TC-P50VT25
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3DTV roundup: LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Samsung & Sony square off
After a year of hearing about 3DTVs nonstop we finally got some of the main contenders in house to examine, although we'll start by pointing out that this isn't so much of a "3DTV" roundup, since a more apt description of these displays is 3D-capable HDTVs. That's an important distinction to make, since nothing about the 2D performance of these TVs suffers because of their ability to do 3D, and in many cases they cost the exact same price as their comparable 2D-only models from last year. With that said Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, Mitsubishi and LG's finest have had their moment and on the next page we've done our best to compare them in a way that makes sense for the average HDTV buyer who might also want to take in a 3D event or movie from time to time. Right now, there's barely enough 3D content to support more than a couple of hours viewing per week, much less support a full viewing conversion to all-glasses, all the time -- but more about that later. Check out our full impressions after the break.
Panasonic prices, dates full 3D plasma lineup -- 65-inches for $4,299
Panasonic kicked off its 2010 3DTV run with an extremely limited, Best Buy only launch of the 50-inch VT20 package, but for those looking to upgrade -- especially in size -- with a new TV this year finally have some info to work off of. This year's sets have more than just the extra dimension to offer, with improved black levels (especially over time), plus upgraded VIERA Cast networked features with Skype. The general launch kicks off the week of May 3 with the 50-inch TC-P50VT25 for $2,599, and closes with the largest TC-P65VT25 model in June for $4,299. Those MSRPs place them a couple of hundred bucks north of last year's models, but a rep for great 3D and 2D performance should help anyone struggling over the upgrade -- check for the rest of the prices in the press release after the break.
Panasonic Touch the Future Tour lets production Full HD 3DTVs hit the public stage
Panasonic has never needed to wait for a new studio album before putting together another major tour, the latest of which it's dubbed Touch the Future. Trading in the traveling truck exhibition for a more intimate indoor setting, the real production Full HD 3D televisions are available and on display, along with glasses, Blu-ray players plus a few other products for good measure. We took a look as soon as the doors opened in NYC (the display runs through today at the Penn Plaza Pavilion and other locations in Chicago and Los Angeles, check the schedule for 12 more cities on deck) and got an eye full of the same 50-inch plasma 3DTVs on sale at Best Buy stores around the country. One major new look for this demo was an NVIDIA PC running the 3DTV Play solution, as you can see from the pics even New York's finest enjoyed turning a lap or two of Need for Speed: Shift in 3D. The action was smooth and easy compatibility with 3D gaming on the PC should provide plenty of content while we wait for more true 3D games to hit consoles (which should ramp up after the PS3 update this summer) while checking out Blu-ray demos on a 50-inch television proved every bit as engaging this time as it did on the 152-inch CES display. %Gallery-88433%
Panasonic blows it out with 3D Blu-ray deck, HDTVs, channels and $21k camcorder
Had enough of the CES barrage? Nah. Panasonic just cut loose a few new releases of its own, with the highlight of the bunch being the planet's first integrated Full HD 3D camcorder. Dubbed a "professional" device, the camcorder won't be available to order until April, and it's expected to make the filming of 3D content easier due to having the camcorder itself, the lenses, camera head and a twin memory card recorder smashed together in a single body. Users will also find stereoscopic adjustment controls on the twin-lens, solid state-based system, and we're told that it'll automatically recalibrate itself sans the need for any external equipment. 'Course, the $21,000 MSRP is apt to turn away most everyone not being financed by a movie house, but hey, at least we're fairly certain it'll be reduced to a few bills by 2012. In related news, Panny is also partnering with DirecTV to launch a trio of dedicated 3D channels starting in June, and the two are already in talked with AEG, CBS, Fox Sports, HDNet, MTV, NBC Universal and TBS to develop additional 3D programming that'll debut between 2010 to 2011. Oh, and you'll obviously need a new setup to view said content, and that's where Panny comes in (again). The outfit unleashed a new range of 3D-capable (thanks, RealD!) Viera plasma HDTVs and Blu-ray 3D players, and all it takes to enjoy mind-melting 3D content in the comfort of your abode is "a stylish and lightweight pair of active-shutter glasses." Oh, joy. The complete line will be fleshed out later this Spring, with screen sizes ranging from 50- to 65-inches. In one of the most brilliant moves of the show, Panny's also including just a single set of 3D glasses with its multi-thousand dollar televisions, which is sure to leave a bitter taste in the mouth of Sir Buyer who has to plop down an extra hundie or two to get specs for the whole family. At any rate, the DMP-BDT350 Blu-ray player will handle 1080p content in both the second and third dimension. The last bit is new partnerships with Netflix, Skype, Twitter and Pandora (among other outlets), all of which are being added to the Viera Cast library that's accessible on select Blu-ray players and HDTVs. Catch the full rundown after the break... if you dare. %Gallery-81797%
