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Panasonic
World’s first portable Blu-ray player claims a second first
By Darren Quick
03:16 June 17, 2009 PDT
The Panasonic DMP-B15, the world’s first portable Blu-ray player that first caught our interest at CES 2009, can lay claim to another first. It is also the world’s first Blu-ray player with DivX Certification. DivX compression technology enables over six hours of high-quality DivX video to fit on just one DVD without sacrificing visual quality. So even if your Blu-ray library is a little undersized, you might have to go for the optional 6-hour battery over the standard issue 3-hour job to make the most of your programming options. Read More
Panasonic releases 'two of the world’s lightest HD camcorders'
By Darren Quick
00:46 June 15, 2009 PDT
At just 0.5 lbs each, Panasonic's two new high definition (HD) camcorders are almost half the weight of the company's first AVCHD offering released in 2006 which tipped the scales at just under a pound. While a pound may not sound like much anyway, any weight loss in a device that may need to be carried at eye level for extended periods of time is good news for tired arms everywhere. Read More
Panasonic's world-first portable Blu-ray player hits US shelves
By David Greig
00:48 June 3, 2009 PDT
The world’s first portable Blu-ray disc player, the Panasonic DMP-B15, showcased at this year's CES bash in Las Vegas, has finally it made it onto US shelves – with a price tag of USD$799.95. Read More
Toyota F1 team puts hardware up for sale
By Mike Hanlon
18:32 May 28, 2009 PDT
Despite a propensity to eat its own, Formula One is still the globe’s most watched sporting series, and its merchandising machine is evident on the streets of every country in the world. The t-shirt, cap and key-ring knock-off makers will have a hard time replicating the latest offerings from the Toyota Panasonic F1 team though. The company has begun selling the used high-tech parts from its racing cars. A complete rear wing, engine cover and underbody section, virtually half a car, can be had for just UKP4,400 – we suspect some very realistic game console accessories will emanate soon due to this very clever move. “While stocks last” promises to be an apt sales pitch as F1 nutters rush to snap up the bargains. Read More
Panasonic unveils Fukitorimushi: a worm-like robot for cleaning floors
By Paul Best
20:28 May 10, 2009 PDT
Panasonic has shown off its robotic worm that cleans as it inches its way across the floor. Tagged the Fukitorimushi, which roughly translates as “wipe-up bug”, the robotic floor-sweeper is covered in a patented nanocloth – called Nanofront – made up of thousands of polyester filament fibers that can pick up extremely fine dust conventional cleaners leave behind – at least according to its makers. Read More
Panasonic 2009 TV range wrap-up
By Darren Quick
00:40 May 7, 2009 PDT
Although LCD has been clearly outselling plasmas TVs in recent times, plasma still maintains a number of advantages over its rival format, most notably in contrast ratio. So while some manufacturers, such as Pioneer, have ceased making plasma panels, Panasonic is persisting, with plans to launch 11 new VIERA plasma models this year. Although the company understands the value of LCD, too, with nine LCD models included in the 2009 VIERA TV line-up. Read More
Panasonic shows slimline prototype plasmas
By Darren Quick
01:58 May 1, 2009 PDT
Panasonic is giving Australian consumers a glimpse of future plasma display technologies first showcased at CES 2009. The two 50-inch prototype plasma TVs demonstrate next generation improvements to materials and processes, cell design, and circuit and drive technology, resulting in less energy consumption and twice the luminous efficiency of earlier models, all in an ultra-thin 8.8mm thick package. Read More
Panasonic climbs aboard Hollywood's 3D roller coaster
By Darren Quick
01:21 April 29, 2009 PDT
While the popularity of 3D movies has had more ups and downs than a roller coaster, the technology is experiencing a resurgence in popularity with Hollywood scrambling to generate more 3D content. The latest manufacturer taking the ride up is Panasonic. The electronics giant has announced it will start developing a professional 3D Full HD production system consisting of a twin-lens P2 professional camera recorder and a 3D-compatible High Definition Plasma display. Read More
Bang & Olufsen's BeoVision 4-103 plasma: 500 kilos, 103 inches, USD$123,000
By Mike Hanlon
01:12 March 20, 2009 PDT
March 20, 2009 Danish design company Bang & Olufsen has gone mega with its BeoVision 4 HDTV, formerly available in 50 and 65 inch versions, and announced the BeoVision 4-103 – a 103 inch plasma that weighs in at 500 kgs and will sell for GBP 85,000 (USD 123,000) when it hits showrooms in June. The screen is manufactured by Panasonic, but comes with a host of B&O picture improvement and home theatre technologies, the usual B&O knock-out styling and functionality, and a motorized stand that can be used to adjust the viewing angle and rotate the display, plus a motorized centre channel speaker which moves up and down so it can be concealed when not in use. Read More
