ITV

Tag: IFA

  • Noise wins best of IFA as Indian wearables brand takes Berlin by storm

    Noise wins best of IFA as Indian wearables brand takes Berlin by storm

    MUMBAI: Noise, India’s leading connected lifestyle brand, has scored a global breakthrough at IFA Berlin 2025, one of the world’s largest consumer electronics showcases.

    The homegrown firm unveiled its latest line of smartwatches and wearables, designed to rival global leaders, and walked away with Techradar’s coveted “best of IFA” award, a recognition shared by few Indian brands on the international stage.

    “When a bootstrapped Indian company can stand shoulder to shoulder with global giants and be celebrated for innovation, it speaks volumes about the strength of Indian ingenuity,” said Noise, co-founder, Gaurav Khatri.

    Founded as a bootstrapped venture and now backed by Bose as its first strategic investor, Noise has built its reputation on design, innovation and affordability. Its R&D arm, Noise Labs, is credited with several industry-first patents, while the brand also pushes domestic manufacturing under ‘Make in India.’

    With leadership in India’s smartwatch market and now a global award under its belt, Noise is positioning itself not just as a national champion but as a serious contender in the global connected lifestyle ecosystem.
     

  • AI dominates IFA’s ShowStoppers showcase

    AI dominates IFA’s ShowStoppers showcase

    BERLIN: Artificial intelligence was the undisputed headline act at ShowStoppers, IFA Berlin’s official press preview held on 4 September. Over 80 exhibitors packed the three-hour session, giving journalists and influencers an early glimpse of the products set to crowd Europe’s largest tech fair. While the categories stretched from household appliances to personal devices, one theme was inescapable: the wholesale integration of AI.

    Rugged garden mowers, once defined by brute force, now tout autonomous navigation and weather-proofing. Wet-and-dry vacuum cleaners use AI to map, learn and optimise cleaning routes. Gimbals offer intelligent tracking for creators on the go, while rugged smartphones double up as portable projectors. Energy-saving household devices market themselves as “self-learning”, promising to trim electricity bills through adaptive use.

    Hardware makers leaned on portability as well. A 14-inch laptop weighing a mere 800 grams drew attention, billed as a featherweight workhorse. Gesture-following mini-drones pitched themselves as toys and tools in equal measure. Even the stubbornly unpopular 3D tablet resurfaced—evidence that manufacturers, though faced with consumer apathy, remain unwilling to abandon the technology. A neat surprise came in the form of badge-shaped AI translators—clip-on devices priced for the mass market and small enough to stick onto the back of a phone.

    Phone translator

    But the boldest leap was not practical utility but companionship. One company showcased devices capable of generating anime-style characters that converse with their owners, others displayed cute little creatures sold as “digital friends.” The trend hints at a market where technology is less about solving chores and more about filling social and emotional gaps. AI-driven lighting systems and solar solutions underscored how deeply the technology has permeated the design ethos: AI is no longer a bolt-on, it is the organising principle.

    Beyond the gadgets themselves, the origins told their own story. By some estimates, nearly two-thirds of the exhibits could be traced back to China, with Shenzhen firms leading the charge. Their formula—affordable prices married to rapid product cycles and nimble manufacturing—has become hard to beat. For European consumer electronics firms, this dominance is a looming worry. Once the bastions of innovation, many now risk being outpriced and outpaced by their Chinese rivals.

    phones as projectors

    The prevalence of Chinese exhibitors at ShowStoppers reflects a wider shift in the global electronics market, where Asia increasingly dictates both the direction and the speed of innovation. The question for Europe is whether design and brand heritage can offset the brute force of Shenzhen’s cost efficiency.

    For IFA itself, the preview doubled as a stage for a strategic announcement. Organisers confirmed a fresh deal with Berlin authorities, extending the trade show’s stay in the city until 2034. That decision quells speculation that IFA might become a travelling exhibition, rotating between global capitals. Instead, Berlin remains the fair’s long-term anchor—a boon for the city’s tech ecosystem, hotels and conference economy.

