Electronics

Smartwatches and monster TVs: A look back at IFA 2014

Smartwatches and monster TVs: A look back at IFA 2014
Gizmag looks back at the busiest week in Europe's consumer tech calendar (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Gizmag looks back at the busiest week in Europe's consumer tech calendar (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Samsung gave a huge clue about what new product it would be launching at its Unpacked 2 event (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Samsung gave a huge clue about what new product it would be launching at its Unpacked 2 event (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
We saw this huge robot vac moving around the LG booth, which was driven by one of the company reps crouched inside (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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We saw this huge robot vac moving around the LG booth, which was driven by one of the company reps crouched inside (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Wowwee's MiP toy robot was cute as a button, and simply wouldn't be ignored (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Wowwee's MiP toy robot was cute as a button, and simply wouldn't be ignored (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Wacom announced a new stylus at IFA, with over 2,000 pressure levels (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Wacom announced a new stylus at IFA, with over 2,000 pressure levels (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Samsung claiming the world's first curved UHD TV (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Samsung claiming the world's first curved UHD TV (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Our pick of the show, LG's G Watch R (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Our pick of the show, LG's G Watch R (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Gizmag looks back at the busiest week in Europe's consumer tech calendar (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Gizmag looks back at the busiest week in Europe's consumer tech calendar (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
A frankly scary scene to demonstrate the various use scenarios for Sony's new Action Cam Mini (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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A frankly scary scene to demonstrate the various use scenarios for Sony's new Action Cam Mini (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Berlin in September can get really hot, a show goer attracts some puzzled stares by walking across the pond (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Berlin in September can get really hot, a show goer attracts some puzzled stares by walking across the pond (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
ARD Buffet Live at IFA 2014 (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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ARD Buffet Live at IFA 2014 (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
The Funkturm Berlin offered a good reference point for the many occasions when we took a wrong turn on our way to a product demo (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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The Funkturm Berlin offered a good reference point for the many occasions when we took a wrong turn on our way to a product demo (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
The very first Philips TV on display at IFA (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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The very first Philips TV on display at IFA (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Philips announced new Android TVs at IFA (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Philips announced new Android TVs at IFA (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Philips curved Android TV at IFA 2014 (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Philips curved Android TV at IFA 2014 (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Crowds completely ignore a fine machine to watch a bunch of TVs (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Crowds completely ignore a fine machine to watch a bunch of TVs (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Gamers test their driving skills with the DTM Experience (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Gamers test their driving skills with the DTM Experience (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Toshiba's UHD mirror display at IFA (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Toshiba's UHD mirror display at IFA (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Toshiba's Ultra-Wide UHD Smart TV was quite the eye-popper at IFA 2014 (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Toshiba's Ultra-Wide UHD Smart TV was quite the eye-popper at IFA 2014 (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
When reality sucks, virtual reality draws you in, courtesy of Oculus (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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When reality sucks, virtual reality draws you in, courtesy of Oculus (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Keeping in trim while walking the halls at IFA 2014 really wasn't a problem (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Keeping in trim while walking the halls at IFA 2014 really wasn't a problem (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Like big kids we smiled when the smartphone showed the color of Logitech UE Boom when paired (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Like big kids we smiled when the smartphone showed the color of Logitech UE Boom when paired (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Cobra's JumPack jump starter/power pack with built in LED torch (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Cobra's JumPack jump starter/power pack with built in LED torch (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Intel's rather stunning Llama Mountain reference design 2-in-1 (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Intel's rather stunning Llama Mountain reference design 2-in-1 (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Intel demonstrates its RealSense technology in a tablet (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Intel demonstrates its RealSense technology in a tablet (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
The RealSense hardware includes an IR camera and digital camera module(Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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The RealSense hardware includes an IR camera and digital camera module(Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Manipulating icons in mid air, thanks to Intel's RealSense technology (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Manipulating icons in mid air, thanks to Intel's RealSense technology (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Manipulating icons in mid air, thanks to Intel's RealSense technology (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Manipulating icons in mid air, thanks to Intel's RealSense technology (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Marshall Headphones announced the Woburn at IFA 2014 (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
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Marshall Headphones announced the Woburn at IFA 2014 (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Siemens introduced a new coffee machine as part of its new iQ 700 series appliances, which is seamlessly mounted in kitchen units rather than on the worktops (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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Siemens introduced a new coffee machine as part of its new iQ 700 series appliances, which is seamlessly mounted in kitchen units rather than on the worktops (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
The Siemens iQ 700 coffee machine can store up eight individual coffee profiles, for quick recall by different family members (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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The Siemens iQ 700 coffee machine can store up eight individual coffee profiles, for quick recall by different family members (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
The new Asus ZenBook UX305 Ultrabook (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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The new Asus ZenBook UX305 Ultrabook (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
Sony's existing QX100 lens-camera unit demonstrating why some buyers are skeptical - impressive though it is, it's still quite clunky (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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Sony's existing QX100 lens-camera unit demonstrating why some buyers are skeptical - impressive though it is, it's still quite clunky (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
The Sony Smartwatch 3 with the new Xperia Z3 smartphone (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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The Sony Smartwatch 3 with the new Xperia Z3 smartphone (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
Sony's new E Ink SmartBand with the Xperia Z3 smartphone (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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Sony's new E Ink SmartBand with the Xperia Z3 smartphone (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
Panasonic announced the first new Technics hi-fi products for six years, and they sound wonderful (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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Panasonic announced the first new Technics hi-fi products for six years, and they sound wonderful (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
Panasonic TVs give a clue to one of the major themes at IFA 2014 (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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Panasonic TVs give a clue to one of the major themes at IFA 2014 (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
IK Multimedia unpacked the iRig PADS at IFA 2014 (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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IK Multimedia unpacked the iRig PADS at IFA 2014 (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
Unfortunately, IK Multimedia couldn't confirm the specs for the iRig PADS or tell us when it will release, but we did get to see it in action (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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Unfortunately, IK Multimedia couldn't confirm the specs for the iRig PADS or tell us when it will release, but we did get to see it in action (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
XYZ Printing's da Vinci combined 3D printer and scanner (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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XYZ Printing's da Vinci combined 3D printer and scanner (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
The printbed and scanner inside XYZ Printing's da Vinci 3D printer (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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The printbed and scanner inside XYZ Printing's da Vinci 3D printer (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
Dyson's Alex Knox spreads baking powder in front of the company's new 360 Eye robot vac, and an existing competitor model (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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Dyson's Alex Knox spreads baking powder in front of the company's new 360 Eye robot vac, and an existing competitor model (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
Dyson's new 360 Eye robot vac convincingly cleans up at IFA 2014 (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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Dyson's new 360 Eye robot vac convincingly cleans up at IFA 2014 (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
Digital artist Miguel Chevalier used Samsung curved TVs for his latest artwork, showcased at the Samsung booth in Berlin (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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Digital artist Miguel Chevalier used Samsung curved TVs for his latest artwork, showcased at the Samsung booth in Berlin (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
As visitors moved around the installation, the digital art reacted in real-time thanks to strategically-placed cameras (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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As visitors moved around the installation, the digital art reacted in real-time thanks to strategically-placed cameras (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
The TouchPico Android projector demonstrated at IFA 2014 (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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The TouchPico Android projector demonstrated at IFA 2014 (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
Iconic amps lead the way to the Marshall Headphones booth at IFA 2014 (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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Iconic amps lead the way to the Marshall Headphones booth at IFA 2014 (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
Inside the visually arresting Marshall Headphones booth at IFA 2014 (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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Inside the visually arresting Marshall Headphones booth at IFA 2014 (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
Giant headphones await big music lovers at Magnat's booth in Berlin's Messe (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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Giant headphones await big music lovers at Magnat's booth in Berlin's Messe (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
An IFA visitor stands perfectly still for about 5 minutes on the Zbot full body 3D scanner at the Matrix booth (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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An IFA visitor stands perfectly still for about 5 minutes on the Zbot full body 3D scanner at the Matrix booth (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
The Zbot full body 3D scanner captures all the subject detail before printing the "mini-me" model using a 3D printer (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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The Zbot full body 3D scanner captures all the subject detail before printing the "mini-me" model using a 3D printer (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
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The sun has now set on Europe's biggest consumer technology show, exhibitors are packing away their wares and cleaning crews are moving in. Though smartwatches and big curved UHD televisions were just about everywhere at IFA 2014, exhibitors had plenty of other gadgets and gizmos to show to the bustling crowds pounding the halls of Berlin's Messe. Join Gizmag as we look through some of our favorites, a few that didn't make our main event coverage and one or two snaps from the show itself.

