LAS VEGAS – Panasonic kicked off its new LCD-centric TV phase at International CES by showing an expanded lineup offering step-up models, including additional Ultra HD TVs and an advanced Beyond Smart TV system worthy of a new Life+Screen designation.
The new offerings fill in for the recent departure of plasma displays as the brand’s bread-and-butter TV technology.
The new Life+Screen TV sub-brand will be applied to both FullHD and Ultra HD LED LCD TV models carrying its newly enhanced smart-TV platform, including new 4K Ultra HD TVs carried under the Life+Screen AX800 series, featuring models in the 65- and 58-inch screen sizes. The sets combine Ultra HD 3,840 by 2160 resolution images with Panasonic’s Beyond Smart features.
The company said an 85-inch model is due later in the year.
New Beyond Smart enhancements include an easy-touse interface with My Home Screen personalization features; content preference learning for a more intuitive and personalized gateway; a new My Stream feature that enables seamless, automatic Internet-based content recommendation; and a new My Button on a touchpad remote that triggers the set to learn user’s preferences.
Other smart features include a voice assistant and an Info Bar that quickly presents useful information without requiring the user to turn on the TV.
The AX800-series Ultra HD sets are to debut this spring and are available for pre-order now available for pre-order at the Panasonic website at pricing to be announced.
Meanwhile, 2014 Life+Screen FullHD 1080p LED LCD TVs will be offered in four model lines ranging in screen size from a 39-inch class to 60 inches. Model classes will include the AS680, AS650, AS640 and AS530 series.
The AS680 series (55 inches) to AS650 series (60-, 55- and 50-inch screen sizes) include Beyond Smart features and picture-enhancing functions. The AS640 series (60 inches) and AS530 series (60, 55, 50, and 39 inches) are basic models combining Beyond Smart features and practical picture-performance functions.
Also debuting in 2014 is the Panasonic Viera A400 series (50, 39 and 32 inches) that omits Life+Screen smart features.
