Panasonic unleashes seven new point and shoots, plethora of camcorders

It’s official: Panasonic‘s just confirmed all those cams we saw leaked a few days back (and added a few more). On offer, its got the Lumix FS33 and FS30, both 14 megapixel affairs with 8x image-stabilized zoom lenses, HD video recording at 720p. The FS33 boasts a 3-inch touchscreen display while the FS30 has a 2.7-inch LCD. Next up are the slim FP1, FP2 and FP3. The FP1 is a 12 megapixel cam, while the FP2 and FP3 are both 14 megapixels. All three have 4x image-stabilized zoom lenses, and the FP3’s got a 3-inch touchscreen, and the FP2 and FP3 boast 2.7-inch LCDs. Finally we’ve got the FS10 and FS11, both packing 8mm wide angle 5x zoom lenses. The FS10’s got a 12 megapixel sensor, while the FS11’s got a 14 megapixel sensor. No details on pricing or availability yet. Hit the read more to hear all about the camcorder action and to see a very busy gallery of photos.

Continue reading Panasonic unleashes seven new point and shoots, plethora of camcorders

Panasonic unleashes seven new point and shoots, plethora of camcorders originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DirecTV 3D broadcasts officially announced, coming in June

Buried in Panasonic’s flood of CES 2010 announcements is the official confirmation that DirecTV will be first in the U.S. to offer 3D TV. The three dedicated channels (PPV, DirecTV On Demand and a free 3D sample demo) offered at launch will be “presented by Panasonic” for the first year they’re on-air and available to all DirecTV HD customers via a software upgrade. Additional content partners include AEG/AEG Digital Media, CBS, Fox Sports/FSN, Golden Boy Promotions, HDNet, MTV, NBC Universal and Turner Broadcasting System — are we the only ones hoping the Mayweather/Pacquiao bout gets pushed back and broadcast in 3D?

DirecTV 3D broadcasts officially announced, coming in June originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG GW990 phone busted running Moorestown with heaps of want

Giving MIDs a hard time is like gadget sport around here. The idea of a device that doesn’t fit in the pocket but costs more than twice the price of a netbook is just too much to stomach as a general use device. But look at that MID up there… just look at it. That’s the LG GW990 running Intel’s future Moorestown CPU. Granted, the pics were grabbed in a rush (of a device behind glass) while dodging security batons (the CES showfloor hasn’t opened). But where the images fall short the specs amply pick up the slack: Moorestown CPU, 4.8-inch panoramic widescreen display, HD Video, 3D gaming, aGPS, WiFi, 1850mAh battery, digital compass, HSPA radio, and 5 megapixel camera. And if we’re not mistaken, that’s an earpiece at the top of the front face that should allow this to be used as a telephone (VoIP presumably). There’s also an interesting 3-panel view when held in landscape mode giving you independent access to 3 segmented displays (like calendar, media player, and GPS maps) all at the same time. Man, this could be the MID we’ve been waiting for ever since we first saw that sexy Silverthorne prototype. But lets wait for the price and availability before getting too excited, eh?

Continue reading LG GW990 phone busted running Moorestown with heaps of want

LG GW990 phone busted running Moorestown with heaps of want originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Live from Sony’s CES 2010 press event

We’re here at Sony’s CES press event — we’re expecting some more 3D TV action and maybe some Blu-ray news, but we’ll find out what’s going down soon enough.

Continue reading Live from Sony’s CES 2010 press event

Live from Sony’s CES 2010 press event originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG’s LTE-packing M13 spied in the flesh, we still can’t tell what it is

It’s totally understandable that we couldn’t figure out what this LTE / EV-DO dual-mode thingy from LG was when it cleared the FCC; they had the choicest documentation under lockdown and we couldn’t make heads or tails of what we were reading apart from a cryptic line-art diagram of the bottom and a few RF tests. What’s odd, though, is that we still can’t figure out what it is — and this time, we’re looking right at the blasted thing. It supports Band XIII LTE, which would be Verizon’s 700MHz spectrum (wink, wink), but seriously, we have no idea what it’s supposed to do. It looks kind of like a tiny netbook with a Viewty embedded in the top, but it doesn’t look like the phone pops out; we suppose it could be the fanciest external modem ever made, and the 3.5mm jack suggests that it’d probably have some media functionality when it’s disconnected from your PC. Any other guesses?

