Tag Archives: IFA 2023

Health, Lifestyle, News

[IFA 2023] Withings Elevates Health Tracking with the ScanWatch 2 & the ScanWatch Light

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Withings ups the ante with hybrid wearables with the release of the ScanWatch 2 and ScanWatch Light. These two hybrid smartwatches build upon Withings’ legacy of delivering cutting-edge health monitoring in sleek, fashion-forward designs.

The ScanWatch 2

The ScanWatch 2 inherits the beloved features of its predecessor, including an impressive 30-day battery life, ECG capabilities, blood oxygen measurements, and seamless integration with Apple Health.

ScanWatch 2 2

In addition, it introduces several new features that elevate its health-tracking prowess. The ScanWatch 2 comes with continuous body temperature tracking which allows users to keep tabs on their body temperature. Together with body temperature tracking, female users of the ScanWatch 2 can now effortlessly track their menstrual cycles, including symptoms and emotions, empowering them with valuable insights.

Together with his, the new ScanWatch also comes with the ability to track Heart Rate Variability allowing users to track the response of their heart to different stimuli and events. This plays very well with the Improved Auto Activity Tracking which can now recognize over 40 different activities. You will also be able to track Respiratory Rate Readings which gives a new dimension to insights from the watch.

ScanWatch 2

Withings has also upgraded the software aspect of the ScanWatch 2. HealthSense OS now features PowerSense Pro, optimizing battery life and data accuracy.

The ScanWatch Light

For those seeking affordability without compromising on essential health monitoring, Withings is introducing the new ScanWatch Light. While it may not boast all the advanced features of its counterpart, it provides key health-tracking capabilities.

ScanWatch Light

The ScanWatch Light will be able to track heart rate, sleep and activities. It also places particular emphasis on menstrual cycle tracking, allowing women to log cycle stages and align their routines accordingly.

Both models cater to diverse health needs, and Withings’ unwavering focus on extended battery life and comprehensive health tracking makes these smartwatches compelling choices for individuals seeking seamless health monitoring. Pre-orders are already open, with retail availability scheduled for October 2023.

ScanWatch Light

With the ScanWatch 2 and ScanWatch Light, Withings continues its tradition of combining cutting-edge technology with timeless design, setting new standards for health monitoring and style. These timepieces empower users to seamlessly integrate better health into their daily lives, marking a significant stride in the evolution of health-centric wearables.

Pricing & Availability

The ScanWatch 2 comes in various finishes and sizes to ensure both style and comfort, with additional options planned for the future. It is set for release in October. It is priced at $349.95.

The ScanWatch Light, on the other hand, is priced at $249.95.

Lifestyle, News

[IFA 2023] JBL Shows Off JBL Authentics Series

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HARMAN International showed off a brand new line of speakers at IFA 2023. The JBL Authentics range of home speakers brings a sense of style complete with JBL’s signature sound tuning. JBL isn’t just harmonising tunes, it’s harmonizing two giants, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, in one seamless audio experience.

In today’s audio landscape, immersion is key. According to a recent HARMAN survey, 75% of respondents highlighted the importance of audio quality in conveying the true emotions of music. High-quality audio aids concentration, relaxation, and a deeper emotional connection to the content. To cater to this demand, JBL Authentics is engineered to deliver stadium-like sound in your living room. This collection consists of three distinct models: Authentics 200, 300, and 500. While the Authentics 200 and 300 cater to indoor and outdoor needs, the Authentics 500 stands tall as a powerhouse.

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The JBL Authentics lineup also employs technologies like Spatial audio to provide a true sense of immersion. The inclusion of this technology isn’t something new for JBL as the company has been producing products like the JBL BAR which employs the same technology to deliver 3D soundscapes. The expertise is put to good use across the JBL Authentics line with the Authentics 200, Authentics 300, and the Authentics 500. The Authentics 500, in particular, leverages Dolby Atmos encoding and HARMAN’s patented Constant Sound Field technology. This combination expands the sound stage, enveloping your room in a rich auditory experience.

Three Models for Any User to Choose From

The JBL Authentics 300, designed for both indoor and outdoor use, boasts impressive audio specs. It features a pair of one-inch tweeters, a full-range 5.25-inch woofer, and a 6.5-inch downward-firing passive bass radiator. This configuration promises a slightly bass-forward sound profile with clear mids and highs.

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  • 497035 JBL AUTHENTICS 500 4263fd original 1692267257
  • 497033 JBL AUTHENTICS 200 a6e1e4 original 1692267250

For those seeking even more power, the Authentics 500 is a 270W beast with three 1-inch tweeters, three 2.75-inch midrange woofers, and a 6.5-inch downward-firing subwoofer. It also supports Dolby Atmos for a 3D audio experience that will transport you into the heart of your entertainment. The JBL Authentics 200 rounds up the trio with an assembly of entry-level specifications with a similar configuration to the 300: two one-inch tweeters, a full-range five-inch woofer, and a six-inch passive radiator.