    The main event kicks off on 5 September and runs until 9 September. If ShowStoppers was any guide, the halls will be thick with AI, from the mundane to the fantastical. 

  • Miele takes cooking outdoors, wires up pots and shrinks steam into a drawer

    Miele takes cooking outdoors, wires up pots and shrinks steam into a drawer

    BERLIN:  Miele, the century-old German maker of high-end appliances, is trying to reimagine the future of cooking. At IFA 2025 in Berlin, it unveiled what it called “a new era of cooking”: three headline-grabbing launches that stretch its brand from city flats to backyard terraces.

    The first is Dreams, Miele’s debut in the outdoor kitchen segment. A modular system that mixes minimalist design with over 60 accessories, it offers everything from gas barbecues and hobs to sinks, refrigerators and wine drawers. The centrepiece is the Fire Pro IQ, a smart gas grill fitted with multiple sensors that monitor and regulate temperatures more precisely than any backyard cook could manage. With an app connection and an AutoClean mode, the barbecue promises “perfect results without babysitting the flames” and a quick clean-up afterwards. “More and more people are embracing the outdoor living lifestyle,” said executive director for marketing and sales Axel Kniehl. “Dreams takes the Miele experience outside for the first time.”

    Indoors, the firm is touting M Sense, cookware that talks back. Pots and pans are embedded with touch controls and up to three temperature sensors, which communicate directly with Miele’s KM 8000 induction hobs. The system detects when food is about to burn or bubble over and automatically adjusts power. It is a small but telling example of how Miele is inserting artificial intelligence into everyday routines: pots send data, hobs listen, and dinner behaves. “Nothing burns. Nothing boils over. Just more time for what really matters,” said executive director and co-proprietor Markus Miele.

    The third novelty is a world first: a 14cm-high steam drawer that slips under an oven or microwave in compact kitchens. It combines baking, steaming and reheating in one, offering over 100 automated programmes powered by Miele’s DualSteam technology. The drawer is pitched at urban customers short on space but unwilling to compromise on cooking. With touch-open controls and full app integration, it can prepare meals for four people – from sous-vide vegetables to reheated leftovers – while freeing up oven space for bigger dishes.

    Beyond the headline launches, Miele used the IFA stage to trumpet a broader strategy. Digitalisation is seeping into every corner of its range. Its MasterCool fridges now come with cameras that snap photos when the door shuts, making it easier to check supplies while shopping and to reduce waste. Ovens are equipped with Smart Food ID, which recognises up to 50 dishes and adjusts settings accordingly. A step-by-step CookAssist function in the app will soon integrate with both M Sense cookware and the Fire Pro IQ grill, nudging even novice cooks towards professional results.

    The company also leaned heavily on its green credentials. It is branding its latest laundry and dishwashing models as Energy Heroes: a washing machine that undercuts the top EU energy-efficiency class by 40 per cent and a dishwasher by 10 per cent. At the fair, Miele underscored its commitment to circularity by building a trade-stand out of reusable, lightweight materials, cutting transport and storage costs by half. It has also pledged a 25-year guarantee on laundry appliance motors, a sign of confidence in longevity at a time when fast-obsolescence remains the industry norm.

    Founded in 1899 and still owned by the Miele and Zinkann families, the firm generated €5.04bn in turnover last year with around 23,500 staff across 19 production plants worldwide. Its strategy is clear: to extend its luxury image into new market niches and tie customers more tightly into its digital ecosystem. From outdoor living to AI-regulated cookware, the company is betting that the kitchen is still fertile ground for reinvention.
    “In a complex world, people want appliances that make life easier, not harder,” said executive director and co-proprietor Reinhard Zinkann. “Our task is to deliver that reliability – indoors and outdoors – with quality, innovation and sustainability.”

