Gizmodo: pdp

Energizer Brings Induction Charging to Wiimotes

Adrian Covert — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:30:00 EDT

The best part about the Energizer's Wiimote Induction Charging System is that if you choose to play it safe with the rubber sleeves and wrist straps, you can charge them without removing that extra stuff.

If any of the consoles were in need of a wireless charging solution for their controllers, it was the Wii. All of the suggested Wiimote safety accessories make the thing such a hassle to try and keep powered. Now, it's just a matter of casually placing it on a stand and letting the charger go to work. It will be in stores in May for $50. [IGN]

Well This Vibrating 'SmartStylus' Certainly Looks Stupid

Mark Wilson — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:20:00 EDT

Remember those giant pencils you'd buy as a kid, use them for a day in class as a joke and then chuck em before lunch? The SmartStylus is built on a similar premise.

Coming in two models (SmartStylus 1 & 2), the stylus is designed to add vibration feedback "based on movements and commands in the game." The SmartStylus 2 adds the possible integration of LEDs, sound and even motion (imagine swinging your stylus like a baseball bat).

We're a little confused as to exactly how the SmartStylus will integrate with games not specifically designed for the device (if it will at all), but those questions should be answered when it launches for an undisclosed price this fall. [Maxconsole]

The New World's Thinnest Plasma: Panasonic NeoPDP

Mark Wilson — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:53:52 EST

By Panasonic, this plasma just ~~inches~~ millimeters out Pioneer's 9mm previous best. It's 1/3 of an inch thick on the dot and it uses 33% power than veteran Panasonic plasma tech. Bonus shot:

New Pioneer 50-inch, 60-inch Plasma TVs Show Off Deep, Deep Blacks

Elaine Chow — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:45:00 EDT

Pioneer introduced two new plasma TVs with panels designed for incredibly deep blacks at an industry event in Tokyo. Are these the same Kuro gen 2 panels that are currently shipping in the US? Or are they the even better ones we saw in prototype form at CES? The guys at Akihabara News were able to check out the company's new 60-inch and 50-inch sets at Tokyo's Miyako Hotel. Pioneer said that the black levels were five times deeper than its previous KURO panels. How black? When you turn out the lights, you can't tell where the TV ends and the rest of the room begins.

Yeah, that's pretty black. Besides the deep colors, the sets will feature digital TV tuners, an advanced direct color filter, four HDMI inputs, four audio inputs, three D4 inputs, three video inputs, three S2 and one RGB video input. The 60-inch KRP-600A will cost about $8,830 and the 50-inch KRP-500A can be had for roughly $6,310. [Akihabara News]

LG's Wood TV: Classy Frame, Insane Price

Adam Frucci — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 19:20:10 EDT

Everyone knows that slapping some wood on a gadget adds instant class, so LG isn't going to let a good opportunity to cash in on people obsessed with classy gadgets go by. Their new 60-inch full HD PDP TV comes cased in Italian wood, and everyone knows the best wood comes from Italy. Right?

Anyhow, the TV sports 1080p resolution and a built-in DVR, but none of the features really make the $10,675 price tag seem like a good value. But hey, wood! –Adam Frucci

Luxury Launches [via New Launches]

New LG XCanvas Plasma: When Italian Wood Doesn't Mean Rocco Siffredi

www.gizmodo.com — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 05:06:01 EDT

LG has added an extra 13 inches onto last year's XCanvas and has framed it in Italian walnut.

As well as the rather classy wood finish, the 60-incher also comes in silver gray but, no black, it seems - unlike the one in the photo (see update). The XCanvas' extra inchage will set you back around $10,500.

Update - My renaissance sculptors have just carved a color corrected picture of the XCanvas with walnut trim. Your morning wood is after the jump. – Ad Dugdale

LG Electronics Introduces Wood PDP TV [Donga]

Sony Wants Back in on the Plasma Action

Louis Ramirez — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 09:50:59 EST

It's been awhile since Sony backed out of the plasma market, but rumor has it that the Japanese giant is hoping to set up a joint plasma venture with Fujitsu Hitachi. Fujitsu is looking to kick out 3.6 million plasmas this year in the hopes of catching up to LG and Samsung, and it looks like Sony wants in on the action. Sony's Bravias have held strong, but revenue-wise Royal Philips and Samsung have dominated the global LCD market. If Sony goes through with the idea, it'll put them right up there with the likes of Philips and Samsung who offer both flavors of TVs to its consumers. Always good to have options. – Louis Ramirez

UPDATE: A Sony spokesperson informs us that this rumor is false.

"Sony will concentrate on LCD and projection TV business, and there is no plan to resume PDP TV business at present."

Sony Rumored to Be in Talks with FHP [DigiTimes via Gadget Lab]

Pioneer PDP-5000EX: Plasma Display with 20,000:1 Contrast Ratio

Charlie White — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 13:51:25 EDT

Pioneer stalls the decline of plasma display technology's popularity for a while longer with its 60-inch PDP-5000EX plasma TV that the company says cranks out a 20,000:1 contrast ratio. Take a look at the photo above, and you can plainly see that the higher contrast ratio of the set on the left gives you a better view into the blacks than you get with the conventional Pioneer plasma set on the right.

Blacker blacks are important, and there is a difference. Alas, you, dear Gizmodo reader—you with the golden eyes—may be the only one in the room who notices. Nevertheless, we want to see it all: video from zero black to 100-white, color from infrared to ultraviolet, and resolution only a microscope could discern. Even if the difference is academic, it's still there. Four more revealing (or not) examples of this contrast ratio comparison, after the jump. – Charlie White

Pioneer unveiled the next generation of PDP HDTV [AVing]

Samsung 42 and 50-inch PDP + HDD TV

Jason Chen — Fri, 19 May 2006 08:30:32 EDT

Sporting a spacious 300GB Hard Drive, the new Samsung PDP HDTVs look great, even in the sun. With their "Premium Anyview" system, the TVs have four times the standard contrast ratio compared to standard PDP TVs. This means no more shutting the blinds when you're watching daytime TV while pretending to be sick at home.

Available now (in Korea) for $3,400 and $4,700.

Latest PDP + HDD TV from Samsung [Akihabara News via Digital Chosunilbo]