A Symphony of Voice Assistants

What sets the JBL Authentics range apart is its ability to simultaneously access and operate both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Unlike some speakers that require you to choose one assistant over the other, JBL’s innovation allows for a seamless interplay between the two. Imagine setting a timer with Google Assistant and having Amazon Alexa stop it – these speakers make it possible.

This dual functionality extends to music playback as well. You can start a song with one voice assistant and pause it with the other, eliminating the need to remember which assistant initiated the action. It’s a game-changer for households with multiple smart devices and users who prefer different voice assistants.

497044 JBL Authentics 300 Lifestyle e5304c original 1692268828

With these voice giants at your command, you can effortlessly control music, smart home devices, set timers, and more, hands-free. The flexibility to choose between Google Assistant and Alexa for different tasks empowers users like never before.

Designed to Bring Vintage to the Future

Vintage design has gained immense popularity, with 64% of survey respondents valuing design in their audio devices. Authentics marries the best of the past and present, drawing inspiration from the iconic JBL L-100 home speakers of the 1970s. Vintage echoes blend seamlessly with modern materials, colours, and textures, creating a unique design that captivates.

Sustainability is also at the core of Authentics, with recycled aluminium cabinets and handles, along with internal parts crafted from recycled plastic.

Pricing & Availability

The JBL Authentics speakers will be available in Europe on September 15 and North America on September 17.

  • JBL Authentics 200 – USD$329.99 (MYR1,629.23)
  • JBL Authentics 300 – USD$429.99 (MYR2,001.64)
  • JBL Authentics 500 – USD$699.99 (MYR3,258.48)

For those willing to take the plunge, Whether you’re after stunning sound quality, seamless voice assistant integration, or a fusion of vintage and modern design, the JBL Authentics range promises to deliver an authentic and immersive audio experience.

Lifestyle, News

[IFA 2023] Signify Introduces Philips Hue Secure & Matter Connectivity to Portfolio

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Signify has unveiled a security tech suite under its Philips Hue brand. While maintaining a focus on lighting innovation, Philips Hue now integrates smart cameras, sensors, and app-controlled security features.

Keep Watch with Philips Hue Secure Cameras

The Philips Hue Secure camera lineup offers both wired and battery-powered options, ensuring versatile home monitoring. These cameras provide a clear 1080p HD video feed with night vision capabilities for real-time surveillance, both indoors and outdoors. Instant motion notifications keep you informed about any activity around your home.

Unique to Philips Hue Secure is its integration of smart lighting and sound alarms. In response to detected motion, these cameras can trigger a combination of light and sound alarms to deter intruders. Additionally, two-way communication allows you to interact with visitors or delivery personnel remotely.

Screenshot 2023 09 04 at 19 03 30 Hue Secure wired camera Philips Hue US 1

Security and privacy are paramount. Philips Hue Secure cameras feature end-to-end encryption by default. All video clips, snapshots, and live feeds remain private, ensuring your data’s protection. Notably, the cameras perform person, pet, or package recognition locally, preserving your privacy without relying on cloud processing.

Versatile Options for Indoor and Outdoor Use

Philips Hue Secure offers flexibility with both wired and battery-powered camera versions, available in black or white. The Secure-wired camera comes with a desktop stand for easy placement, while the battery-powered option provides the freedom to position cameras anywhere. For outdoor surveillance, a camera mount with a ground spike is available.

Enhanced Security with Contact Sensors & Philips Hue App

Complementing the camera system is the Philips Hue Secure contact sensor, compatible with doors, windows, cabinets, and more. These sensors send real-time notifications when opened or closed. Use them to automate your lights when doors are opened, enhancing security and convenience.

PHilips Hue 2
PHilips Hue
PHilips Hue 3

The Philips Hue app will also come with features of a Security Center for comprehensive control of your smart home security system. Receive notifications, trigger light and sound alarms, or contact local authorities directly from the app. You can also personalize camera settings, create blackout zones for privacy, and set activity zones to avoid unnecessary notifications.

Subscription Plans for Added Features

Philips Hue Secure offers two subscription plans for enhanced functionality. The Basic plan, priced at $3.99 per month or $39.99 per year per camera, provides 30 days of video history. The Plus plan, priced at $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year for multiple cameras, offers 60 days of video history and additional features.

New Lighting Innovations

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Philips Hue continues its commitment to lighting innovation with new products:

  • Philips Hue Festavia String Lights: Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, these string lights offer a cosy ambience with customizable colours. Available in three cord lengths and featuring new light effects.
  • Philips Hue MR16 Smart Bulb: Bring smart lighting to conventional spotlights with this 12V smart bulb, compatible with most transformers.
  • Perifo Track Lighting and Hue Centris Indoor Spotlight: Explore new lighting possibilities with these additions to the Philips Hue lineup.

