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Panasonic claims its new Toughbook can last 17 hours on a charge
Panasonic has been making its Toughbook line of ultra-durable laptops for two decades now as rarely-fail machines capable of surviving rough working environments. The line introduced the latest model of its 2-in-1 hybrid Toughbook 20, but it appears to have gotten mostly small improvements over the model's first version that debuted two years ago.
Everything Panasonic unveiled in under 10 minutes
Panasonic, while still a household name, isn't the consumer electronics Goliath it once was. The company turned up to CES this year in force, however, with some impressive 4K OLED TVs (which also support HDR10+), a sequel to its beloved and video-centric GH5 camera, and a partnership with Amazon that will bring Alexa (with "Onboard" offline support) to in-car infotainment systems. The company also touched on its work to develop 'prismatic' EV batteries with Toyota and some rather decadent gold-tinted turntables. For a full rundown of the press conference -- but in a fraction of the time -- check out our supercut above.
Panasonic adds to its 4K OLED lineup with FZ800 and FZ950 TVs
Panasonic is kicking off 2018 with two new 4K, OLED and HDR-compatible TV ranges. The FZ800 and FZ950, which will ship in 55-inch and 65-inch sizes, follow the flagship EZ1002 from last year. They come with Panasonic's original HCX processor, which enables a feature called Dynamic LUT (Lookup Table). LUTs are essentially preferences that shift the image to match the colors and brightness intended by the content creator. Normally, these are set at the start of the movie or TV show, but with Dynamic LUT the image can be updated from scene to scene.
Panasonic's GH5s is the ultimate mirrorless camera for 4K video
The GH5 has been a video-centric camera since its debut, but Panasonic is pushing that into new territory with the launch of the GH5s mirrorless. Aimed specifically at videographers, it has a 10.2-megapixel "dual ISO" sensor with half the resolution of the 20.2-megapixel GH5. That gives it much better low-light sensitivity (up to ISO 51,200 native and 204,800 extended), and there's a full sensor readout at up to Cinema 4K resolution (2,160 x 4,096) video, at 60 frames per second.
Panasonic and Alexa Onboard bring offline voice control to your car
At CES today, Panasonic announced a partnership with Amazon that will bring Alexa to your car. Dubbed Alexa Onboard, it works with Panasonic's Skip Gen IVI technology and is meant to make life with your virtual assistant more seamless as you move from your home to your vehicle.
Samsung adds another ally in its battle over HDR standards
This isn't exactly taking it back to the days of HD-DVD vs. Blu-ray, but Samsung's fight to push HDR10+ as an alternative to Dolby Vision is heating up. We have more details on how the two standards compare right here, but one main feature is that both improve on regular HDR10 by allowing content makers to dynamically adjust settings from one scene to another, or even from one frame to another.
Toyota and Panasonic explore 'prismatic' EV batteries together
Toyota and Panasonic are teaming up on batteries that Toyota itself and other automakers could use in future electric cars. Rather than building cylindrical batteries like the type that Tesla and other EV makers use, the two companies are exploring the development of "prismatic" cells. Those are square, flat batteries with aluminum housings and are typically used in cell phones. They can be made smaller and lighter than battery packs that use cylindrical cells, but tend to cost more and are vulnerable to overheating and swelling.
Tesla’s Gigafactory might be behind a global battery shortage
Tesla has been besieged by reports of production delays and quality control issues lately, and now it's coming under fire for problems at its Gigafactory, which have led to a global shortage of cylindrical batteries. According to sources quoted by etnews, it's now "impossible" to purchase cylindrical batteries in Japan -- where most of the world's electronics manufacturing happens -- because Gigafactory has hoovered up the supplies needed to create them, but has failed to do so.
Panasonic's photo-centric Lumix G9 borrows from the GH5
The 10-bit, 4K GH5 video powerhouse is Panasonic's most famous camera, and now it's trying to bring that mojo to its new photography flagship. The Lumix G9 uses the GH5's 20.3-megapixel sensor without a low-pass filter, and has a restyled, slimmed-down, dust-proof and splash-proof magnesium alloy body better suited to still than video photography. While it also does 4K at 60fps like GH5, its signature feature is an 80-megapixel photo mode, created by taking up to eight separate images.
Which 4K OLED sets are worth buying?
There's a ton of 4K content available now thanks to services like Netflix, YouTube and iTunes, with the latter two not even charging a premium for the higher resolution. Many high-end phones record in UHD as well. Combine all that with falling TV prices, and it's a great time to buy a 4K television. However, if you really do care about getting the best picture, you're going to want an OLED display. They're still more expensive than LCD sets, but in exchange you get deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. But with so many new televisions boasting fantastic image quality, which is the best for your particular needs? We've scoured the web, reading reviews from trusted critics to determine which OLED TVs you should be considering right now.
