Engadget HD http://hd.engadget.com Engadget HD http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/hd.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget HD http://hd.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Panasonic opens the doors on its biggest plasma plant yet]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/12/28/panasonic-opens-the-doors-on-its-biggest-plasma-plant-yet/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/12/28/panasonic-opens-the-doors-on-its-biggest-plasma-plant-yet/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/12/28/panasonic-opens-the-doors-on-its-biggest-plasma-plant-yet/#comments Despite worries / FUD from some corners that plasma HDTVs may be going away, Panasonic's latest giant investment in the technology should keep its high quality televisions coming our way for quite some time. Just a few days ago it opened its biggest plant ever in Amagasaki, which should eventually contribute to a total production capacity of over one million screens per month. Check out the pics and a video on AV Watch of robotic arms pulling 150-inch glass panels into place -- those of us hosting events on a smaller scale than the Winter Olympics are more likely to see these cut into 42-, 46- or 50-inch varieties -- before they become the 3D or even 4K televisions of the future. Still a die hard LCD fan? At least be warmed by the news of increased efficiency and reduced emissions, lower prices and cleaner air are something we can all appreciate.

Panasonic opens the doors on its biggest plasma plant yet originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>150 inch150Inch3damagasakimanufacturingpanasonicplantplasmaMon, 28 Dec 2009 13:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Panasonic to make Boston the fourth tru2way market]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/12/08/panasonic-to-make-boston-the-fourth-tru2way-market/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/12/08/panasonic-to-make-boston-the-fourth-tru2way-market/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/12/08/panasonic-to-make-boston-the-fourth-tru2way-market/#commentsPanasonic tru2way retail display Although the FCC has recently realized that CableCARD is a failure, it'll be years before anything changes; and even when things do change, the cable industry is probably going to support it for years to come. So we are still happy to see that Panasonic is continuing to try to push tru2way into more homes. Currently only available in Comcast areas of Chicago, Denver and Atlanta; Panasonic plans to add Boston to that list. The interesting twist here is that apparently Panasonic has given up on HDTVs with tru2way built in, and is instead pushing a set-back solution. Basically it would be a box designed to attach to the back of a Panasonic TV and presumably require it's own power but only one connection to the TV via HDMI. Then it would work just like the function was built into the TV -- this kind of defeats the purpose of tru2way, but it is better than a traditional set-top box sitting under the TV with its own remote. The problem is the set-back box doesn't have an analog tuner, which crazy enough is a FCC requirement, so Panasonic is also asking the FCC to waive this requirement, and honestly this is one waiver we would agree needs to be granted.

Panasonic to make Boston the fourth tru2way market originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BostonCableCARDComcastFCCPanasonictru2wayTue, 08 Dec 2009 16:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Comcast should be tru2way ready by the end of the year]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/27/comcast-should-be-tru2way-ready-by-the-end-of-the-year/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/27/comcast-should-be-tru2way-ready-by-the-end-of-the-year/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/27/comcast-should-be-tru2way-ready-by-the-end-of-the-year/#commentstru2way demo
Remember that big to do about the tru2way memorandum of understanding that Sony and the rest of the Consumer Electronics manufacturers signed earlier last year. You know, the one that said every cable operator in the US would be tru2way capable by July 1st 2009? Well that date has come and gone and while the providers insist it is no big deal, no HDTV manufactures seem very excited about tru2way at the moment. According to Comcast's EVP David Cohen, more than just three markets will be ready to go by the end of the year. At this point we'll believe it when we see it, because supposedly tru2way HDTVs have been available to Comcast subscribers in Chicago, Denver and Atlanta for some time, yet not even a single review or hands-on has appeared online, in fact we haven't even gotten a single tip or comment that anyone even has one of these tru2way TVs. Every provider in world could be ready but if there aren't plenty of tru2way TVs announced at CES in a few months, it's all for naught.

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Comcast should be tru2way ready by the end of the year originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cableCableCARDComcastOCAPPanasonictru2wayTue, 27 Oct 2009 14:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Ready or not, the latest 3D technology is coming home]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/26/ready-or-not-the-latest-3d-technology-is-coming-home/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/26/ready-or-not-the-latest-3d-technology-is-coming-home/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/26/ready-or-not-the-latest-3d-technology-is-coming-home/#commentsESPN 3D camera Avid readers of Engadget HD are up on the latest 3D display and display technologies, but the same can not be said for the general masses. And before you start on the whole "I'm not wearing any stupid looking glasses," because no matter what you say, there are more people paying extra to go 3D movies than ever and the reason is simple; it's because this isn't like the crappy 3D you saw during the Super Bowl last year -- or that our parents grew up with. No, the 3D that Sony, Panasonic, and others are promising next year is like nothing you've seen. We've come a long way since the old anaglyph red and blue glasses that come in cereal boxes. So if like most, you could use a refresher on the 3D technologies and when you might get to use them, you should head on over and check it out.