Interoperability with Matter Standard

An upcoming software update to the Philips Hue Bridge, set to launch in September 2023, will enable compatibility with the Matter standard. This update ensures seamless integration with other Matter-compatible smart home devices and apps.

Pricing & Availability

ProductPrice (EUR)Price (USD)
Philips Hue Secure Wired CameraEUR 199.99USD 199.99
Philips Hue Secure Wired Camera with Desktop StandEUR 229.99USD 229.99
Philips Hue Secure battery cameraEUR 249.99USD 249.99
Philips Hue Secure floodlight cameraEUR 349.99USD 349.99
Philips Hue Secure contact sensorEUR 39.99 (1-pack)
EUR 69.99 (2-pack)		USD 39.99 (1-pack)
USD 69.99 (2-pack)
Philips Hue Secure camera mount with ground spikeEUR 39.99USD 39.99
Philips Hue Secure desktop standEUR 49.99USD 49.99
Philips Hue Secure low-voltage outdoor charging cableEUR 29.99USD 29.99
Philips Hue Secure anti-drop cableEUR 14.99USD 14.99
Philips Hue Festavia string lights (100LEDs)EUR 119.99USD 119.99
Philips Hue Festavia string lights (250LEDs)EUR 219.99USD 219.99
Philips Hue Festavia string lights (500LEDs)EUR 359.99USD 99.99 (2-pack White and color ambience)
Philips Hue MR16 White ambianceEUR 64.99 (1-pack White and colour ambience)
EUR 109.99 (2-pack White and colour ambience)		N/A
Philips Hue MR16 White and Color AmbianceEUR 64.99 (1-pack White and colour ambience)
EUR 109.99 (2-pack White and colour ambience)		USD 99.99 (2-pack White and colour ambience)
News

[IFA 2023] Samsung Food: Your Ultimate Cooking Companion

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Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed by the multitude of recipes you want to try, struggling to keep track of your ingredients, or unsure where to begin with a new dish? Samsung is releasing a new app that could be the solution: Samsung Food, an AI-powered food management platform set to launch on August 31st in 104 countries and eight languages.

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With over 160,000 recipes, Samsung Food simplifies your culinary journey from shopping list to dinner table. This all-in-one service enables you to discover, save, and customize recipes, remotely control your kitchen appliances, and share your favourite dishes with the world.

Personalization for Every Palate

Samsung Food revolves around personalization. Each user gets a unique digital recipe box, making it easy to save recipes from the web or create your culinary creations. The Personalize Recipe function automatically adjusts recipes to meet various customization needs. Whether you prefer vegan, healthier options, or quicker preparation, Samsung Food has you covered. It can even adapt recipes to improve nutrition, create shopping lists, or fuse different cuisines.

Samsung Food Screenshot 2

Seamless Food Discovery and Kitchen Connectivity

Samsung Food simplifies food discovery with Vision AI technology. Just snap a photo of a dish or ingredients, and the app identifies the dish, provides ingredient details, links to related recipes, and saves it to your collection. Moreover, Samsung Food connects with Samsung home appliances, synchronizing recipes across your devices and allowing you to control them remotely. You can set timers, preheat ovens, and monitor your dish’s progress from your mobile device or Samsung’s Family Hub refrigerators.

A Global Foodie Community

Samsung Food isn’t just a cooking assistant; it’s a community. Share your culinary creations, discover recipes from fellow food enthusiasts, and follow content creators. You can even create and join dedicated groups based on your culinary interests.

Samsung Food Screenshot 1

Samsung Food is a testament to the company’s commitment to enriching your culinary experience. As it continues to evolve, it aims to provide tailored meal recommendations based on your health goals and offer AI-based food recognition in the future, making your kitchen smarter and your meals more enjoyable.

Lifestyle, News

[IFA 2023] Samsung BESPOKE AI Washer & Dryer Combo Here to Help with Laundry

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Samsung Electronics has unveiled the BESPOKE AI™ Washer & Dryer Combo, showcasing it at IFA 2023 in Berlin. This all-in-one washer and dryer combo is powered by cutting-edge Digital Inverter Heat Pump technology and is touted to redefine your laundry experience.

Bespoke AI Washer Dryer Combo PR dl1
Source: Samsung Electronics

Samsung’s BESPOKE AI Washer and Dryer Combo streamlines your laundry routine into a single, efficient step. You will be able to wash up to 25kg of laundry and dry up to 13kg without sacrificing too much space. Unlike having two separate machines, this combo unit takes up less space, leaving you with more room to spare. Its sleek and flat BESPOKE design can complement your home’s interior, blending seamlessly with other appliances and furniture.

