 2013:
Galaxy Gear
Marking its first foray into the wearable computer market, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Gear smartwatch designed to sync with the Galaxy smartphone (Note 3 and higher) and allow users to talk using their wrist as opposed to reaching into your pocket to access your phone every few minutes.
Amongst other things, users can also take photos and HD video, use S-voice to record and send text messages and email, access time and weather information, and utilize around seventy 3rd-party apps currently available for it.
The Galaxy Gear is powered by an 800 MHz processor and features a 1.63 inch screen 320 x 320 Super AMOLED display.
New Samsung Galaxy Gear in different colors are on display after the presentation in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013. Samsung has unveiled a highly anticipated digital wristwatch well ahead of a similar product expected from rival Apple. The so-called smartwatch is what some technology analysts believe could become this year's must-have holiday gift. Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Gear on Wednesday in Berlin ahead of the annual IFA consumer electronics show. — AP Photo
A journalist looks at a Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch (L) and Galaxy Note 3 after their launch at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin, September 4, 2013. The IFA consumer electronics and home appliances fair will open its doors to the public from September 6 till 11 in the German capital. — Reuters Photo
New Lenovo Vibe X smartphones are displayed at IFA, one of the world's largest trade fairs for consumer electronics and electrical home appliances, in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013. IFA will take place on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds from Sept 6 to 11, 2013. — AP Photo
A model holds an Acer Liquid S2 smartphone as a world premiere during a media preview at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin, September 4, 2013. The IFA consumer electronics and home appliances fair will open its doors to the public from September 6 till 11 in the German capital. — Reuters Photo
The new G Pad 8.3 of LG Electronics is displayed at IFA, one of the world's largest trade fairs for consumer electronics and electrical home appliances, in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013. The tablet has a Full HD display. IFA will take place on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds from Sept 6 to 11, 2013. — AP Photo
An employee of LG Electronics uses a displayed magnifier to compare the resolution of the new G Pad 8.3 of LG Electronics with a regular 7.9-inch display at IFA, one of the world's largest trade fairs for consumer electronics and electrical home appliances, in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013. IFA will take place on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds from Sept 6 to 11, 2013. — AP Photo
Camera's that can be attached to a smart phone or tablets using the display as a viewfinder are seen at the Sony booth at the 53rd edition of the IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung) electronics trade fair in Berlin on September 5, 2013 . IFA, Europe's largest consumer electronics and home appliances fair, opens from 6 to 11 September 2013. — AFP Photo
Pranav Mistry (C) head of the think tank team, Samsung Research America presents the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch during its launch at the 'Samsung UNPACKED 2013 Episode 2' at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin, September 4, 2013. The IFA consumer electronics and home appliances fair will open its doors to the public from September 6 till 11 in the German capital. — Reuters Photo
A woman holds a camera that can be attached to a smart phone or tablets using the display as a viewfinder at the Sony booth at the 53rd edition of the IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung) electronics trade fair in Berlin on September 5, 2013 . IFA, Europe's largest consumer electronics and home appliances fair, opens from 6 to 11 September 2013. — AFP Photo
A Sony Xperia Z1 smartphone (L) and a SmartWatch 2 are pictured at the Sony booth during a media preview day at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin, September 5, 2013. The IFA consumer electronics and home appliances fair will open its doors to the public from September 6 till 11 in the German capital. — Reuters Photo
‹›Sony Xperia Z1
“The Xperia Z1 embodies everything Sony has to offer,” said Chief Executive Kazuo Hirai as he unveiled the Sony Xperia Z1 at the IFA conference in Berlin.
The smartphone, which will be available in September, is a waterproof model coming with a 5 inch display and a 20.7 megapixel rear-facing camera. Sony has used the same Triluminous and X-reality technology for the Z1 display as it does for its cutting-edge Bravia line of televisions.
Galaxy Note 3
Samsung revealed its newest phablet, the Galaxy Note 3, at the IFA conference in Berlin. The Galaxy Note 3 comes with a 5.7” Super AMOLED Full HD screen, equipped with a 13 megapixel camera capable of recording 4K quality video and delivering 4128 x 3096 images.
The phone is powered by a 2.3 GHz Snapdragon 800 series processor supported by 3GB RAM as well as 64GB of storage space, supporting microSD storage.
As it is part of the Note series, it also comes with its signature S Pen and a slew of new features such as Air Command, Action Memo, Scrapbook, Screen Write and Pen Window. The Note 3 will be available for consumers on September 25th.
