Hasta La Gadget!

Okay, so we wouldn’t go so far as suggesting that Alcatel One Touch’s Idol Alpha handset “takes creativity to a new level,” but hey, the company’s allowed to employ a little hyperbole in its press releases. That particular statement refers to the 4.7-inch handset’s translucent edges, which give off light to signify things like charging and notifications. The company’s also pretty psyched about the curves on the thing. “You will be attracted from the first glance of the device with its unique and sleek design which stands out from the market,” according to Alcatel.

The above image likely doesn’t do the curvy 7.5 millimeter thick aluminum-framed body justice (nor does it speak to the quad-core 1.2GHz processor inside), so we’re holding off such attraction until we actually see one in person. Thankfully, we’re already here in Berlin for IFA, so we should be doing just that in the not too distant future.

Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Panasonic is one of the few electronics companies that’s not pushing a 4K TV right now, but that is apparently about to change. An AV Forums reader spotted a few webpages cached prior to the company’s launch event that show off not only its upcoming 4K res WT600 television, but also details of the HDMI 2.0 spec. The current HDMI 1.4 connectors can only handle 4K content at 30fps, and the page mentions HDMI 2.0 will support at least 60fps, but any further capabilities are unknown. The Panasonic WT600 details shown include that it will support DisplayPort 1.2 as well as 4K specific features like a web browser, media player, rendering engine and THX certification. The only disappointing part, as the post points out, is that there’s no sign yet of Panasonic’s sweet 4K OLED prototype which combines both of this year’s high-priced HDTV buzzwords in one lovely display. The HDMI licensing group has a press conference scheduled for IFA on Friday while Panasonic’s is Wednesday, so it shouldn’t be long before we hear more about both pieces of this puzzle, and how other manufacturers plan to react.

Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: AV Forums

For the last few years, IFA has become synonymous with Samsung’s Galaxy Note. The Korean company isn’t being especially mysterious about its announcements at this year’s show, either; “note,” if you will that the action goes down tomorrow at 7PM local time (1PM EST). Will the confirmed Galaxy Note III and Galaxy Gear bring any big surprises? Does Samsung have any other devices up its sleeve? Can we expect another magician-infused press conference? We’ll be bringing you all the news tomorrow, so point your browser here.

Filed under: Cellphones, Samsung

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We like strapping things to our heads that replace the bad sounds with good ones, so we’re very excited about Creative’s new headsets. The company is launching a pair of audiophile-quality cans, as well as one for the audiophile on a limited budget. First up, there’s the Aurvana Platinum and Gold, which come with active noise cancellation, NFC and HD Voice. Then there’s the ShareMe technology, which lets two users wirelessly listen to one audio source, which’d be ideal for watching a movie on a long train journey. The Platinum will retail for £250 and the Gold for £180, while the more modest Live! 2 — which packs leatherette ear pads and 40mm Neodymium drivers — will set you back £110, with all three launching in October.

Filed under: Portable Audio/Video

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We have seen how the vacuum cleaner industry has certainly changed a whole lot – from the usual R2-D2 type design to a lighter, handheld version with a built-in rechargeable battery so that you can reach those hard-to-reach places without being limited by the length of the power cord. Of course, there is also the robotic vacuum cleaner that claims to be able to clean up the floor of your home without requiring your presence, returning to its base for a recharge as it starts to run low on battery power. LG intends to make new headway in the robotic vacuum cleaner industry with the introduction of the LG Smart Hom-Bot Square vacuum cleaner which will be unveiled at IFA 2013 later this week.

This square robotic vacuum cleaner is said to deliver a significant boost in cleaning performance, courtesy of LG’s impressive Corner Master. Apart from that, this puppy will also come with LG’s innovative smart technologies that include Smart Control, Cleaning History, Smart Diagnosis and Software Update, which would then enable the user to remotely control the Smart Hom-Bot Square using a smartphone alone.

As mentioned, the Corner Master found in this particular vacuum cleaner comes with a couple of long brushes, which boasts of corner detecting sensors that will work in tandem with the cleaner’s unique shape. It has an angular form factor and will be accompanied by redesigned brushes which measure 1.5cm longer compared to its predecessor, allowing the Smart Hom-Bot Square to remove dust and dirt even from the tightest of corners.

Most robotic cleaners will make use of a solitary camera, but the advanced Hom-Bot Square doubles that figure with a pair of improved Dual Eye 2.0 cameras so that you and your household get to enjoy smarter, faster and a more efficient cleaning performance. It is capable of snapping several images per second, with the upper and lower cameras scanning ceilings, walls and floors, even under low light or dark conditions. All of that information will be compiled and generated into a smart map. Apart from that, multiple sensors are capable of detecting obstacles within a 180 degree field, remembering their locations for collision-free operation. This sure as heck sounds like something every home should own, don’t you think so?

Press Release
[ LG Smart Hom-Bot Square vacuum cleaner unveiled at IFA 2013 copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]