Panasonic's LiDAR sensor will stop embarrassing robot falls
Far from the killing machines many fear, most commercial robots are tipsy contraptions that can barely see in front of them. Panasonic wants to help them out with its new 3D LiDAR specifically designed for mobile robots rather than autonomous cars. It can scan as wide as 60 degrees vertically and 270 degrees horizontally, allowing for "detection of objects on the ground precisely as well as the roughness of the ground surface," Panasonic explains.
Panasonic's GH5 can now shoot widescreen 6K video
When Panasonic first unveiled its 4K powerhouse GH5 camera, it seemed to promise 6K, 30fps video. That only turned out to be a burst mode for stills, but now, Panasonic has actually made good by unveiling a 6K anamorphic, 4,992 x 3,744, 10-bit resolution video mode. On top of that, it made 4K more useful by unveiling an "intra-frame," full 4K, 10-bit option that compresses each frame individually at a robust 400 Mbps data rate.
Technics' SP-10R is its latest high-end throwback turntable
If you thought Technic's SL-1200 reissue was expensive, you haven't seen anything yet. Meet the SP-10R. Technics calls the throwback deck its "most premium turntable ever" and its 7kg (almost 15.5 pounds) brass, rubber and aluminum platter drives that claim home even further. "By optimizing the natural frequency of each ayer, external vibrations are thoroughly suppressed resulting in a beautifully clear and crisp audio experience," a very technically-worded press release says.
Panasonic's fridge of the future comes when you call it
We don't know how the kitchens of our future will work, but Panasonic's vision includes a moving refrigerator that responds to voice commands. The company was showing off a concept for such a device that, if we're lucky, might make it to our homes in the next few decades.
Samsung recruits Panasonic to bring HDR10+ to more TVs and devices
Despite corralling the likes of Sony and TCL into using its high dynamic range tech, it seems not everyone is interested in Dolby Vision. In April, Samsung bucked the trend by announcing its upgraded HDR10+ open standard. It also managed to snap up Amazon as its first video streaming partner. Fast-forward several months, and now the tech giant is looking to widen its net. In partnership with 20th Century Fox and Panasonic, Samsung will start licensing HDR10+ in January. Together, the trio will attempt to lure TV, Blu-ray, and set-top box manufacturers away from Dolby, to their fold.
Autonomous wheelchairs arrive at Japanese airport
Passengers with limited mobility will soon be able to navigate airports more easily thanks to Panasonic's robotic electric wheelchair. Developed as part of a wider program to make Japan's Haneda Airport more accessible to all, the wheelchair utilizes autonomous mobility technology: after users input their destination via smartphone the wheelchair will identify its position and select the best route to get there. Multiple chairs can move in tandem which means families or groups can travel together, and after use, the chairs will 'regroup' automatically, reducing the workload for airport staff. The chairs also use sensors to stop automatically if they detect a potential collision.
Panasonic AI senses drowsy drivers and cranks up the AC
Until self-driving cars get a lot better, the only AI controlling them will be us. Since we're imperfect, sleepy beings, however, Panasonic is using artificial intelligence in a different way: To detect when we're drowsy and pull us back from dreamland. There's a surprising amount of tech to that, including an infrared sensor, environment sensor, facial capture camera and "thermal sensation" system that activates the car's AC or alarms if all else fails.
The best point-and-shoot camera
By Amadou Diallo This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. After researching and testing more than 30 high-end compact cameras over the past three years, we recommend the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX10 if you're looking to take the best pictures possible with a camera small enough to slip into your pocket.
There's a deodorizing coat hanger for the anti-laundry contingent
If you're too lazy to take your clothes to the dry cleaner, well then Panasonic has the tech gadget you didn't even know you needed (and face it, you probably don't need it.) They've invented a clothes hanger, the Nanoe X, that deodorizes your clothes.
Panasonic’s Toughbook 33 is designed for extreme field work
Let's be real: The computers we use in our daily lives are too flimsy for seriously harsh environments like war zones or construction sites. For those who need machines that can survive those situations, Panasonic has the Toughbook range of rugged devices. The latest in the series -- the Toughbook 33 -- is a tablet that attaches to a keyboard, and it's the most full-featured of its kind. Not only is it the "first fully rugged product" to use a 3:2 screen ratio for business applications (more on why that is important later), it also offers a comprehensive array of tools that will support workers in even the most extreme environments.
