On this episode of Gadget Guru watch out for the new range of curved TV's from Samsung - Samsung UHD Curved. Know all about the technical and aesthetics aspects of Samsung UHD TV with Rajiv Makhni and Sonam Kapoor. Also know about a new range of Tablets from HP and Milagrow and catch Stephen Fleming as he tells us about the kind of games he likes to play off the field.
The bleeding edge for pixel-pushing displays has shifted, and 4K, aka Ultra HD, is the one to watch. Though the once-great 1080p HD specification has now become commonplace, seven years ago, it was an altogether different story. Pioneer, one of the leading manufacturers of plasma televisions at the time, chose to buck the popular trend toward pricey 'full HD' sets, and instead focus on more affordably priced sets under 60 inches. But cost wasn't the only differentiator for Pioneer; it also aimed to deliver the best picture quality possible, regardless of the spec sheet. From this line of Kuro (meaning 'black' in Japanese) displays arose an award-winning 50-incher called the PDP-5080HD, which sported a humble 720p resolution.
Like all Kuro TVs, the PDP-5080HD bested its competitors by producing extraordinarily deep and rich black levels. While plasmas are commonly known to produce better dark tones than an average LCD panel, the Kuro line excelled at this process. Its combination of black reproduction and smooth image processing resulted in a picture with far greater clarity, contrast and depth than other rival HD sets, and this was with its meager-seeming WXGA 1,366 x 768 resolution. It even took home first place in Home Theater Mag's 2008 HDTV Technology Face Off, beating out Panasonic's 50-inch TV and a host of other sets in the same size and price range.
As HDTVs go, the PDP-5080HD was solidly built, featuring a gloss black design that housed a removable, front-facing soundbar that allowed audiophiles to configure their own surround system. It was also feature-rich with four HDMI ports and inputs for USB and PC, as well as component, composite and S-Video connections. And for those who wanted to bypass a set-top box, the set even came CableCARD-ready.
Pioneer did eventually make 1080p an affordable standard for most of its Kuro sets by 2008, all boasting five times deeper black levels than its first wave of displays. That full HD line, however, ended up signaling the end for Pioneer's TV business. One year after its release, Pioneer decided to leave the TV business altogether in favor of a focus on car stereos and Blu-ray players. But that retirement proved to be short-lived, as the company recently made an announcement that it would be returning to the TV market in 2014. This time, though, Pioneer says it plans to stick with LCD and not the plasma panels of yore, a move that all but ensures the Kuro line will go dark forever. Did you own a Pioneer Kuro PDP-5080HD? Add it to your Engadget profile as a device you had (or still have) and join the discussion to reminisce or share photos of your device with other like-minded gadget fans.
The bleeding edge for pixel-pushing displays has shifted, and 4K, aka Ultra HD, is the one to watch. Though the once-great 1080p HD specification has now become commonplace, seven years ago, it was an altogether different story. Pioneer, one of the leading manufacturers of plasma televisions at the time, chose to buck the popular trend toward pricey 'full HD' sets, and instead focus on more affordably priced sets under 60 inches. But cost wasn't the only differentiator for Pioneer; it also aimed to deliver the best picture quality possible, regardless of the spec sheet. From this line of Kuro (meaning 'black' in Japanese) displays arose an award-winning 50-incher called the PDP-5080HD, which sported a humble 720p resolution.
Like all Kuro TVs, the PDP-5080HD bested its competitors by producing extraordinarily deep and rich black levels. While plasmas are commonly known to produce better dark tones than an average LCD panel, the Kuro line excelled at this process. Its combination of black reproduction and smooth image processing resulted in a picture with far greater clarity, contrast and depth than other rival HD sets, and this was with its meager-seeming WXGA 1,366 x 768 resolution. It even took home first place in Home Theater Mag's 2008 HDTV Technology Face Off, beating out Panasonic's 50-inch TV and a host of other sets in the same size and price range.
As HDTVs go, the PDP-5080HD was solidly built, featuring a gloss black design that housed a removable, front-facing soundbar that allowed audiophiles to configure their own surround system. It was also feature-rich with four HDMI ports and inputs for USB and PC, as well as component, composite and S-Video connections. And for those who wanted to bypass a set-top box, the set even came CableCARD-ready.
