IFA Berlin, or Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin is one of the oldest industrial exhibitions in Germany, and every year companies from around the world sign up to show offtheir latest products and innovations. But what exactly does an overused word like “innovation” signify today?
Are there any more surprises?
IFA, Europe’s largest consumer electronics trade show, just wrapped up last month. On the show floor, we were treated to an endless parade of the latest shiny gadgets and devices, including everything from smart fridges with 29-inch Windows 10 tablets on their doors to freakishly thin ultra books.
And then there were the booths themselves, which were clearly designed to dazzle and impress. LG even created an OLED tunnel where visitors were treated to all sorts of wondrous vistas, including gracefully undulating humpback whales and stunning views of space. It was, in a word, quite magical.
But the common thread tying all these disparate products and exhibits together was the same underlying motivation. Whether it was being the first to put quantum dot technology in a gaming monitor or create the first ever gaming notebook with a curved screen didn’t quite matter. Everyone just wanted to be seen as a pioneer and innovator. It was really all very impressive, except that we’d already seen a lot of it before. Granted, everything at the show had technically come fresh out of the oven, but it’s easy to say that there were few truly revolutionary things.
Or were there? Given the ubiquity of laptops, smartphones, and myriad other gadgets, it’s probably a risky move to make bold changes to a familiar form factor. But working within these limitations, we’d argue that brands have still managed to bring something new to the table, and we haven’t even accounted for rapid progress in emerging fields like virtual reality. Sometimes, you don’t have to break the entire mold to have a claim to innovation.
Redefining the tablet PC
Denne historien er fra October 2016-utgaven av HWM Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 2016-utgaven av HWM Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
How To Secure Your Smartphone
WE COVERED THE IMPORTANCE OF A STRONG password earlier. And this also applies to your smartphone too. While using your birthdate can seem convenient, if you wouldn't use that on your PC, then you shouldn't use it on your phone either.
Ryzen AI Enters The Fray
This review covers the flagship processor in the lineup, the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, which features a powerful 12-core, 24-thread configuration, 36MB of cache, and Radeon 890M graphics.
IT'S UPGRADE TIME
As the tenth anniversary of the Apple Watch approached, rumours about a revolutionary device with a dramatic design change swirled-the Apple Watch X. But as it turns out, we got the Apple Watch Series 10 instead.
Intel Core Ultra 2 Shines
With a week of hands-on experience with the ASUS Zenbook S 14 powered by Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V, it's clear that Intel has created a chip that's a serious contender in the ultraportable space.
Smaller, Lighter, Smarter
When it comes to second-generation products, you expect improvements, and the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 certainly delivers.
AN ATMOSPHERIC ATTEMPT
Taking on a remake of Konami's classic Silent Hill 2 was always going to be a daunting task. Enter Bloober Team, the studio behind other psychological horror titles like The Medium and Blair Witch. While those were solid efforts in their own right, Silent Hill holds a special place in the hearts of horror fans, and any attempt to update it was bound to be scrutinized.
BASIC, BUT COMPETENT
Following the success of the Nothing Phone (2) and Nothing Phone (2a), the company launched its sub-brand, CMF by Nothing, aimed squarely at the budget-conscious.
LENOVO YOGA SLIM 7X
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x stands out in terms of build quality and design. With a thickness of just 12.9mm and weighing a mere 1.28kg, this laptop is incredibly portable.
COMFY, SECURE, AND OPEN
With the Nothing Ear (Open), the company has focused on elevating the open-fit experience with a stylish design, secure fit, and surprisingly solid audio quality.
The Emperor Of Mankind Approves
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 puts you right in the middle of the Imperium's most brutal battles, and it does so with an unapologetic embrace of its own absurdity.