  • IFA Berlin unveils new innovation awards to spotlight tech breakthroughs

    IFA Berlin unveils new innovation awards to spotlight tech breakthroughs

    BERLIN:  IFA Berlin, the world’s leading home and consumer technology event, has launched a new global awards programme: the IFA Innovation Awards.  These awards, set to debut at IFA 2025 in Berlin, aim to celebrate exceptional innovation, design, and market impact within the industry.

    Clarion Events managing director James McGough, stated that the awards will “recognise the Best of IFA, rewarding the incredible progress being made in home and consumer technology.”  He added that the initiative would help identify brands “truly shaping how we live, work and play,” particularly those implementing AI and designing sustainable and accessible solutions. 

    Geekspin editor in chief and jury member Helena Stone highlighted that the IFA Innovation Awards represent “the natural evolution of IFA’s century-long commitment to showcasing the technologies that transform how we live, work, and connect.”  She believes these awards will “spotlight the innovations that define the future of consumer technology” as IFA enters its second century. 

    The new awards follow IFA’s hundredth anniversary in 2024, which attracted over 215,000 visitors from 138 countries and more than 1,800 exhibitors. 

    The comprehensive programme will recognise innovations across various sectors, including smart home and IoT, sustainable technology, health and wellness tech, gaming and entertainment, mobile communication, audio-visual excellence, kitchen and home appliances, and emerging technologies. Winners will receive either the official IFA “Best of category” or “Innovation Award” certification, along with full licensing rights to use the awards logo. Additional benefits include an exclusive showcase at IFA 2026’s Innovation Gallery, prominent placement across IFA’s global media channels, and coverage in official IFA publications and social media. 

    Helena Stone affirmed that the IFA Innovation Awards are poised to “become the gold standard for consumer technology recognition in Europe and beyond,” with an international jury of experts ensuring the winners represent “truly groundbreaking achievements.” 

    The awards are open to manufacturers, designers, engineers, start-ups, and technology companies worldwide. Eligible products must be innovative consumer technology or home appliance solutions commercially launched between 1 February 2025 and 30 April 2026, and must be available in European markets.  Applications are now open, with an independent panel of global technology experts, industry analysts, and innovation specialists overseeing the evaluation process.

  • Star India’s sports push

    Star India’s sports push

    KOLKATA: In a bid to expand its footprint beyond film, Star India’s Bengali movie channel, Jalsha, has acquired exclusive broadcast rights of two football events: the Calcutta Football League (CFL) and IFA Shield Tournament.

    The CFL, which enjoys the distinction of being the oldest football league in Asia, will be broadcast live on Jalsha Movies starting 8 September, 4:00 pm onward. The upcoming season of the prestigious IFA tourney too will be aired with the aim of ushering a new era in Bengal’s much loved sport.

    When contacted, business head Jalsha Movies Kevin Vaz confirmed the news and added, “The acquisition of broadcast rights of CFL and IFA Shield is a step towards ensuring an even more engaging relationship with our viewers. We are excited to partner with IFA in making CFL a bigger extravaganza and we will bring in expertise from our sports channels to create a state-of-the-art product.”

    While on the subject of sports, highly placed industry sources told this correspondent that Star India plans to launch a Bengali sports channel.

    “Star India is looking forward to working with sports authorities and boards, and making local Bengali sports like swimming, hockey and football popular,” a source revealed.

    Apparently, Star India is looking to expand beyond cricket into sports such as hockey and kabaddi, and producing sports programming in regional languages is part of the plan. “The channels’ focus on sporting activities clearly indicates that Star India is betting on this segment for growth,” pointed out the source.

    A sports analyst observed, “Star India aims to make sports the new religion, looking at the fact that there are 650 million cricket-crazed consumers in India. Knowing this, the entertainment channel has earmarked a huge investment in sports.”
    The shows will be marketed through a multi-media campaign with effective use of television, print, out of home and digital. The marketing campaign is focused on innovations as it will help in creating the required noise in the markets and also establish the shows.