IFA 2012: what to expect
The biggest date on the European technology calendar is nearly upon us once more, with IFA 2012 set to bring a bounty of new gadgets, gizmos and innovations from the tech world.
The Berlin-based event opens to the press on 29 August and, as always, TechRadar will be there in full force, reporting from the show floor and offering up all the breaking news as it happens.
While exact news of what will be released will be kept under lock and key until the event begins – expect official announcements in their droves on August 29 and 30 – TechRadar has done a little bit of digging and managed to unearth a number of clues as to what will be the biggest things unveiled this year.
Here's our breakdown of what to expect from the major companies showcasing technology at the show this year.
Sony at IFA 2012
Sony may have had a year it wants to forget, with falling profits and mediocre sales of its flagship handheld the PS Vita, so this year's IFA is a key one for the company.
It is at the show where it will have to prove to the masses once more that it is still a force to be reckoned with in the technology world.
One place it will want to do this is in the phone and tablet sector and there are myriad rumours surrounding the devices that we will see at IFA 2012.
Now that Sony has severed ties with Ericsson, it has brought all its phone technology in-house, so expect to see a new range of Xperia handsets. It is more than likely will see the arrival of the Sony Xperia T, a phone that was going by the codename of Mint until recently.
With a possible a 4.3-inch HD display, dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, Ice Cream Sandwich and a whopping 13MP camera, Sony will be hoping the Xperia T is the breath of fresh air it needs in the smartphone sphere.
UPDATE: Alongside the Sony Xperia T, it is thought Sony will also show off a dual-core phone called the Sony Xperia TX, which sports a larger diplay but not as power hungry.
It is also likely that we will see the arrival of a Sony Xperia Tablet. There's been much speculation that Sony will continue to offer new tablets – it currently has the Sony Tablet P and Sony Tablet S – and the latest rumours point to the device having a keyboard cover/stand and will be more than 40 per cent thinner than previous models.
UPDATE: A leaked press shot of the Sony Xperia Tablet has found its way on to the internet and we must say, the tablet is looking rather sleek.
When it comes to televisions, there's been nothing leaked so far but Sony did show off its Crystal LED technology at CES so we are hoping to get an update on this – if it really is a rival to OLED then something needs to be released soon.
Also, given that Sony bought online gaming service Gaikai earlier in the year, we're hoping to see some fruits from this deal. Here's hoping that we see the technology integrated into Sony's next-generation line of TVs.
UPDATE: There's many a rumour that Sony is to launch an 84-inch 4K TV at IFA 2012. This seems to be the in size for 4K, as LG has its 84-inch set coming out in September.
Samsung at IFA 2012
Samsung surprised us all in 2011 when it announced the Galaxy Note at IFA – the supposed missing link between phones and tablets.
The success of the Note means that there is definitely a market for 5-inch and above screens and the recent revelation that Samsung will be hosting an Unpacked event at IFA has got us speculating that we will see the Samsung Galaxy Note 2.
Rumours suggest that the device will come with an even bigger screen – quite how big is still to be determined.
UPDATE: We were expecting an improved version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, with the tablet getting a speed injection courtesy of a quad core chip, to launch at IFA but it came before the show - check out out our Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 review.
As for TVs, Samsung has hinted that it will be showing off a new luxury range of TVs at IFA.
Speaking at an IFA 2012 preview earlier in the year, Michael Zoeller, European marketing director of Samsung Televisions, said the new range would sit above its current ES8000 series. This was also confirmed by Samsung in July, with the ES9000 sporting a 75-inch screen and Angry Birds capability.
Samsung is also set to unveil its OLED TV range for a second time – hopefully this means we will get a UK release date for the 55-inch ultra-slim tellies.
When it comes to laptops, we are looking at what was shown off at Computex back in May to get some sort of idea. The word here is Ultra – Samsung unveiled a bendy touchscreen Ultrabook called the Ultra Convertible and also a non-bendy touchscreen iteration named the Samsung Ultra Touch.
UPDATE: Samsung has confirmed that it will be showing off Windows 8 friendly Series 5 and 7 all-in-one-PCs. As for tablets, it looks like we will see a Windows 8 tablet from the computing giant - as a teaser image has appeared.
UPDATE: The internet is awash with rumour that it will offer up a camera with Android functionality, and it has been confirmed that a giant Samsung Galaxy Player will be shown off at the event, sporting a 5.8-inch screen.
Microsoft at IFA 2012
Microsoft usually has a low-key IFA, but this year the company is going to be all over the shop.
Windows 8 will be baked into the majority of laptops, Ultrabooks and also tablets we will see on the show floor but the biggest thing for Microsoft will be showing off its own hardware.
Microsoft Surface was first shown off in Computex and we're expecting a look at the tablet at IFA too. Hopefully we will be able to get our hands on both the ARM version and the x86 Microsoft Surface Pro.
