As IFA 2013 fast approaches, we're learning ever more about what we can expect from this year's tech-tastic conference.

While Samsung scored some attention earlier this week with an invite hinting we'll spot the Galaxy Note 3 Sept. 4, Archos today is overwhelming with sheer numbers.

According to a financial release (PDF) published yesterday, the company plans to detail its brand strategy during IFA. That strategy revolves around marketing "a full range" of seven Android smartphones to be released this fall.

The company also revealed it's investing in high-end tablets as well as some on 3G, "with more than five product announcements at IFA." The tablets will revolve around certain themes, such as gaming, connected TV and education/early learning.

Easy does it

There's not too much else to glean from the release, but just know Archos' carry-on bags will be fully loaded when it makes the trip to Berlin.

Archos has already released a number of devices this year, including a trio of tablets in February.

Clearly the French firm is looking to make its mark at IFA and, on the smartphone front, it's choosing to do so with Android. We'll be on the ground to bring you the latest at the conference, including hands on with these Archos devices if available.

• Phones and tablets will make IFA fun and all, but what about a Samsung smartwatch?

The newly-announced LG G2 smartphone has been confirmed on at least two UK networks as the Korean manufacturer looks to reestablish itself on British soil following a long, self-enforced exile.

Following yesterday's launch, Three mobile was quick to confirm it will be stocking the 5.2-inch, full HD handset and now O2 has confirmed the device will be winging its way to the bubbly network.

With the handset is expected to arrive in October, Three has given the rear-buttoned device a 'coming soon' label, while O2 has committed to launching the device "later this year."

The UK's other major networks EE, and Vodafone have "nothing to announce" and "no current plans" to stock the device respectively, according to reports on Thursday.

Fresh start or too late?

LG has been reluctant to launch its flagship smartphones in the UK over the last couple of years, citing the 'immature' 4G infrastructure.

With EE's next-gen operation gathering momentum and O2 and Vodafone joining the fray on August 29, it seems LG is ready to target Brits with its top handsets once again.

Smartphone fans in the UK have been able to purchase the Google Nexus 4, which was made but not promoted by LG, while some of the Optimus devices have been available SIM-free from third-party retailers.

This launch, however, represents the return of a front-runner from the early Android era, before HTC and Samsung took over. Will Brits be receptive to what LG has to offer once again?

• The LG G2 has everything but a soul. Find out why this 'unique' device, isn't that unique at all.

Via Engadget

The LG G2 is probably everything you could possibly want an Android smartphone to be, at least purely in terms of hardware. It has a large, high-definition display. Its internals, camera and battery life promise to be pretty amazing compared to its competition. Yet, it doesn't leap out at us or cause any stir or excitement.

We like the G2, except it's a safe phone, as mentioned in our early verdict of the device. Prior to the event, we thought of it as a Galaxy S4 clone, and it turns out we weren't the only ones who felt that way. The only radical part of the device is where the power and volume buttons were placed -- on the back.

LG's decision to place the volume and power buttons just underneath the camera has us questioning its direction. LG told us over and over again during its presentation that the company is listening to its customers and observing their behavior, hence the odd design.

It turns out that it's a little awkward to interface with the phone that way. While many of us do keep our index fingers right around where the camera is when we're on a call, it's not the only time we're having to adjust volume. When we're watching videos or listening to music, it could be awkward reaching behind the phone and feeling around for the volume keys.

Perhaps we're nitpicking, but when LG's highlights were its weird button placements, boys choir ringtones and 192KHz audio, we're left wondering whether the LG G2 is going to steal any thunder from the HTC One or Samsung Galaxy S4.

At one point during the launch event, we felt like LG was trying out-Samsung Samsung in the stuff-it-with-features department.

Like artists do with their work, Samsung and HTC have made their visions and styles very clear. It's easy to spot an Android device designed by either company, even if it's a leaked photo of an unreleased device.

We're hoping that the LG G2 is a small step in a new direction for some kind of vision for the Korean manufacturer. While we like its phones, like the Optimus G and the Optimus G Pro, we find no real reason to pick up an LG phone over Samsung or HTC.