Highlights from this year's IFA include an exhibit by digital artist Miguel Chevalier at Samsung's massive CityCube presence on the very edge of the show grounds. His canvas on this occasion was a collection of carefully arranged Samsung curved UHD televisions that reacted to visitors moving around the exhibit thanks to strategically-placed cameras.

As visitors moved around the installation, the digital art reacted in real-time thanks to strategically-placed cameras (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
As visitors moved around the installation, the digital art reacted in real-time thanks to strategically-placed cameras (Photo: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)

Though impressive, Samsung's arty installation wasn't our most memorable big screen encounter, that honor goes to Toshiba's UHD mirror display – where we were forced to watch ourselves watching onscreen visuals. Most odd.

Toshiba's UHD mirror display at IFA (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Toshiba's UHD mirror display at IFA (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)

Intel's futuristic booth included a demonstration of its RealSense technology, which saw Gizmag's on the ground team grasping for icons in mid air and working out the dimensions of boxes without the aid of a tape measure.

Manipulating icons in mid air, thanks to Intel's RealSense technology (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Manipulating icons in mid air, thanks to Intel's RealSense technology (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)

We were also pleased to see Panasonic giving the Technics brand some love in the shape of two new high end audio systems, and even happier to be invited into one of the listening rooms for a brief demo.

Our pick of the show, LG's G Watch R (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)
Our pick of the show, LG's G Watch R (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag)

But Gizmag's show favorite rests in the hands of LG, with the G Watch R. Perhaps it's the traditional watch look of the device, or its solid-feeling build, or the sharp and bright 320 x 320 resolution watch face. It's certainly not the "not ready for prime time" Android Wear software, but it has nonetheless left its mark in our show memories.

Head over to our IFA gallery for a look through those favorites and more.

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