Given that we are in Europe, it is hoped Microsoft will offer up a Microsoft Surface UK release date and pricing.
Toshiba at IFA 2012
Toshiba has kept fairly quiet about its contribution to IFA this year. Considering the splash it made with glasses-free 3D TVs last year, we are expecting another version of the Toshiba ZL2. As the price of the ZL2 – it debuted at £6,999 – was very much at the top end, a more consumer-friendly offering would be appreciated.
Away from the speculation, though, Toshiba is set to debut a new version of its Transfer Jet Technology. According to the company it will show a 'proof of concept' wireless SSD and two Android tablets incorporating Toshiba´s microSD and SD cards with integrated TransferJet capabilities.
LG at IFA 2012
LG has historically used IFA to show off its new TV technology but this could be the year that it focuses more on mobile as it tries to wrestle smartphone domination from the likes of Samsung and Apple.
When it comes to new products, we have our eye on the LG Optimus Vu2 being at IFA. This sequel to the LG Optimus Vu is a Galaxy Note rival and although we have heard nothing on the Vu2 being launched in Europe, we are hopeful to see it on our shores before the year is up.
Although there are few hints for other smartphones we will see, it's almost definite that they will be packing the L9 quad core chip, so expect speedy devices when they do appear.
UPDATE: LG has indeed released a quad-core phone but not with the L9 chip - instead it has gone with Snapdragon. You will have to wait for our hands on: LG Optimus G review but now we know it will definitely be at the show.
Philips at IFA 2012
Since IFA 2011, Philips has had some major changes happening within the company. Where it once went out on its own with its television sets, it has now teamed up with TP Vision to create its televisions.
In many ways this is a good thing for Philips – it was losing money on its TV venture so linking with the Hong Kong based TP Vision will ease the money burden but will quality be sacrificed? For consumers it will be interesting to see if the TVs produce are of the high standard we know and love from Philips.
So, expect to see the fruits of this partnership at IFA 2012, alongside a load of audio goodies. Philips is certainly excited about it – it's created its own IFA-dedicated website which will go live August 30.
Panasonic at IFA 2012
Panasonic will no doubt have a bevy of televisions on show at IFA 2012 but the only (kind of) concrete bit of information we have is that it will debut a new Android handset following the Panasonic Eluga, which it showed off earlier in the year.Well, that is if PhonesReview is to be believed.
Panasonic also recently announced it was strengthening its ties with 20th Century Fox and will be bundling the Titanic 3D Blu-ray in with a number of its Blu-ray players, so expect this to be a focal point of its conference.
Acer at IFA 2012
Acer always uses IFA 2012 to show off its biggest and best bits of new kit for the year and beyond and this year's show should be of no exception.
Again we are looking back at Computex here, but it seems more than likely we will see and get more European-based information on the Acer Aspire S7 and two laptops-cum-tablets – the Acer Iconia Tab W510 and the Acer Iconia Tab W700.
The Acer Aspire S7 is an interesting one as it comes in three sizes and was badged as the first touchscreen Ultrabook sporting Windows 8.
UPDATE: The Acer Aspire S7 is indeed coming, and its specs have been detailed.
We have a feeling there will be many more of these from other companies at IFA 2012.
Both are these are versatile tablets that come with optional keyboard docks, so here's hoping we will get some UK-specific information.
Asus at IFA 2012
Asus will also be showing off its latest kit, but we are expecting more of the same that was shown off back in Computex in May.
The most interesting product (read: ludicrous) is the Asus Taichi which is, according to Engadget, a convertible notebook/tablet that has a dual 11.6-inch display.
Back on Planet Earth, there is also the less out-there Asus ZenBook Prime Touchscreen – a touchscreen Ultrabook – and the Asus Transformer Book, which also comes with a detachable screen.
Lenovo at IFA 2012
Lenovo already wowed the world with the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga back in January and we are expecting it to make another showing at IFA 2012, given that it hasn't made it to stores yet.
We are also expecting another Galaxy Note rival, in the form of the Lenovo IdeaTab A2105. This is according to Android Authority, which reckons there will also be the IdeaTab A2107, a 7-inch tablet and the IdeaTab A2109, a 9-inch tablet.
All of these are set for a September release date, which coincides with the dates of IFA.
HTC at IFA 2012
UPDATE: HTC is likely to launch the HTC Proto at IFA but its name when it is actually been made official is set to be the HTC Desire X.
Some intel on Intel
And that's not it for laptops – Intel is expected to show off more than 60 Ultrabook and 20 Windows 8 tablet PCs at IFA 2012, according to various sources close to what's happening on the IFA show floor.
These are set to come from companies including: Acer, Asus, Dell, Lenovo, Sony and Toshiba.
TechRadar will keep its IFA 2012: What You Need To Know piece updated in the run up to IFA 2012, which officially opens to the public August 31 to september 5, so make sure to bookmark this page.
And check back from August 29 as that is when all the action is happening.