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Ready or not, the latest 3D technology is coming home originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>120hz3Dcircular polarizationCircularPolarizationfeaturedfeatureslcdPanasonicplasmaprojectorSamsungshutter glassesShutterGlassesSonyMon, 26 Oct 2009 14:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Panasonic's 1-inch thick Z1 plasma reviewed: playing with perfection]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/22/panasonics-1-inch-thick-z1-plasma-reviewed-playing-with-perfec/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/22/panasonics-1-inch-thick-z1-plasma-reviewed-playing-with-perfec/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/22/panasonics-1-inch-thick-z1-plasma-reviewed-playing-with-perfec/#comments The plasma may be a dying breed, but the ones that are left are undoubtedly some of the best the world has ever seen. Take Panasonic's 54-inch TC-P54Z1 for example, which wowed audiences (us included) when it was first unveiled way back at CES. The HD Guru recently had an opportunity to take this very screen into his abode for review, and after a labor-intensive (around "one hour") setup process, the gazing was officially on. Panny's engineers were able to slim the set down to an inch by requiring that a dedicated (wireless) set-top-box be used for tuning OTA channels and managing connections, and the result was nothing less than elegant. If you're wondering what north of five large really buys in an HDTV these days, wonder no more -- the set was deemed darn near perfect, with "outstanding" color, contrast and deep black levels. Potentially best of all, there were no motion artifacts to speak of, and anyone with a 120Hz / 240Hz set can testify to just how annoying those things are. Hit the read link for a detailed unboxing, setup and review, but don't even bother if you're looking for someone to talk you out of what you're about to do.

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Panasonic's 1-inch thick Z1 plasma reviewed: playing with perfection originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apparently even one of the main proponents of the 3D at home movement is still able to see its shortcomings, as detailed in this Wall Street Journal article. Prez Fumio Ohtsubo sees a 3-4 year time period before 3D gains wider acceptance, while the company continues to work on implementing it in smaller televisions, portable devices and glasses-free 3D. Combine that with the still miniscule amount of 3D content and the extra expense for compatible hardware, and we can see why Panasonic is unwilling to put all its eggs into one glasses-filled basket. All that aside, this time next year, expect to see 3D highest among the list of features on high end, large HDTVs where contrast ratio, Hz, widgets and other bullet pointed items currently reside.

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Timeframe for the 3D infiltration? 3 - 4 years, says Panasonic president originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dhdtvpanasonictimeframeThu, 08 Oct 2009 12:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Panasonic's 1080p twin-lens P2 camcorder seen behind three-dee glass at CEATEC]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/06/panasonics-1080p-twin-lens-p2-camcorder-seen-behind-three-dee-g/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/06/panasonics-1080p-twin-lens-p2-camcorder-seen-behind-three-dee-g/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/06/panasonics-1080p-twin-lens-p2-camcorder-seen-behind-three-dee-g/#comments
We can't say for certain how good it feels to hoist this big-faced behemoth onto one's shoulder, but it's the first time we've seen Panasonic's 1080p twin-lens P2 3D camcorder out and about since its fabled introduction at NAB earlier this year. Strategically placed beside a 3D Avatar trailer demo, the camcorder looked exactly like the press shot we saw of the prototype before, though there's still no formal word on when it'll be used to film your friend's Bar Mitzvah (or anything else half as cool). A boy can dream, yeah?

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Panasonic's 1080p twin-lens P2 camcorder seen behind three-dee glass at CEATEC originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080p3d3d camcorder3d hd3dCamcorder3dHdavatarcamcorderceatecceatec 2009Ceatec2009conceptfeatureshands-onhd 3dhd camcorderHd3dHdCamcorderp2panasonicpicspicturesprosumerprototypeTue, 06 Oct 2009 23:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Panasonic's 50-inch 1080p 3D plasma spotted, watched at CEATEC]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/06/panasonics-50-inch-1080p-3d-plasma-spotted-watched-at-ceatec/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/06/panasonics-50-inch-1080p-3d-plasma-spotted-watched-at-ceatec/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/06/panasonics-50-inch-1080p-3d-plasma-spotted-watched-at-ceatec/#comments At this point, Panasonic's 50-inch 3D plasma is just another one joining the fray, but considering how highly hyped the technology behind this was, we couldn't pass up an opportunity to throw our eyes on it for a bit at CEATEC. The 1080p panel was strikingly thin (or well mounted to give that impression), and the viewing angles were fantastic. The glasses that Panny provided, however, were relatively annoying (no surprise there). It should be noted that the actual spectacles sit pretty far off of your face, which simultaneously enables those with actual glasses to partake in the 3D experience while frustrating those without by giving them a cute blue rim that refuses to leave the periphery. As for image quality, the G-Force demo looked downright stunning, with depth being easily perceived and fast moving action whisking about seamlessly. Still, we're having a hard time believing a family of four would sit down and use these glasses for a two-hour presentation, but hey, we're not going to give up on the marketing squads just yet.

