Ifa2013
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Hands-on with Wacom's Cintiq Companion tablets
Wacom's drool-worthy new tablets certainly made us lament our lack of artistic skill when we saw them online, but do they pass muster up close and personal? We just got a chance to play with both the Companion Hybrid, the one with Android, as well as the full-fat Companion (the one with Windows 8), and we thought we'd show you how they behave. Naturally, in order to do that, we had to unleash our creative side, so be warned -- we may need to throw an artistic hissy fit after the break. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Philips' M1X-DJ portable DJ soundsystem hits IFA, we go eyes-on (video)
The pictures may not quite drive the point home, so let us just say that this thing is a beast. And frankly the idea carrying it around using the add-on strip is giving us lower-back pain just thinking of it. But heck, it probably weighs a good deal less that carrying around cart after cart of vinyl -- not to mention a couple of turntables and a whole PA system (not to mention all of those glow sticks). Philips' M1X-DJ is a cool take on the idea of the computer DJ. It's essentially a massive dock that connects to your iPad / iPhone via the lightning connector. On top, you'll find two DJ platters and a mixer. As we noted before, the M1X-DJ is hitting Europe in November, priced at €399. Click on through to the other side to check out a video of the wheels of plastic in action. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Marshall shows off its mini Stanmore speakers at IFA (eyes-on)
Look familiar? Yeah, yeah, it's built in the classic Marshall amp style, but the new Stanmore speaker also has a lot in common with the already announced Hanwell. The big difference? Size. The newly announced speaker is a diminutive take on its older sibling -- though it's not tiny by any means. The speaker's got a number of inputs: 3.5-millimeter, RCA, Bluetooth and optical audio. It comes in black and cream colors and will run you €400 here in Europe. It's not cheap, certainly, but man it's a pretty speaker. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
3Doodler 3D printing pen's shipping model hits IFA, we go hands-on
Remember the 3Doodler? Odds are plenty of you do, seeing as how the company managed to nab a staggering $2.3 million for its $30,000 Kickstarter campaign. For the minority of you who didn't participate, here's a quick refresher: the device is a 3D printing pen. It's a bit like a hot glue gun for plastic -- simple and ingenuous, it melts a single strand of ABS or PLA, allowing you to draw objects in the air, solidifying as you draw up. The pen was still in early prototype phase when we first saw it, and now, here at IFA its co-creator Max Bogue is showing off the final shipping product (seeing as how Kickstarter funders will be getting theirs later this year). This 3Doodler actually looks pretty similar to that early unit. All the same elements are in place: a slot in the rear to feed in the plastic, the heated tip where it comes out in semi-liquid form, an exhaust fan (which is pretty loud, but should quiet down before people start to get theirs) and two buttons for fast and slow extrusion. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Kindle Paperwhite (mid-2013) hands-on (video)
So we know all about Amazon's new Kindle Paperwhite, but those press images don't really do the trick, do they? Weirdly, we had to travel all the way to Berlin, but we did manage to get our hands on the new device. As we said before, there aren't a ton of aesthetic changes here. Thankfully, we had our last-gen Paperwhite in hand, and quite frankly, we couldn't really tell the difference -- until we picked it up, that is. Gen two of the Paperwhite is noticeably lighter than its predecessor. Longtime Paperwhite users will be able to tell you that the minute they hold it in their hands. Another obvious clue: the giant Amazon logo on the soft-touch rear. Granted, we're probably picking nits here (especially yours truly, someone who carries his own Paperwhite around in a case), but the older Kindle logo was a bit more tasteful. We did really appreciate the front lighting in the earlier generation -- and then Kobo came along with the Glo. Since then, things haven't really been the same. Update: Amazon wanted us to let you know that the version of the Kindle we had a chance to look at is specifically intended for the European market. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Jabra launches Solemate Mini speaker and Sport+ Bluetooth audio gear
Jabra's Solemate was a sneaker-themed alternative to Jawbone's Jambox, and now the company wants to hoover up those customers who want a slightly smaller Bluetooth speaker. The Solemate Mini promises all of the usual acoustic bells-and-whistles despite only being the size of a coke can, packing an eight-hour battery as well as a line-in, Bluetooth and NFC connections. Users will able to pick one up in a choice of red, yellow blue or black -- color choices that'll also come to the bigger model in short order. At the same time, the company is upgrading its Sport headphones with a shock-and-sweat-proof design as well as an FM radio. The Solemate Mini will launch globally for £99 (we expect dollar prices to be in the same ballpark), while the Sport+ earphones will retail for $79.99 with three months' free subscription to Endomondo Premium thrown in as a happy little extra. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Simple.TV reveals second-gen streaming DVR and Version 2.0 interface
Simple.TV's first streaming DVR had its rough edges, but the company is clearly willing to make improvements -- it just announced the second generation of its set-top box. The redesign is more flexible, sporting both a second tuner and compatibility with international broadcast standards like DVB-C, DVB-S2, DVB-T2 and ISDB-T. Both first- and second-generation owners will also get a revamped Version 2.0 interface that offers personalized content, faster updates and new streaming clients for Android, iOS, Roku players and the web. Simple.TV doesn't yet have pricing for the new DVR, but it tells us that both the device and the Version 2.0 upgrade will reach the US by mid-to-late November; Europeans will get the hardware next spring.
