Alcatel also made a couple of announcements at this year’s IFA. And although they’re not as celebrated as those from Samsung and Sony, it good to know that smaller companies are slowly levelling up to meet the consumers’ expectations and standards. Last week, Alcatel unveiled four new handsets that target different segments of the market.

To tackle high end smartphone consumers, there’s the Alcatel One Touch Hero, a 6-inch phablet with a 1920 x 1080 display. It comes with a stylus and is compatible with a number of cases and docking stations, which includes an e Ink Screen cover, a cover that supports Qi wireless charging capability and another one featuring a tiny built-in pico projector.

The OT Hero comes equipped with a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, a 13MP autofocus camera at the back with LED flash, a 2MP sub camera at the front, a microSD card slot that supports up to 32GB cards, 8GB/16GB worth of internal storage, and 3400mAh batter.

The OT Hero will initially be available in Russia and China next month, while the rest of the world may have to wait a few months more before bitting the device.

The company also announced the One Touch Idol Alpha – a 4.7-inch smartphone that features distinctive transparent elements and a curved aluminium unibody. The screen of the device is protected by Dragon Trail Glass with oleophobic coating.

The phone runs on a customized version of Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory. Unfortunately, the phone doesn’t support a microSD slot or 4G LTE connectivity.

There’s also the Alcatel One Touch Idol S, which is another 4.7-inch smartphone with the same 720p resolution and 312 ppi pixel density as the OT Idol. In terms of specs, it’s actually a slightly downgraded version of the OT Idol as it sports a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and a plastic body.

However, the OT Idol S does sport Cat 3 LTE as well as dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n with DLNA, Bluetooth v4.0, A-GPS and Gameloft Live.

Then there’s the Alcatel One Touch Idol Mini, which was spotted a few weeks ago in a promotional poster with the OT One Touch Scribe Pro. The device packs a 4.3-inch screen with a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels and a pixel density of 228ppi. The screen also has oleophobic coating and there’s a VGA front-facing camera as well.

The OT Idol Mini runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and is powered by a 1.3GHz dual-core processor and 512MB of RAM. There’s a 5MP snapper at the back with LED flash and is capable of recording 720p videos. 4GB of storage is available to users (only 2GB is usable) and an 8GB card can be used to expand storage.

Of course there’s 3g and HSPA, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n with Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4,0 and A-GPS.

Alcatel has also considered consumers in the entry-level segment as it outs the One Touch Pop C-series. There are four phones in the series – the C1, C3, C5 and C7, although only the three phones were showcased during the event.

The C5 has a 4.5-inch display and sports a 1.3GHz quad-core processor, a metallic back and a 5MP camera at the back. Meanwhile, the smaller C3 has a 4.0-inch screen with a 3.2MP snapper at the back and will be powered by the same 1.3GHz quad-core CPU in the C5. The C1 on the other hand packs a 1GHz processor and a HVGA display.

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Toshiba is one of the brands that made an announcement at this year’s IFA in Berlin, Germany. This year the company has introduced a Windows-powered tablet, an affordable notebook and a convertible.

The Toshiba Encore is the Japanese company’s answer to Taiwan’s Acer W3. It is an 8-inch tablet that runs on Windows 8. The device’s screen has a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels with multi-touch with wide viewing angles.

The tablet measures around 0.42 inches thin and weighs around 479g. It is powered by an Intel Atom processor that delivers great performance and improved battery life. It also sports InstantGo capabilities, which enables the device to receive updates even when in sleep mode.

It also has an 8MP camera, a number of sensors including a gyroscope, accelerometer, GPS and stereo speakers. Furthermore, there’s a 32GB worth of storage with connectivity essentials including a micro USB 2.0 port, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, a micro HDMI port and a microSD card slot that supports up to 32GB.

For those looking for a more traditional-looking computer, the Toshiba Satellite NB15t maybe the one that will suit your tastes. The NB15t sports an 11.6-inch TruBrite touch-enabled display optimized for Windows 8.

The notebook is powered by the latest generation Intel Celeron processor and complemented by 500GB worth of storage. There’s the usual plethora of connectivity options including Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Ethernet port, USB 3, HDMI ports and stereo speakers enhanced with DTS Audio.

But if you’re looking to have the best of both worlds, Toshiba’s Satellite Click combines the traditional look and feel of the NB15t and the innovative tablet design of the Encore. The Satellite Click is basically a convertible powered by AMD’s low-power A4 APU with Radeon 8000 graphics and 4GB of DDR3L RAM.