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Panasonic's 50-inch 1080p 3D plasma spotted, watched at CEATEC originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Video: Panasonic's next-gen IPS-Alpha panel is uber quick, dark

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Video: Panasonic's next-gen IPS-Alpha panel is uber quick, dark originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advanced ipsAdvancedIpsceatecceatec 2009Ceatec2009contrastdarkdarknessengadget videoEngadgetVideofeaturedvideofeatureshands-onipsips alphaips-alphaIpsAlphanext generationnext-generationNextGenerationpanasonicpanelpicspicturesprototypevideoTue, 06 Oct 2009 06:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Panasonic's 50-inch 3D plasma announced, seeks fine family home]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/09/28/panasonics-50-inch-3d-plasma-announced-seeks-fine-family-home/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/09/28/panasonics-50-inch-3d-plasma-announced-seeks-fine-family-home/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/09/28/panasonics-50-inch-3d-plasma-announced-seeks-fine-family-home/#comments True, Panasonic's 103-inch 3D television is more desirable, but Panny's new 50-incher will be more affordable when it comes time to buy your first 3D set. The 1080p TV requires viewers to wear special specs, naturally, in this case, Panasonic's active "shutter" glasses. As the name implies, the lenses switch in sync with the TV so that the right image is seen by the right eye and the left image is seen by the left eye. All that quick image swapping requires new PDP materials and chips to maintain screen brightness. The new prototype will be on display at Ceatec show in Tokyo next week with plans for commercialization in 2010. You know, assuming anyone wants it.

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Panasonic's 50-inch 3D plasma announced, seeks fine family home originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 02:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dceatecceatec 2009Ceatec2009panasonicpdpplasmashutterMon, 28 Sep 2009 02:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Panasonic including DivX Plus HD (MKV) support into next gen Blu-ray players, TVs]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/09/11/panasonic-including-divx-plus-hd-mkv-support-into-next-gen-blu/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/09/11/panasonic-including-divx-plus-hd-mkv-support-into-next-gen-blu/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/09/11/panasonic-including-divx-plus-hd-mkv-support-into-next-gen-blu/#commentsNearly a year after Panasonic stepped the UniPhier chips at the heart of its Blu-ray players up to DivX HD, comes word that the company is moving on up to DivX Plus HD (read: Up to 1080p h.264 video in an MKV container) next time around. That includes not only its next line of Blu-ray set-top players we're sure to see unveiled at CES, but also digital TVs and in-car players, so between Panasonic and NEC MKV fans should be able to take their videos even more places without the extra step of transcoding in 2010.

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Panasonic including DivX Plus HD (MKV) support into next gen Blu-ray players, TVs originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's been less than a year since we first entered Panasonic's demo trailer, the main difference at CEDIA this year was the addition of a trailer for James Cameron's Avatar. We were lucky enough to get an early look at the footage shown, while it shared much with the trailer released a few weeks ago, you haven't seen the Terminator and Titanic director's latest effort unless you've seen it in 3D. Check after the break for the rest of our thoughts on the 3D demo, and what the future has to hold for thid display tech in the home.

Gallery: Panasonic Full HD 3D Demo - CEDIA 2009

Continue reading Panasonic Full HD 3D experience eyes-on

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Panasonic Full HD 3D experience eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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To say that Panasonic's existing lineup of V10 NeoPDP sets were widely adored would be grossly understating things, so it makes sense to see the outfit unleash two new sizes in the family over at IFA. In the midst of mindless bragging about a Full HD 3D system that absolutely no one will be interested in until 3D content delivery is sorted, Panasonic has managed to confess that two new V10 sizes will be produced. If you'll recall, the set was already available in 42- and 50-inch flavors, but if those just felt too small for your palatial den, the new 58- (TX-P58V10E) and 65-inch (TX-P65V10E) models just might fit the bill. Specs wise, everything here will remain the same; a 1080p panel, 600Hz sub-field drive technology, VIERA CAST functionality for pulling in web content, THX certification and a laughable dynamic contrast ratio of over 2,000,000:1. There's no exact mention of a price or release date, but you can bet we'll be hounding the booth attendants for those tidbits as soon as we track 'em down.

