Consumer electronics and home appliances at IFA fair

IFA Berlin 2010, one of the world’s leading business events for consumer electronics and home appliances products, ends today.

The event features seven different segments including IFA Home Entertainment, IFA Audio Entertainment, IFA Home Appliance, IFA My Media, IFA Public Media, IFA Communication and IFA Technology and Components, presenting the comprehensive range of brands, products and novelties.

At this year’s fair, Samsung presented its Galaxy Tab – a 17.8-centimetre touchscreen, slightly smaller than the iPad’s 9.7 inches, and uses Google’s Android 2.2 operating system.

“Samsung recognised the tremendous growth potential in this newly-created market and we believe that the Samsung Galaxy Tab brings a unique and open proposition to market,” said mobile communications unit head JK Shin.

The Galaxy Tab, weighing 0.8 pounds – almost half the iPad’s 1.5 pounds – launches in Europe in mid-September, and in other markets, including the United States, South Korea and elsewhere in Asia in the coming months.

But the South Korean firm gave no indication however of whether the Galaxy Tab will undercut the iPad on price, which retails from $499 in the United States – or €499 in Europe – for the basic model.

Toshiba meanwhile lifted the lid in Berlin on its Folio 100, which boasts a slightly bigger screen than the iPad – 10.1 inches – and which will reportedly sell for a competitive €399.

The Japanese firm’s aims to have the Folio 100 hit the shops in Europe in the fourth quarter.

To watch out for during the fair was Dell’s Stealth – with a five-inch screen more smartphone than tablet, while Lenovo of China, Motorola of the US, Archus of France, Germany’s E-noa and Taiwan’s Asus were others to watch out for.

Gadget website T3 said the Galaxy Tab is “coming for the iPad and it meant business,” saying it was on “everyone’s ‘must see’ list” for this year’s IFA.