The device comes with 500GB of built-in storage and features a micro USB 2 and HDMI port as well as a built-in webcam, a microSD Card slot, an accelerometer and a gyroscope sensor.

The Satellite Click’s keyboard enables a seamless transition from tablet to notebook and features a hinge that allows the screen to be removed completely or tilted up to a 125-degree angle. The device sports a dual-battery setup that supports charging on both the dock and the tablet (with priority over the tablet) whether docked or undocked.

The keyboard dock consists of a full-size keyboard and a touchpad and a USB 3.0 port that features the company’s USB Sleep and charge technology.

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One of the few camera brands that were in IFA this year was Nikon. This year the company unveiled its chic CoolPix S02 and prosumers-centric CoolPix P7800 point-and-shoot camera.

The CoolPix P7800, is the latest member of the company’s advanced performance line-up that offers DSLR-like performance in a ultra-compact form factor. The camera boasts a large 1/1.7-inch 12.2MP backside-illuminated CMOS sensor and a 7.1x zoom range (28-200mm equivalent).

The camera is equipped with a fast f/2.0-4.0 glass lens that lets more light in and allows users to shoot with faster shutter speeds and provides sharper results even without the use of a flash. It also uses Nikon’s lens-shift Vibration Reduction (VR) technology that helps create consistency and clear shots when shooting handheld, even while moving.

The P7800 is capable of capturing full HD 1080p video with stereo sound. Moreover, the camera allows optical zooming and presents several in-camera special effects as well as manual controls even while recording. Advanced users will also be delighted with the P7800, as the camera offers complete creative controls through full manual controls (P,S,A,M) and the ability to capture RAW files. It also features stylized analog controls and dials for convenient access.

The camera features a new high-resolution eye-level electronic viewfinder as well as a 3-inch Vari-angle LCD screen at the back. The P7800 is also Wi-Fi enabled and is compatible with existing Nikon accessories including speedlights and external GPS units.

The Nikon CoolPix P7800 will be available this month for a suggested retail price of $549.95.

Also on the floor during the event was Nikon’s CoolPix S02. The camera has a 13.2MP sensor that’s fitted in a body just 4 cubic inches in volume.  It has an easy-to-use navigation screen and user interface with shortcut menus for quick operation.

The CoolPix S02 also features a 3x zoom Nikor lens and is capable of capturing 1080p videos, and a 2.7-inch touchscreen at the back. It also has a hand-held night scene mode as well as a backline scene HDR for improved shots whether on low-light or brightly lid conditions.

In terms of image processing, the camera features a number of modes and filters that users can apply to their photos. These include Mirror, Sepia, high contrast monochrome, high key and low key to name a few.

The Nikon CoolPix S02 will also be available this month for a suggested retail price of $179.95.

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Lenovo’s products may not have that much hype in contrast to those from Samsung, Sony or Asus  but it doesn’t mean that the items that they announced at this year’s IFA isn’t as great. The company announced a new smartphone, a tablet and a number of notebooks/convertibles that showcases the company’s dedication to innovation and design.

The Lenovo Vibe X is a 5-inch smartphone whose body is made with a premium polycarbonate that boasts laser-engraved 3d tactile finish. It’s also one of the slimmest phablets in the market measuring only 6.9mm at the side and weighing a mere 121g. The display has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and boasts a pixel density of around 440 pixels per inch; and is protected by a layer of Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3.

The Lenovo Vibe X sports two cameras, a 13MP at the back that is enhanced with a back-illuminated sensor and LED flash for sharper images and a 5MP front-facing camera that features a wide-angle 84-degree lens that is useful for capturing high-quality self-portraits. It also comes with a number of full-featured photo applications that provides users with a new way to view and organize photo.

The Lenovo Vibe X will be powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core MTK6589T processor with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory and will run on Android v4.2 Jelly Bean.

Also on Lenovo’s display at IFA 2013 is the 7-inch S5000 tablet that also runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and comes equipped with a 1.2GHz MediaTek 8389processor, PowerVr Series5XT GPU, 1GB of RAM, Bluetooth 4.0, and a 3200mAh battery, which according to Lenovo would be able to last for 8 hours and 16GB of built-inc storage with an option of expandability via a microSD card.

The tablet also supports 3G  HSPA+ connectivity, On the Go USB port for storage expansion or charging other devices and just like the Vibe X will include a number of preloaded custom applications that allow users to share photos, videos and other forms of content.  Meanwhile, in the imaging department, the smartphone will have a 5MP rear snapper and a 1.6MP front-facing camera.

In the notebook department, Lenovo has also introduced its mid-range “Flex” line and has updated its range of Yoga convertibles.