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Panasonic adds 58- and 65-inch models to heralded V10 NeoPDP family originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 04:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>displayhdtvifaifa 2009Ifa2009neopdppanasonicpanelpdpplasmaTX-P58V10ETX-P65V10Ev10Thu, 03 Sep 2009 04:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Panasonic issues mildly revamped PT-AE4000 1080p projector at IFA]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/09/03/panasonic-issues-mildly-revamped-pt-ae4000-1080p-projector-at-if/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/09/03/panasonic-issues-mildly-revamped-pt-ae4000-1080p-projector-at-if/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/09/03/panasonic-issues-mildly-revamped-pt-ae4000-1080p-projector-at-if/#comments Panasonic's PT-AE3000 has gone over quite well in the home theater space, with its 1080p resolution and gorgeous image quality winning over more than a few projector junkies. But given that there's always room for improvement, the outfit has today introduced the PT-AE4000, an ever-so-slightly refreshed version that looks essentially identical to its predecessor. The Full HD native resolution and 1,600 ANSI lumens remain unchanged, though the contrast ratio has been bumped from 60,000:1 to 80,000:1 and Panny has outfitted it with a new "red rich lamp" and dynamic iris. Finally, this beamer supposedly eliminates those nasty Cinemascope issues that some users were seeing on the AE3000, though the estimated £2,000 ($3,255) asking price still feels a bit steep when you consider the alternatives.

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Panasonic issues mildly revamped PT-AE4000 1080p projector at IFA originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 03:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just in case there was any doubt since the task force was announced in May, the Blu-ray Disc Association is still hard at work on a standard to bring home 3D movies the way they were meant to be seen. Ahead of IFA, the group squeezed off an announcement, mentioning its decision of minimum specs including requiring 1080p resolution to each eye and backwards compatibility for discs and players, so any 3D flick will have to include a 2D version for older Blu-ray players. Of course, we're sure Panasonic has something to do with this push, it's already planning to tour the country with 3D capable Blu-ray players in tow, so it shouldn't be too much longer until final decisions are made.

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Blu-ray Disc Association (still) working on a 3D standard, promises 1080p & backwards compatible discs originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic's 85-inch plasma screen is $30,000 worth of decadence originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Injunctions, hail, sleet or snow, VIZIO kept shipping its LCD HDTVs in large amounts during the second quarter, enough of them to account for 21.7% of the market, according to iSuppli. That was enough to narrowly hold off Samsung, which saw its numbers rise sharply from 17.8% in the previous quarter to 21.3%, reportedly due to its introduction and marketing of new LED sets, which contributed to 2.2 percent of all LCDs sold during the period. The analysts also see a growing trend of customers coming back for their second flat panel television to replace an older one, just the kind of people it thinks might gravitate towards features like skinny, power efficient LED designs. We'll see if that's enough to swing the balance Samsung's way, or if customers stick with VIZIO's approach.

Read - VIZIO Again Ranked #1 in U.S. LCD HDTV Shipments
Read - Samsung Cuts Into Vizio's Lead in U.S. LCD TV Market in Second Quarter

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VIZIO keeps the LCD TV crown in Q2, but Samsung is closing originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Instead of offering a tour of its 3D lab as we hoped, Panasonic is bringing 103-inch plasmas and 3D capable Blu-ray players to you, planning to send around tractor trailers to promote its technology and the new James Cameron flick, Avatar. IFA and CES will also get the full 3D experience, with the company still planning to put hardware on shelves in 2010. It expects HDMI 1.4 and Blu-ray 3D spec standardization to have the market primed and ready, and while 3D may not be for everyone, we're sure those interested are just waiting to toss those silly two-color glasses in the trash to get with this stereoscopic solution.