Visitors pass a 3D TV screen installation by LG during the opening day of the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin September 6, 2013. The IFA consumer electronics and home appliances fair will open its doors to the public from September 6 till 11 in the German capital. — Reuters Photo
Television sets are lined up at the LOEWE booth at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin September 5, 2013. The IFA consumer electronics and home appliances fair will open its doors to the public from September 6 till 11 in the German capital. — Reuters Photo
Workers prepare a 65 inch Ultra High Definition 4K television screen for display at the Samsung booth at IFA, one of the world's largest trade fairs for consumer electronics and electrical home appliances, in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013. IFA will take place on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds from Sept 6 to 11, 2013. — AP Photo
An employee of LG Electronics poses for photographers in front of curved oled television screens at IFA, one of the world's largest trade fairs for consumer electronics and electrical home appliances, in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013. The screens are just 4.3 millimeters, 0.17 inches, thin and weigh just 17 kilograms. , IFA will take place on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds from Sept 6 to 11, 2013. — AP Photo
An employee of LG Electronics looks behind a curved organic light-emitting diode, oled, television screen at IFA, one of the world's largest trade fairs for consumer electronics and electrical home appliances, in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013. The screen is just 4.3mm, 0.17 inches, thin and weighs just 17 kilograms, 37.48 pounds, IFA will take place on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds from Sept 6 to 11, 2013. — AP Photo
A giant 3D-presentation is seen through 3D glasses at the LG Electronics booth at IFA, one of the world's largest trade fairs for consumer electronics and electrical home appliances, in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013. IFA will take place on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds from Sept 6 to 11, 2013. — AP Photo
Workers make final preparations on a wall made of TV screens at the booth of Vestel at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin, September 4, 2013. The IFA consumer electronics and home appliances fair will open its doors to the public from September 6 till 11 in the German capital. — Reuters Photo
A man looks at the world's largest Samsung UHDTV 110 inch screen at the booth of Samsung during a media preview day at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin, September 5, 2013. The IFA consumer electronics and home appliances fair will open its doors to the public from September 6 till 11 in the German capital. — Reuters Photo
A fairgoer checks out a display of Panasonic Smart Viera 4K ultra HD Televisions at the Panasonic stand at the 53rd edition of the IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung) electronics trade fair in Berlin on September 4, 2013. IFA, Europe's largest consumer electronics and home appliances fair, opens from 6 to 11 September 2013. — AFP Photo
‹›Acer Liquid S2
The Acer Liquid S2, unveiled at the IFA conference in Berlin, is a breathtaking device boasting a 6” 1080p IPS display and a 13 megapixel camera capable of shooting 4K Ultra-High Definition video.
While its screen size puts it strictly in the ‘phablet’ category of smartphones, its RAM is slightly on the lower side at 2GB but it is still powered by an impressive 2.2 GHz Snapdragon processor. Internal storage is 16 GB but it can be increased up to 128 GB via microSD storage.
Samsung UHD TV
At 110”, the Samsung Ultra High Definition 4K television is the largest one of its kind. Unveiled on the 1st day of the consumer electronics IFA tradeshow in Berlin, it will be available for sale next Autumn and offers four times the resolution of full high-definition screens. 4K technology has also been introduced in smartphones and video cameras at the IFA tradeshow.
A giant LED illuminated ball is pictured at the Philips booth at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin, September 4, 2013. The IFA consumer electronics and home appliances fair will open its doors to the public from September 6 till 11 in the German capital. — Reuters Photo
The new JBL Flip II loudspeakers are pictured at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin, September 6, 2013. The IFA consumer electronics and home appliances fair will open its doors to the public from September 6 till 11 in the German capital. — Reuters Photo
A volunteer presents fridges at the Bosch booth at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin September 5, 2013. The IFA consumer electronics and home appliances fair will open its doors to the public from September 6 till 11 in the German capital. — Reuters Photo
A SuperSilence washing machines is displayed at the Bosch booth at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin September 5, 2013. The IFA consumer electronics and home appliances fair will open its doors to the public from September 6 till 11 in the German capital. — Reuters Photo
A journalist uses the OLED head mounted display at the booth of Sony on the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin, September 4, 2013. The IFA consumer electronics and home appliances fair will open its doors to the public from September 6 till 11 in the German capital. — Reuters Photo
A volunteer takes bottles out of a fridge at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin September 5, 2013. The IFA consumer electronics and home appliances fair will open its doors to the public from September 6 till 11 in the German capital. — Reuters Photo
A lightbulb speaker connecting to devices by bluetooth or WIFI is on display at the French company"AwoX" booth at the 53rd edition of the IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung) electronics trade fair in Berlin on September 5, 2013 . IFA, Europe's largest consumer electronics and home appliances fair, opens from 6 to 11 September 2013. — AFP Photo
A lightbulb speaker connecting to your devices by bluetooth or WIFI is on display at the French company "AwoX" booth at the 53rd edition of the IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung) electronics trade fair in Berlin on September 5, 2013 . IFA, Europe's largest consumer electronics and home appliances fair, opens from 6 to 11 September 2013. — AFP Photo
Panasonic Wireless bluetooth speakers are seen at the at the booth of Japanese electronics company Panasonic at the 53rd IFA electronics trade fair (Internationale Funkausstellung) in Berlin on September 5, 2013. IFA, Europe's largest consumer electronics and home appliances fair opens on September 6 to September 11, 2013. — AFP Photo
Maxwell Bogue, co-founder and CEO designs a Quadriga with the new 3Doodler printing pen at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin, September 6, 2013. The IFA consumer electronics and home appliances fair will open its doors to the public from September 6 till 11 in the German capital. — Reuters Photo
‹›AwoX Striim Light
The AwoX Striim Light is an LED-light bulb that also features an integrated Bluetooth speaker. Introduced at the IFA 2013 conference in Berlin, the Striim Light is capable of playing audio from any Bluetooth-enabled device, including computers, smartphones and tablets. It fits into a standard electric lamp, comes equipped with a 10 watt speaker and features a remote control that allows you to switch the light on/off and toggle the volume settings.
Besides these showcased gadgets, IFA 2013 also displayed an array of cutting-edge devices such as attachable smartphone cameras, high-performance speakers and headphones, household appliances such as fridges and heating systems, memory cards, and Mp3 devices.
