Can’t believe that IFA is already over! But we’re thrilled that we can look back proudly on a successful event. The biggest highlight of course was finally unveiling Aurea. We’ve had great responses from all over the world and we’re really excited by the amount of media interest in Aurea. Beyond Aurea, I think that our Power4Life products and Research concepts also stole some of the show.

Back in the Amsterdam offices now we’re still a bit tired post-IFA but wrapping up some final things and surfing through all the online coverage. We hope that you’ve enjoyed reading our little blog and I’d like to just thank everyone who contributed. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoyed making it.  

I will leave you with some parting photos that we took on our way to Berlin airport and which to me will be one of my most enduring legacies of IFA 2007  :-). Cheers and goodbye.

Morven, Ina and the rest of the Philips blogging team

I have left IFA now, so it’s time to say goodbye.  It has been a fantastic week, and everyone here at the Philips stand has that contented look that comes from having been involved in a job done well.   

After the show the work of course continued – all the equipment needs to be dismantled, packed and transported back to wherever it came from.  A very very special thank you to Erwin Van Ling, on whose broad shoulders this monumental task was lying!  Here is Erwin, preparing himself for the long evening ahead! 

I hope you have enjoyed reading our posts as much as we have enjoyed writing them for you.  Until the next time then!

Reshmi

The stars of IFA have been our bigger consumer products such as the Aurea Flat TV, Ambisound Soundbar Home Theatre System, and Philips amBX gaming devices. 

Below however, is a list of my favourite top five less-well-known Philips gadgets that I absolutely want to have in my home.  What’s so delightful about these products is that they are all based on very strong consumer insights, so each of them gave me the impression they had been made especially for me! 

1. The Power Squid 

This is a power surge protector with multiple power sockets to connect upto 5 devices.  What is so clever about this simple gadget is that each socket hangs from a cable rather than being lined up in a row on a power strip as is usually the case.  The fantastic benefit of this is that your devices will not block the other sockets, which is usually the case on a standard power strip.  And I love the funky design!  The product has already won several awards from leading publications like Fortune, Business Week and the New York Times.  Will be available in Europe from December 07 onwards.  Can’t wait!

2. Power4Life 

This is a universal charger that is small enough to go in your handbag, and can be used to charge all mobile devices and MP3 players.  Adapters for devices by leading brands are all included.  So I can now take my Nokia N95 (newer smaller Nokia charging connector), my old faithful Nokias (older charging connector), iPod (oops!), Sony camera (oops again!) with me, and carry ONLY ONE charger!  Isn’t that wonderful? 

(And why does a woman need to carry 3 mobile phones?  you may ask.  The only sensible answer I can think of is….I used to work for Orange…) 

3. Philips Swarovski Active Crystals 

I have been wearing one of the Philips Swarovski Active Crystal creations all week, and I do not want to give it back! (Natasha are you listening?!)  Philips Swarovski Active Crystals are USB sticks cleverly concealed in elegant jewellery created in a collaboration between Philips and Swarovski.  Here is one of our hostesses displaying some of these beautiful creations. 

4. Limited Edition Photoframe 

I love the photoframe and it is always a conversation starter when people come home.  Here is the exclusive and elegant limited edition 10” version that I absolutely want to get my hands on!

5. Philips Imageo Tea-Lights 

Ok so these do not qualify as consumer electronics devices nor as accessories, but I still want to have them at home so I will use my bloggers discretion and include them anyway!  We have had these displayed on all the tables in the press area, and they are also fantastic conversation starters.  Just pick one up, turn it upside down, and wait for the gasps before demonstrating how you can turn the tea-light on and off just by tilting it!  They charge by induction, look like real candlelight, and can stay lit for upto 24 hours.   

So… that’s my list of Philips favourites….what’s yours?

Reshmi

Monday night we had an IFA tradition, the Philips Stand Party, to thank all the hostesses and Philips staff who have worked tirelessly on the Philips stand for 11-12 hours per day and through the weekend as well. A big thank you for a lot of work goes to Sacha van Gennip, our charming CIO (Chief IFA Organiser ;)), who was responsible for bringing the whole show together.

The pre-requisite for attending the party was that you had to have ‘something red somewhere on you’. Here in pictures, are some creative executions!

Things have been hectic over the past few days! One of the main topics of conversation here, other than all the technology talk of course, has been tired feet! And this not just from the women, but also the men. Marc Harmsen, our Marketing Director for upmarket flat TVs was overheard sharing tips on his favourite foot cream. So, ladies and gentlemen – here it is – the balm of the gentleman’s tired foot – Aveda Energizing Foot Cream! Clearly a marketing opportunity for Aveda – they should open a stand here at IFA!

Yesterday a German minister, Kurt Beck, came to visit the Philips stand, a great honor for us. He arrived promptly on schedule (15.18) and left again on schedule (15.40) and was photographed enjoying playing on our big gaming set-up in the consumer area to promote the AmbX gaming systems. Lasse from the German PR team did a great job of taking his photo playing on AmbX and then rushing across to our dealer area to load it onto our Digital Photo Frames – so by the time Minister Beck got there he could view his own photo on our photo frames!

Two of our products won EISA Awards this year – the Philips 47” LCD Full HD Flat TV & Philips Soundbar HTS8100 Home Theatre System. We had a small group representing Philips, and had a great night, see the image and short video clips below of Des Power and Mieke De Schepper receiving the awards.