Gallery: Smartwatches, Bed-Cleaning Robots, 4K TVs, and Other New Tech From IFA Berlin
01Samsung-Galaxy-Gear---top
BERLIN - Germany's IFA show isn't where you go for earth-shattering tech announcements. In fact, much of what appears on the floor has been announced months before -- be it at CES, the MWC, or some other industry event. Still, as one of the only fall consumer electronics trade shows, it remains the best place to see what tech trends are gaining (and losing) momentum. This year, the tea leaves weren't hard to read at the Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin. Ultra HD (4K) televisions, projectors, and players were everywhere. Also, everything got smart -- smart homes, smartwatches, smart appliances, smart vehicles. In fact, the only thing missing from the event were services to complement this next generation of hardware. Here are some highlights from the show. Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch ------------------------------ Samsung's [Galaxy Gear smartwatch](<http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/09/samsung-galaxy-gear-smartwatch/) was probably one of the worst-kept secrets in tech. So it was no surprise to see the watch at the Tempodrom, even if the invitation Samsung sent out to the media was hyping the Note 3. That's not to say its appearance was completely random. Turns out the Gear will only work if paired to Samsung's latest phablet -- at least for now. If you're the proud owner of an S4, a Note 2, or even a Galaxy Tab 3, you'll have to wait for a future software update. The Galaxy Gear will be available in early October for between $250-300 -- kinda pricey for a notifications screen with a cheap plastic strap.
02Qualcomm-Toq-Smartwatch
Qualcomm Toq smartwatch ----------------------- When it comes to smartwatches, the three companies that dominate the headlines are Samsung, Apple, and Sony. Qualcomm? Not so much. Still, out of the blue, the company unveiled the Toq (pronounced Took). Presented last week during the Uplinq conference in San Diego, the smartwatch was shipped to Berlin the very next day so it could be displayed at Qualcomm's "Connected Home" demo. I liked its smooth, buttonless design, as well as the backlit display. Qualcomm even promises three to five days of use per charge, much better than then Gear's "about a day." Expect the $300 watch to ship toward the end of the year. It'll supposedly pair with any Android device.
03Sony-4K-Media-Player
Sony 4K Media Player With Video Unlimited ------------------------------------------ Sony announced the world's first and only UHD download service during the show. It's called Video Unlimited, and it currently has 70 4K movies and TV shows. To access the service, you'll need this Ultra HD Media Player and a very fast internet connection. Individual TV series rentals start at $4. Movie rentals are $8. And if you want to buy a movie, well, it'll cost you as much as $30. Those extra pixels don't come cheap.
04Sony-4K-Home-Cinema-Projector
Sony 4K Home Cinema Projector ----------------------------- Straight talk: You don't really want to squeeze 8.3 millions pixels in a 55-inch display, right? After all, a 4K picture is at its most glorious on a massive screen. Solution: Sony's 4K Home Cinema Projector has 4096 x 2160 resolution and is coming next October for the most immersive home theater you've ever imagined. It can be yours for around $12,000. You can start taking the pictures of the wall and selling them now.
05Beats-Audio-Studio
New Beats Studio by Dr. Dre --------------------------- Five years after it launched in Las Vegas, this iconic headphone is back with a lot of improvements. The next episode of Beats Studio is lighter, stronger, and more comfortable. It also comes with adaptive noise canceling technology, a 20-hour rechargeable battery, and a nifty Auto On/Off feature that turns the unit off when you unplug the cord. The new headset will cost as much as the original Studio: $300.
06Skullcandy-Crusher
Skullcandy Crusher headphones ------------------------------ Skullcandy claims to have engineered the first headphone with bass you can actually feel. By flipping a little switch on the Crusher, a vibration mechanism is activated and pushes the bass response to its maximum by actually shaking the headphone's ear cups. It's the headphone equivalent of riding around in a Donk -- all for only $100.
07Nude-Audio-portable-speaker-Move
NudeAudio Move Series --------------------- This San Francisco-based company is on a mission to make premium-quality speakers accessible to everyone. With an emphasis on acoustics (rather than celebrity endorsements), the Move Bluetooth series comes in three sizes: The S, which is also wired, the M (pictured), and L size. Even better, these great-sounding speakers are super-affordable at $30, $50, and $100, respectively.
08LG-Bed-Cleaner
LG VH9200DS Bed Cleaner ----------------------- The new bed cleaner by LG sterilizes your filthy sheets with a UV lamp and traps particles and other weird bed critters inside two HEPA filters. It's only available in South Korea for now ($195), but the bed cleaner should be coming to Western markets in the next few months.
09Olloclip-Telelens-and-Polarizer
Olloclip Telephoto + Circular Polarizing Lens --------------------------------------------- We loved the [Olloclip 3-in-1 photo lens](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/11/olloclip-an-affordable-there-way-iphone-lens-adapter/). Now, we also love the new Olloclip 2-in-1 lens. The telephoto is only 2x, but its optical magnification is great, since it saves you from having to digitally zoom in. The circular polarizing lens is made to reduce glare from reflected surfaces and make colors pop. It'll clip on top of the original 3-in-1. The 2-in-1 telephoto and CPL lens retails for $100, while the quick-flip case goes for $50. Kind of pricey for accessories, but worth it if you take a lot of photos.
10Soundcast-Melody-Outdoor-Bluetooth-Speaker-System
Melody by Soundcast ------------------- When you think of Bluetooth speakers, portability is usually the first thing to come to mind. This makes them ideal for intimate gatherings outdoors. But when the situation calls for truly big sound, you'll want something more like Soundcast's Melody. This Bluetooth speaker pushes out 360 degrees of sound and connects to smartphones and streaming services like Spotify, Pandora, TuneIn, and Rhapsody. It's also splash-proof, and can party for 20 hours between charges. $500.
