Why it's time to get excited about IFA 2013
Stand by for action from IFA 2013, where the Samsung Gear smartwatch leads the coolest kit from the titans of technology.
Time to get excited, tech fans: we're just days away from IFA 2013, the gadget extravaganza where the new Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch will lead a torrent of new and exciting technology. With our heady mix of live blogs, thrilling video, and expert hands-on First Takes, you'll be right at the heart of the action.
IFA is an industry trade show held every year in Germany, bringing together the world's technology titans at an event considered to be the European CES. Around 240,000 gadget fans flock to Berlin each year to join the scarlet-tressed Miss IFA alongside 1,439 companies from 57 countries, flaunting their coolest new stuff in a 142,200-square-metre smorgasbord of tip-top tech, from the smallest phone to the biggest television.
Check out our IFA hub for all our live blogs, videos, hands-on First Takes and more.
Live and direct
We'll be bringing you the very latest from press conferences and spectacular product-packed booths courtesy of Alcatel, Acer, Archos, Asus, Braun, HTC, Intel, Lenovo, LG, Loewe, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Toshiba, and many more.
The show itself is open to the public on September 6, but the action kicks off midweek with a swathe of suspense-filled press conferences from all the biggest names in technology, finally unveiling the coolest gadgets you'll be getting worked up about as we hurtle toward the end of the year.
We'll serve you piping-hot live blogs bubbling with the latest news from Sony and Samsung -- and we've reserved you a front-row seat for the hotly anticipated Samsung Unpacked extravaganza.
Pictures, video, and all the coolest kit
Before the last echo of applause has faded from each press conference, we'll bring you your first look at each shiny new product in glorious hands-on pictures and video.
Samsung has traditionally chosen IFA to unveil a new Galaxy Note phablet, and we're expecting this year to be no exception. Even more exciting, alongside the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, we're readying our wrists for the hotly tipped Samsung Galaxy Gear Android smartwatch.
Other cool kit set to take a bow in just a few days include the Sony Xperia Z1 Honami, as well as assorted phones, tablets, TVs, home appliances, and wacky laptops.
IFA live blogs
IFA also is packed with press conferences from the top tech vendors. Join us as CNET live blogs the following events.
Wednesday, September 4
SonyRumored new devices include the Xperia Z1 Honami, a new high-end flagship model that may have a 20-megapixel camera, and computers running Windows 8.1.
Time: 4:14 p.m. in Berlin (calculate to your time zone)
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Asus
Look for new laptops, tablets, or something in between.
Time: 7:30 a.m. in Berlin (calculate to your time zone)
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Samsung, part one
Oh, we expect just a couple of things here.
Time: 7 p.m. in Berlin (calculate to your time zone)
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Thursday, September 5
Samsung, part two
The company will take the stage again to talk about the rest of its new products, focussing heavily on TVs
Time: 11 a.m. in Berlin (calculate to your time zone)
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What new tech are you hoping to see at IFA? Let me know in the comments below.