Like someone pointed out before, the life of a fridge is very long, so the iPod dock would probably become obsolete down the line. I also don't see the point of having your fridge acting as your amplifier: as you can see in the video, you can connect extra speakers to it. The Wi-Fi connection and iGorenje program makes a lot more sense, as it can be expanded in the future to accommodate new appliances and functionality. Plus, it is device independent. Although you can use any device, however, the interface has clearly been optimized for the iPod touch and the iPhone, which is the handheld they were using for their demos. According to them, they have some kind of collaboration contract with Apple, so Steve or someone else in Cupertino must be a fan of the brand.

The iGorenje system works quite well. It uses the Wi-Fi network in your home to connect your web-browsing device to your oven and washing machine, and when it's released later this year you will be able to control all Gorenje appliances.

iGorenje's interface is very easy to work out. Just touch the function, select the options you want and click Start. The appliance will get the parameters, start working and give you feedback in realtime, back to your iPod. For the oven, you can start from a recipe, a wizard that allows you to set the oven according to the kind of food and weight, and a custom program, which can be easily created in iGorenje and then stored. The process is fully automatic, so if you have something that needs to be cooked first slowly, then a really high heat in the last minutes, it will handle it for you.

For the washing machine, it's exactly the same thing. This time you have different programs according to the clothes you put in, making it very easy to operate. At last, because washing machine user interface seem to be developed by sadists.

But while the whole thing seems polished and works well, do we really need this kind of sophistication in our kitchens? I may be too old school, but I like too cook in the kitchen, not by remote control. I like the idea of programming the oven in an easy way, although I will still be controlling it myself. What do you think? Is this the kind of evolution everyday home tasks need? [More IFA 2008 Coverage]

Samsung had put up the obligatory home cinema setup. We went in and braved the movie version of Phantom of the Opera. And do you know what? It kicked ass. This projector was not a case of style over substance, actually, it was very good quality - and on a big screen.

It will be out in October in Europe. The SP-A800B will cost 4,999 ($6,818,) while the smaller SP-400B —which we didn't get to see in action— is going to be 1,499 ($2,044.). The good news: there was a Samsung guy who just came up from the US and he told us to expect pretty much the same kind of price over here, around mid-october, just in time for the holiday season.

From the side. I think it needs a corset.

Of the four, the most impressive is the Connect Lowboard. The TV itself slides with the smoooothest motion from one end of its table top to the other, and it can rotate 180 . The shelf below it houses an integrated flat woofer, and it is lit up with a sexy ambient blue light. There's an open CD/DVD player on the surface of the table as well as a wireless connectivity docking pit, which lets you throw your future RFID-tagged wireless gadgets in it to enable them to be played. And before you scoff, remember that Apple filed a patent for putting RFID in its gear &mdash well, this sounds like a similar idea.

The Connect Roundboard looks a bit like one end of a basketball court. Made from high-gloss black varnish, the Roundboard, like the Lowboard, also has a curved dish in the base that acts as a docking pit, but if you tug the table 45 (think of changing a salt container from "sprinkle" to "pour") then the CD/DVD player is revealed.

Least favorite of mine was the Connect Docking Pot, which looked like someone was either trying to grow a TV in a plant pot, or passing their flatscreen off as a Christmas tree. This time, the docking station is in the pot, along with an integrated subwoofer and DVD slot. There are ports a-plenty all over the "trunk," or stem of the TV, and the TV can be rotated 180 . I wrote down silver fabric in my notebook as well, so they really are going overboard with that Xmas theme, aren't they?

The Connect Tripod is very masculine indeed*. Made of spanky red lacquer, it has a Sound Media module at its base, which gives you simple surround sound. It is also wireless, so you can move it to wherever you want in the house as a portable speaker. Cables are hidden in a steel tube that goes the tripod.

Of the four, it looks like the Connect Lowboard and Roundboard are the ones that look most likely to make it to the shops, although Loewe wasn't saying anything concrete about them.

* Indeed, a famous and shameless chef once chatted me up with the immortal words, "I'm like a tripod, you know."

Lindsay's bedroom walls are a dark chocolate, but she was prepared to paint one wall a paler color (taupe was, I think, the word she used) to mount the Aurea on. Being an old-fashioned girl, I don't have a TV in my bedroom, I prefer to play with my Action Man figures in peace but, after seeing it in the flesh, I could imagine an Aurea going up on the wall there.

The other thing Lindsay said was that she and her boyfriend argued about the Ambilight TV they already had. Whereas she said yes to soft mood color changes and less eye-strain, he was not so keen on it. I guess a lot of coin-flipping goes on in that household.

A couple of large Germans were behind a desk, drilling holes in casings, doing unsexy things with astroturf and screwing soccer boots to places they shouldn't have been. I went in search of a Berliner Pilsener. Make it a large one, please, boys.

