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Panasonic's 15, 20, and 23-inch Viera LCDs pack HDMI and Ethernet
Panasonic just loosed a trio of tiny new Vieras on Japan which we didn't see at CES. The 20-inch (TH-20LX70) and 23-inch (TH-23LX70) each bring a 16:9 aspect ratio with a 1366 x 768 panel resolution while the wee 15-inch (TH-15LD70) LCD pictured above manages a 4:3 aspect at a 640 x 480 res. All pack SD card support for viewing your snapshots in addition to a hybrid terrestrial analog/digital TV tuner and HDMI (2x on the 20/23-inch models, 1x on the 15-inch) allowing them to work with your existing Viera Link remote and compatible gear. Each set also packs an Ethernet port for connecting to Japan's acTVila TV portal service launching February 1st. Just in time since these sets will all pop on February 20th starting at ¥90,000 ($739), ¥120,000 ($985), and ¥150,000 ($1,232) for the 15, 20, and 23-inch LCDs, respectively. Pictures of the 20 and 23-inch models after the break.
Panasonic displays DMR-BW200 and BR100 Blu-ray recorders
For the technically-inclined Japanese household looking to back up HD episodes of Desire and Fashion House (or their Japanese equivalents) the Panasonic DMR-BW200 and DMR-BR100 Blu-ray recorders may just fit the bill, and are due out November 15th. With 500GB and 200GB HDDs respectively you've got plenty of space to save important telenovelas prior to burning them to 25GB or 50GB BD-R/REs at 4x speed. Tuners for terrestrial, BS, 110-degree CS digital broadcasts and analog TV are included, as well as all the usual ins and outs like 1080p HDMI. The high-end BW200 adds dual tuners for digital broadcasts, an i.Link port for D-VHS dubbing and Ethernet connectivity. Both have Panasonic's Viera Link technology and HD Optimizer for cleaning up noise in digital broadcasts and upconverting SD content. As our friends at Engadget point out, unlike the Sony Blu-ray recorder these have a release date, specs and price -- ¥300,000 (about $2,550) for the BW200 and ¥200,000 (about $1,700) for the BR100 -- and their slim design seems to carry less pet-crushing risk than the Toshiba RD-A1.[Via Engadget]
Today show, Dancing with the Stars debut in HD, how did they look?
Last night was the beginning of a new seasor for ABC's Dancing with the Stars, and also the first time the show aired in HD. We didn't get a chance to check it out here, but TV Squad did in SD, and complained that the show wasn't letterboxed and many bits of text on the screen ran off on the edges. While we feel for our SD brethren, one of the many complaints we hear frequently is that shows aren't framed properly to take advantage of widescreen HDTVs so if they err a bit on the side of 16:9 that's ok with us. Also this morning was the first episode of the Today show in HD, complete with new set and host Meredith Viera. With The View, GMA, the Today show and rumors about Oprah going HD we may have reason to start doing all-day HDTV Listings.Read - Dancing with the Stars: Week 1 (season premiere) - TV SquadRead - A look at Meredith and the new Today show studio - TV SquadRead - The Today Show goes HD on NBC! - AVS Forum
Panasonic 1080p VIERA PZ600 plasma HDTVs coming in September
Panasonic (Matsushita) showed off their long-awaited 1080p plasma HDTVs today, and unlike their smaller 1366x768 1080p-compatible LCD cousins shown off earlier this month these VIERA PZ600 sets give you every pixel of 1920x1080 high-def goodness. From the baby 50-inch to the mammoth 103-inch (which is already on sale & built to order, hopefully they bring it over here as well), they include not only full HD, but also their VIERA Link HDMI control system, 4000:1 contrast ratio and Panasonic's new 1080p PEAKS 16-bit video processing which they say will improve video scaling and provide blacker blacks. They are very proud of the fact that these HDTVs will display 100% more shades of gradation than the old TH-PX500 plasmas, as opposed to the 50% jump claimed in the PX600 series. The PEAKS system also powers the included Wide Intelligent TV Program Guide, for use with the included terrestrial, satellite and digital broadcast tuners. If that isn't enough for you, they've also thrown in an SD card reader and three 1080p HDMI inputs on each set. It appears that the just-released Pioneer PRO-FHD1 1080p plasma will be bested shortly when these are released on September 1. With a higher contrast ratio, additional features and much lower estimated price, the TH-50PZ600 could make a much more attractive prospect if/when it hits American shores. They will definitely all look good with your DMP-BD10 & friends. Check below for more pics.Estimated prices courtesy of AV Watch: 50-inch TH-50PZ600 - $5,138.30US 58-inch TH-58PZ600 - $7,279.26US 65-inch TH-65PZ600 - $8,478.20US 103-inch TH-103PZ600: $51,383.04US
Panasonic's 32 and 26-inch Viera LCD televisions
Panasonic just slipped a couple more LCD panels into their Viera line-up of televisions. Both the 32-inch TH-32LX65 and 26-inch TH-26LX65 feature a 1366x768 pixel resolution, 178-degree visibility, and a single HDMI-in on top of a slathering of Japanese D4, composite, S-Video, digital optical and Ethernet connections. And yeah, it integrates seamlessly with Panny's Viera Link HDMI remote for universal control over your HDMI-equipped home entertainment center. Both the 32 and 26-inchers will begin shipping in Japan on September 1st for ¥250,000 (about $2,193) and ¥210,000 (about $1,843), respectively.