LG’s LTE-packing M13 spied in the flesh, we still can’t tell what it is originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zii Labs and ARM team up for SiVO home media devices

Remember CES last year, when Creative debuted the Zii and — true to its marketing pitch — everything you know changed? Looks like the company (in the form of its subsidiary, ZiiLabs) is teaming up with ARM this go ’round to further blow minds with its new SiVO Digital Home Platform. Harnessing the newly released Zii Labs ZMS-08 (not to mention ARM’s 1GHz Cortex-A8 processor), the digital media hub boasts 1080p HDTV playback, 3D graphics, support for all your favorite media (including H.264, H.263, XVid and DivX, WMV9/VC1, MP3, WMA8 lossless, AAC-LC, and FLAC), web browser, Adobe Flash Player 10, and Adobe AIR. If you’re an OEM, ODM, or just a huge fan of Stem Cell computing, you’re in luck — this bad boy is making its debut this week in LV. PR after the break.

Continue reading Zii Labs and ARM team up for SiVO home media devices

Zii Labs and ARM team up for SiVO home media devices originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic’s 152-Inch 3D Plasma the Biggest TV Yet

Panasonic’s 152-inch TV just hit and it’s got 4k by 2k resolution, 3D support and several technologies that speed up display and optimize it for displaying 3D by reducing cross talk. Not that you’ll be able to afford one.

It’ll be about the size of the 150-incher above, plus two inches.

The quad luminous tech brings plasma pictures to full brightness in 1/4th the time, so fast refreshes don’t compromise picture intensity and they’ve managed to refresh pictures frame at a time instead of line at a time, so that alternating right/left images presented for 3D don’t suffer from the double effect that some displays show. All in theory.

Panasonic Develops World’s Largest 152-Inch Full HD 3D Plasma Display

The ultra-large, 4K x 2K quadruple full HD plasma panel creates a true full HD 3D world, delivering an overwhelming immersive experience

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Panasonic Corporation, a world leader in the HDTV technology, has developed the world’s largest(1) 152-inch 4K x 2K definition Full HD 3D plasma display. The display features a revolutionary new plasma display panel (PDP) Panasonic developed with its new super-efficient quadruple luminous efficiency technology(2). The technology enhances PDP’s unique advantages as self-illuminating device, contributing to delivering an overwhelming immersive experience to viewers. The Panasonic 152-inch Full HD 3D PDP creates a true Full HD 3D world by faithfully reproducing 3D content such as Hollywood 3D movie titles(11).

Self-illuminating plasma panels offer excellent response to moving images with full movition picture resolution(3), making them suitable for rapid 3D image display. By employing the newly-developed ultra high-speed 3D drive technology, which adopts the super-efficient quadruple luminous efficiency technology, the new panel achieves a higher illuminating speed, about one fourth the speed of conventional Full HD panels(4). This technology enables high-quality Full HD 3D display on the ultra large 152-inch 4K x 2K (4,096 x 2,160 pixels) panel.

The panel also incorporates a crosstalk reduction technology, essential for producing clear 3D images. Compared to other display technologies that use line-at-a-time driving method(5), PDPs use frame-at-a-time driving method(6) that gives PDP TVs an advantage in crosstalk reduction in principle. Panasonic has successfully developed a unique technology to minimize double-image that occurs when left- and right-eye images are switched alternately. The development has resulted in the 3D compatible plasma display that can render clear and smooth high-quality pictures by accurately reproducing video sources.

The ultra-large 152-inch Full HD 3D PDP, which delivers true 3D movie-theater experience, follows the development of the industry’s first 103-inch Class size Full HD 3D PDP Panasonic introduced in 2008(7) and the home theater size 50-inch Class Full HD 3D PDP in 2009(8).

This year, which is really the first year of 3D Television, 3D TVs are expected to accelerate the growth of the flat-panel television market by providing new values to customers.

Television has evolved over the years through technological innovations. It started as a device to produce images to be simply watched and then it became a tool when connectivity with other AV devices is added. Now, with the 3D technology, it has developed into a device that delivers an immersive viewing experience, moving into literally an era of “next dimension.”

Panasonic launches its first Full HD 3D TVs in 2010 with PDP technology, which is highly suitable for 3D TVs, to offer the utmost picture quality. Panasonic’s new 3D TVs will deliver a true full HD 3D quality to create new and exciting television experiences.

Because 3D plasma displays can reproduce highly realistic images, they are considered ideal not only for home theater use but also for a wide variety of uses such as business, medical, education and commercial applications.

Panasonic will make the First Year of 3D Television as a springboard to boost its popularity, capitalizing on the company’s ability to offer complete end-to-end solutions from professional 3D camcorders and Blu-ray Disc authoring service to consumer use 3D TVs and displays and 3D-enabled Blu-ray Disc players.

Furthermore, Panasonic strives to accelerate the spread of 3D products and drive growth in the flat-panel television market, focusing on the development of a 3D infrastructure including 3D content through increased cooperation with Hollywood studios and broadcasters. The company hopes to contribute to the enhancement of 3D related business and the development of a new industry, which may be called 3D economic system that can be brought about through interactions among the related businesses.