LG 13-inch Z935 Windows 8 Ultrabook hands-on
Major companies have a notorious reputation for quietly bringing unannounced products to trade shows like IFA 2013 and tossing them in some random part of the booth, which means we're always walking in expecting to find something new. Fortunately, LG did not disappoint us this time, as it showed off a new 13-inch "Ultra PC" Ultrabook called the Z935. Reps told us that this model, due to arrive in Korea this November for $1,000, is a minor refresh to its existing series of Ultrabooks; the Z935 in particular gets a bump in IPS display resolution to Quad HD (2560 x 1440) and also sports a Haswell SoC. The Win8-powered machine measures 314 x 219 x 13.6mm and weighs 1.15kg, much like the Z360 we peeked at in January. There's a USB port and HDMI port to the right, along with a headphone jack, while a pair of microSD slots are tucked away just a tad underneath the right-hand side, hidden barely out of sight but still easily accessible; USB and ethernet ports line the opposite side. All told, there are only a few minor design changes here, and we've put together a gallery of images for you to see it from all angles. We're still waiting for the full listing of specs, but we'll keep you posted as soon as we hear more. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
HP's 'Recline' all-in-ones can be used with the touchscreen hanging off the desk
At this point, all-in-one desktops tend to follow a formula: most of them have a touchscreen, along with an articulating stand so you can use it in tabletop mode, at a near-flat angle. All told, that gives folks a good deal of flexibility, but HP wants to go even further. The company just introduced the "Recline" series of all-in-ones, which incorporate a patent-pending hinge that allows the touchscreen to hang off the table, close to your lap. (Yep, HP's market research team found there are, in fact, people who would prefer to use their all-in-one this way.) Et voilà! That's why this thing is named the Recline: you can position it with the touchscreen half off the desk, and it won't topple over because the PC's center of gravity is halfway between the base and the display. Available in 23- and 27-inch screen sizes, the Recline will be available with a mix of Haswell processors, up to 16GB of RAM, up to 1TB of storage (sometimes paired with an SSD), a 1GB NVIDIA GT 730A GPU, Beats Audio and 1080p displays. All of the configurations will have 802.11ac WiFi and the Recline 27 in particular adds NFC. As an added bonus, you also get 50GB of free lifetime storage through Box.com. Additionally -- because HP would do something like this -- the company will also sell a special Beats-branded version with a red hinge (pictured above). That version will be available with a 23-inch screen only, and will feature slightly lesser specs (a Core i3 CPU and less RAM to start). Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Logitech's IFA 2013 lineup includes tablet cases, mice and more, we go eyes-on
We've seen most of Logitech's latest products by way of press shots, but the company was clearly waiting for IFA to trot out the real deals. We caught the peripheral maker as it was in the process of setting of its booth for the show and got a quick tour of what it's working on. First up, the company's giving a little folio love to Android tablet owners, releasing a keyboard case for the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 and protective cases for the 10.1, 8.0 and 7.0. We also got a chance to check out that beefy G602 wireless gaming mouse, which'll give you around 250 hours of gaming on a charge. Speaking of mice, the Ultrathin Touch Mouse is a pretty nice looking peripheral -- one that pairs pretty nicely with its TK820 keyboard. Images below and press info for all of the above after the break. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Haier's new OLED TV is harder to push over than most
Eye control is all well and good, but what Haier was really pumped about at this year's IFA was its new 55-inch OLED set. And, granted, the set is nice and thin at four millimeters, with a 1.5 millimeter bezel. What the company was really excited about, however, was the built-in stand. Yep, it's a four millimeter thick TV that can stand on its own, making it really difficult to push over in one direction, at least. We appreciate the sentiment, but we'll be more excited when we can start controlling the thing with our brains. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Haier shows off its latest eye-controlled TV at IFA, we go eyes-on, naturally (update: video)
Let's face it, it wouldn't be a proper IFA if we didn't take some time out of our busy schedules to pop by Haier's booth for a little alternative TV action. In past years, we've seen gesture and mind control, transparent sets and, of course eye-control. The company's tweaked the latter a bit, hitting this year's show with the latest prototype. Asked if we'd actually see the set in our lifetimes, the Haier rep we spoke with assured us that the company would have something "soon," so take that as you will. So, what are the changes from last year? For starters, the set is slimmer. More importantly, it's got a new sensor from Tobii, which promises sharper eye detection. We've got to say though, as ever, it takes some getting used to. After calibrating, you move you eyes to different parts of the screen to engage different functions -- like, say, top for menu and bottom for volume. When your eyes drift up there, a menu will pop up. In the case of volume, you move your gaze (and the cursor in turn) to volume up and blink to select. Why this is better than a good old fashioned remote, we're still not sure -- particularly when moving your head can throw the whole thing off. But we've lost our remotes enough times to seriously consider giving it a shot.