Pioneer did eventually make 1080p an affordable standard for most of its Kuro sets by 2008, all boasting five times deeper black levels than its first wave of displays. That full HD line, however, ended up signaling the end for Pioneer's TV business. One year after its release, Pioneer decided to leave the TV business altogether in favor of a focus on car stereos and Blu-ray players. But that retirement proved to be short-lived, as the company recently made an announcement that it would be returning to the TV market in 2014. This time, though, Pioneer says it plans to stick with LCD and not the plasma panels of yore, a move that all but ensures the Kuro line will go dark forever. Did you own a Pioneer Kuro PDP-5080HD? Add it to your Engadget profile as a device you had (or still have) and join the discussion to reminisce or share photos of your device with other like-minded gadget fans.
EA DICE released its latest trailer for its 'Battlefield 4 Premium' downloadable content packs (DLCs), giving 'BF4' players a glimpse into the future of the popular multiplatform first-person-shooter.
It's the 21st century. We don't have flying cars, babies in vending machines or personal robot (pronounced RO-bit) servants. But, we do have cool, retro gadgets like the eleMount.
In its brushed aluminum form, the eleMount has that retro sci-fi look of 1950s B movies. And, that's a good thing. There's a flair for future aesthetics those films envisioned for this age that we really don't often manage these days. Imagine the sweeping, hot rod lines of Flash Gordon's rocket ship - then, take a look at the real world ISS. Better 1, or better 2?
Counter weighted and magnetic, the hinged elemount puts your iPhone or iPad on full display - angling into your field of view with artsy, understated elegance.
For about $80, you could argue this tiny gadget is a bit overpriced - especially when you consider it's a single function device. Still, it's well-made and adds a touch of faux-futuristic class to your desk while you wait for an android to make you dinner.
By Mark Prigg
It may be one of the oddest phone accessories ever made.
But with the growing trend towards big screen phones, this fake finger could be a lifesaver for those with small hands.
The $14.50 finger has just gone on sale in Japan, and can extend a users thumb by 15mm.
It measures 49mm long by 25mm wide, and the internal width is 20mm according to Ratoken, which is selling the gadget.
Inside is a stylus so the finger will work on any touchscreen.
The gadget comes as makers are increasingly moving towards larger phones.
In September Apple is expected to release a new, bugger version of the iPhone, with two models - a 4.7inch screen and 5.5inch screen version rumoured.
The rumours come amid claims Apple suppliers around the world are gearing up to produce the larger screens.
Japan Display, Sharp, and South Korea's LG Display have all been tapped to make the panels, and its thought they have already begun mass production.
If the rumours are true, both iPhone 6 screens will be larger than the current 4-inch panels on Apple's iPhone 5S and 5C models.
Samsung also offers the Galaxy Mega phone - the biggest smartphone on the global market - which boasts a 6.3inch screen.
Samsung have described it as a hybrid that combines the portability of a smartphone with the immersive experience that a tablet offers for movies, books, music and games.
The thumb-stylus went through a lot of rigorous testing and changes to the shape, size, and positioning, until they came up with this beauty, according to Ratoken.
. At one point they thought they almost had it, but it looked too much like a zombie finger - they'd been so concerned with how it worked, that they'd forgotten to think about the colour! The finished product is now a more alive-looking natural skin colour (so long as you're not dark-skinned). Then there's the stylus that runs through it, which is the part that you actually touch to the screen, and makes it look like you've hammered a nail through your flesh. It may not really be fooling anyone but hey, if it works, it works.
Extend your thumb by 15 millimeters! Why? So you can use your phone more easily! With its completely life-like design, no one will even notice! Rakuten is currently offering this stylish thumb made by Rare Mono for just 1,480 yen (US$14.50). It could change your life.
The self-described 'artisans of emotional technology' at French design company Orée make beautiful keyboards, iPad sleeves, and charging docks out of wood, leather, and stone. All of which, arguably, enable a more sensual, humanistic touch experience than your more standard aluminum.
Now Orée is raising funds for a new addition to its gadget family. Like the first Pebble charging tray, the Pebble 2 is a round disc that can juice up a phone or a tablet. But unlike the original Pebble, this one also plays music. 'As a powerful conduit of emotions, sound was the natural next step in our endeavor for emotional technology,' says Orée founder and CEO Julien Salanave. So Salanave embedded the charging base with Bluetooth technology and a microphone.
Designing a portable speaker isn't for the unambitious--the market is saturated. Orée's Pebble 2, however, does something different: It renders a beautiful product relevant. If we get charging cords with our phone purchases, it seems unlikely we'd splurge on extra charging docks. But if we can play music without losing battery power, we're sold.
All of Orée's wood products are sourced from sustainably managed forests in France. The Pebble 2 is available now, on Kickstarter, for $250.
