Hasta La Gadget!

Another day, another couple of Panasonic HD camcorders. This pair may not be the make the same “world’s lightest” (with an asterisk) claims as the entrants we saw yesterday, but each sports a dubious record of their own. First is the HDC-TM30 (pictured after the break), another “world’s lightest” cam, this one with the caveat that, at 227 grams, it’s the lightest with 32GB of internal storage. It sports a 16x (44 – 706mm equivalent) optically stabilized zoom ahead of a single CMOS sensor that can record 1080p24 video. The other player, the HDC-TM350 (above), offers a bit more on the quality front and pledges the “world’s largest capacity” full HD camcorder, offering 64GB of storage. That equates to a nigh-ridiculous 16 hours of 1080p24 video shot through a stabilized 12x (45 – 540mm equivalent) lens. It even records 5.1 audio, but with the mics all placed within what looks to be a one square inch patch don’t expect great channel separation here. Both are set for release in late-June for undisclosed (but hopefully non-record-breaking) prices.

[Via Akihabara News]

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

Filed under: Digital Cameras

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

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Finding itself in the odd position of selling a suddenly low-end 103-inch 1080p plasma, Panasonic has responded by cutting the price of the professional model TH-103PF10UK by $20,000 to a mere $50,000. Despite waiting over two years to move to a much more reasonable, mass market price the company has racked up over 6,000 installs of the model, with displays starring at the Democratic National Convention, as virtual air hockey tables, on NBC’s Sunday Night Football and Beijing Olympics studio, TNT’s NBA Playoffs set and more. This seems like a good time to mention the display is also capable of being matrixed in a 5 x 5 video wall — and at these prices, we can’t see why anyone wouldn’t. Of course, they could just be clearing stock to bring out the 150-inch behemoth or a more home oriented TH-103PZ800 model Stateside, so weigh your options carefully.

Filed under: Displays, HDTV

Panasonic slashes price of 103-inch plasma originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 May 2009 08:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plenty of modern cell phones have HD-quality screens on them, but few can manage any sort of high-definition video content at a respectable frame rate. That’s set to change with the release of the Renesas SH7370, a chip we first got wind of back in December with its promise to offer 1080p video at 30fps in a package small (and efficient) enough to be included in a handset. The first units are now shipping to manufacturers, and while the size has increased (it’s about 1cm square vs. the 6.4 x 6.5mm package previously discussed) it’s still impressively small given its functionality: 1080p H.264 video decoding and encoding along with on-chip Dolby Digital 5.1-channel output. Overkill? Maybe for now, but you might change your mind when the first head-mountable satellite speakers with subwoofer seat cushions hit retail.

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Renesas’s 1080p-decoding processor coming soon to a cell phone near you originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 May 2009 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Considering that Epson’s highest-end HTIB is nearly two years old now, we’d say an update was definitely in order. Today, the outfit has just taken the wraps off of its next-generation Ensemble HD Home Cinema, which gets updated by way of including the PowerLite Home Cinema 6100 or Home Cinema 6500 UB. As with the prior kit, these two also include a motorized 100-inch screen, integrated surround sound, AV controller with built-in DVD player, universal remote and all virtually components needed for installation. The only thing that’s glaringly absent is a Blu-ray player, which — at this point — is completely and utterly inexcusable. At any rate, those content with treating themselves to upscaled DVD can fork out $4,999 for the Ensemble HD Home Cinema 720p, $6,499 for the Ensemble HD Home Cinema 6100 and $7,999 for the Ensemble HD Home Cinema 6500 UB.

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment

Epson launches next-gen Ensemble HD Home Cinema System originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You know that 3D bandwagon you’re still hesitant to jump on? We get the feeling that this year’s NAB show may just push you over the top. Shortly after hearing of Fujifilm’s newest P2 memory cards comes this, a conceptual camcorder in which to eventually slot ’em in. Currently, Panasonic’s 3D Full HD Camera Recorder is merely a prototype, but it’s made clear that the company intends to bring this to market as soon as possible. Essentially, the device will boast a twin-lens system for capturing 3D footage natively in 1080p, and all of the video streams will be stored on Panny’s professional P2 cards. It’s hard to say if this would even be useful for 2D shooting on the side, but with practically every major studio at least considering (if not committing to) 3D production, we’d say it’s a solid investment on Panasonic’s part either way.

Filed under: Digital Cameras, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Panasonic developing 1080p twin-lens P2 camcorder for native 3D captures originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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