Panasonic

October 3, 2007 Panasonic has released a Blu-ray disc recorder with a stonking 1-terabyte hard drive built in. That’s a mind-warping 381 hours of full HD video.  Read More

August 31, 2007 Panasonic today unveiled its second digital single-lens reflex camera (SLR) the DMC-L10. The DMC-L10 features an advanced 2.5-inch free angle Live View LCD which can rotate 270 degrees, enabling versatile shooting options, and making it easy and convenient to shoot from high or low angles. There’s also a 10.1-megapixel Live MOS Sensor, the company’s Venus Engine III image processor, face detection technology, dust reduction using a Supersonic Wave Filter system and the camera uses the open format of Four Thirds lens mount system. Most importantly, it’s a significant step for Panasonic, so we’ve added the company’s launch powerpoint presentation to the image library in its entirety.  Read More

August 8, 2007 Canon’s new HG10 Hard Disk Drive Camcorder is the latest to use the Advanced Video Codec High Definition format which was introduced by Sony and Panasonic in 2006 and offers greater compression than HDV and MiniDV. The hard disk drive HG10 records up to 15 hours of HD footage and features a 10x HD Video lens, an HD CMOS image sensor, Canon’s proprietary DIGIC DV II Image Processor, SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization and Instant Auto Focus.  Read More

August 7, 2007 Ten years ago the release of the first digital camera to have one-megapixel resolution under US$1000 was cause for celebration. In two years time, manufacturers had comfortably doubled that resolution and by 2001, it had doubled again... and the trend continues unabated into 2007 with the latest 8.1 megapixel release from Panasonic - the LUMIX DMC-FZ18. Though not matching Fujifilm's recent 12-megapixel F50fd in resolution, the DMC-FZ18 boasts 18x optical zoom – six times the average zoom of one year ago - and has a raft of other features including face detection and image stabilization.  Read More

June 28, 2007 Panasonic's AG-HVX200 digital video camera exploded onto the pro-sumer scene 12 months ago, cramming the features and high definition picture quality of a $100,000 movie camera into a US$5,995 package with some key advantages of its own. A truly ground-breaking product, the HVX featured variable frame rates between 24 and 60 frames per second for true slow motion, 4 channel audio, multiple resolutions and formats, and a solid-state P2 flash memory system to replace tape and disc recording and revolutionize the editing process. Enthusiastically received by TV producers, film schools and independent filmmakers worldwide, HVX units have also been snapped up by Oscar-brandishing directors like Peter Jackson, James Cameron and Francis Ford Coppola. Gizmag takes a look at what makes this camera so special, and some accessories that take the Panasonic HVX well into pro video territory.  Read More

June 5, 2007 In an important product announcement, Panasonic has extended its Toughbook mobile computer range to include a semi-rugged, wireless-ready desktop replacement notebook, the Toughbook 52. Built on the new Santa Rosa chipset from Intel, the Toughbook 52 offers all the processing power of a desktop replacement notebook in a form factor engineered from the ground up for mobility and making sure your window to the world remains in pristine order thanks to embedded 3G access. The 15.4 inch widescreen laptop can withstand drops of up to 2.5 feet on all six sides, has a spill-resistant keyboard, six hours of battery life and a removable hard drive which can handle a drop of three feet. The MIL-SPEC-certified notebook incorporates magnesium alloy cases, flexible internal connectors and shock-mounted hard drives and LCDs.  Read More

September 4, 2006 Japanese giant Panasonic (AKA Matsushita) has come up with yet another variation on the theme of seamlessly connecting the home stereo system with the portable audio player, specifically, it’s own D-snap. The SX850D-dock minicomponent audio system combines an SD card slot, 160GB hard drive, and a CD drive, so it’s possible to copy audio CDs to SDHC cards, record them direct to the hard drive, or connect it to your home network and load files from your PC. As it contains an on-board Gracenote database with auto recognition and track, artist and album info, users will never have to enter album information manually. Available later this week in Japan, the 160 GB SX850D-dock will cost JPY80,000 (US$690), while a lesser 80GB SX450 model will sell for JPY39,000 (US$340).  Read More

June 16, 2006 Panasonic Direct is making available the world's finest high definition art and photography for use on Panasonic HDTVs through its newest web-based service, the Panasonic HD Image Gallery, it was announced yesterday. The Panasonic HD Image Gallery features an extensive library of downloadable HD image collections powered by GalleryPlayer. The content available includes masterpieces from Monet, DaVinci, and Andy Warhol to photographic imagery from National Geographic, Time Life, and 30 other leading content partners.  Read More

April 23, 2006 Worldwide demand for plasma TV screens is expected to top 25 million units in 2010 – plasma displays are just that much bigger for the price. Accordingly, we have a market shaping up as a wonderful contest between the world’s largest plasma manufacturers. Prior to 2006, LG and Samsung had both displayed 102 inch not-for sale plasmas, but in January at CES, Panasonic unveiled a 103 inch and claimed the heavyweight championship. Now, Panasonic has decided to put the 103-inch screen into production. Yes folks, you’ll actually be able to buy one before the end of the year though no price has been mentioned just yet. We think this will signal a declaration of war in the very large display market as the highly competitive Korean companies LG and Samsung love to play “mine’s bigger than yours” and can be expected to focus attention on the area.  Read More