Technology
Panasonic To Showcase Future Lifestyles at IFA 2016
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Japanese company, Panasonic, says it will exhibit its latest products and technologies at Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (IFA) 2016 to be held in Berlin, Germany, from September 2 to 7, 2016.
Under the theme of “A Better Life, A Better World,” the Panasonic booth will highlight the Lifestyle Showcase to present a living environment featuring “the lifestyles we all desire,” complete with Panasonic’s wide range of products, from audio-visual equipment to home appliances and beauty.
With its advanced appliances connected to a network, Panasonic will create a multipurpose living area by fusing the kitchen and living and dining rooms into one where the family and friends can congregate and share time together, yet each one can have enough space to spend one’s time in one’s own way.
As an example of “the lifestyle we all desire” technically achievable within the next three to five years, Panasonic presents an enriched lifestyle as envisaged by sharing the space with loved and special ones.
Multipurpose space allowing to share experiences
This corner will feature a simple, interactive, and harmonious living environment in a manner that reflects personal preferences in daily life. The spatial environment can be changed depending on personal behavior to ensure comfort and to produce unexpected excitement anywhere.
･ In/visible library, glass curtain
Transparent displays are blended into the home’s interior – invisible as they are built into cupboard doors or sliding doors. The displays show images only when necessary.
･ Lighting and audio-visual equipment
Lighting and sound change in response to personal movement. The equipment effectively changes the atmosphere depending on the situation.
Equipment and services that reflect personal preferences and increase satisfaction
This corner will feature a living environment that enables access to appropriate information and offers support on various occasions in daily life. The cooking experience helps to enjoy meals and conversation.
･ Sake & wine cellar
This cellar keeps different types of alcoholic beverages, such as sake and wine, at optimal temperature and humidity. A transparent display is used as the door to show a variety of information such as information about the drinks inside and recipes of dishes that go well with them.
･ Range hoods equipped with a camera
Panasonic’s range hoods achieve accurate sensing of cooking conditions. The temperature of induction hobs is properly controlled to get professional-level cooking at home. The progress of cooking can also be checked.
･ New Concept Built-in Cooker
Panasonic’s new cooker is based on a concept totally different from that of induction hobs and griddles. It is also built into a table. The operation is simple – put ingredients on a dish and set it on the cooker. No pot or frying pan is required because the cooker heats only the ingredients. The cooker presents a new cooking experience that keeps freshly cooked dishes hot and tasty until the end of a meal.
･ Cloud services
The cloud services are designed to present recipes for increasing the joy of cooking and making up variations. Working in tandem with a range hood equipped with a camera, the cloud services enable connected cooking appliances to share information and control the temperature, so that multiple dishes can be completed simultaneously. Great food makes your party with special ones even more special.
･ All in One Laundry
This laundry machine does a series of time-consuming laundry chores, from washing, drying and folding, to storage, based on image analysis and robotics technologies. This allows for more leisure time.
･ Home controller
The home controller is designed to control all home appliances, including lighting, and provide helpful information. For example, the controller also detects and lets users know what is left in the refrigerator. It is connected with the cloud via a home server to support various aspects of daily life.
Smart Home
Lifestyle Showcase: Peace of mind for your life
Here visitors can find a smart home that is easy to operate, with all security products in the house, e.g. cameras, sensors, connected. A lifestyle that provides a sense of security is introduced in five settings and presentations.
Products on Display
･ Home network system
This corner will introduce a DECT-compatible home network system that easily establishes a connection between a smartphone and the home. Also exhibited will be optional products including indoor and outdoor cameras, open/close sensors, occupancy sensors, and smart plugs with a built-in sensor.
Digital Imaging
Consulting counter & shooting
The lineup of Panasonic LUMIX digital cameras and video cameras will be on display. Panasonic’s product experts will be on hand to offer consulting services. All products on display here will be available for visitors to try out and experience first-hand.
Products on Display
･ HC-X1 4K 60p/50p video camera (to be released in December 2016 in Europe)
HC-X1 is the world’s first* video camera with a 1-inch sensor that features a wide-angle (24 mm)/optical 20x zoom lens. This new 4K 60p/50p video camera that meets professional needs will be on display.
*As of September 1, 2016, based on a survey conducted by Panasonic.
･ LUMIX Digital Cameras
This corner will feature DMC-TZ100 and other LUMIX cameras to introduce the Focus Select feature, which allows the focus position to be freely adjusted after the photo is taken, and the 4K PHOTO feature, which enables the user to select a frame from a 30-fps image sequence and create a photo.
TV + Home AV
Lifestyle showcase: True to filmmakers vision
This area highlights Panasonic’s guiding philosophy for picture quality: “true to the filmmaker’s vision,” by showing how Panasonic is uniquely involved from the movie-set through to the living room. As such Panasonic’s professional filmmaking equipment is displayed alongside its Ultra HD Premium* TVs and a Blu-ray Disc players.
