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Philips aims to relieve persistent pain with smartphone-controlled devices
Philips will soon launch a couple of iPhone- and iPad-controlled devices, but they're not the company's usual phone docks or Hue smartlight models -- they're gadgets designed to help suppress persistent pain. The first device (above) called PulseRelief uses Transcutaneous Electronic Nerve Stimulation or TENS technology, which delivers electric pulses straight to your nerves. That's supposed to prevent pain signals from reaching your brain and to release endorphins, chemicals that make you feel good and happy. There are tons of similar gadgets out there (search for "TENS device" on eBay and Amazon to see what we mean), but Philips' version lets you choose from 60 intensity levels through its smartphone app.
Farewell, IFA 2014
Everything that goes out of fashion, we're told, will eventually come back, which is why we still have a pair of tight leather pants and some bell-bottom flares stashed in the back of our wardrobe. It's a similar trend with consumer technology, and this year's IFA has seen fit to bring back head-mounted VR (last seen in the early '90s), netbooks (declared dead a in 2011) and digital watches. Of course, it wasn't just these devices that got unveiled at the show, after all, there was also Samsung's bent-screen phablet and Kobo's waterproof e-reader. Still, if you think that you missed out on any of the devices that were announced over the last week, why not check out our gallery for a few of the highlights.
Panasonic's smart mirror turned me into a 1970s space princess
It was going to be either me or my male colleague. That's a lie: It was absolutely going to be me. It was my last day at IFA, Europe's biggest technology show, and Brad Molen and I were sitting inside a sparsely decorated smart home that Panasonic had built in the middle of the demo area. Panasonic needed a volunteer to sit in front of its prototypical smart mirror, which applies digital "makeup" so you can sample new looks. I exchanged a look with Brad, imagining his bearded cheeks with blush on them. Then I sat down and agreed to let a machine tell me everything that was wrong with my face.
We've dunked a Kobo Aura H20 in water and it lived to tell the tale
When Kobo launched the Aura, the idea of selling a premium e-reader with a top-line price and a big screen was something of a risk compared to the Kindle juggernaut. When the device went on to become responsible for a full quarter of the Canadian company's sales, it was clear that the risk had paid off. Naturally, when it came time for the Kobo Aura H20 to make its debut, the company decided that the next frontier would be to try and conquer an e-reader's deadliest foe: water.
Huawei's making an Android Wear smartwatch, too
Having built up a consumer-facing business over recent years with smartphones and tablets, Huawei made its first move into wearables this year with a fitness tracker-cum-smartwatch (pictured above). The company is far from finished in this burgeoning product category, though, as Huawei's CEO Richard Yu has told us the company's prepping another wearable that'll launch next year -- this time running Android Wear. He wouldn't reveal too much more during an interview at IFA, but said it'll be both "innovative and beautiful."
Huawei's Ascend G7 smartphone binds mid-range specs to a metal frame
Huawei's supersized flagship may've taken center stage at the company's IFA press conference, but there was still plenty of love in reserve for another new addition to its product range: the Ascend G7. It also caters to those who like their screens big, and the spec sheet is nothing to shrug at. Build quality has been awarded particular priority, with most of the phone constructed from a single piece of metal, and the imaging experience has been carefully considered too. It's not exactly cheap at €299 (almost $390 converted), however, which may leave some wondering where exactly the G7 fits in.
This levitating Bluetooth speaker is the best we've seen
When I met with OM Audio in Manhattan to check out what the company was calling the "world's first levitating Bluetooth speaker," I didn't bat an eye. I had never myself seen a levitating speaker before that day, and a thorough internet search turned up nil. As it turns out, a Taiwanese company has been showing off a very similar (albeit nonfunctioning) device for months. ASWY, based in Taipei, is here at IFA in Berlin demoing a production-ready version of its own speaker, which at this stage looks much more polished than the OM Audio prototype I saw last month. Audio quality is quite good, as well, and while a noisy trade show floor isn't the best place to test a speaker, it sounded better than the OM model I was able to experience in a silent room.
Intel's Core M chips will boost PC battery life by nearly two hours
Indisputably, the star of this year's IFA show is going to be wearables: round ones, flashy ones, head-covering ones. After that, though, you're also going to see a lot of super-thin tablets and 2-in-1 PCs, many of them made possible by Intel's new low-power Core M chips. Intel first teased these processors earlier in the summer, in the form of a 7.2mm-thick tablet that was even thinner than the iPad Air. Now many such systems are about to go on sale, which means it's time for Intel to fully explain what these new chips are capable of.
