CES 2009: Panasonic PDPs Go Super Thin

By TWICE Staff -- TWICE, January 8, 2009

LAS VEGAS — Panasonic is making 3-D technology a big part of its International CES showcase, demonstrating the capability on prototype FullHD 1080p plasma displays using a Panasonic-developed Blu-ray Disc player capable of playing back 3-D Blu-ray Disc movies.

Panasonic also unveiled a number of plasma technology advances, including several approaches that measure less than an inch thick, and continues to work with cable giant Comcast to integrate the CE and cable user experience.

At its booth, the company is operating three 3-D FullHD theaters as it seeks to influence adoption of industry standards for 3-D production, 3-D disc authoring and 3-D playback on high definition television sets.

“3-D in the home will never truly flower unless we have a national standard,” said Bob Perry, newly named executive VP of Panasonic consumer electronics North America. “We believe 3-D changes the world from watching high-resolution television to an immersive experience — you become part of it.”

During its pre-CES press conference here Wednesday, the company presented a filmed testimonial from acclaimed Hollywood director James Cameron offering his positive outlook on the role of 3-D in future movie productions.

Panasonic is also using the technology to reinforce its commitment to plasma display technology, saying that plasma offers one the best ways to present stereoscopic 3-D images in actual Full 1080p resolution, where approaches using some other display technologies cannot.

Panasonic is also taking plasma forward in technological evolution, by showing new thin-form factor sets.

The Z1 plasma TV will be among Panasonic’s first thin plasma sets, measuring just 1 inch thick. It also uses Panasonic’s new NEO PDP panel technology that allows boosting brightness levels to twice those of 2007 model levels or cutting power consumption in half when watching programming at 2007 brightness levels.

The Z1 uses a wireless set-top box that can be placed anywhere in a room where the display is placed to connect source devices with no visible wires running to the screen.

The company also tipped its hand to future products by showing a prototype 1080p ultra-thin plasma display measuring two-thirds of an inch thick, using the NEO PDP panel technology.

Panasonic is also furthering its relationship with cable operator Comcast to have the service provider implement HDMI-CEC standards that will enable operating Panasonic home entertainment components and Comcast set-top boxes, plus using internal software user interface controls to create a common navigation experience across products and platforms.

The company is also expanding its VieraCast IPTV technology into more models of TVs and source devices, including Blu-ray Disc players and home-theater systems.

Also, Panasonic announced here Wednesday that it is adding Amazon Video On Demand to its list of the VieraCast content partners. The service will offer viewers a library of more than 40,000 titles. The streaming-video service will permit viewers to purchase a movie and have it added to the user’s library account, allowing them to go back and view the movie anytime they would like.

The company said it also continues to advance its recycling initiatives, and has expanded its new nationwide program designed to provide consumers convenient and easy recycling of their Panasonic branded TVs and other consumer electronics in all 50 states at 280 drop-off locations by the end of this month. Panasonic said it has included its headquarters site in Secaucus, N.J., as a collection site.

“The focus of Panasonic’s program will be on consumer convenience and environmentally sound recycling,” said Yoshi Yamada, chairman and CEO, Panasonic Corporation of North America. “Our national program gives life to our customers’ recycling expectations and embodies our company’s commitment to responsible product lifecycle management.”

Panasonic is working with Sharp and Toshiba through the Manufacturers Recycling Management (MRM) joint venture company to address America’s e-waste recycling needs through a voluntary effort.

Panasonic said it expects the program to provide at least 800 drop-off locations by 2011.