14 DAY TRIAL // The opening press conference at IFA 2013 here in Berlin, Germany, is now over, and now we know exactly what to look forward to.
There was something else that captured my attention though, besides product release promises (like the one about the Samsung smartwatch appearing later today).
What is that, you may ask? The forecasts for the TV, smart TV, 3D TV, smartphone and tablet markets.
The press conference started out with an outline of the electronics industry, and how sales went down during the first half of the year.
Then it reached a brighter note. Apparently, sales will pick up in the second half of the year.
Those categories I listed above will finish the year in a very good position. Well, except TV sets in general anyway. Those will drop by 1.4%, and are used as a reference for comparisons.
Smartphones will do well, rising in shipments by 37%. If you feel that's a lot, the 75% shipment rise of Smart TVs will leave you picking up your jaw from the floor.
Unless you manage to see the 104% 3D TV sales rise expectation, in which case it may continue to lie there.
Clearly, analysts and tech companies expect great things from the remainder of 2013, and for IFA 2013 to bring about a large wave of new sales. I'll keep watch to see if it happens as expected.
Note: Sebastian Pop and fellow editor Ionut Arghire are on the floor at IFA 2013 and are bringing you pictures and live reports on the latest products and previews. Find them all here.