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Panasonic taking 3D, Avatar on world tour this fall originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Don't think you can sell the kids short anymore, keeping the Blu-ray copy at home and taking DVD rips on the road, now that Panasonic is ready to deliver its in-dash Blu-ray player and 7-inch HD screen packing nav unit in September. We got a good peek at these back in April and the specs haven't changed, with the Profile 1.1 Bonus View compatible CY-BB1000D taking care of Blu-ray duties and featuring the same UniPhier guts as the company's line of living room Blu-ray players. The CN-HX3000D is a WXGA 1280x720p 7-inch LED backlit widescreen display ready to play back media via standard HDMI, iPod connector, SD card or its digital TV tuner, powered by Windows Automotive with navigation duties assisted by Google Maps and Yahoo! Japan. The CY-BB1000D is ¥99,750 ($1,057) and the CN-HX3000D is ¥365,400 ($3,872), and both arrive September 10 in Japan. We'll let you decide if around 5 grand is a good price for the in car HD experience (might want to look at custom mounting a DMP-B15, $800 and you can take it with you.)

Read - CYBB1000D
Read - CN-HX3000D

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Panasonic in-dash HD nav system & Blu-ray player ready to ship, are you ready for the price? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automotiveblu rayblu-raybluraybonus viewBonusViewcn-hx3000dcy-bb1000dhead unitHeadUnitin carin-dashInCarlcdnav unitNavUnitother hardwareotherhardwarepanasonicuniphierwindows automotiveWindowsAutomotiveThu, 20 Aug 2009 09:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Panasonic finally gets around to enabling Amazon VOD on 2009 Blu-ray players]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/08/04/panasonic-finally-gets-around-to-enabling-amazon-vod-on-2009-blu/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/08/04/panasonic-finally-gets-around-to-enabling-amazon-vod-on-2009-blu/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/08/04/panasonic-finally-gets-around-to-enabling-amazon-vod-on-2009-blu/#comments
Don't let us rush you Panasonic. But we were expecting Amazon VOD streaming capability when the DMP-BD60, BD70V, BD80 and the B15 Blu-ray players launched, then later were told it would be available by May. Now, in early August, comes word that a new firmware update has enabled access on all players (including the over 1000 HD selections on the service.) We know a few of you probably couldn't live without the DMP-BD70V and its Blu-ray / VHS combo, are you finding the new Amazon access included in the VIERA Cast streaming satisfactory for your needs?

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Panasonic finally gets around to enabling Amazon VOD on 2009 Blu-ray players originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's unlikely you have any HDMI 1.4 equipped 1080p 3D, or 4K/2K capable equipment laying around the house, but that hasn't stopped Panasonic from rolling out these high speed cables already, just announced in Japan. Expected to launch August 27, they range in length from 1m to 10m, and in price from ¥4,000 ($42) to ¥20,000 ($210.) Sure you could import them just to stunt on your Monster Cable owning friends, but somehow we suspect most will be waiting for these to hit Monoprice, Blue Jeans Cable and the like, oh, and for equipment that can actually take advantage of their extra capabilities.

[Via AV Watch]

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Panasonic delivering HDMI 1.4 cables in Japan next month: $42 for 1 meter originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In parts of the world where Blu-ray DVRs are available, there's not a lot to be done in the way of new features or radical improvement. They've already got a lot of the convergence features ironed out, but one thing every media-saturated home can use is more storage. Enter Panasonic's new DMR-BW970 Blu-ray DVR with a capacious 2TB of hard drive storage, which means that by the time you sift through its hundreds of hours of recordings, new content will be popping up in the library. Seriously, if you can't find something worth watching with that much of a back-catalog, you should just pull away from the TV, get outside and try real life for a while -- it's fascinating and one-in-five people find it to be almost as good as HD.

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Panasonic's DMR-BW970 Blu-ray DVR squirrels away 2TB of your video originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic's run of critical acclaim for its NeoPDP panels, and the V10 series in particular, just keeps rolling along. Given the positive reception the HD Guru gave Panny's G10-series set, it should come as no surprise that the higher-spec TC-P54V10 model came through its review with flying colors. The Guru blew right past the "sheet of glass" aesthetic and added color spaces that will largely go unused and got right into the good stuff. Sure, the 96Hz mode delivered on its promise of judder-free 4:4 pulldown, but most surprising was the V10's black level performance, which fell below the test equipment's ability to measure -- the review guessed it to be about half as bright as the G10's black level. That's in spitting distance of the Kuro performance, and the V10 managed to pull a little more dark detail as well. Yeah, it's a winner -- so much so that the Guru had to break out a fifth heart in its rating. The Kuro is dead, long live the Kuro.

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Panasonic's TC-P54V10 plasma crowned king, so sayeth the HD Guru originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic has cleared a path for its WirelessHD equipped HDTV to launch in the UK now that Ofcom has opened up the necessary radio spectrum for use by all manufacturers. As it stood, manufacturers needed to get permission to use any part of the wireless spectrum, but now anyone should be able to use the 57-66GHz range. Expect the 54-inch version of Panasonic's wireless set to run around £5,000 when it becomes available in a few weeks, with other wireless TVs from LG and other coming later in the year.

