SPOTLIGHT ON JAPAN SONY
SPOTLIGHT ON JAPAN SONY LENS-STYLE SMARTPHONE CAMERA Sony's two lens-style QX series cameras merge the creative power of a premium compact camera with the convenience and connectivity of today’s smartphones. The next-generation Cyber-shot DSC-QX100 and DSC-QX10 models utilise wi-fi connectivity to instantly transform a connected smartphone into a versatile, powerful photographic tool that can shoot highquality images and HD videos to rival a premium compact camera. » HALL 4.2 / STAND 101 Region Sun Rising Again Japanese CE companies reprise role as innovation leaders Japan continues to be a world-leading high-tech innovator. However, as competition from across the water in China and Korea catches up, once impregnable Japanese CE giants such as Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba and Sharp have been forced to innovate like never before. As is evidenced by a slew of radical and original product launches by Japanese firms at IFA 2013, there is a sense that the KEY USPs 18.2 megapixels Weighs less than 4oz Protection Japanese are taking up the challenge. Sony’s Xperia Z1 nextgeneration superphone and Panasonic’s pioneering 20-inch 4K tablet are typical of the bold product offerings from Japanese manufacturers that are pushing Japan back to the CE summit. "Xperia Z1 is a watershed moment for Sony,” said Kazuo Hirai, President and CEO of Sony Corporation, during the much-hyped Sony products launch at IFA. “It marks the first time we have concentrated so many leading technologies, together with our full suite of entertainment content services, all in a single, beautifully designed mobile product.” Hirai spoke of a “productled revival” at Sony that aims to lead the field in the tradition of the Sony Walkman of the 1980s. A large number of hopeful Japanese CEOs have come to IFA with the same intent. As global management consultancy Accenture stated in a 2013 report on Japanese high-tech firms: “There is evidence of a growing sense of renewal.” SHARP DK-KP85PH HI-FI Sharp has launched a new all-in-one hi-fi system. TOUGHPAD 4K The world’s first tablet with a 20-inch UHD 4K screen was launched by Panasonic at IFA. Its large size and relative high price point mean the state-of-the-art tablet is aimed squarely at the business market, notably creative professionals such as architects, designers and photographers. It runs Windows 8.1, has a two-hour battery life and weighs 2.3kg. KEY USPs Crystal-clear screen Rugged carbon-fibre case Aspect ratio of 15:10 KEY USPs Competitively priced Mutiple listening functions Slim, sleek design The middle-of-the-range device contains a CD player, radio, iPod and iPad dock, as well as Bluetooth streaming capabilities. It comes in a slick piano black. The hi-fi runs on low energy and Sharp claims it consumes as little as 0.4W. It also includes an auto power-off function — a further sign that Sharp is embracing energy efficiency in its new designs. » HALL 2.2 / STAND 114 26 » HALL 20 / STAND 101 » HALL 5.1 / STAND 101
Stand of The Day Philips - Hall 22 / 101 Buyers entering the Philips' stand will be struck by its exclusive B2B zones, tailor-made for showing real-life retail experiences EVENT MANAGER DORIS LUN - Senior Manager IRENE WONG - Manager Marketing Management BG Lifestyle Entertainment Philips Consumer Lifestyle “There are many newcomers in the sound & headphone segment, but Philips has a unique value-add and knowhow in this field, due to our history and experience here. Since the 1920s, when we launched the world-first chapel radio, we have been constantly leading innovation in the field. High-quality sound is part of our DNA, and this is reflected in our sound products and the areas of the booth dedicated to this topic.” Comfort was a prime consideration in the design of the Philips stand – the creation of an open, inviting and interactive area where visitors can sit down and really appreciate the innovative products. Philips’ Lifestyle Entertainment unit demonstrates its high-end Fidelio range to retailers at dedicated parts of Philips innovative and inspiring stand. Within its dedicated B2B space (two thirds of the Philips hall), several rooms allow retailers to experience Philips’ “obsession with sound”, and to get ideas for creative and efficient in-store displays. In the Home Cinema Sound Room, retailers can experience the concept of ‘flexible’ surround sound, with Philips Fidelio E5 wireless surround cinema speakers, and its high-end SoundSphere DesignLine. Part of the walls at the Philips booth are made from specialist acoustic materials to eliminate noise and improve sound quality, further illustrating the slogan “obsessed with sound”. Visitors can see several artworks composed of parts of the Fidelio high-end range at the booth. The high-end Fidelio headphone range is displayed in a lifestyle-orientated in-store concept. www.ifa-international.org IFA International • Wednesday 11 th September 2013 27