The era of digital signage approaches
By Mike Hanlon
06:06 March 9, 2009 PDT
With large screen prices dropping dramatically due to mass production, digital signs are now at a price point where they make sense as a cost-efficient communication medium for a variety of applications across retail, hospitality, tourism, public transport, trade shows and out-of-home advertising. Panasonic released three Full High Definition (FHD) commercial Plasma panels this week, topped by a 1920 x 1080p 58 incher with 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, a 100,000 hour life span and a front panel of tempered glass for protection in hostile public places. The screens can simultaneously display two different AV sources and hook together 25 at a time as multi-screen systems. Read More
Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GH1 features 1080p video capture
17:54 March 5, 2009 PST
Panasonic's freshly unveiled Lumix DMC-GH1 joins the growing list of prosumer digital SLR models capable of capturing HD video - in this case full HD (1920 x 1080) video at 24 fps or HD video (1280 x 720) at 60 fps backed by a specially designed 14-140mm lens featuring low-noise and continuous auto focusing (AF) capability. Read More
Blu-ray licensing changes offer hope for cheaper players and discs
By Darren Quick
20:34 February 26, 2009 PST
Even though Blu-ray has claimed the honors in the format war with HD DVD, it has failed to set the world on fire in terms of widespread adoption. One of the major factors for this slow uptake can be attributed to the high prices of not only Blu-ray players and recorders, but also the discs themselves. But plans announced by Sony, Panasonic and Philips to create a simplified licensing process for Blu-ray discs could see this change. Read More
Panasonic Toughbooks get upgrade
By Darren Quick
02:14 February 2, 2009 PST
Pansonic’s Toughbook 30 clamshell rugged laptop and its Toughbook 19 rugged convertible tablet computer have both received upgrades that include 1,000 nit LCDs, circular polarization technology and anti-glare (AG) plus anti-reflective (AR) screen treatments to enhance screen viewability as well as improved security and remote management thanks to Intel Centrino 2 with vPro technology, expanded memory capabilities, 40% longer battery lives, larger capacity hard drives, and optional SSDs. Read More
Panasonic’s Urban Collection massage chairs
By Jude Garvey
16:57 February 1, 2009 PST
Panasonic have released their new Urban Collection massage chairs with the promise of the ultimate massage in a package that still blends in with your existing décor. Each chair has four pre-set programs and eight manual modes which gives the user a possible 44 different massage combinations. If you are pressed for time you might choose the five-minute program which incorporates all eight manual modes or you can sit back and relax with a Swedish or Shiatsu massage. Read More
Panasonic's 3D Full HD TV system
By Darren Quick
22:42 January 28, 2009 PST
With the head of LG Display recently quoted as saying that flat-panel LCD prices have bottomed, the world's electronics manufacturers are looking for the next big thing to keep the coffers ticking over. With a number of companies rolling out various 3D TV technologies over the years, it’s obvious that many think that this will be the next big thing. Panasonic is one such company that has spent a lot of time and money investing in 3DTV. The fruit of its labor: the world’s first 3D Full HD (3DFHD) Plasma Home Theater System. Read More
Tough new compact among Panasonic's 2009 camcorder offerings
21:04 January 26, 2009 PST
Designed to keep up when your weekend exploits get a little rough, Panasonic's new SDR-SW21 compact camcorder is dustproof, waterproof up to 6.5 feet (in both fresh and salt water) and shockproof enough to sustain a 4-foot drop. Due for release in April at a price of around the USD$400 mark, the SDR-SW21 records to SD/SDHC Memory Cards and includes a 0.6 second quick-start recording feature. Read More
Panasonic's Zirconia in-ear headphones for audiophiles
By Darren Quick
22:30 January 22, 2009 PST
Home shoppers have long been aware of the miraculous properties of Zirconia of the cubic variety. Now audiophiles can discover these wonders through Panasonic’s high fidelity in-ear headphones, which promise ultra-clear sound reproduction with virtually no distortion thanks to a sound chamber made of Zirconia, which has less resonance than plastic or aluminum. Read More
World’s first portable Blu-ray player
By Mike Hanlon
15:38 January 10, 2009 PST
