IFA 2010

At first glance, the 2010 IFA trade fair doesn't seem any different than last year's event: visitors are greeted by a sea of television screens as Berlin's Messe convention venue is transformed into a glimmering electronic world for the show, which kicks off on September 3.

But upon closer inspection, it's apparent that there are plenty of new technologies on show at IFA's 50th incarnation.

Though the sight of so many people wearing odd sets of glasses to watch television might initially seem puzzling, there's a simple answer: 3D is the buzzword in this year's TV market.

Consumers will soon get the chance to bring home the magic of blockbuster movies like "Avatar," allowing them to enjoy the thrill of three-dimensional entertainment from the comfort of their own living rooms.

3D for a four-figure price

Almost all the top names in TV manufacturing are featuring dozens of new television sets with 3D capabilities for the IFA in Berlin – and along with them, several thousand pairs of glasses, without which the technology doesn't work.

But German firm Loewe has decided not to enter the 3D market just yet.

"It's certainly very fascinating to see 3D on a TV screen," said company spokesman Dr. Roland Raithel. "But we think that it won't be done all that often with the necessary glasses."

Nevertheless, Loewe knows that upscale clientele expect a 3D option – and the firm plans to equip its television sets with the technology in the future. "We don't want to be the first; rather, we want the best 3D solution," Raithel said.

Perhaps the company is pinning its hopes on research from Germany's Fraunhofer Institute, which is presenting a future model for 3D TV that doesn't require glasses at this year's IFA.

But the price tag might be enough to put off prospective buyers. While Germans currently spend an average of 680 euros on flat screen televisions, models equipped with 3D capabilities cost much more – around 2,000 euros. Still, there's good news for consumers: Prices for 3D devices are expected to drop next year – giving TV fans the option of buying now or buying cheaper.

Web goes TV

The same goes for other new technologies on show at IFA. Two years ago, high-definition TVs weren't yet a must-have item. Now, thanks to World Cup football and a growing number of channels that support the technology, HDTV is in demand.

And it's not just HDTV and 3D that are in the spotlight this year, 2010 is all about the TV-Internet connection, a combination made possible by Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV, or HbbTV for short.

The dual system allows viewers to switch between TV shows and online offerings using a single device and a remote control. Sascha Lange, a representative from Japanese manufacturer Toshiba, said users can find extra information about a program they are watching or view a program they have missed and forgotten to record.

"All of these things can come from the Internet, and of course they have to be easy to use," Lange said. "And that's precisely what HbbTV can do."

Read more: High-quality sound is also a key selling point ...

Dual TV und high-quality sound

At the booth for Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung, visitors can do more than just check out the company's latest 3D and Internet-capable TV. They can also watch a demonstration for a new kind of remote control.

Using a three-inch LCD touchscreen, viewers can control not just their television, but also other auxiliary devices such as a Blu-ray player or disc recorder.

But the main highlight of the remote is that it allows users to watch a second program on the display, thanks to an integrated second tuner. Moreover, the system affords viewers the ability to access films and photos stored on their home network.

Still, companies like Loewe know that it's not just a good picture that matters. High-quality sound is also a key element for any top-notch TV. Founded in 1923, the company has participated in every exhibition since the first trade show took place the following year. Here in Germany, the company is a leader in the speakers market.

The company recently rediscovered its electrostatic technology, which has been around for a century.

"Electrostatic speakers consist of one membrane and two grids that are electrically charged and then made to vibrate through the membrane, and they work similarly to the eardrum in the ear," company spokesman Roland Raithel explained.

The fact that these speakers transmit sound in all directions – not just to the front, but also through the rear of the device – gives them a "very natural sound," he said. Raithel also noted that the firm's electrostatic models are very thin, with a depth of just one centimeter. Nevertheless, the speakers "sound very impressive."

"It's a technology that was very expensive until now," he said. "But Loewe has made it much more affordable."

The cost of quality and innovation

Loewe did not name an exact price for their top-notch speakers, but they're premium products nonetheless. That's common for many of the devices debuted at IFA 2010 – regardless of whether one is interested in entertainment, communication or computer technologies, or the newest electronic devices intended to make life a bit easier.

Devices that go for 300 euros would seem like a real bargain – if the item in question weren't just an everyday appliance.

Yet even for a simple household product, the new fan by British company Dyson is an eye-catching example of elegant design – featuring no blades whatsover, and no protective grill. Erich Geisser, managing director for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, said the "Air Multiplier" model is the product of company owner James Dyson's talent for invention.

Geisser said the fan works using a single ring, which distributes the air evenly and sends it across a ramp set at a special angle. Negative pressure is created, which increases the air flow. Though the "how" might remain a mystery for some, the results are convincing enough.

"We amplify or multiply the air 15 to 16 times and ultimately, we get really pleasant air flow that's equally constant," Geisser said. The technology is also safe: Parents don't have to worry about their children getting their fingers or hair stuck in the fan.

Read more: The world of household appliances …

Household devices for everyone

The consumer electronics industry has also come up with a number of new innovations that take the sting out of oft-dreaded household tasks like cooking, cleaning and laundry – without breaking the family bank. The latest devices by leading German brands such as Siemens, Bosch and Miele have put the focus on sustainability and efficiency. The main goals are helping the environment and conserving water and power.

One example is a new technology called "i-Dos." Though it might sound like an Apple product, the device has nothing to do with multimedia. The i-Dos is the first washing machine to feature an integrated, fully automated dispensing system.

"The washing machine automatically recognizes which laundry is in the machine, how dirty it is, and which type of textile is in the machine," Siemens Electronic Devices CEO Roland Hagenbucher said. "And then it dispenses exactly the right amount of detergent."

Because the i-Dos system is automated, it allows consumers to save 7,062 liters of water each year, according to Bosch representative Volker Klodwig.

"That's 58 bathtubs, to illustrate it that way," he said.

Roland Hagenbucher says it's a product that puts some fun into the wash-and-rinse cycle.

And companies hope that will be enough to bring in the masses – as well as those visitors whose eyes are glued to the array of TV sets and multimedia devices on display at IFA 2010.

Author: Manfred Böhm (arp)
Editor: Cyrus Farivar