Here’s something I really can’t wait to get my hands on: Archos’ TV+ PVR/media streamer/web surfer, which the company were flaunting at IFA 2007. An instant competitor to the AppleTV – and, so my gut feeling says, with the potential to blow it out of the water – the compact box has a choice of 80GB or 250GB hard-drives and a plethora of connectivity including HDMI (outputting 720p Hi-Def), WiFi, USB 2.0 and ethernet.
There was something for everyone at Archos’ stand at IFA 2007 – well, if you wanted a PMP, that is – with a broad range of new media players catering for every spec-demand and budget. Since I’m nothing if not greedy, I’ll start at the top with the brand spanking new 605 WiFi and its swanky DVR base-station; we knew it was coming after it received FCC approval back in July, but there’s nothing quite like seeing a 4.3-inch touchscreen toting, web-surfing, media downloading masterpiece in the flesh.
Tricky to demonstrate Fraunhofer Research’s latest developments in 3D display technology without, well, buying you all a 3D display to show it on, but you’ll have to take our word for it that their IFA 2007 displays were tremendously impressive. The Free2C display is intended to give engineers and physical modellers the chance to view 2D shapes and creations in 3D without needing special glasses or having to fabricate a preliminary model.
It also looks to be bloody good fun at playtime, too, as this ball-rolling game shown at IFA proves. Supporting resolutions of up to 1200 x 1600, there’s no “sweet spot” that the viewer needs to stay in; the head-tracking lenticular-screen allows for head movements in all three dimensions with little to no ghosting or image distortion.
IFA 2007 really was turned into camera city, with Nikon, Canon and more all unveiling their latest snappers; Panasonic certainly didn’t blend into the background, however, with a number of new models ranging from the portable point’n'click to a brand spanking digital-SLR. Available in October, the Lumix DMC-L10-K is a 10.1-megapixel body bundled with a Leica lens and boasts full-time live view for continuous previews even during image capture.
Scandyna, who make the gloriously endearing Minipod speakers, used IFA 2007 to introduce their new Micropod, Micropod SE Active and “The Amp” lines. The Micropods – making up the lower wave in this photo – are passive, with one 3-inch Kevlar mid/bass cone and a 3/4-inch high frequency piston; meanwhile, the Micropod SE Active builds on this with active amplification built in.
Hitachi are throwing their hat firmly into the BluRay ring with the release of two HD camcorders – the BD70E and BD7HE – that can record direct to the discs, allowing for instant playback in any compatible player. Using 5.3-megapixel CMOS sensors, they record full 1920 x 1080 high-definition to 8cm discs; or, in the case of the BD7HE, optionally to the internal 30GB hard-drive before burning to disc. Both camcorders – which Hitachi are calling the world’s first to use the BluRay format – have HDMI outputs should you not have a BluRay player to hand.
Unlike some people – Judie Hughes, I’m looking at you! – I’m not obsessed with computer bags, but Crumpler’s massively cool website has ensnared me. So while we’re looking, let me point out their new, limited edition bags on show at IFA 2007.
None of this point-&-shoot nonsense for Nikon; they used IFA 2007 to launch their D3 and D300 digital-SLR camera bodies. If high-quality photography is your thing, then one of these two models may be the choice for you: the D300 is a relatively compact, super-fast shooter, with a new 12.3-megapixel DX format CMOS sensor coupled with a Nikon-exclusive digital image processing system, while the D3 is a true heavyweight contender, packing Nikon’s original 12.1-megapixel FX format sensor and extreme ISO support.
If keeping your music to yourself isn’t your scene, and you’d rather share it with everyone else, then GEAR4 might have something else up their sleeves for you. The BlackBox speaker system may look like a huge chunk of shiny licorice (eugh) but in actual fact it’s a set of 24W stereo speakers that uses the Bluetooth A2DP music streaming profile.
Some people have been quick to proclaim the death of the home mini-HiFi – and sure enough, plenty are finding that their iPod, coupled with a speaker-dock, sates their desire for playing their music out loud – but the latest models are hitting back with support for DAB digital radio and compatibility with formats like mp3. At IFA 2007 Himalaya showed off their portable, battery powered DRM2009; it might look like the HiFi you had as a teenager but trust us, it’s grown up.
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