Panasonic has made it easier to leave the camcorder at home with two of its newest Lumix cameras announced this week before the Photo Marketing Association show in Las Vegas. The FX35 and TZ5 (both due out this spring at $349) shoot high-def video...
Panasonic showed off two distinct approaches to flat-panel color reproduction yesterday at a New York press event. This was just one facet of a sweeping presentation that covered new LCD as well as plasma lines, all rebranded with the name Viera, much of which will reach the market in a "critical mass" slated for April.
For the third consecutive holiday season, Panasonic is making its Viera Concierge service available not just to existing owners of Panasonic HDTVs--but also to those just thinking of buying one. Call (888) 777-1170, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m to 9 p.m. ET. On Saturdays and Sundays the hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. You may also visit the Viera Concierge website for chat room assistance.
Despite progress made by LCD displays and DLP projectors, among videophiles, cathode ray tubes (CRTs) still rule the roost. "Direct-view" sets, as they are often called, offer better brightness, contrast, and color purity than other types of displays, especially when used in well-lighted rooms.
With the CT-34WX50, Panasonic is acknowledging the past but embracing the future. The "super-bright" PureFlat™ HDTV monitor won't leave you hanging when you want to watch some of your favorite (but decidedly non-high-def) television programs. Two built-in NTSC tuners combined with advanced video processing guarantee an excellent picture. Material with a 4:3 aspect ratio is "digitally stretched" to fill the sides of the 16:9 screen. Reruns of I Love Lucy will never look better than when you see them on this 34" flatscreen.
Panasonic's name may evoke sound, but its reputation is built on video. Nevertheless, the company does produce audio products, though its U.S. offerings in that space differ from those of many Asian manufacturers. It has never been a major player here in AV receivers or stand-alone speaker systems, but instead puts most of its efforts into home theaters in a box (HTiBs), compact one-piece stereo systems, and related all-in-one packages. Panasonic's new 2011 introductions in these categories include a single sound bar (the fully-powered, $400 SC-HTB520, which includes a wireless subwoofer), four compact stereo systems, and three new Blu-ray HTiBs with 3D capability. Four new stand-alone Blu-ray players were also launched.
Television viewers who can't be at home during their favorite shows need fret no longer. <A HREF="http://www.panasonic.com/">Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company</A> has come to their rescue with the introduction of the PV-SS2710, the world's first combination television and hard disk recorder. In combining a 27"-diagonal PanaBlack television with a "ShowStopper" 30-hour hard disk recorder, Panasonic has created an entirely new category of video product. The choice of a 27" set as the first TV/HDR is a wise one, as 27" sets are the most popular sets with consumers.
Panasonic wants to set the record straight about plasma TV longevity. The company says plasmas are getting a bad rap on the sales floor. It cites a study by J.D. Power and Associates that states a "high proportion of recommendations of LCD sets is primarily due to retail salespersons' lack of knowledge regarding recent improvements in plasma technology."
The problem with technological progress is that it litters our racks with legacy components and faces us with painful choices: That old VHS machine isn't getting much use. Should I exile it to the closet? But then, what if I want to play something from the tape library? If you're Japanese, you won't have to decide. That's where Panasonic will introduce a hybrid Blu-ray and VHS recorder next month.
On March 28 at BB King's Blues Club and Grille in New York City, Panasonic announced several new models in their plasma line. In addition to upgraded 42-inch and 50-inch products, Panasonic took the wraps off a pair of 58-inch plasma TVs, announced a ship date and retail price for their 65-inch 1080p plasma, and claimed their 103-inch model, shown at CES, would be at retail by the end of this year.
No, that's not a typo. The new Panasonic DMR-BR630V is a Blu-ray/DVR system with recording capabilities. It can record to either the Blu-ray or the 320GB hard drive. If you want to go slightly retro, the disc recorder will also record to DVD. ...
Panasonic's new DMR-E95H is the company's most feature-rich DVD recorder yet. The latest addition to the 2004 "DIGA" line, the DMR-E95H features a 160GB hard drive capable of up to 284 hours of recording time. It can record onto both DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs.
Panasonic showed a couple of new products at a New York press event yesterday. One, the third-generation DMP-BD50 Blu-ray player, is important. The other, the SC-BT100 compact surround system, is fascinating.
To my eyes, no one makes better plasmas than Panasonic (though Pioneer is a peer). And certainly no company flies the plasma banner more zestily. At a press event in New York last week, Panasonic added three new sizes in 1080p to its plasma line: 42, 50, and 58 inches. The 42-inch TH-42PZ700, shipping in June for $2499, will be the first 1080p plasma of that size.
The entry fee to widescreen high-def video keeps dropping, thanks to companies like Panasonic. On August 8, the electronics giant raised the stakes in the HDTV race by introducing the PT-47WX49, its new 47-inch, 16:9 widescreen high-definition rear-projection monitor, at a suggested retail price of $2,099.95.