Hello Netzwelt: Can the IFA leave?

Back from Berlin, disillusionment is spreading: Do we still need the IFA? Or can it go away? Especially since many other interesting events are giving the former trade fair star a run for his money. Michael reports from the train with his hair sticking out wildly for today’s technology inspection.

It felt like my 15th visit to Berlin for the IFA. I lost track a little. After a two-year forced break from Corona, I was looking forward to seeing old colleagues and companions again. And yes – the joy of seeing each other again was actually great.

But I wasn’t in Berlin because of old friends and acquaintances, but for you. And the IFA has always been special. It starts with the cursing bus driver and doesn’t end with locked trade fair gates, opaque signage and absurd trade fair stand plans (“we’ll meet in Hall 21.1b, Splitlevel, Amsterdam area – try your luck at the back entrances, at the spiral staircase”).

“Do you think I would move my teeth otherwise?”

As a Hamburg native, the “Berliner Schnauze” is always a little strange. “Do you need a carrier for your coffee?” a bakery employee whispered to me. “Oh, that would be very nice – I’ll be happy to take one if you have one,” I replied. The answer was: “Do you think I would move my teeth otherwise?” You just have to use your entire arm to pull out this nice thing that is hidden in the depths of Berlin’s snout. Then it works.

But all of this is part of Berlin, part of the IFA experience. People are happy to accept it, because one highlight follows the next in the exhibition halls. Oh well. This year there was little atmosphere – at least that was my impression, which many other editors present confirmed to me. An example.

Where is Sony anyway?

Sony used to be a sure guarantee when it came to IFA highlights. A few years ago, the Japanese manufacturer nested itself deep in the heart of IFA and claimed entire halls for itself. After the glamorous press conference, a curious press mob always stormed into the hands-on area, where the first pictures, videos and texts were created with the help of elbows.

This year you had to look for Sony at the IFA with a magnifying glass. At least as a so-called end user. There was a business area for us “journos”. Sony’s trade fair highlight, the

Is the IFA threatened with the same fate as CeBIT? I’m afraid: yes. The parallels are striking. During the heyday of CeBIT – I remember it well – I jumped from press conference to press conference and sat writing Netzwelt texts until late at night. There was a time when HD-DVD and Blu-ray were introduced at exactly the same time. On the left, Toshiba and Microsoft with the HD-DVD consortium, on the right, just one room further, Sony with the Blu-ray. Then from year to year it became quieter, then more special… and finally just special.

I see something similar in the development of the IFA. I really hope that she is spared the CeBIT fate. Next year the IFA will be one hundred years old. So that the cult fair can also celebrate its 150th birthday! Of course, we still have a few real IFA highlights for you, which you can find below.

This is what awaits you in the hot autumn!

Trade fairs like the IFA also have to contend with the fact that every manufacturer now likes to hold in-house trade fairs, their own events, and enjoy the undivided attention of the invited guests. Maybe the IFA date is also a problem. Late summer and autumn are full of interesting events: IAA mobility, Apple’s September event, the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf… to name just a few.

Next Tuesday Apple will present its new iPhones and the new Apple Watch models. Anyone who follows the rumors will know that there probably won’t be too many surprises there. But who knows – the manufacturer from Cupertino has always been good for surprises in recent years, despite many prophecies of doom. The Dynamic Island of the iPhone 14 Pro was not on anyone’s radar until a few hours before last year’s event. We’ll summarize for you what you should know about the iPhone 15 now also on YouTube, short and sweet.

Be careful, there is a risk of electric shock on trains

Just in time on the return journey from Berlin with the ICE (I once again had the fun of photographing cameraman Tayfun while he was sleeping) I received the following message: Warning, risk of electric shock: Even more manipulated sockets discovered on trains!

In fact: Some crazy person is fiddling with the sockets on Deutsche Bahn trains, and the Munich Federal Police Department has already initiated an investigation into attempted bodily harm. A 35-year-old had to go to the hospital. Sure – it’s extremely practical to charge your notebook or smartphone via the train sockets on longer journeys. Next time, please look twice before connecting devices.

These were other top stories of the week

The job of the week: Makes the Fritz!Box even better

Everyone knows the AVM router with the wonderfully German name Fritz!Box. It is very likely that you also have such an “internet box” at home. Did you already know where the name comes from? For the market launch, a non-technical name was apparently sought that would also hint at German quality workmanship abroad in a tongue-in-cheek way. AVM has apparently more than succeeded in this.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that the end of the development flagpole has been reached with a fresh name. On the contrary, things are really getting started now. The Berlin-based company is looking for full-time and thoroughbred developers (f,m,d) to make Fritz!OS, the Fritz!Box and the entire Fritz!universe more stable, secure and prettier. The full job advertisement states, among other things:

Our team works with the latest CPUs/SOCs and is at the forefront of development worldwide. In a group of 30 professionals, you have exactly the right mix of productive collaboration and enough space for your own ideas. Look forward to the challenge of making Linux and therefore FRITZ!OS even more stable and better. An extensive arsenal of equipment supports you.

Sounds good? Then apply here! But please don’t suggest any new names. We are already too attached to little Fritz! used! We list other exciting job offers that were published this week below.

A roof tent for the trailer hitch

I already hinted at the beginning of this issue: September is full of highlights. Sometimes you just have to look for them a little longer. At the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, for example, the fat mega-mobiles naturally attract attention. But a lot is also happening with the accessory products.

We find this new type of tent from the Swedish manufacturer Thule exciting. You can imagine the Outset model as a roof tent for the trailer hitch. With the advantage that you can quickly uncouple it for quick exploration or shopping trips and remain mobile on site by car. Exciting innovation that we will introduce to you in more detail here.

The joke of the week

Friends of the internet world, the lights are slowly going out here. Hopefully! Because I have a so-called grab-and-go telescope from the French brand Unistellar here to test, which I definitely want to try out extensively for you. The test report will be published this weekend and unfortunately I fell asleep too early the last few days to properly try it out. We’ll read each other again next Friday at the latest, stay awake, open-minded and curious until then. Bye!

“Dear Doctor Sommer team. When I lean back on my office chair, my eyes always close. Am I a doll?”

There are even more jokes here on Netzwelt.

A lot of effort goes into this. We look forward to a recommendation!

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