At the forefront of its Ultrabook line is the updated version of the ThinkPad Yoga. The ThinkPad Yoga is a 12-inch, business-oriented model with a keyboard that flattens as you flip the screen to convert the device into tablet mode. Basically, the system works through a two-step process wherein the platform between the keys is raised at the same time the keys lock into place whenever you flip the screen.

The process is made possible through a redesigned hinge coupled with some extra space for the lifting mechanism. Other than that, the ThinkPad Yoga remains almost identical with the previous generation with its monochromatic black chassis, island-style keyboard and Lenovo’s signature red TrackPoint.

The device also houses a OneLink port, which can be used with an optional dock to access HDMI, USB and Ethernet ports using a single cable. The ThinkPad Yoga will be powered by Intel’s latest generation Core processors with an option to use either SSD or a traditional spinning hard drive.

If the Think Pad Yoga is a little too bulky for you, Lenovo has also introduced the Yoga 2 Pro. The notebook has a quadHD resolution (3200x1800 pixels) and is slightly thinner and lighter than its predecessor – the Lenovo Yoga 13. Just like the rest of the devices in IFA 2013, the Yoga 2 Pro packs the latest generation Intel Core processors and a battery pack that according to Lenovo will last up to nine hours.

It also has a backlit keyboard and supports Intel’s Wireless Display (WiDi) technology. Lenovo has also included a new software utility called Lenovo Picks, which automatically detects the configuration or position of the notebook and suggests compatible apps that might be relevant for that position.

There’s also a Phone companion app that goes with the device’s laptop mode to help users conveniently copy files and documents to a mobile phone in the form of a text message. Other Lenovo-branded software pre-installed on the device include a photo editing app called Lenovo Photo Touch, an Instagram-like app that adds filters to photos called the Lenovo Camera Man and a recipe app with voice control called Lenovo Chef.

The Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro will be available in October for a suggested retail price of US$1110.

Now for those looking for a much cheaper alternative, you might want to take a look at Lenovo’s mid-range Flex PC. The line consists of two yoga-like notebooks (Flex 14 and Flex 15) and a portable AIO (Flex 20).

The Flex 14 and Flex 15 resemble the transformable Yoga line of notebooks but can only flip the display at 300 degrees. Both models has a 720p display (with an option to upgrade to 1080p on a future date) and sport the latest generation Haswell processors from Intel. They will also be equipped with discrete Nvidia GT740M graphics and will be priced from $630.

The Flex 20 on the other hand is an AIO that packs a Haswell CPU, which can be configured up to Core i7. Unlike the Flex 14 and Flex 15 that has a battery pack that will last for almost nine hours, the larger screen of the Flex 20 means that you’ll have to settle for a shorter batter life – 3 hours to be precise. It also uses the same “AURA” UI used in the IdeCentre Horizon table PC.

Unfortunately, the bigger screen of the Flex 20 didn’t equate to a higher resolution screen as the device’s screen has a resolution of 1600x900 pixels.

The Lenovo Flex 20 will be available later this month for around $900.

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HP’s newest product to be launched at IFA this week is the Envy Recline All-in-one PC series, which includes a 23-inch and 27-inch models.

The HP Envy Recline TouchSmart series both pack an articulating stand that allow the devices to pivot over the edge of a desk into the user’s lap for natural touch navigation. Both models also feature an IPS touch screen that supports 10-point multi-touch as well as the latest-generation Intel Core processors and Nvidia discrete graphics.

Additionally, the HP Envy Recline 27 comes with NFC (Near Field Communication) that lets users share photos, contacts and URLs with a simple tap. The Envy Recline 23, on the other hand features black and red accents with Beats Audio driven dual speakers for a rich audio experience.

HP also announced its new line of affordable touch displays, which include the HP Pavilion 23tm and HP Envy 23 IPS Monitor.

The Pavilion 23tm provides a comfortable visual experience with its 23-inch full HD touch screen with a five-point touch technology, wide viewing angles and an adjustable stand that allows the monitor to tilt to a 70-degree deep recline position.

Meanwhile, the HP Envy 23 IPS monitor sports an ultrathin design with tow HDMI ports for connectivity across a variety of devices including smartphones and tablets, as well as an integrated Beats Audio headphone jack.

The HP Envy Recline TouchSmart will be available starting November for a starting price of $1249 while the 27-inch version will start at $1399 (September availability). On the other hand, the HP Pavilion 23tm touch monitor will be available by October for $349 while the HP Envy 23 IPS will be available starting November for $249.

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