[Via Stuff]

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Panasonic pries open room for WirelessHD availability in the UK originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Even as the past year has been cruel to plasma, we've stood by the "old" gas capsule technology. The results of DisplayMate's controlled tests clearly show some of the reasons why we love us some plasma. The lineup of 2008-vintage, top of the line LCDs from Samsung, Sharp and Sony were calibrated and pitted against a top-end Pansonic plasma. You'll have to hit the link to get the full blow-by-blow results, but suffice it to say that the plasma set trumped the LCDs in the areas of contrast, color accuracy (to be fair, the Sony came close) and black level -- both on and off axis. Even for LCD fans, these results show that the side of the box with its inflated specs is no place to look for indications of picture quality. For those already in the know about plasma, though, there's a lot of reason to hope that even if the technology is in its autumn years, there's an Indian summer up ahead.
[Via TVSnob]

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Numbers be damned, plasma eats LCD's cake in DisplayMate's tests originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comparisondisplaymatelcdpanasonicplasmasamsungsharpsonytestMon, 13 Jul 2009 13:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Take a tour through Panasonic's CRT & flat panel TV recycling center]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/07/03/take-a-tour-through-panasonics-crt-and-flat-panel-tv-recycling-ce/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/07/03/take-a-tour-through-panasonics-crt-and-flat-panel-tv-recycling-ce/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/07/03/take-a-tour-through-panasonics-crt-and-flat-panel-tv-recycling-ce/#comments
Less remarked upon in our CES 2009 coverage was the green factor consistently mentioned in many presentations, with various manufacturers promising more responsible production facilities, and plans to offer recycling for all the old televisions that will be replaced in the years to come. Courtesy of AV Watch and Google Translate, we can take a tour through one of Panasonic's recycling facilities, where the latest breakthrough uses a laser beam to separate the front and rear glass of CRTs, allowing for three times faster processing. If there's anything better than machine translation, old TVs headed for certain doom, and lasers, we have no idea what it is.

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Take a tour through Panasonic's CRT & flat panel TV recycling center originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apparently blissfully unaware of how much the Engadget staff has paid for the events of the last CES to be forgotten, Panasonic is promoting the UK launch of its FreeSat+ compatible series of Blu-ray recorders (£999 for the 500GB DMR-BS850) by promising to archive ones most valuable memories. Is that enough for you to navigate the various copy protection flags towards Blu-ray disc archival, or will you risk the family Christmas video (worth £542) on something less than a 50GB Blu-ray disc?

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Panasonic justifies Blu-ray recorder cost by asking "How much are memories worth to you?" originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hey, look at that -- it's Panasonic's super-hot one-inch thick Z1 wireless HDTV, just cold sitting out for sale in a San Jose Magnolia store. No official availability announcement yet, but we're guessing it's coming soon, right on time for the Z1's planned summer debut. Everyone got their $6,000 ready?

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Panasonic Z1 wireless HDTV appearing in US retailers originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While we got a quick look at the thing a few months ago, we were finally able to get our mitts all over Panasonic's new DMP-B15 portable Blu-ray player. With its bigger-than-a-laptop size and wild pricetag (for a consumer device), it's obviously a niche product, but that's not to say there aren't hints of consumer friendliness in here. Overall the hardware is light and strong, and while we felt a bit of heat venting out the sides, it's not uncomfortable, and the disc operation is virtually silent. Startup time and disc load times are comparable to most dedicated home Blu-ray players -- certainly not best in class, but passable -- and we couldn't get the player to skip despite our best efforts. The screen is really great, with a good amount of viewing angle and brightness for the category and plenty of resolution to differentiate HD content. We spotted a bit of pixel crunch in menus and stills, but once the motion started we could barely differentiate pixels. Sure, it's hard to imagine a reason for most people to pick up a DMP-B15 over a cheapish Blu-ray playing laptop -- the thing is monstrously thick, and can't even handle a traditional laptop-style screen orientation, only everything but -- but the hardware is reliable enough for kids to handle on the road, and the single-use makes it a good home Blu-ray player for plugging into that second HD-starved TV. Still, we're guessing most will wait to see what next year's (sure to be flush) crop has to offer.