Panasonic DMP-BD10 Blu-ray player priced, accesorized
Panasonic officially announced their first Blu-ray player, the DMP-BD10, still due in September. They also announced the retail price of $1299.95. It will (of course) play back Blu-ray discs and upconvert all other video content to 1080p via HDMI. They also mention their proprietary P4HD technology to improve 1080/720p output over the analog connectors, but we don't see anything else specific on the spec list that justifies the price premium over other Blu-ray offerings. It does include their Viera Link HDMI control technology so it can work well with the matching $999 SA-XR700 receiver. The 7.1 channel receiver also has two HDMI inputs and one output to pass 1080p through. Just to round things out, the $2999.95 SB-TP1000 speaker system with "Twin Center Speaker" technology that they claim gives a center channel, without a dedicated center speaker.
Panasonic aiming for 40% of the global plasma market
Panasonic has been a big name in the plasma world the last few years and with the global plasma market set to explode by 200% by the end of next year, they want the biggest piece of the pie. Panasonic's VIERA line has always been coined as one of the best values for picture and price. It is with these HDTVs that Panasonic is going to try to achieve a 40% global market share on plasmas. These sets are sold in Asia, North America, Europe, India, and now the Middle East. It really doesn't seem that hard for them ether; they have the product and the goods to back it up.
Panasonic's 65-inch TH-65PV500B plasma TV reviewed
With the World Cup set to start in less than two weeks, it's time to extract the catheter, re-prioritize, and go big. Trusted Reviews just posted a giddy review of Panasonic's 65-inch Viera TH-65PV500B plasma TV calling it "one of the very few truly giant" sets designed for the "average Joe" with, uh 13 Gs to burn. This 1080i capable beast features HDMI (with HDCP) and component options for HD sources, a PC jack, and three SCARTs (2 x RGB), S-Video, and an SD slot. The 65PV500B also brings its own digital-tuner to the party with "all the bangs and whistles" you'd expect like a 7-day EPG with timer. But the picture's the thing boy, and this set delivers by slapping-up "outstanding" images by the standards of big plasmas with colors touting excellent vibrancy and subtlety. Blacks are "superbly dark" and pictures are "superbly free of video noise" even when sourced from upwardly scaled, standard definition feeds. After a review like this, you can just forget about that new kidney your doc's been droning-on about -- you need this TeeVee.
A plethora of new flat panels including new Panny plasmas now available
Oh boy, this is a great time of year. Out with the old and in with the new. There are tons of new HDTVs from major manufactures just now becoming available. Panasonic is leading the way with their new Viera plamsa now available at Best Buy's and Circuit City's. (No, that 58-incher is not yet available.)Oh it doesn't stop there boys and girls. It looks like Sony's new line of high res' LCDs are also just now becoming available. Samsung has a sweet new lineup of larger LCDs that have been spotted and their LED DLPs are suppose to become availible in April...who knows if that is going to happen though.The four of us cannot do this by ourselves though and need your help. Drop us a comment if you have a sighting of a brand spanking new HDTV. Oh boy, we love this...new HDTVS!!!
Panasonic's "most advanced" 58-inch Viera TV officially announced for US
As our own Matt Burns speculated, Panasonic's new line of Viera plasma televisions has been officially announced as coming to the United States. This is complete with the HDAVI (EZ-Sync) HDMI control functionality and 10,000:1 contrast ratio, but its hard to claim "most advanced" with a resolution of only 1366x768. Remember kids, scaling makes baby Jesus cry.The TH-58PX600U and TH-58PX60U come in with MSRPs of $5,999 and $5,499 respectively, with the cheaper model losing the electronic programming guide, PC input (RGB VGA) and four speaker ViVA HD3d sound. Built in NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuners, CableCARD and SD memory card slots are standard on both.Availability is listed only as Summer 2006. All very nice but really, we know you have 1080p plasmas and Blu-ray players coming, why the 720pish tease?