Huawei's Ascend P7 Sapphire Edition is elegantly tough
Huawei's a smartphone manufacturer that likes to stay very much on trend. At IFA this year, it unveiled the latest device in its large-screen Ascend Mate series, which includes a fingerprint sensor akin to that of the HTC One Max and iPhone 5s. While that handset was very much the star of the show, Huawei also brought the new Ascend P7 Sapphire Edition along for the world's press to check out, and it's the first time we've seen it in the flesh since hearing about it late last month. Sapphire looks set to become the new buzzwordy feature of next-generation phones, and Huawei's making sure it's quick out of the gate. We know full well what's inside the new P7 edition and how it's likely to perform, which left us plenty of time to drool over the new premium look that'll turn heads and take a serious beating.
The Samsung Galaxy Alpha is smaller, lighter and more elegant than the GS5
Aluminum sides, chamfered edges, slim profile, solidly built back -- this is what Samsung's chosen as its brand-new design language, and it's why the Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge (which was introduced this week) have a premium look and feel. But the new Note isn't the only device with the same type of setup: It has a smaller sibling called the Galaxy Alpha that was announced just three weeks prior. The Alpha, which should be making its way into select markets (such as the UK) this month, is a compromise for those who want a good-looking phone, but don't want one that's so large.
Philips' Hue Beyond looks like a lamp, only smarter
Philips Hue Beyond is the company's attempt at taking its connected lighting platform to the mainstream. That's why the new range of light fixtures -- lamps, pendant and ceiling lights -- pair a color-changing module with a "tunable" white light for actually being able to see. We managed to sneak around to the back of Philips' booth at IFA and into a demonstration area where we got to see the gear in use for the first time. It was here that we learned that the company will break out a standalone Hue Beyond app, specifically designed to cater to the more complex dual-bulbed platform. We also learned that there are a trio of Hue modules powering both of the lights, while a single hockey puck-shaped component can be found lurking beneath the lamp's cover. Still unsure if Hue Beyond is worth the investment? Check out the snaps.
LG covered some televisions in Swarovski crystals, because why not?
We'll be honest: We were expecting more. When we heard LG was coming out with a television covered in Swarovski crystals, we just assumed LG would go big. Crystals on the bezels. Crystals on the remote. Crystals coming out of the HDMI ports. Actually, though, it's just a dusting of 460 crystals on the base of an otherwise normal 55-inch OLED TV. Additionally, there's a version where the base is made of sculpted crystal. Like, the see-through kind. Not the sparkly Freddie Mercury kind. It'll ship by the end of this month for €4,000 in Germany, and maybe some other European countries. Because if there's anyone who knows class -- well, we won't go there.
Alcatel OneTouch's new device family has a pretty tempting smartwatch
Samsung might have started the phablet frenzy trend of announcing large smartphones at IFA, but it's not the only company to exhibit their jumbo technology at the trade show nowadays. In fact, Alcatel is the latest in a long line of outfits to whip out 6-inch-plus hardware, and this year it's following up the Hero with the unsurprisingly named Hero 2. The 7.9mm-thin device has a curved aluminum body, a reasonably light 175-gram weight and a 6-inch, edge-to-edge display. Sounds rather tempting, non?
The LG G3 Stylus may do well in developing markets, if the price is right
A flagship phone with a fancy stylus and top-notch specs? Nah, you're thinking of the other major Korean smartphone maker. LG's taking a different approach with its way-too-aptly named G3 Stylus, which is more "stylus" than "G3." While the screen is the same size at 5.5 inches and the camera is 13MP, that's essentially where the commonalities end between this budget-minded phone and its high-end brother. Indeed, the stylus-packing Stylus smartphone is designed to target users in developing markets who want a handset in one hand and a stick in the other, but can't spend a boatload of cash for the privilege. The recently announced device is now being exhibited at IFA in Berlin, so enjoy a gallery of photos and a few more thoughts.
Withings launches a CCTV baby cam that'll monitor your air quality
It might have started out just making connected weighing scales, but Withings is now serious about making your home a healthy place to be. That's why the company has launched Home, a connected baby cam that also pulls double-duty to ensure that you're as healthy as you can be. The cause of some physical strife, so it claims, is VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds in the air. Thanks to the rise in double glazing and a desire to conserve energy, people aren't leaving their windows open as much as they should, leading to a deadly rise in these VOCs in the air.
