Top 10 IFA products: From Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch to Sony Xperia Z1
The top products unveiled in Berlin this week
As the calendar pages flip over to September the tech world decamps on Berlin for the annual IFA trade show and the chance to catch consumers' eyes with new products that will be on the market in time for Christmas.
V3 was at IFA, covering all the latest news and getting hands on-time with some of the top devices unveiled by the likes of Sony, Samsung and Lenovo, to see what could be the must-have gadget of the season.
We've rounded up our 10 favourite products, from tablets and smartphones to smartwatches, to help you keep track of all the big announcements that came from the German capital.
10. Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga shows off the firm's hardware
There's a reason Lenovo is one of the only PC makers increasing its market share at the moment, and that's because of devices such as the new ThinkPad Yoga.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga sees the firm finally equipping its business-focused laptops with the same nifty functionality as its consumer models, with the device boasting a feature called "Lift and Lock" which locks the keys when the device is flipped into tablet mode.
The 12.6in business laptop boasts specs to match its transformer abilities, with the ThinkPad Yoga powered by an Intel Haswell processor, Microsoft's Windows Phone 8.1 operating system and a bundled digital stylus for scribbling on the HD display.
Lenovo also outed the Yoga 2 Pro at this year's IFA, the "world's highest-resolution netbook" that's capable of transforming into four different modes: tent, stand, tablet and laptop. All in all, we're impressed and can't wait to get our hands on the device.
Top 10 IFA products: From Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch to Sony Xperia Z1
The top products unveiled in Berlin this week
9. Lenovo rivals Google with cheap and cheerful Android tablets
Lenovo has added to its ever-growing hardware portfolio with cheap and cheerful Android tablets that could rival Google’s new Nexus 7 device.
The S5000 device is 7.9mm thick and its 7in display has a1280x800. It is powered by a quad-core 1.2GHz MediaTek processor and runs Google's Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean mobile operating system. Lenovo has also equipped its latest tablet with dual 5MP and 1.6MP cameras, a 3,450mAh battery and 16GB of internal storage. All this could be yours for just £180.
With Lenovo increasing its PC market share all the time, the brand is clearly becoming better known and more trusted by consumers and businesses, so its cheap Android tablet could definitely rival those of brands such as Google and HP. They just need some catchier names.
8. Sony Tap 11 Vaio tablet-laptop hybrid
Sony has not had a huge amount of success in the tablet market with its previous Xperia Z device failing to really generate much buzz, despite having some good specifications and a nice build.
However, the firm clearly has designs on the market – like every other hardware manufacturer – as it unveiled the Vaio Tap 11 tablet. Actually, that’s not quite true, it’s a laptop as well, as it features an attachable keyboard.
This could make it highly appealing to business users who want the lightweight benefits of a tablet, coupled with a much easier input method than a stylus or just jabbing at the screen. It also boasts a 4th-generation Intel Core processor and has 4GB of memory and weighs just 0.78kg.
The device will come running Windows 8, which could be an issue for some, but with its Xperia Z1 smartphone also catching the eye, it is clear Sony is working hard to rebuild its reputation and challenge the top players in the market.
7. Camera innovations continue with Ricoh's 360-degree Theta device
While we’re not exactly sure of the real use of this product, it’s definitely cool. The Theta from Ricoh allows you to take full 360 degree images from a small, portable device. It weighs just 95g and can be linked to a smartphone so images you take can be easily uploaded.
At the moment it will just come with Apple iOS 6 devices and above, but Android compatibility is expected before the year’s end. It won’t be cheap at £329, but for camera lovers it could prove a gadget worth splashing out for.
For an example of the kind of shots its can take, check out the below. As we say, we're not sure of why you'd need this, but you can't deny it's pretty cool.
Top 10 IFA products: From Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch to Sony Xperia Z1
The top products unveiled in Berlin this week
6. Toshiba prepares for Windows 8.1 launch with tablets and laptops
With Windows 8.1 just around the corner manufacturers such as Toshiba will be hoping the revamped platform entices more consumers than the original Windows 8 did.
In preparation for this, the firm unveiled new tablets and laptops at IFA, all of which will come with the new operating system. It also promised that the laptops would come bundled with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013 suite, free.
Both the laptops feature similar specifications, although they're powered by different chipsets. The Satellite W30t (pictured) is powered by Intel's Haswell 4th generation Core processors, while the W30Dt features AMD's A4 APU chips with built-in Radeon HD 8180 graphics.