Eyes-on with LG's 55-inch Gallery OLED TV (video)
LG's showing off its new 55-inch OLED set here at IFA, and (get this) it's not a curved one. Though it's bucking the trend made so popular by LG itself (along with Samsung), the product is hardly boring; the so-called Gallery comes complete with a sound bar disguised as an art mat. LG's included its canvas speakers all around the panel to pump out 2.2-channel sound, along with subwoofers. In theory, the Gallery (model 55EA8800, if you must know) sounds a bit gaudy, but the execution is anything but. For one, it looks sleek despite the soundbar backing -- it won't distract your eye from the 55-inch panel. Colors looked extremely vibrant, and images extremely clear, when we viewed the OLED in LG's booth at IFA. Sound quality is strong as well. This is a straightforward (premium) TV, of course, but if you want to leverage the product's artsy pedigree, you can enable Gallery Mode, which displays a selection of works of art from Van Gogh and others. The set ships with a simple, thin black frame, but other, more elaborate options could become available later on. The Gallery and the sound bar "art mat" will be sold as a bundle for €8,999. An LG booth attendant told us the TV will launch at the end of the year, though the company has made no official comment. Check out the eyes-on video for a closer look. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Ricoh Theta WiFi camera shoots 360-degree photos for $399 (hands-on)
It's a big week for LCD-less WiFi point-and-shoots, but today's offering is a bit more unusual than Sony's lens-camera duo. What would you pay for a 360-degree camera that's compact, easy to use and compatible with an iOS app? $100? Maybe a buck fifty? Ricoh's betting big on a figure far higher -- a "consumer-friendly" $399. And we're not sold. Sure, the Theta is a unique device, but 360-degree images have limited appeal, and the fact that you (and your friends) will need to download a dedicated app just to view them without distortion doesn't help to seal the deal. Still, we're always up for trying out something new, and we're guessing you might be a bit curious, too. Click past the break as we go full circle with Theta. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Hands-on with the LG G Pad 8.3 (video)
LG announced its new slate, complete with specs, ahead of IFA, but the tradeshow is our first opportunity to see the G Pad 8.3 in the flesh -- or in the aluminum package, as it were. The company is positioning this tablet as the first full HD tablet in the 8.0-inch category, and as the device best optimized for one-handed use. Specific as those distinctions may be, they do sound pretty appealing. First thing's first: the G Pad 8.3 in our hands today is not the final version that will ship at the end of the month. LG likely has some software kinks to work out, but it's safe to say that today's model gives us a good idea of what consumers can expect. The G Pad is part of LG's flagship G series line, which includes high-end handsets like the Optimus G Pro and the recently announced G2. As such, this guy looks like a bigger version of its smartphone siblings, which is to say it looks quite nice. The bezels are almost non-existent, and the backside features a silver aluminum backing -- it's a nice contrast to the Pad's black or white plastic finish. The 8.3-inch, 1,920 x 1,200 IPS panel provides the vibrant colors and excellent viewing angles that you'd expect; we've seen similarly high caliber displays on other LG devices like the Optimus G Pro. At 338 grams, the G Pad is extremely light; a rep made sure to point out that some paperback books even weigh more. Less weight means the tablet is easier to hold in one hand -- even with LG reps talking up the device's featherweight footprint, we found it surprisingly insubstantial. More than the weight, though, the device's 126.5mm width makes it quite comfortable to use. And guess what? It can also fit in a jacket pocket, which may or may not improve your life dramatically. LG utilized data collected by the Korean government about the average hand size in order to arrive at an optimal width for the tablet. We found the slate quite comfortable to grasp with just one hand; it didn't feel like a stretch to grasp across the device. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Lenovo exec: there's no longer a need for Windows RT
We're at Lenovo's 2013 press conference, and during the Q&A session, the company's executives offered a hint as to their lack of plans for Windows RT devices. When quizzed on Microsoft's moribund operating system, Australian marketing chief Nick Reynolds said that Intel's Haswell has eliminated the choice between long battery life and good performance. Since, consequently, users can run full-fat Windows 8 and get a full day of use from a single charge, there's not much call for a low-power version. To us, at least, it seems like it's not too far away from them saying that we won't see a follow-up to last year's RT-running Yoga 11, but we'll check with our Magic 8 ball just to be sure.