Panasonic introduced the world’s first portable Blu-ray Disc player at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show and it’s not as lame as you might at first think. It’s already copped criticism for being pointless , but there’s more to it than being able to watch Blu-ray disks on an 8.9 inch WSVGA screen for three hours. Plug it into an Ethernet connection and you have movies on demand via VIERA CAST and BD-Live, plug it into a HDTV and you have a standalone Blu-ray Disc player, and if connected to an HD-Audio compatible AV receiver with a home theater speaker system it delivers outstanding surround sound too. As it has an SD Memory Card slot it becomes a convenient reviewer of digital photos, as well as a player for HD video recorded on an SD card. There’s even an optional headrest mounting bracket for in-car use, which makes this a mighty useful tool whether you have children or not. Read More
Load video and MP3s while charging your Electric Car
By Paul Evans
14:43 January 2, 2009 PST
Panasonic plans to unveil a networking system that can exchange data between an electric car and home devices via electrical wiring at January's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The electric car networking prototype allows people and devices inside the home to check on an electric vehicle while it is being recharged. It will be one of several research developments on show at the HD-PLC Alliance stand in the Las Vegas Convention Center's South Hall, Panasonic says. Other prototypes will include an HD-PLC adapter for a security camera and an electrical monitoring system. Read More
Panasonic improves Toughbook
By Kyle Sherer
11:28 July 17, 2008 PDT
Panasonic’s Toughbook has been given a substantial boost in capability. The desktop replacement CF-52 and field-use CF-74 have been given new Intel Centrino 2 processors, expanded graphics capabilities, 160GB of hard drive space, and 802.11 Draft N Wi-Fi connectivity. The rugged Toughbooks are resistant to shocks, spills, dust, and vibration. Read More
Panasonic launches new Blu-ray/DVD range
By Darren Quick
23:31 June 25, 2008 PDT
The DMR-BW500i can record up to 72 hours of Full High Definition 1080p recording onto the built in 500GB Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or 6 hours 40 min on a 50GB double layer Blu-ray Disc. In addition to video, it can record 5.1-channel Dolby Digital surround sound broadcasts and Blu-ray movies are played in studio-master quality at a frame rate of 24 frames per second. Read More
Robot climbs 1640-foot cliff at Grand Canyon
By Darren Quick
21:34 May 25, 2008 PDT
May 26, 2008 Panasonic have sent a 17-centimeter tall, 130-gram robot up a 1738 foot (530m) length of rope suspended next to a 1640 foot (500m) cliff at the Grand Canyon. The PR stunt was designed to showcase the endurance of the Evolta AA alkaline battery, which the Guinness Book of World Records recently recognized as the longest-lasting of its kind. Powered by two Evoltas, the robot reached the top after 6 hours and 45 minutes. Read More
Panasonic upgrades its rugged Toughbook 19 Tablet PC
By Darren Quick
02:03 March 29, 2008 PDT
March 29, 2008 Panasonic has introduced upgrades to its Toughbook 19 rugged convertible tablet computer. The next generation Toughbook 19F convertible tablet PC joins Panasonic’s flagship Toughbook 30F clamshell notebook with its incorporation of the Core 2 Duo processor and expanded memory capabilities, (1GB SDRAM standard, upgradeable up to 4GB). The 5.1 lb Toughbook 19 also offers an optional integrated 2MP camera for use in inspection and incident documentation applications for which the convertible tablet has become widely deployed in military, government and commercial applications. Read More
Panasonic to release 32GB SDHC Memory Card
19:36 February 12, 2008 PST
February 13, 2008 The options for consumers looking to boost storage capacity for their increasingly sophisticated Camcorders just keep getting better. In the latest development, Panasonic has announced it will release a 32 Gigabyte SD High Capacity (SDHC) Memory Card with Class 6 speed specification in April 2008. Read More
Panasonic's gargantuan 150-inch plasma display
23:48 January 7, 2008 PST
January 8, 2008 The size of nine 50" plasma screens combined, the world’s largest advanced high definition (HD) plasma display panel has been unveiled by Panasonic at the 2008 International CES. The prototype 150-inch PDP features an 8.84 million pixel resolution (2,160 x 4,096), an effective viewing area of 11 ft (3.31 m) wide x 6 1/4 ft (1.87 m) high 103-inch PDP and boasts true-to-life color reproduction and quick response with the same brightness as the then record breaking 103-inch PDP shown at the same event a year ago. The 150" plasma is one of several prototypes in the PDP field being presented by the company at the CES. These include a 42-inch panel with "double efficiency technology" that halves energy consumption compared with previous Panasonic panels and a one-inch super-thin 50-inch PDP. Read More
Robert Ferry
- July 3, 2009 @ 15:42 UTC