Stay tuned for our full and thorough review of the device. Our early predictions tell us it's going to perform well, and that the G2 is going to be a winner by any standard with can give to smartphones. However, this nagging feeling about its lack of soul or style still lingers, and we wonder whether LG should take bigger risks with its next flagship Android device.

Canonical has done away with its complicated pricing scheme for the high-end Ubuntu Edge, instead setting the device at a fixed price point of $695 (£447, AU$762).

The best part: anyone who paid more than $695 for the phone will be refunded the difference if the Indiegogo campaign succeeds.

Canonical hopes to raise $32 million (about £20.8m, AU$34.8m) in crowdfunding for the phone, and with 14 days remaining they still have almost $24 million (about £15.4m, AU$26.4m) to go.

The company probably hopes the new, simpler pricing scheme will help with that - previously there were multiple price points, each with limited supplies so that latecomers would have to pay more.

Optimism

"You wanted a more affordable Edge, and now you've got it," Canonical wrote on the Edge's Indiegogo page today.

Canonical revealed today that interest from component supplies has allowed them to lower the cost of producing the phone, and that one of its "Enterprise bundles" - which includes 115 devices for $80K (about £51K, AU$87K) - was purchased by Bloomberg.

"So of course we're passing those savings on to you," the company continued.

"The target is still $32 million, so we will need to ship a few more phones at $695 than we would at a higher price, but we believe we can do it. We have two weeks, and we have the best community out there, so let's get to work: share this news, get the word out, and let's get the Ubuntu Edge made!"

The edge of innovation

The Ubuntu Edge attracted over $5 million (about £3.2m, AU$5.4m) in the first few days of funding, but its campaign seems to have slowed since then.

The Edge is designed to be more powerful than anything on the market today, including flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One, iPhone 5, LG G2, and Lumia 928.

Its specs aren't set in stone, but the phone is expected to pack 4GB of RAM, dual LTE receivers, 128GB of storage, and a 4.5-inch display made of pure sapphire crystal rather than glass.

The Edge can also transform into what Canonical claims is a fully functional Ubuntu PC when connected to a monitor.

The company currently plans to make just 40,000 of the high-end Ubuntu Edge smartphones, with other, low- to mid-tier phones running Ubuntu possibly coming afterward.

As of today it's got over $8 million (about £5.1m, AU$8.8m) in funding, leaving a long way to go before its goal is met.

• Don't miss TechRadar's interview with Canonical founder and Ubuntu Edge mastermind Mark Shuttleworth.

The next Sony Xperia handset might be about to up the squish factor, if a leaked press teaser is the real deal.

The picture appeared on Chinese site Digi-wo and was picked up by XperiaBlog. Depicting a splash of purple across a black background, it appears to show what looks like a shooting star dashing across the night sky.

But wait - look more closely! That's actually a phone. In fact, you can even see the power button and volume rocker if you squint your eyes really hard.

We'd assume, then, that this is Sony's rumoured next addition to the Xperia line, previously going under the codename of Honami - and now referred to as the Xperia i1.

Razor's edge

As you can see, the image teases a September 4 date on the bottom with "Berlin" written below it. Sony's IFA 2013 press conference is set for that very date. In Berlin. Go figure.

One of the more interesting rumours that's been swirling is that the phone will have a 20-megapixel camera capable of shooting 4K video. A quad-core processor is also expected to appear.

As official as it looks, we wouldn't take this as legit until Sony sends these out globally. After all, it wouldn't be that difficult for someone to mock this up.

• Check out what we think of the Sony Xperia Z (hint: we like it)

LG has confirmed that it has no plans to launch a Google edition of its new flagship, the LG G2.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One both come in a Google-flavour sold through Google Play - both handsets were among the first to get the Android 4.3 update because there's no pesky Sense or Touchwiz overlay to worry about.

"As of right now, LG doesn't have any plans for a Google Play Edition," Ken Hong, LG PR, told Android Community.

Google Play it off, keyboard cat

The reason being that LG is focusing on getting the G2 out there through networks rather than by selling the handset direct.

However, Hong did add, "That... could change down the road." So all hope is not lost, vanilla Android fans.

The LG G2 launches with Android 4.2 rather than the more modern but fairly iterative Android 4.3.

• Find out what we made the handset in our in-depth hands on LG G2 review - and check out the team's reactions too.