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

< Key Features of the new Full HD 3D PDP >

1. Newly developed ultra high-speed 3D drive technology enables 3D display on ultra-large (152-inch), super high resolution (4K x 2K) panels

Using the super-efficient quadruple luminous efficiency technology, Panasonic developed 3D ultra high-speed drive technology. Compared to the conventional full HD panels(4), the technology allows the new panel to achieve the same brilliance at about one-fourth speed. The new 152-inch panel also uses a new technology that enables even and stable discharge. Thanks to this discharge technology, the new panel can provide full HD images for left and right eyes formed with twice the volume of information as regular full HD images across the vast expanse of the screen equivalent to nine 50-inch panels with super high resolution (4,096 x 2,160) – four times the full HD (1,920 x 1,080) specification – while maintaining the brightness.

The new advanced PDP delivers high-quality 3D images, with virtually infinite 5,000,000:1(9) contrast ratio, accurate color reproduction and subtle gradation tones, on the ultra-large screen. With characters in the screen approach the viewers in life size, the new panel creates an overwhelmingly immersive experience.

2. Cross-talk reduction enables clear, high-definition 3D images

Because displaying 3D images involves alternate displays of left- and right-eye images, reducing the overlap (cross-talk) between these images is essential for high-quality 3D images. Unlike 3D LCD panels that use line by line scanning method, PDPs use frame-sequential method that displays images frame by frame very quickly, giving PDPs a tremendous advantage in crosstalk reduction. Incorporating newly-developed phosphors with short luminescence decay time – one third the time of conventional phosphors(4) – as well as illumination control technology, the cross-talk reduction technology has succeeded in minimizing double images.

Enhancing the video reproduction capability of PDP, which has full moving picture resolution, the technology enables crisp and clear, high-quality 3D images by faithfully reproducing video sources.

3. Full HD x 2 frame sequential method

To reproduce 3D images, the new PDP uses the full HD x 2 frame(10) sequential method that displays time sequential images, alternately reproducing discrete full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) images for the left and right eyes on the display frame by frame. By adopting the method which is used in showing Hollywood 3D films in theaters, the new panel accurately reproduces high-quality 3D images in the living room.

Panasonic blows it out with 3D Blu-ray deck, HDTVs, channels and $21k camcorder

Had enough of the CES barrage? Nah. Panasonic just cut loose a few new releases of its own, with the highlight of the bunch being the planet’s first integrated Full HD 3D camcorder. Dubbed a “professional” device, the camcorder won’t be available to order until April, and it’s expected to make the filming of 3D content easier due to having the camcorder itself, the lenses, camera head and a twin memory card recorder smashed together in a single body. Users will also find stereoscopic adjustment controls on the twin-lens, solid state-based system, and we’re told that it’ll automatically recalibrate itself sans the need for any external equipment. ‘Course, the $21,000 MSRP is apt to turn away most everyone not being financed by a movie house, but hey, at least we’re fairly certain it’ll be reduced to a few bills by 2012. In related news, Panny is also partnering with DirecTV to launch a trio of dedicated 3D channels starting in June, and the two are already in talked with AEG, CBS, Fox Sports, HDNet, MTV, NBC Universal and TBS to develop additional 3D programming that’ll debut between 2010 to 2011.

Oh, and you’ll obviously need a new setup to view said content, and that’s where Panny comes in (again). The outfit unleashed a new range of 3D-capable (thanks, RealD!) Viera plasma HDTVs and Blu-ray 3D players, and all it takes to enjoy mind-melting 3D content in the comfort of your abode is “a stylish and lightweight pair of active-shutter glasses.” Oh, joy. The complete line will be fleshed out later this Spring, with screen sizes ranging from 50- to 65-inches. In one of the most brilliant moves of the show, Panny’s also including just a single set of 3D glasses with its multi-thousand dollar televisions, which is sure to leave a bitter taste in the mouth of Sir Buyer who has to plop down an extra hundie or two to get specs for the whole family. At any rate, the DMP-BDT350 Blu-ray player will handle 1080p content in both the second and third dimension. The last bit is new partnerships with Netflix, Skype, Twitter and Pandora (among other outlets), all of which are being added to the Viera Cast library that’s accessible on select Blu-ray players and HDTVs. Catch the full rundown after the break… if you dare.

Continue reading Panasonic blows it out with 3D Blu-ray deck, HDTVs, channels and $21k camcorder

Panasonic blows it out with 3D Blu-ray deck, HDTVs, channels and $21k camcorder originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World’s First 3D Camcorder Will Cost $21,000 This Fall

Earlier this year, Panasonic shared a dual-lensed 3D camcorder concept with the world. Today, they showed off a new iteration, which will be available…sometime, they promised. UPDATE



More info reveals that the system is “full HD” (1920×1080) and uses simple SDHC/SD cards for recording…a medium that seems like such underkill for the price, but then again, SD cards are basically the most plentiful, cost-effective storage in existence.