*A premium standard established by the UHD Alliance that specifies the highest quality of 4K Ultra HD
Products on Display
･ 4K Pro HDR TVs
This corner will highlight the high-quality picture quality of Panasonic’s 4K Pro HDR DX-series line-up, with accurate color thanks to Panasonic’s proprietary image processing technologies, and fine-tuning by a leading Hollywood colorist. Panasonic’s Art & Interior design concept for 2016 TVs which aims to harmonize them within our living environments is displayed and explained. Panasonic will also exhibit a prototype OLED TV, in addition to various other future TV technologies.
･ Ultra HD Blu-ray™ Players
In addition to the high-end DMP-UB900, the DMP-UB700 which will be released from October 2016 in Europe, will also be exhibited. Both models are ULTRA HD Premium* certified and thus deliver the best 4K/HDR experience available.
Audio
Products on Display
･ Urban Audio series
The Urban Audio series will be on display for the first time. Featuring stylish designs, this series is designed to deliver high-quality music for urban life based on the concept of “LIFE WITH MUSIC, REIMAGINED.” The SC-UA7 all-in-one speaker system consists of 10 speaker units, each built into a hexagonal cabinet, and delivers powerful sound with a 180-degree listening area. The SC-RB5, which is portable and waterproof type, produces ultra-bass sound by vibrating the bottom face of the cabinet, and achieves a 360-degree sound field.
･ AllPlay™-Compatible products
Visitors will find here Panasonic’s audio products that are compatible with the AllPlay™ protocol, which uses Wi-Fi to play music simultaneously on several devices in the house. Various products will be on display to present a new audio experience at home, including the SC-ALL7CD featuring a flat design that achieves both high sound quality and compactness with Hi-Res compatibility, and the SC-ALL05, the first waterproof product in the series with a built-in battery.
･ Headphones
This corner will exhibit RP-BTS50/BTS30/BTS10 wireless headphones that enable the user to enjoy high-quality sound while engaged in hard sports, and RP-HF500/300/100 high sound quality headphones featuring a fashionable design and color variations, etc.
･ Hi-Res-compatible products
This corner will introduce products that play Hi-Res audio files with high resolution and quality, such as SC-PMX100/70 micro audio systems, RP-HD10/6M headphones, and RP-HDE10 inside phones.
Personal Care
Lifestyle Showcase: Feeling better by looking good
Personal Care for three categories, ladies beauty, men’s grooming, and oral care, will be presented in a special space.
･ Ladies beauty
The EH-XC10 facial beauty appliance for “dense foam aesthetic salon treatment” and the EH-XT20 ion effector, both of which are to be released in October 2016 in Europe, will be introduced as high-grade professional beauty products. Visitors can also try out the EH-SA31 steamer. #SnSnap, an SNS photo printing service, will also be available here.
･ Men’s grooming
Visitors can experience firsthand the 5-blade ES-LV9N Lamdash shaver that allows for a gentle and close shave, ER-GB80 beard and moustache trimmers offering 39 settings for personalized trim length, and the ER-GC71 hair trimmer.
･ Oral care
The EW1411 rechargeable dental beat, the EW-DM81 electric toothbrush (to be released in September 2016 in Europe), and the EW-DL83 will be available for try out.
Laundry
Products on Display
･ This corner will feature demonstrations using an actual model equipped with Panasonic’s unique Auto Care function, which employs four sensors to detect laundry weight, materials, and soil levels as well as water temperature, and automatically achieves optimal washing settings. The lineup exhibition will feature 10 kg and 8 kg models to compare how much laundry can be handled in one load. Miniature models will show the history of Panasonic washing machines, and a video presentation will illustrate their quality trusted by consumers over many years.
Kitchen Appliances
Lifestyle Showcase: Experience Fresh
A food specialist will be invited for cooking demonstrations using Panasonic’s kitchen appliances — microwave oven, bread maker, slow juicer, high-power blender, food processor — and ingredients that are kept fresh in a Panasonic refrigerator. Recipes for dishes that can be cooked using Panasonic’s kitchen appliances will also be introduced.
Products on Display
･ Kitchen appliances
On display will be the NN-DS596 microwave oven, the SD-ZB2512 bread maker, the MJ-L500 slow juicer, the MX-ZX1800 high-power blender (to be released in September 2016 in Europe), and the MK-F800 food processor. Visitors will also be able to learn about a fresh and healthy eating lifestyle that can be readily practiced.
･ Refrigerators
This corner will focus on Panasonic’s own technologies including temperature control that keeps meat and fish fresh for an extended period of time at -3°C, in addition to demonstrations showing humidity and nutrient control technologies to maintain freshness. A lineup of side-by-side refrigerators along with their sleek design will also be introduced.