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Panasonic DMP-B15 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sure we'd love to see Panasonic mass produce that 4K 150-inch plasma, but so far we'll just have to be happy with a cheaper 103-inch HDTV and the latest model, an 85-inch 1080p display it's showing off at InfoComm '09 this week. All that super size flat panel building experience has been poured into a package that is 99mm thick and apparently 30 percent lighter per square inch than its 103-inch cousin, at a total of 130Kg. This one's coming through business channels to Japan and the U.S. this fall, 'til then you'll just have to live with your 4 x 42-inch matrix setup or for the cost conscious, a projector.

[Via AV Watch & Japan Corp (English)]

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Panasonic unveils 85-inch plasma at InfoComm '09 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As Pansonic's latest plasma HDTVs proceed down the review gauntlet, it appears CNET is the latest to be impressed by the TC-P50V10, between its slick design, smooth handling of 1080p/24 by way of its 96Hz image processing, deep black levels and good color reproduction. The 96Hz features plus more adjustable picture settings are some of the improvements the V10 offers over the G10, but is it enough to satisfy the Kuro faithful, or attract buyers away from LCD? It appears the reviewer was convinced, give it a read and see if you are.

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CNET: TC-P50V10 is "Panasonic's best plasma yet" originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Right, so these two may not actually be the world's lightest HD camcorders without qualifications, but hey, they're still amongst the least burdensome on the market today. Speaking of which, Panny has just let loose details on US pricing and availability, though it looks as if you'll need to hunt elsewhere if hoping to capture all those summer vacations in 1080p. Indeed, both the half-pound HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10 won't hit American shelves until September, when they'll be available for $549.95 and $599.95, respectively. If you're curious as to what the extra $50 buys you in the TM10, it's an 8GB internal flash drive, whereas the other guy requires you to rely solely on your own SD / SDHC cards. Full release is after the break.

Continue reading Panasonic's HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10 HD camcorders get US price, release date

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Panasonic's HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10 HD camcorders get US price, release date originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It'll definitely run you less here in America than it would if you chose to import straight from Japan, but the planet's first BD-Live-capable portable Blu-ray player still ain't cheap. Today, Panny announced that its DMP-B15 -- which originally broke cover at CES -- will be shipping later this month in the US for $799.95. That nets you an 8.9-inch WSVGA display, VIERA CAST internet accessibility, an SD card slot, 2.5 hour rechargeable battery, HDMI output and BD-Live (Profile 2.0) functionality. Oh, and quiet kids on the next road trip to Gramps' pad, which is totally priceless.

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Panasonic's DMP-B15 portable Blu-ray player: $800, ships this month originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VOOM HD gear goes up for auction originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 22 May 2009 21:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[Via Akihabara News]

Continue reading Panasonic breaking more arbitrary records with two new 1080p24 camcorders

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Panasonic breaking more arbitrary records with two new 1080p24 camcorders originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 20 May 2009 07:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080p1080p2432gb64gbcamcorderfull hdFullHdhd camcorderhdc-tm30hdc-tm350HdCamcorderlightestpanasonicpanasonic hdc-tm30panasonic hdc-tm350PanasonicHdc-tm30PanasonicHdc-tm350worlds largest capacityworlds lightestWorldsLargestCapacityWorldsLightestWed, 20 May 2009 07:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Red is the new black as Panasonic joins Sony in posting annual losses]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/05/19/red-is-the-new-black-as-panasonic-joins-sony-in-posting-annual-l/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/05/19/red-is-the-new-black-as-panasonic-joins-sony-in-posting-annual-l/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/05/19/red-is-the-new-black-as-panasonic-joins-sony-in-posting-annual-l/#commentsPanasonic logoThe corporate cultures at Panasonic and Sony are quite different, but the two companies now have something in common -- annual losses for the first time in a long time. At seven years long, Panasonic's run of profitability was only half that of Sony's, but this economy doesn't discriminate -- Panasonic wrapped up the fiscal year in March with parentheses surrounding a ¥444 billion ($4.6 billion) figure. All the product sectors we love -- TVs, digicams, appliances and semiconductors -- are hurting, falling short of the previous year's sales figures by 14.4-percent. With cost-cutting a top priority for the coming year, Panasonic's plasma TVs will have to pull in some numbers to avoid the axe -- we're hoping the NeoPDPs are as much of a hit with consumers as they are with reviewers.