Samsung announces the world's first curved UHD TVs at IFA 2013
You didn't think Samsung was done announcing TVs at IFA yet, did you? This time, Samsung's folded two of its new TV notions into one set, announcing the world's first curved Ultra High Definition TVs. They don't appear to be OLED (so our money's on LED), but the new screens will be available in both 55-and 65-inch sizes. the company saying that differently-sized curved UHD TVs sets will come, "based on consumer response", so if people are buying 'em big, these high-pixel curves could get bigger too -- Samsung's range of flat 4K TVs now stretches to a one-percenter-baiting 98 inches. At almost the same time, Sony has just taken the wraps off its own curved display, a 65-inch LED TV -- but it's not UHD. Hyun-suk Kim, executive VP of Visual Display, reckons the new TVs are another milestone for the company, and will "invigorate" the UHD market, one that's only just taking its first steps. Update: We wandered over to Samsung's gaggle of displays here at IFA, and we laid our eyes on their curved UHD TV. Not only is the set's 4K res just as impressive as big blue's other efforts with UHD displays, but its colors are exceptionally vibrant, and we're willing to bet accurate to the real-deal. Not only is the screen impressive, but it's sleek and swooping design is easy on the eyes. The gentle curve of its frame makes it take up more space than razor-thin flat panels, but its looks make it something we'd hate to hide in an entertainment center. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Lenovo intros the S5000, a budget 7-inch tablet running Jelly Bean (update: video)
Lenovo's already outed a lengthy list of Ultrabooks to kick off IFA, but the company has even more up its sleeve today. Meet the new 7-inch S5000 Android tablet, which the company is billing as "thin and ultra mobile." At 7.9mm (0.3 inch) thick and weighing 236 grams (0.54 pound), the slate is a bit thinner and lighter than the Nexus 7 and ASUS' MeMo Pad HD 7, though that slim profile seems to be the main standout feature. The display sports a rather standard 1,280 x 800-pixel resolution for enjoying Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, and a 1.2GHz quad-core Media Tek 8389 processor runs under the hood. Beyond that, the S5000 offers rear (5MP) and front-facing (1.6MP) cameras, and you have the option to add 3G HSPA+ connectivity in select countries (excluding the US). Lenovo says the 3,450mAh battery nets up to eight hours of use over WiFi. In Europe, at least, this will start at 199 euros for the 16GB WiFi model, with the 3G version priced at 249 euros. As far US availability, though, "4Q 2013" is about all we have to share. For now, though, follow on for some first impressions. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Lenovo Vibe X stuffs 5-inch 1080p display, quad-core chip into slim and light body (update: video)
While Lenovo's Snapdragon 800-powered phone has yet to make an official appearance, the Chinese company's gone ahead and unveiled its other quad-core flagship device: the Vibe X aka IdeaPhone S960. Much like most of its recent siblings, this Android 4.2 slate is powered by a MediaTek SoC -- the quad-core 1.5GHz MT6589T, specifically, with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage. There's also a 5-inch 1080p IPS display and a 2,000mAh internal battery, along with a 5-megapixel, 84-degree front-facing camera plus a 13-megapixel main imager on the back. As you'd expect, the camera app will come with face enhancement features for your bad skin days, and Lenovo also teases a "full-featured" photo app that lets you organize your photos (with tags and folders), as well as making puzzles with them. Thanks to Gorilla Glass 3 and the "premium polycarbonate body" (with "fabric-like surface" and side chrome accents), the overall package weighs 121g only and is just 6.9mm thick -- the same thickness as the slightly larger but metallic, Intel-powered K900. Also, while the Vivo X3 with the same MediaTek chip and battery capacity is way thinner at 5.75mm (sorry, Huawei!), do bear in mind that its 5-inch display only has a 720p resolution. There's no price nor a date just yet, but as with most Lenovo phones these days, we've been told that the Vibe X will not be entering either Europe or the US. As the Chinese saying goes: you can quench thirst by thinking of the plums. By "plums" we mean the press release and our first impressions after the break. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Philips 9000 series 4K TVs eyes-on (Update: now with video)
We heard about that 65-inch, award-winning Philips 4K set a while back, and earlier today, we finally got to see the thing trotted out on stage in all of its ultra high-def glory. Turns out it's also got a bigger sibling, an 84-incher. We managed to get up close and personal with both of the sets on the floor, sitting side by side in Philips' booth. The bezels on the 9000s are reasonably thin, though not nearly as svelte as we've seen on the sort of sets that Samsung and Sony like to trot out. Same goes for the profile -- if you're really interested in the thinnest 4K sets on the market, you're going to want to look elsewhere -- not shocking, of course, as the company is positioning these as budget sets. Ultra high-definition for the people. The sets are available today in the UK and Russia, priced at €4,999 ($6,588)and and €14,999 ($19,768), respectively. You can get a bit of a closer look at them in the gallery below. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