Built-in Kitchen Appliances
Cooking demonstrations
An instructor from a famous Japanese cooking school, the TSUJI Culinary Institute, and a German chef will prepare dishes using Panasonic’s cooking appliances. Visitors will find how accurate temperature control of Panasonic’s induction hobs makes perfect deep fries and grilled dishes. The food will be available for tasting.
Products on Display
･ Induction hobs
This corner will feature the Genius sensor, Panasonic’s original light thermal sensor technology that detects far-infrared radiation from the bottom of the pot to ensure accurate temperature control. Panasonic’s proprietary technologies to provide optimum temperature control for cooking will be introduced using a skeleton model and video. Also on display will be a prototype of the KY-T937VF induction hob (to be released in March 2017 in Europe).
･ Built-in equipment
Built-in kitchen equipment that is on sale in Germany (steam microwave ovens, dishwasher-dryers, warmers, and refrigerators) will be on display. For the HL-SX485 steam microwave oven equipped with inverter controls and steamer functions, steam demonstrations will be performed.
Technics
Sound room
･ Visitors can experience the Technics SL-1200G direct drive turntable system that has been developed to redefine the direct drive mechanism, and the sound of the G30 series that is designed to create next-generation Hi-Fi sound.
Products on Display
･ SL-1200G direct drive turntable system
The manufacturing process for the SL-1200G, underpinned by craftsmanship, will be introduced together with a video presentation. Tradition is combined with advanced technologies, with each part carefully crafted.
･ Lineup exhibition
The overall concept of Technics will be introduced by exhibiting the full lineup of products, including Reference Class, Grand Class, and Premium Class, and the Technics TRACKS Hi-Res audio files download service, etc.
Future Living Berlin
Panel/diorama exhibition
･ In addition to the smart city project in which Panasonic is involved, the company’s five proprietary solutions that underpin the smart city project will be introduced using panels and dioramas. These solutions include smart energy, smart mobility, smart security, smart health, and smart citizenship.
Panasonic Booth at IFA
Period:
Friday, September 2 to Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Location:
Messe Berlin, Hall 5.2 a/b
Booth size:
Approx. 3,300 m2
Exhibits:
Latest consumer electronics products
Panasonic Live@IFA 2016
Panasonic will be covering its booth live with “Panasonic LIVE@IFA 2016.” The booth as well as the latest products, and Panasonic’s ideas and technologies that help realize an “aspirational lifestyle” will also be introduced in detail.
Panasonic LIVE@IFA Special Website: http://www.panasonic.com/ifa
(*EU residents can join the winning game. Learn more at the special website.)
Please follow Panasonic’s main stream for LIVE@IFA 2016 with hash tag #PanasonicIFA.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) have introduced a new regulatory requirement mandating prior approval for significant changes in the ownership structure of telecommunications companies operating in Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the Director of Public Affairs at the NCC, Mrs Nnenna Ukoha and Head of Public Affairs at the Corporate Affairs Commission, Mr Rasheed Mahe.
According to a joint press release issued by the two agencies, the directive, which takes immediate effect, requires all licensed telecom operators seeking to transfer ownership or control of shares amounting to 10 per cent or more of their total share capital to first obtain a Letter of No Objection from the NCC before such transactions can be registered by the CAC.
The statement reads in part, “The directive, which takes immediate effect, requires all licensed communications companies seeking to transfer ownership or control of shares amounting to 10 per cent or more of their total share capital to obtain a Letter of No Objection from the NCC before such transactions can be registered with the CAC.
“The requirement is in line with the provisions of Section 90 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, Regulation 28(2) of the Competition Practices Regulations 2007, and Regulation 42 of the Licensing Regulations 2019, which empower the NCC to monitor transactions involving licensees and ensure fair competition within the sector.
“Under the new arrangement, the CAC will only process and register requests for changes in shareholding structures of telecommunications companies where the transaction involves 10 per cent or more of the company’s shares and is accompanied by evidence of prior approval from the NCC.
“According to the two regulatory agencies, the measure is aimed at strengthening oversight of significant ownership changes, preventing anti-competitive practices, and preserving a fair and competitive communications market. It is also expected to enhance transparency, boost investor confidence, provide greater regulatory certainty, and support the long-term stability and sustainability of Nigeria’s telecommunications industry.
The NCC and CAC reaffirmed their commitment to fostering a transparent, stable, and investor-friendly business environment. Both agencies pledged continued collaboration to promote fair market practices, strengthen regulatory compliance, and ensure the orderly development of Nigeria’s communications sector.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The relevant stakeholders have been urged to take urgent action to curb the rising sophistication of cyber threats, which could undermine business sustainability and profitability.