5. Qualcomm makes surprise hardware move with Toq smartwatch
Qualcomm’s limited-edition Toq smartwatch is the chip manufacturer’s first foray into hardware, and a surprising move for a firm that usually prefers to be behind the scenes.
Qualcomm's claims of multiple days of battery life combined with a high-quality, always-on screen and wireless charging certainly make it one of the most interesting Android smartwatches we’ve seen to date.
However, we must assume that this device is going to be a little far away from affordable; Samsung’s Galaxy Gear watch, which has less flashy tech, will cost around £190. The use of the words “limited edition” also point to Qualcomm’s estimation of how many they expect to sell.
Nonetheless, the watch is manufacturer agnostic, so it will work with any Android smartphone running version 4.0.3 or above, whereas the Gear only connects to selected Galaxy smartphones. We can’t wait to get one on our wrists.
Top 10 IFA products: From Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch to Sony Xperia Z1
The top products unveiled in Berlin this week
4. World's thinnest keyboard makes a big impression
CSR’s wireless touch surface demonstration wasn’t so much a product in its own right as a showcase of what could be possible with its CSR1010 Bluetooth Smart controller chip and touch input technology from partner vendors.
The demo at IFA involved a paper-thin touch surface that can wirelessly link to a host device using an ultra-low power Bluetooth Smart connection (part of the Bluetooth 4.0 specification). Less than 0.5mm thick, it turns any area into a touch surface, according to CSR.
While CSR used the technology to create a paper-thin keyboard, complete with touchpad, it could be used by vendors to put a touch surface almost anywhere – on a protective cover accessory for a tablet or on a desk surface, for example.
CSR was keen to point out that the use of Bluetooth Smart means the touch surface and other products based on its chip will be supported by the latest devices running Apple iOS7 and Windows 8.
3. Samsung Note 3 proves the phablet is a lasting phenomenon
Samsung launched yet another phablet device at this year's IFA, the Galaxy Note 3, sticking a middle finger up to those who thought that big-screen smartphones weren't here to stay.
This time round, Samsung has taken things one step further – equipping its latest Note smartphone with an even-larger 5.7in 1080p HD display. The rest of its specs have been upped too, with the Galaxy Note 3 touting a faster processor, 3GB RAM and Google's Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system.
With the Note 3, Samsung has been keen to prove that phablets are ideal business devices, equipping the smartphone with its Knox security suite and advanced multitasking smarts, which it claims makes it the "ideal" device for the BYOD trend.
While the term phablet may not be the greatest portmanteau to grace the English language, Samsung's success with the device proves it's here to stay.
Top 10 IFA products: From Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch to Sony Xperia Z1
The top products unveiled in Berlin this week
2. Sony gives it its all with Xperia Z1 device
Sony has long been keen to prove it can compete with Samsung, and the Xperia Z1 is the perfect example of the firm's continued push for smartphone dominance.
Boasting the title of firm's highest-spec smartphone to date, the Sony Xperia Z1 features a 5in 1080p HD display, a 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snadragon chipset and Google's Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean software, which the firm has skinned with its own user interface.
The handset's standout feature, however, is its camera. The Xperia Z1 has a 20.7MP rear-facing camera, which, while unable to shoot 4K video, does feature 1080p HD video-recording smarts and built-in autofocus, image stabilisation and HDR mode.
What's more, Sony has also released the QX10 and QX100 snap-on lenses alongside its latest flagship smartphone, which are capable of turning the Xperia Z1 – and other smartphones – into fully fledged professional cameras.
1. Samsung beats Apple with Gear smartwatch unveiling
Despite Sony's best efforts, Samsung was the star of the show, with its Galaxy Gear smartwatch the most notable product unveiled at the IFA show, even with weeks of hype and speculation beforehand.
The display allows you to view text and email messages as well as interact with key apps, such as eBay and RunKeeper, from your wrist. Handily, it also tells the time.
Whether or not it catches on is another matter but other manufacturers clearly think it will, with Qualcomm's Toq device also launching at IFA. Sony's SmartWatch 2 is also shipping.
These firms have beaten Apple to market with their devices and will be congratulating themselves on doing so. But Apple – if it does unveil the rumoured iWatch – will no doubt spark far more excitement.
Of course, this still doesn't mean anyone will actually want to wear a smartwatch, but then, who could predict the success of the tablet just four years ago?