IFA needs reinvigoration to meet increasing expectations: experts


Jam-packed with visitors on its opening day, the Internationale Funkausstellung appears to be a success largely thanks to the three Asian tech giants of Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and Sony showcasing their smart and mobile devices and appliances with unique designs and features.

Samsung highlighted its all-new Galaxy Note 2 at an unveiling event, where it also featured Windows 8 phones that stole Nokia’s thunder as the Finnish phone maker was also poised to introduce its new phone running on Microsoft’s new mobile platform.

LG seemed to have brought its whole TV lineup from Korea, showcasing its latest ultra-definition and highly anticipated OLED TVs and smart TVs with newly improved functions. The public and reporters marveled at LG’s high picture quality and features as well as 3-D technology that did not give them a headache, making other TVs appear obsolete.

Then there was Sony, once the leading tech company that changed the world with analog devices such as the Walkman. The Japanese company’s focus was on digital imaging, gaming and of course, mobile, displaying smarter laptops, phones, PlayStations and TVs as it looked ready to regain its former glory.

Their shows took up two-thirds of IFA. However, as many who visited the event more than twice agree, nothing has changed, in contrast to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas where a slew of all-new gadgets and appliances are always introduced.

CES is where to go to learn about and check out the latest tech trends, while IFA is more like a review of CES, said one veteran tech reporter at IFA.

Compared to CES’ offerings, there was nothing new other than Samsung’s Galaxy Note 2. And Samsung, LG and Sony still remain the biggest contributors to IFA, leading many to question whether this tech show can remain a “global” attraction on par with CES amid increasing public and media expectations.

It’s true that IFA is “one of the biggest,” having exceptional infrastructure with many hotels near the exhibition center. But after a less than one-hour walk around the whole exhibition center, one can say this seems more like a Samsung, LG and Sony convention, making other participants minuscule or out-of-sight.

To reinvigorate the IFA, organizers must push a wide range of tech companies to showcase their latest developments rather than settling with being the review rather than the preview. People lose interest after just a glimpse of new products in the tech world where everything changes so fast every second. They want to see newer products.

As the first comer, CES does have the advantage as it is held at the beginning of every year. But that should not stop IFA from making itself new and different from CES. The first place generally worries about maintaining its top position, taking on less risk. That is the best part of being second: It still has a chance to be the best.

Otherwise, IFA could end up being just another regional fair.

By Park Hyong-ki (hkp@heraldcorp.com)