This call was made by the Information Security Society of Africa – Nigeria (ISSAN) during its monthly meeting held in collaboration with MAXUT Consulting.
The group noted that identity theft, mobile fraud, ransomware, and social engineering attacks are threats to organisations, especially those who may struggle to protect information assets, maintain operational resilience, and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
The president of ISSAN, Mr David Isiavwe, who doubles as the Executive Director for Risk Management at Nova Bank, stressed that cybercriminals are deploying increasingly sophisticated attack methods targeting individuals, businesses, critical national infrastructure, and strategic assets.
Among the threats highlighted were identity theft, Business Email Compromise (BEC), phishing, ransomware, WhatsApp account hijacking, Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, payment card fraud, cryptocurrency-related attacks, and other forms of social engineering.
According to him, the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks mean cybersecurity can no longer be viewed solely as an IT issue but as a critical business and national security priority.
To address these challenges, he urged organisations to adopt proactive risk management practices, implement continuous monitoring systems, promptly address vulnerabilities, and invest in regular cybersecurity awareness programmes for employees and customers.
Also, the importance of leveraging emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and automation to enhance threat detection and response capabilities was emphasised.
“No organisation can successfully confront today’s cyber threats in isolation. Information sharing, collaboration, and collective vigilance remain essential to protecting our digital ecosystem and safeguarding public trust,” the ISSAN leader said at the event, which featured a technical presentation titled, Confronting the New Mobile Threat Landscape: Beyond User Authentication.
ISSAN reaffirmed its commitment to promoting cybersecurity awareness, capacity building, information sharing, and industry collaboration to strengthen Nigeria’s cyber resilience and support a secure digital economy.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A designed-in-house server known as Nathu La has been launched by a global technology company, Zoho Corporation.
Nathu La is engineered with hardware-rooted security at every layer of the stack. Its indigenous IP-driven approach reduces dependency on external entities for security audits, firmware updates, and licensing continuity.
The solution aligns with open-source software principles and reflects Zoho’s broader commitment to building sustainable, secure, and scalable digital infrastructure. It also supports the growing global focus on digital sovereignty, local innovation ecosystems, and high-performance computing capabilities.
The platform was introduced by the company as part of a pivotal step in its journey towards building its full technology stack, from the hardware layer to software applications.
With Nathu La, Zoho has achieved equivalent performance with 12-18 per cent lower power consumption and 20-30 per cent lower total cost of ownership (TCO), thereby reducing inference costs.
The Nathu La server, comprising Intel® Xeon® 6 processors, was developed collaboratively with Intel, leveraging their enablement capabilities and technical expertise.
The design philosophy behind Nathu La is rooted in the Open Compute Project (OCP), emphasising modularity, thermal efficiency, and ease of maintenance. This enables Zoho’s data centres to significantly reduce total cost of ownership and power consumption.
Zoho plans to host its applications on the Nathu La server platform, enabling the company to optimise the full software-hardware stack for its specific workloads, reduce costs, improve performance, and strengthen data governance for its global customers. This will also help bring down inference costs for Zoho’s AI usage.
The Nathu La server motherboard and chassis platform is the result of five years of R&D across hardware, firmware, and systems management. Based on Intel® Xeon® 6 Processors, the server is designed to optimise performance for virtualisation (VM), High Performance Computing (HPC), AI inference, and storage applications. This results in improved performance of Zoho applications for end users.
The server features customised power delivery subsystems, an in-house DC-SCM (Data Centre Secure Control Module) design, and modular chassis options compatible with diverse end-user environments, offering flexibility across deployment types.
All modular components – including the DC-SCM and NIC (Network Interface Card) – were designed in-house by Zoho’s hardware engineering team and assembled through electronics manufacturing partners, enabling tighter integration and quality control across the platform. Over five patents have been filed covering advanced thermal management and cost-optimised server architecture designs.
“Zoho Corporation has invested in building its own technology stack from the ground up over the last three decades. The Nathu La server launch is in line with that goal.
“With our strategy of using contextual, right-sized models, running on our own platform, on our own servers, in our own data centres, we are compounding the benefits accrued from owning and operating our entire technology stack. This ensures that our solutions are more sustainable and accessible for businesses.
“These long-term R&D investments we are making at every layer of the stack are aimed at delivering customer value,” the Country Head for Zoho Nigeria, Mr Kehinde Ogundare, stated.
In 2020, Zoho established a small R&D team in Nagpur, a Tier 2 town in India, focused on projects such as server design and systems engineering.
Members of the Nathu La R&D team include hires from SETU – short for Students’ Engagement for Transformative Upskilling – an initiative designed to build a pipeline of industry-ready engineers, with a focus on advanced learning in Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM).
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism10 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking8 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn