Panasonic Introduces Full HD 3D Technology

Full HD 3D VIERA(R) Plasma HDTVs and Blu-ray 3D(TM) Player Create Groundbreaking Visual Experience

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Jan 06, 2010, 06:30 ET

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- One year after announcing a major commitment to the development of Full HD 3D television, Panasonic has today made good on its promise by introducing a complete lineup of Full HD 3D consumer products. The new range of Full HD 3D(1)-capable VIERA Plasma HDTVs and a fully-featured Blu-ray 3D(TM) Disc player will bring a new era of immersive visual entertainment into consumers' homes, by creating a 3D experience that easily rivals the best that can be seen in cinemas.

By delivering a full 1080p-resolution image to each eye, Panasonic's Full HD 3D technology offers consumers the highest possible visual experience. To enjoy Full HD 3D programming, users wear a stylish and lightweight pair of active-shutter glasses.

"We've successfully moved from black and white, to color, to high definition television. But immersive, totally realistic 3D imagery has been the final frontier," said Bob Perry, Senior Vice President, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. "With Panasonic's new line of Full HD 3D products, we have now conquered that as well."

Panasonic will launch a complete line of fully-featured Full HD 3D VIERA Plasma HDTVs in spring 2010, at suggested retail prices to be announced at a later date. Models will range in screen size class from 50 to 65-inches; they include the TC-P50VT20 and TC-P50VT25 in 50-inch class screen size (49.9" measured diagonally); the TC-P54VT25 class 54-inch class model (54" measured diagonally); the TC-P58VT25 class 58-inch class model (58" measured diagonally); and the flagship TC-P65VT25 class 65-inch class model (65" measured diagonally); one pair of Panasonic 3D Eyewear is included in above models. Recognizing the innovative quality of the Panasonic Full HD 3D VIERA Plasma HDTV, the Consumer Electronics Association named the Full HD 3D plasma TV a winner of its prestigious 2010 Innovations Award.

Panasonic's new 3D Full HD Blu-ray Disc player, model DMP-BDT350, also received the Consumer Electronics Association's esteemed Innovations Award for its innovative 3D technology. The player outputs stunning, rock-solid, and immersive Full HD 3D imagery to compatible displays. The player also handles a wide variety of audio standards, and upconverts all standard definition video formats to 1080p. The BDT350 will also play standard Blu-ray Discs, DVDs and CDs.

Panasonic first demonstrated its Full HD 3D technology during the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show, to an enthusiastic response from dealers and press alike; since then, thousands of American consumers have had the opportunity to experience Full HD 3D thanks to a fleet of fully-equipped Panasonic Full HD 3D coaches that have toured major cities throughout the nation.

To create the best possible 3D picture, Panasonic has developed new, faster screen phosphors; coupled with its 600Hz sub-field drive, the new displays output alternating imagery at 60 frames per second to each eye. The brain then combines the images and interprets them as 3D.

In addition to its new 3D technologies, each Full HD 3D Plasma model incorporates a rich set of advanced features. VIERA CAST(TM), Panasonic's innovative Internet programming package, gives viewers the ability to access feature films plus information and communication offerings including Amazon Video on Demand(TM), Bloomberg News, Fox Sports, Netflix(TM), and Skype(TM) on Your VIERA TV, among others.

VIERA Link(TM) allows Panasonic owners to control their VIERA Link-compatible audio and video products with just one remote. With VIERA Image Viewer(TM), HD home movies and photos are easily displayed using an accessible SD Memory Card slot with its music slideshow functionality. And THX® Certified Display certification insures that every Panasonic Full HD 3D TV displays motion pictures and television content with exactly the quality and color palette that the director intended.

With Panasonic's demonstrated "eco ideas" commitment to minimize the impact of its products on the environment, all new Full HD 3D plasma panels are designed with an effective screen half-life of 100,000 hours, or over 30 years of TV viewing, eight hours per day. To cut toxic waste when the television does reach the end of its life, all models are manufactured without using mercury or lead.

Panasonic's new Full HD 3D Blu-ray player DMP-BDT350 utilizes groundbreaking technologies incorporated in Panasonic's proprietary UniPhier LSI chip, enabling the player to flawlessly process the large quantity of visual information necessary to create a Full HD 3D image in 1920 x 1080 resolution. Adaptive Chroma Upsampling insures that colors will be faithfully reproduced; and all native digital DVD formats are upscaled to 1080p resolution quality.

The new Full HD 3D Blu-ray player incorporates all features expected in a high-end product, including VIERA Cast Internet link, BD Live, 7.1 channel lossless audio, as well as Dolby® True HD and DTS(TM) HD audio formats. Digital still photographs and HD video can be easily viewed through the player's SD Memory Card slot. And VIERA Link enables all compatible audio and video products to be controlled with one remote.

For more information on Panasonic's Full HD 3D Technology, visit www.panasonic.com/3D.

About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company

Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company (PCEC), a market and technology leader in High Definition television, is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic is pledged to practice prudent, sustainable use of the earth's natural resources and protect our environment through the company's Eco Ideas programs. Information about Panasonic products is available at www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

For more than 20 years, Panasonic has been proud to support the Olympic Movement as an Official Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Audio and Visual Equipment category and, beginning in 2009, in the Digital Imaging category as well. Panasonic has also renewed its partnership with the International Olympic Committee for an additional eight years through the 2016 Summer Games. For more information, visit http://panasonic.net/olympic/.

Notes:

(1) Current 3D content will be limited and may include certain Blu-ray Disc titles and satellite programming. Additional equipment and/or subscription fees may apply. 3D Blu-ray Disc player and discs sold separately. 3D Eyewear required for viewing. One pair included with purchase.

SOURCE Panasonic