It was one of the most exciting weeks in technology this year and here are the key highlights.
1. Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Edge, Gear VR, Gear S: Samsung, at the consumer electronics fair IFA 2014 in Berlin, unveiled four new devices - the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge, Gear VR, and the Gear S smartwatch. The Galaxy Note 4, which has a 5.7-inch screen, is the successor to the company's Note 3 phablet, while the 5.6-inch Galaxy Note Edge comes with a first-of-its-kind display. The Edge's main screen remains flat, while the right edge extends and curves until it reaches the back. The Edge is notable in having a side display for quick access to the flashlight, Twitter, news and frequently used apps.
The Gear VR virtual reality headset was launched as a companion to the Note 4. It won't work with the Edge or other phones. The headset, into which the Note 4 can be docked, has four visual settings that simulate experiences such as sitting in a theater or being on stage. The VR was developed with Oculus, which Facebook bought this year.
Samsung's new Gear S, the company's fourth major smartwatch in a year, comes with 3G cellular connectivity so that it can receive notifications directly from social networks, calendars and other apps. It does not need a companion phone.
2. Motorola Moto G, Moto X, Moto 360: Motorola launched the successors to its successful budget Moto G and mid-range Moto X smartphones. The new Moto G is available (via Flipkart) in India at Rs 12,999, while the new Moto X will go on sale in India in the last week of September. Compared to the old Moto G, the new Moto G comes with a larger display, enhanced cameras, better speakers, microSD card support for additional storage - all at Rs 1000 less than the predecessor.
The company also announced the launch of its Android Wear Moto 360 smartwatch. It will also be available in India later this year.
3. Microsoft's new Nokia Lumia phones: Microsoft unveiled its new range of Lumia smartphones - its new "affordable flagship" Lumia 830 phone, Lumia 730, and the Lumia 735 - at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin. The Lumia 830 is the thinnes, lightest Lumia smartphone yet. The company plans to launch the new Lumia 830 in India by October. It will be priced around Rs 26,000.
The company also introduced a five megapixel, front-facing camera phone called the Lumia 735 which has been dubbed the 'selfie-phone'. The Lumia 730 has same specifications as the Lumia 735 except that the Lumia 735 includes 4G and built-in wireless charging.
4. LG G Watch R: With the aim to take on Motorola's Moto 360 smartwatch, LG introduced its circular smartwatch at the IFA trade show in Berlin. The LG G Watch R is designed to run for up to 30 minutes in one metre of water. It is encased in a durable stainless steel frame and has an interchangeable 22mm leather strap.
5. Asus ZenWatch: Taiwanese manufacturer Asus showcased its ZenWatch wearable device at IFA 2014. The smartwatch can be paired with newer Android phones to display information and monitor the wearer's activity. The watch can be used to find a phone, something Samsung has done with some of its watches - as long as the phone is also from Samsung.
6. Sony's smartphones and wearables: Sony unveiled three devices with its signature waterproof capabilities - the 5.2-inch Xperia Z3 smartphone, the 4.6-inch Xperia Z3 Compact and the 8-inch Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. Sony also unveiled a cheaper, 4.5-inch phone, the Xperia E3, without waterproof capabilities. The company also launched new wearables - its new SmartBand fitness device and SmartWatch 3. Unlike its predecessor, the new fitness band has a small display so you can see the status of various activities.
Sony's SmartWatch 3 has GPS capabilities built in, allowing for more accurate tracking of outdoor fitness activities.
7. Celebrities nude photos leak: Nude photos purportedly showing many top stars took the Internet by storm. Word of the images began spreading early this week and multiple reports suggested that the photos had been obtained by hacking into iCloud accounts. Apple later acknowledged the security breakdown and blamed it on intruders who were able to figure out usernames and passwords and bypass other safeguards. The company said it found no evidence of a widespread problem in its iCloud or Find my iPhone services.
8. Twitpic's closure: The photo-sharing service Twitpic announced its closure, saying it faced an ultimatum from Twitter to abandon its trademark or lose access to the messaging service. Twitpic founder Noah Everett said the demand from Twitter came as a surprise, and that he had no option other than to end the service. Launched in 2008, Twitpic allowed users to post photographs on the messaging platform before Twitter adding its own photo-sharing option in 2011.
9. Xiaomi Redmi 1S: After the successful launch of the Xiaomi Mi 3, Xiaomi introduced its second smartphone in India - the Redmi 1S. It is the first phone of Xiaomi's Redmi family that has been made available in India. This dual SIM phone with a 4.7-inch display is the cheapest smartphone from Xiaomi.
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