But in terms of nitty gritty details like codecs? We’ll have to wait.

Panasonic Unveils World’s First Integrated Full HD 3D Camcorder at CES 2010

Available In Fall 2010 – Solid-State Recording System Will Offer Highly-Efficient Full HD 3D Video Production

LAS VEGAS, Nev., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) will release the world’s first* professional, fully-integrated Full HD 3D camcorder in Fall 2010. The company will begin taking orders in April. Engineering samples of the professional Full HD 3D solid-state camcorder will be exhibited at the Panasonic booth (Las Vegas Convention Center, Main Hall, #9405) at the 2010 International CES in Las Vegas, USA, from January 7-10.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100106/NY33307)

This Full HD 3D camcorder will offer the following core benefits:

Easier to Use

Current 3D systems are large-scale setups in which two cameras are fitted to a rig in parallel, or vertically intersect across a half-mirror. Separate recorders are also required. In Panasonic’s new Full HD 3D camcorder, the lenses, camera head, and a dual Memory Card recorder are integrated into a single, lightweight body. The camcorder also incorporates stereoscopic adjustment controls making it easier to use and operate.

The twin-lens system adopted in the camcorder’s optical section allows the convergence point** to be adjusted. Functions for automatically correcting horizontal and vertical displacement are also provided. Conventional 3D camera systems require these adjustments to be made by means of a PC or an external video processor. This new camcorder, however, will automatically recalibrate without any need for external equipment, allowing immediate 3D image capture.

More Flexible

The solid-state memory file-based recording system offers greater flexibility to produce Full HD 3D videos in more challenging shooting environments. The camcorder is lighter weight and smaller than current 3D rigs, while providing the flexibility of handheld-style shooting. Setup and transportation is simplified, making it ideal for sports, documentary and filmmaking projects.

Solid-State Reliability and Workflow

Right and left Full HD video streams of the twin-lens 3D camcorder can be recorded as files on SDHC/SD Memory Cards, ensuring higher reliability than on other tape, optical disc, HDD or other mechanical-based recording systems. This solid-state, no-moving-parts design will help significantly reduce maintenance costs, and the 3D camcorder will be better able to perform in extreme environments and be more resistant to temperature extremes, shock, and vibration.

And users will enjoy a fast, highly-productive file-based workflow, with instant, random access to recorded content; easy plug-in to both Mac and PC-based platforms; and longer recording capacity.

More Affordable

Using a standardized, fully integrated design, the Full HD 3D camcorder will be offered at a much lower price than traditional 3D rigs. Transportation expenses for this handheld unit will be less and faster setup times reduce labor costs. Using standard, re-recordable SDHC/SD Memory Cards available already everywhere, media costs become almost insignificant.

In addition to a camcorder, Panasonic also plans to offer a professional-quality 3D Full HD LCD monitor for field use as well as a professional HD digital AV mixer for live event production. Panasonic will offer professional production equipment to allow video professionals to efficiently create 3D content, so consumers can enjoy 3D video using Panasonic 3D home theater systems.

Major Specifications (tentative)

* Product Name: Twin-lens Full HD 3D camcorder (made-to-order)
* Suggested Retail Price for Main Unit: $21,000
* Available: Fall 2010 (made to order)
* Power Consumption: Under 19 W (main unit only)
* Weight: Under 3 kg (main unit only)
* Recording Media: SDHC/SD Memory Card

* As an integrated twin-lens Full HD 3D camcorder capable of recording Full HD 3D video to Memory Cards. As of January 2010 (based on our investigation)

** The point at which the left and right-camera lenses’ optical axes converge

Samsung’s 2010 LCDs & plasmas include the skinny, touchscreen remote controlled LED 900

Samsung’s just gushed its 2010 TV lineup, and chief among the troops is the 9000 series LED with built-in proprietary 3D processor and, more importantly, full support for a full color touchscreen remote control, integrated with WiFi and IR. Paired with the ultra-slim 9000 series (right), you can watch broadcast directly from the handheld and swipe it to the TV to enjoy. The 8000 and 7000 series also enjoy 3D capabilities, as does the 750 LCD set. Left out of the 3D fun? The 6500 LED and 650 LCD models — sorry gang. All models are reportedly Energy Star 4.0 compliant and the premium ones also come with Internet@Home with apps including Netflix. All the press releases after the break.

Continue reading Samsung’s 2010 LCDs & plasmas include the skinny, touchscreen remote controlled LED 900

Samsung’s 2010 LCDs & plasmas include the skinny, touchscreen remote controlled LED 900 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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