DigiHunter

Get ready, IFA 2009 is a week away

Aug 30, 2009 15:19

One of biggest IT gadget events of the year and the latest one, the Berlin-based IFA 2009, is barely a week away. This will be the last IT gadget event of 2009, with the next show CES 2010 in Las Vegas. So, get ready for the newest and latest gadgets which will be introduced at IFA 2009.

I've searched and listed some of gadgets that will be introduced by Korean manufacturers at the Berlin tradeshow. As you may know, Samsung and LG are the main carriers and host of these big IT events over the past few years, with a number of small and emerging companies also showing great performances in small IT gadgets like MP3 players, PMPs and MIDs lately.

Samsung will introduce various products during the show with the theme and concept to be design focused. The main products will be Full-HD camcorders and digital photo frames. As you can see from the image below, the HMX-R10 and SMX-C14 are similar to Kodak's offering, although with just a minor tweak to differentiate themselves. Of course, there are many reasons for this shape. A few tech specs have been leaked, but we will have to wait for the exhibition to get the full details.

The P-series of digital photo frames is also ready to be introduced. Samsung has been pushing this category since end 2008 in the Korean market and carrying average sales. It appears ready to expand its market overseas with design integration to compete with Sony.

 

LG is also preparing for IFA with its upcoming 15-inch AMOLED TV. The product will be out for sale end of 2009, although the retail price hasn't been fixed yet. (Around 2.5 million to 3 million won). Competitor Sony, which introduced the 11-inch AMOLED TV last year, is selling its set at U$2,000. Samsung is also in the running with a 14- and 31-inch AMOLED TV. I'm just curious. Even if the display quality is incredible, how many of you are actually interested in getting a TV in 13 or 14 inches these days? This size may be more suitable for your restroom wall.

Unfortunately, other LG product information has not been put out to the Korean media yet. Some of you may have heard of the brand name Digital-Cube which was a leader in Korean PMPs in the past, but which lost its crown to Cowon lately. There are many reasons for the former's silence and market share loss, but one reason is that its sales is dedicated to the local market only. Now, it is restrategizing and focusing on the international market with new PMPs and navigational gadgets based on 3D technology integration.

Digital-Cube announced that it will introduce two PMPs with embedded 3D technology and one with HD support. The other products will be in 3D navigation. I'm not too sure if it can make a new business out of these products since the international PMP market is really small and people tend to confuse the PMP and iPod touch differences as well. Maybe it will be much better to introduce one of the MID products which it introduced at CeBIT, Hannover, a few years back to get the media's attention first on its booth and brand.

I will be visiting IFA 2009 to find out if there's anything unique and new in the industry. It will be interesting to see how those Korean companies perform at IFA 2009. It seems the Korean IT companies' performance and strength are getting better and better each year against the original leaders in this industry.

What will be the hot potato at IFA 2009? Which category? Any guesses? Still in the PC category such as MIDs and Netbooks? Or will there be a new one waiting to catch our interest? I will find out more in a week's time.

Anyone planning to visit or attend IFA 2009?

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