Eye-catching new gadgets as Berlin IFA warms up

More than 1,600 companies will show off their consumer electronics and home appliances over 150,000 square metres of exhibition space this year. Rainer Jensen / EPA

BERLIN // A laptop tablet hybrid with a light-based non-mechanical keyboard and the world’s first eye-motion tracking monitors were among the first high-profile gadgets to be unveiled here yesterday, ahead of the official opening of the IFA consumer electronics trade show tomorrow.

The keyboard of Lenovo’s new 10.1-inch Yoga Book, unveiled yesterday evening, dispenses with physical keys in favour of a keyboard projected on to a flat slate, giving haptic feedback when the virtual “keys” are pressed. Haptic is a form of interaction that involves touch.

The keyboard slate also doubles as a writing and drawing surface with the use of the included “Real Pen” stylus, with users able to write directly on to the surface or on to a piece of paper overlaid directly on it.

The Yoga Book will cost starting from €499 (Dh2,039) for the Android version, and is likely to be available in the UAE from November, according a Lenovo spokesperson.

Lenovo’s launch event came after Acer unveiled the latest updates to its gaming-centric Predator monitor range, which are the first in the world to include eye-tracking technology.

The Taiwanese company also unveiled a series of new laptops, including the Predator 21 X, a specialist 21-inch gaming laptop with the world’s first curved laptop display, as well as the latest updates to its Spin and Swift laptop range.

Samsung last night unveiled its first new product at IFA, the Samsung Gear S3, the latest update to the South Korean firm's popular smartwatch range. Samsung is also expected to unveil a series of new televisions, monitors and homeware appliances in the coming days.

​Sony, LG and Huawei were set to make a series of mobile, gaming and home gaming and entertainment product announcements last night, ahead of IFA’s formal opening today.

IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin) is the largest consumer electronics and appliances trade show outside the US, and runs until September 7.

More than 1,600 companies will show off their consumer electronics and home appliances over 150,000 square metres of exhibition space this year.

While much of the attention of gadget lovers is focused on the latest advances in television, gaming and smartphone technology, the exhibition is also known for its more unusual exhibits, such as last year's smart insoles for running shoes, and the 3D printer that can print pizza and biscuits.

Apple is one of the few major technology companies not in attendance at IFA. The Californian giant recently announced its own event in San Francisco on September 7, which is likely to involve the launch of the iPhone 7 and the Apple Watch 2.

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