BESPOKE AI for Intelligent Washing Even from your Phone

The BESPOKE AI Washer & Dryer Combo puts control at your fingertips with an intuitive Wide LCD display. The display lets you effortlessly choose washing and drying settings. Once the cycle is complete, it provides informative reports for your reference.

AI Wash intelligently detects the fabric’s weight, softness, and level of soiling based on water turbidity. Using this information, it optimizes water and detergent usage and fine-tunes soaking, rinsing, and spinning times for swift and efficient cleaning.

Nearly everything about the BESPOKE AI Washer and Dryer Combo is automated. After a cycle concludes, the door automatically opens, simplifying laundry retrieval. This also releases humid air and heat while bringing in fresh air to maintain optimal drum conditions. There is also a Heat Exchanger Auto Cleaning System that preserves drying quality. Additionally, the AI Energy Mode, part of SmartThings Energy, enhances energy efficiency.

Speaking of SmartThings, as with all Samsung devices, the Washer and Dryer combo can be remotely controlled with the SmartThings App. You’ll be able to set your washing to complete as you return from the gym or work. It’s also worth noting that the washer and dryer combo can also be controlled via other Matter compliant IoT apps.

Lifestyle, News

[IFA 2023] Dolby Atmos FlexConnect Makes Getting Immersive Sound Easier

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Dolby Laboratories has unveiled Remember those days of needing professional equipment to get the best quality sound from your sound systems? Well, that’s about to come to an end with the new Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, – a huge update to its Dolby Atmos surround sound. The technology brings a feature set we’ve grown accustomed to with Samsung‘s flagship QLED TVs with Q Symphony and Sony‘s Acoustic Center Sync to a broader range of TVs starting with TCL TVs that are being announced at IFA 2023.

Dolby Atmos Flex Connect
Source: Dolby Laboratories

Dolby Atmos FlexConnect will be able to seamlessly merge your TV’s built-in sound system with compatible wireless accessory speakers anywhere in a given space. FlexConnect will then intelligently adapt to your room’s layout and your chosen speaker arrangement giving you the most optimised audio experience from every corner of your space. Sonos also introduced a similar feature with their recently announced Sonos Era 100 and Era 300 speakers.

These are the hallmark features that Dolby Laboratories has highlighted:

An Improved Dolby Atmos Experience: FlexConnect incorporates compatible wireless speakers into your Dolby Atmos-enabled TV setup. Thanks to this, it’s able to replicate the position of the object better for a more immersive sound experience. This means you’re not just watching; you’re feeling every moment through your ears.

Unconstrained Speaker Placement: FlexConnect removes the constraints of traditional speaker placement. No matter your room’s size, furniture arrangement, or power outlet locations, you can position your speakers wherever they fit best. This newfound flexibility allows you to optimize your audio setup without compromising on sound quality.

Effortless Setup: Setting up Dolby Atmos FlexConnect requires no additional equipment or a tangle of cables. Using acoustic mapping, your TV’s built-in microphones locate each wireless speaker in the room. Once they’re all accounted for, the system automatically calibrates itself to deliver the most optimized audio performance for your unique environment.

Dynamic Audio Balancing: FlexConnect intelligently distributes audio signals from your TV to each wireless speaker. It takes into account the capabilities and locations of all your available speakers, ensuring that the sound immerses you.

The technology will be making its debut in TCL’s latest TV lineup coming at IFA 2023. It will not be surprising to see other brands begin to include this feature in their upcoming offerings.

Android, Mobile, News

Honor Prepares to Unfold Tomorrow on September 1, 2023

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Honor is prepared to take its thinnest foldable smartphone, the Magic V2, global with an announcement coming up at IFA in Berlin. On September 1, 2023, at 10 am CEST, we can expect Honor Magic V2 to make its global availability known. However, it seems like there may be another smartphone in the works for the announcement as well. It’s rumoured that Honor may announce a second flip-style foldable during the event as well. There’s also a teaser on the website’s announcement of the IFA 2023 Keynote with a mathematical formula.

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The Honor Magic V2 debuted earlier this year in July exclusively in China. It stunned with its 4.8mm thickness when unfolded and 9.9mm thickness when folded. It’s also not shying away from being a full-fledged flagship with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, dual 50-megapixel sensors and a 20-megapixel telephoto sensor on the back and a 16-megapixel sensor for the selfie camera. Together with this, the Magic V2 comes with a large 7.92-inch inner screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and a large 5,000 mAh battery.

With the increasing number of choices for foldable smartphones increasing this year, it’s going to be very interesting to see how brands continue to edge each other out with design and software. Honor is currently one of three brands with a globally available flagship large-screen, foldable device. If rumours are any indication, the space is about to exponentially more competitive with brands like vivo and OnePlus joining the foray.