I NEWS I KIVI LAUNCHES
I NEWS I KIVI LAUNCHES 32-INCH SMART TV FOR KIDS WITH BUILDING BLOCK DESIGN KIVI's new TVs for kids rooms will launch this autumn The new product, showcased on the company's 100sqm IFA 2023 stand, will go to market in Q3, costing around €300. The KIVI KidsTV, specially designed for children’s spaces, is a prominent part of the new TURN ON KIVI. ROOM BY ROOM series. The unit boasts a vivid Full HD display framed in a colourful block design and features protective glass, an integrated nightlight, safe content, and "Max Vivid" which dynamically tweaks local brightness and image saturation, "elevating standard content to near-HDR quality" according to the company. WITH OUR TECHNOLOGY, ANYONE CAN TAKE THEIR EXISTING AIR CONDITIONER OR HEAT PUMP, AND IN A MATTER OF MINUTES, TURN IT INTO A SMART SYSTEM INSTEAD OF BUYING A NEW ONE. Ran Roth Co-founder & CEO, Sensibo Sensibo transforms any AC system into a smart device A large 32-inch screen provides an immersive experience for shows and cartoons to ensure that children engage and learn more effectively. The TV also has the power to curate age-suitable content and includes a secure mounting system to withstand enthusiastic play, so that parents can breathe easy on both fronts. The KidsTV product line was inspired by KIVI's own research which revealed a gap in the market for a television product offering a commitment to children's growth, creativity, and safety. An extra safe-content TV also solves the issue of screen-time squabbles between younger siblings. Today, KIVI's products are available in nearly 20 European countries across more than 40 retail chains. In its six years of existence, the company has sold over 1.5 million televisions. This year marked KIVI's second participation at the IFA show. The TURN ON KIVI. ROOM BY ROOM series came about following an in-depth study of 2,500 consumers and their behaviour, conducted by KIVI in 2022. It showed that over 90% of buyers first determine the area of the house for placing a future TV and only then decide on the specs. This led to the creation of an entirely new line, which includes KIVI KidsTV and KIVI KitchenTV. They meet the specific consumer requirements for a Smart TV in a particular room and are complemented by appropriate accessories IFA International spoke with Ran Roth, the cofounder and CEO of the Israeli startup Sensibo, about how the brand's technology is able to turn any air conditioner into a smart device using AI, in this way contributing to indoor energy efficiency. How does Sensibo make air conditioners smart, and what technology underpins this capability? One of the problems with air conditioners is that there are so many makes and models. We at Sensibo have the technology to control them in a very reliable way. With our technology, anyone can take their existing air conditioner or heat pump, and in a matter of minutes, turn it into a smart system instead of buying a new one. Energy efficiency is a crucial aspect of smart homes. How does Sensibo contribute to energy savings and sustainable living? When you look at homes today, for example in Europe, 85% of the energy use goes into cooling and heating. After lighting where LED is very efficient, the indoor climate is where we can optimise the energy efficiency of the smart home. And there are studies that show that users can save between 20% and 40% on energy when data and context are embedded. We help people to understand what the temperature is and what temperature they should set. Could you explain the significance of the partnership between Sensibo and OpenAI? When we saw ChatGPT, we started using it for content and things like that, like everyone else. But then we saw the opportunity for embedding it into the product, so we replaced some of our algorithms with new algorithms and with an open AI back end. The good thing is that user feedback is embedded back into it making it better, so today, people who use the product are being offered schedules based on their usage STAY TUNED FOR MORE! Listen to the full interview on the upcoming IFA Tech Talk podcast, launching later this year. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out. 4 IFA INTERNATIONAL • WEDNESDAY 13 TH SEPTEMBER 2023 www.ifa-berlin.com/content-hub
I NEWS I Changhong at IFA 2023: Enhancing user experience with cutting-edge tech At IFA 2023, the Chinese consumer electronics giant revealed the newest additions to its product lineup including a new range of OLED TVs, compact refrigerators and washing machines, and smart home data security solutions. Changhong's high-end smart devices brand, CHiQ, introduced a new line of OLED TVs for international markets. These TVs boast an ultra-thin body, borderless displays, and diverse stand options. With per-pixel light control and a 10.7 billion colour display, they achieve a 98.5% DCI-P3 colour gamut and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring both crystal clear visuals and superior sound quality. Additionally, Changhong's newest release in China, the ARTIST series of TVs, a mere 24.9mm thick and outclassing local competitors by 10mm, made its debut at IFA, exemplifying unique aesthetics for contemporary homes. As of October, Europe will see the release of several CHiQ TV models powered by the latest Roku OS. At IFA, CHiQ also rolled out its Space Pro series of refrigerators and washing machines, crafted with cutting-edge ultra-thin technology, delivering on the promise of "compact size, ample capacity." The company also showcased an array of other new products, from Eva air conditioners and heat pumps to self-cleaning robot vacuums and smart home data security solutions. Building on its manufacturing prowess and brand clout, Changhong has seen robust growth in global appliance markets, particularly in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. The consumer electronics giant is also gaining momentum in emerging regions like the Middle East and Africa. In the first seven months of 2023, its appliance sales outside of China surged by over 30%, with TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners all hitting record sales figures Andreas Sebastian, Sales Director at Changhong Deutschland GmbH, giving a presentation at this year's IFA On the lookout for Germanmade TVs at IFA 2023 Alexander Hajnek Owner & Manager, Expert Hajnek IFA International met with buyer Alexander Hajnek in the Retailer is King lounge at IFA this year. He told us what consumers today are looking for in home entertainment, from smaller TVs to the latest streaming services. The business owner and manager of Expert Hajnek, in southern Germany, specialises in the resale of Hi-Fi and TV products. He revealed what he was looking for at IFA 2023 along with the latest trends. What products were you looking for at IFA 2023? This year at IFA, I was on the lookout for TV and Hi-Fi products as well as visiting existing business partners and looking at what is new, before ordering from them. I was looking for improved technologies and found improvements in design, such as the new Loewe series and the new TVs with ceramic surrounding. What were the main trends that you saw at this year's IFA? Hi-Fi that is included in streaming and TV streaming are the biggest trends right now. What new products are consumers looking for in particular? OLED TVs are among the most popular when it comes to selling TVs. More and more people are also looking for smaller TVs, not just the bigger ones. People don’t have as much space in their living rooms these days, and more people are living in smaller spaces. Which exhibitors did you meet at this year's IFA, and what has been the focus of your discussions with them? I met with exhibitors such as Loewe, Metz or Audioblock - all 'made in Germany' products. I focused in particular on high-end TVs and products, prioritising quality over the lowest price point. I look for TVs with a special feature such as a built-in hard drive, a double tuner which enables users to watch one programme and record another simultaneously, or something else special IFA INTERNATIONAL • WEDNESDAY 13 TH SEPTEMBER 2023 5