Despite the noise in the Harman International tent, which covered JBL, Harman Kardon, Infinity and AKG (there was a line of cars, their boots agape, kicking out banging basslines, families fiddling with docks, computer games, a fabulous hospitality area with food, cocktails, so no suprise at the bees-round-a-honeypot vibe) we could hear the Go + Play pretty well.

The sound was clear, with a strong bass and no fuzziness around the treble. It's got Video Out as well, as well as metal buttons on the RC unit, which meant we really did think it was a special little number. Oh, and do any of our UK readers think, like me, that the Go+Play looks a bit like the aliens from the old Smash commercials? The unit costs $349.

Normally, she told us, the slot houses a little plastic arm that prevents the paper from dropping onto the floor. But it's a fragile little piece, so the bods at Samsung decided to remove it just in case any clumsy IFA-goers (ie me) snapped it off. Not that interesting, really because, given the looks, the peephole should hide microscopic laser guns that go "Pew-Pew-Pew-Pew" if they spot a typo. Just a thought.

UPDATE: I've got you some prices for you to get you some printer love. Most of the numbers at IFA are given to us in Euros, but Samsung told us to expect virtually the same price stateside as in Europe. The ML-1630 will cost 229 ($312) and the SCX-4500 349 , or $476.

I know, I know. Back then I was stupid enough to think that the buttons controlled your cell phone and not your MP3 player. Why would you want a cell phone attached to your hunting pants, I thought? "Er, Hank? I just shot Buddy. He's on the floor and I don't think he's breathing. Can we get some damage limitation in asap, please?"). I blame an error on the picture caption, myself, but feel free to blame me if you want.

Go on, Addy, they exhorted, pretend you're a booth babe. It didn't work, though, because I still look like a tool. Next time, I suggest we take along a Real Doll for the size tests... See you next week, lots of love, Addy.

Check out that Canon rep behind our setup. He doesn't trust us one bit, afraid that we might smuggle the camera into the back and "make it a man." We can't blame him one bit.

Jesus, Ad and I are cabbing it back from the show yesterday. Jesus whips out the old iPhone to check his email, feel better about himself, pick up chicks, etc. Our cab driver, spotting the glorious device in his rear view mirror, begins panting at the prospect of the quite literal JesusPhone being right in his presence (since there's no iPhone love for Germany at the moment). He asks to hold it, unconsciously cutting over a lane in heavy traffic and almost killing us in the process.

With a child-like wonder, our cabbie stares at the device. He doesn't even know what to do with it, but couldn't have been more joyous all the same—like a prepubescent male during his first encounter with a Playboy magazine.

As he pulled up to our hotel, the now fanatical driver started pitching Jesus hardcore on selling the phone right then and there. I believe certain "favors" may have been offered. Jesus refuses. A few times.

Stiffed his tip by our lack of euros, Ad apologizes. But the driver is all smiles. "Seeing that is my tip," he says, pointing at the iPhone. And we feel just a bit less like total douchebags.

I'm not sure whether either of these will be making it out of the workshop, but I reckon HK should take a punt on them, as they will probably be a big hit with the girls.

IMPROVING ON PERFECTION: THE JBL ON STAGE * 3 PORTABLE DOCKING STATION FOR iPOD

Berlin, 30 August 2007. Place your iPod in the JBL On Stage 3 portable docking station, sit back, relax and listen - that's all it takes to enjoy the music you've downloaded to your iPod.
With the JBL On Stage II system, JBL set the standard for portable iPod docking stations. Now, the company is proud to introduce the JBL On Stage 3 portable. JBL On Stage 3 portable is compatible, using the supplied universal dock adaptors with all iPod models. The JBL On Stage 3 can be hooked up to other devices, such as digital-music and CD players, games consoles, notebooks and desktop PCs via the supplied 3.5mm mini-jack cable. The JBL On Stage 3 can also be powered by six AA batteries, enabling the compact, lightweight systems to provide crisp, powerful sound wherever you are - at home, in the office or while travelling.

The docking station features four integrated Odyssey loudspeakers providing 6-watt-per-channel for clear, flawless sound and deep bass. It has a remote control with cutting-edge IR technology for full system control (including iPod menu navigation), from a distance of up to 10 metres. And interchangeable trim rings are available for colour customisation of your JBL On Stage 3 to match your iPod nano.

Shortly after its launch, the first version of JBL On Stage was honoured with one of only five coveted "Best of Show" awards at the Macworld Expo in Boston. The new JBL On Stage 3 docking station seems destined for the same kind of success, by offering superior acoustic performance, battery or mains operation, full navigation remote control and customisation options. The system will be available in black or white; and will be available in October 2007. The recommended retail price is 179,00.

In all my semi-on camera excitement, I completely forgot the test the touchscreen. It might be nice for playback, but the one-button navigation is simple enough for everything else.