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Red is the new black as Panasonic joins Sony in posting annual losses originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 19 May 2009 09:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesseconomypanasonicTue, 19 May 2009 09:23:00 EST<![CDATA[AVForums takes a shine to THX on Panasonic's TX-P50V10 plasma ]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/05/16/avforums-takes-a-shine-to-thx-on-panasonics-tx-p50v10-plasma/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/05/16/avforums-takes-a-shine-to-thx-on-panasonics-tx-p50v10-plasma/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/05/16/avforums-takes-a-shine-to-thx-on-panasonics-tx-p50v10-plasma/#commentsPanasonic TC-P50V10 with THX
Panasonic's new plasma TVs packing the NeoPDP panels are compiling a solid reputation across their respective price brackets, and now it's the V10 series' turn to continue that trend at the more expensive end of the spectrum. Stepping up from the G10 series, the 50-inch UK-model TX-P50V10 AVForums had on hand acquitted itself pretty well. The "sheet of glass" thin design looks nice, but it was the THX picture mode that saved the day. Despite the lack of image controls that videophiles love to tweak, the THX preset delivered very good performance right out of the gate; good enough that the reviewer gave it the nod over the G10 series. The review also noted that 24p material was handled correctly, which gives us hope that Panasonic's 96Hz refresh in the US models will finally put 3:2 pulldown artifacts to rest. Hit the link for all the details.

[Thanks, Quentin!]

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AVForums takes a shine to THX on Panasonic's TX-P50V10 plasma originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 16 May 2009 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avforumsneopdppanasonicpanasonic tx-p50v10PanasonicTx-p50v10plasmareviewtx-p50v10ukv10Sat, 16 May 2009 11:04:00 EST<![CDATA[TrustedReviews takes its turn with Panasonic's TX-P42G10 plasma]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/05/13/trustedreviews-takes-its-turn-with-panasonics-tx-p42g10-plasma/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/05/13/trustedreviews-takes-its-turn-with-panasonics-tx-p42g10-plasma/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/05/13/trustedreviews-takes-its-turn-with-panasonics-tx-p42g10-plasma/#commentsPanasonic TX-P42G10 plasma
A little skeptical of rave review the HD Guru gave to Panasonic's NeoPDP-equipped G10 plasma? After reviewing the smaller 42-inch TX-P42G10 from the G10 plasma series, the good folks at TrustedReviews have another data point for you. The set turned in a solid performance without blowing away the reviewers -- which to our reading back up feelings around these parts that plasma still has an edge over LCDs in some performance areas, including black levels, off-axis viewing and motion resolution. It's interesting that even though the review itself is pretty reserved, the set scored very highly (9 out of 10) in the "image quality," "value" and "overall" categories. It sounds like TrustedReviews was torn between pulling the trigger on the G10 or waiting a few weeks for the V10 models -- a feeling we know all too well. Hemming and hawing aside, it sounds like the mid-tier G10 sets (below the V10 and Z1 lines) have plenty to offer those not ready to jump the plasma ship just yet.

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TrustedReviews takes its turn with Panasonic's TX-P42G10 plasma originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 13 May 2009 19:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pioneer's decision to axe the Kuro earlier this year set off a wave of gloomy predictions about the future of plasma, but we've never really bought into it -- and it sounds like the product planners at LG, Samsung, and Panasonic haven't either. HD Guru asked reps from each company for their thoughts on the state of the plasma market, and the responses were pretty similar across the board: plasma remains the connoisseur's choice overall, and it still makes up just about half of 50-inch and bigger sales. Of course, that means that plasma's niche is shrinking and moving higher-end while LCDs more or less take over the rest of HDTV market, but until something like OLED develops into a true competitor we think plasma's around for a while. Check out the full company responses at the read link.

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Plasma market getting smaller and higher-end, but it's still alive originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 13 May 2009 14:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hdhdtvkurolgpanasonicpioneerplasmasamsungWed, 13 May 2009 14:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Panasonic DMR-BS850 Blu-ray DVR gets reviewed]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/05/11/panasonic-dmr-bs850-blu-ray-dvr-gets-reviewed/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/05/11/panasonic-dmr-bs850-blu-ray-dvr-gets-reviewed/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/05/11/panasonic-dmr-bs850-blu-ray-dvr-gets-reviewed/#comments
Infuriatingly restrictive DRM aside, Panasonic's FreeSat+ Blu-ray burning DVR brings some new capabilities to the UK, apparently enough to impress Home Cinema Choice. A few downsides, like ITV marking its HD broadcasts Copy Never preventing any disc backups, and an inability to connect to other devices on the network didn't take away its DVR features, h.264 compression capabilities and solid Blu-ray playback. Of course the entry price for the DMR-BS850 is high, but take a look at the rest of their notes before deciding whether or not all those arrows and padlocks are worth the trouble.

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Panasonic DMR-BS850 Blu-ray DVR gets reviewed originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 11 May 2009 14:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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