The key trends to watch at the 2010 IFA tradeshow

HDTV, 3D TV, the networked home, TV/internet convergence, mobile media, digital lifestyle and efficient energy use are the topics headlining this year's IFA consumer electronics trade show in Berlin, Germany.

IFA is the world's largest consumer electronics and home appliances trade show and in 2010 the event celebrates its 50th anniversary.

The annual event provides a strong indication of forthcoming consumer electronics trends and offers a glimpse at the inventions set to debut on the market in the following years.

It has become one of the leading launch pads for new household technologies (alongside the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and CeBIT in Hannover, Germany), with many major brands saving their product announcements for the event.

On August 17 IFA announced its International Keynotes program, welcoming a host of influential speakers to the stage - including global business leaders from Bosch Siemens, ESPN and IBM.

"This global group of speakers from around the world at the IFA International Keynotes will highlight the latest innovative developments, which will very soon impact decisively on the consumer electronics and home appliances industries," said IFA Executive Director Jens Heithecker.

Keynote speeches at IFA will detail the challenges and benefits of the 3D TV industry, investigate the role of "technological innovations in revolutionizing the home appliances market," discuss how the vision of the networked home can be achieved, and examine how home appliance companies can create ultra-energy-efficient home appliances for the consumer market.

"Together, in particular with leading insiders from the industry and the media, we expect to provide a new impetus and spark new ideas that will benefit the device manufacturing industry" announced Heithecker.

The event will also be home to press conferences from Miele, Bosch, Panasonic, LG, Sony, Electrolux, Samsung, De'Longhi, Loewe, Sharp, Philips, Grundig, Toshiba, Harman, Dolby, and Dyson.

Trade show floor highlights include two newly announced exhibition sections; the iZone section for Mac, iTech products and apps, and the eLibrary section for e-books and tablet PCs.

IFA runs from September 3 to 8 at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds in Berlin, Germany.

http://www.ifa-berlin.com/