IRL: Olloclip's 4-in-1 photo lens for Galaxy S4 and S5
We first met Olloclip's tiny pop-on camera lens more than three years ago. The iPhone accessory got its start on Kickstarter, in the crowdfunding site's infancy, and became our very first featured Insert Coin project. Today, it's a staple at the Apple Store and a slew of other retailers -- you can even pick one up at those Best Buy vending machines in the airport. Several more iPhone versions have since debuted, but we've never seen an Olloclip for Android smartphones, until today. The first Android versions are compatible with two recent Samsung flagships, the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5. Because photo effects are created using a physical lens rather than an app, Olloclips are designed for specific devices. If you don't own a Galaxy S4 or S5 (or an iPhone), don't lose hope -- we may see models for other handsets in the near future.
HP unveils souped-up Chromebooks and a wider range of detachable tablets
HP definitely isn't showing up to IFA empty-handed. To start, it's greatly expanding its line of detachable Windows tablets beyond the middle-of-the-road Split x2. The star of the show is undoubtedly a revival of the Envy x2 line. It's much more powerful this time around -- the tablet is using Intel's fast-yet-efficient Core M processor instead of an Atom chip, and it now comes with a much larger 13.3- or 15.6-inch screen. HP has also switched from a (relatively) conventional laptop design to a fabric-wrapped Bluetooth keyboard that's supposed to be more flexible. Be prepared to pay for all these upgrades, though. The 15.6-inch Envy will cost $950 when it reaches the US on November 5th, and its 13.3-inch counterpart hits October 29th for $1,050.
Sennheiser takes aim at Beats with new Urbanite headphones
Some folks enjoy a load of bass when it comes to their headphone selection. That's fine, and you won't get any judgment here. In fact, Sennheiser has taken notice, revealing its new Urbanite on-ear and over-ear (XL) headphones designed with a healthy portion of low-end tones. Claiming to keep "bringing the bass for an intense club experience on the move," the duo does indeed pack some thump while keeping the company's trademark clarity throughout. Don't expect anything overkill here. The cans have an in-line remote, stainless steel hinges for folding down to pack away, cloth-draped headbands, soft-wrapped earpads and aluminum sliders that adjust for a comfy fit. The company says it's these "high quality materials" that set the new wares apart from what the likes of Beats and others have released. It's looking to compete in the color department too, as six different schemes across iOS and Android/Windows models (including a denim option) are sure to suit most tastes. While the $199 on-ear Urbanite model goes on sale today, the $249 over-ear Urbanite XL is set to arrive in Q4.
LG's got an 8K television and food looks delicious on it
As per usual, South Korean electronics giant LG is here at IFA in Berlin, Germany. Less usual? The company showing up with a 98-inch 8K (aka Super Hi-Vision) television. LG's saying it's "16 times full HD resolution," and while we didn't sit and count every pixel, the food porn being shown off looked mighty tasty. No pricing or availability was given, but any kind of commercial release is probably pretty far off. The real reason it's here, however, is simply to showcase that LG can create the gorgeous, ultra high-res screen -- just like Sharp did with its massive 8K display a few years ago. And hey, did we mention that the food looked really pretty? Explore its depths in the gallery below. Update: As sweet as this TV is, it's using the older LCD technology, not OLED.
Philips Afterglow promises a whole new generation of Ambilight TVs
Philips has been hawking Ambilight HDTVs with a series of customizable LEDs that let the picture "bleed" onto the wall behind for a decade now. At the company's annual IFA press conference, however, the company closed the show with a concept video called Afterglow, which, if it becomes a reality, might make TV viewing significantly more immersive. In a demonstration, action shots were recreated in detail beyond the bezel, as if some short-throw mini projectors have been welded to the underside of the TV. After asking around, it transpires that the tech isn't a concept as much as a very early prototype, and the technology won't be arriving until 2016 at the earliest. In terms of how the company has made the images, it won't say beyond that it's a "new" process, but since it hasn't been patented, no one's prepared to talk details. Still, given that Microsoft's Illumiroom isn't likely to become available to the mainstream, perhaps Philips' slightly more modest version might be the way forward.