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Monday, January 6, 2014
Panasonic Unveils Personalized 'Beyond Smart' TVs At CES
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Panasonic unveiled today at the International
Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Life+ Screen -- a new category
of television "designed to take consumers beyond Smart TV to a
new level of personalization and interaction."
Debuting this spring in 4K Ultra HD and 1080p
models, many of Panasonic's 2014 line of VIERA Life+Screens are
available now for pre-order at www.shop.panasonic.com.
Panasonic Life+ Screens overhaul the user interface and
implement enhancements regarding learning the content
preferences of individual users, breaking different content out
of its silos and making navigation easier.
Panasonic's Life+ Screens get to know the preferences of
individual users (or the family as a whole) and uses that
knowledge to have your favorite content waiting for you as soon
as you switch them on. Rather than relying solely on cumulative
viewing patterns to generate recommendations, Panasonic's new
Life+Screens are able to recognize each user individually and
build up a personalized profile of their favorite content
thanks to the My Button on the remote control. Pressing the My
Button alerts the Life+Screen that you like the kind of content
you are currently viewing, and uses the program metadata
together with advanced algorithms to present more appropriate
recommendations.
Panasonic is introducing My Stream, an individualized channel
of content personalized just for you, including content from
different sources. This means that recommended films and shows
from cable, terrestrial broadcast and VOD, are all presented
within the same interface allowing users to simply view the
content they want to see without having to worry about the
source. Recorded content, home movies, family photos, web
pages, and online videos are also included in the My Stream
interface.
Searching for content is as simple as telling the TV what you
are looking for - the Life+Screen Voice Assistant functionality
removes the need for any complicated navigation or searching.
In order to make Life+ Screen more than just a content viewing
device, Life+ Screen will automatically wake from standby mode
when it senses somebody nearby and will display useful
information graphically such as the time, date and weather - a
feature called Info Bar. Furthermore, when Life+ Screens
identify the nearby user via the built-in camera, they will
present further information specifically personalized to that
user, such as video messages, other notifications, and
recommended content.
Working with Panasonic's cloud service, My Home Cloud, Life+
Screen forms a network to share information and content with
smartphones and PCs. For example, an online video link
bookmarked at your work place would also be reflected on your
Life+ Screen in the living room , and will display in your My
Stream when you get home.
Panasonic's Life+Screen models include the AX800 Series (4K),
AS680 Series (1080p), AS650 Series (1080p), AS640 Series
(1080p), and AS530 Series (1080p).
Visitors of Panasonic's booth will also have the chance to see the company's 4K Curved OLED TVs. Six curved OLED panels were lined up as a gigantic wave display nearly 21 feet (6 m) long.
New multi-room speaker system
Panasonic also today introduced a new multi-room speaker
system, the SC-ALL series, which incorporates AllPlay, a new
smart media platform from Qualcomm that enables music to be
streamed into multiple rooms from multiple sources with high
fidelity sound. The new models include the SC-ALL8 and SC-ALL3
Wireless Speaker Systems and the SH-ALL1C Network Audio
Connector which will be available on www.shop.panasonic.com
later this year.
The new Multi-room Hi-Fi System with AllPlay makes it easy to
setup a multi-room configuration based on an already existing
home Wi-Fi network. Using an iOS or Android smartphone or
tablet, music can be wirelessly transmitted throughout the
house with a music subscription service or Internet radio.
"Party mode" provides even more fun by allowing the same songs
to be simultaneously played to several connected speakers.
Because control is possible directly from the GUI of Internet
radio or a music subscription service app, AllPlay can be
enjoyed with constantly updated screens and functions. Also,
after listening to music from your smartphone while away from
home, you can conveniently switch to other compatible speakers
right from the screen when you return home without changing the
App.
By using the smartphone application, Panasonic Music Streaming
App, different music -- for example, songs from music
subscription services, Internet radio, songs stored on a
smartphone, or songs archived on a PC or NAS -- can be easily
played to different speakers with the "Multi-Zone" function.
The Panasonic SC-ALL8 Wireless Speaker System is equipped with
LincsD-Amp 2nd generation and evolved version of the LincsD-Amp
jitter correction, which applies noise shaping technology to
reproduce a highly stable clock, reducing jitter to a frequency
range that is below the audible limit. XBS Master amplifies
low-frequency sounds to achieve robust bass. Multi Band Gain
Control eliminates unnatural sounds which are generated during
the process of controlling distortion and H.BASS adds harmonics
to enable the reproduction of bass sounds of 80 Hz or less,
which were previously difficult to reproduce with this class of
speaker.
The Panasonic SC-ALL8 utilizes a five-speaker system with Nano
Bamboo Double Layer for the woofer and tweeter. The formed Mica
4-3/4inch (12cm) Subwoofer resolves unbalanced drive unit
problems that can cause distortion in subwoofer sounds.
With the simple connection of the Panasonic SH-ALL1C, an
existing speaker system can be easily upgraded to a multi-room
configuration. A Gold Plated Analog Audio Terminal system and
Digital/Optical system enable connection to most speaker
systems. Also, a High Class 192-kHz/24-bit DAC is used to
suppress sound quality degradation in the wireless signal from
a smartphone, so high-quality audio signals are transmitted to
the speaker system.
The new Panasonic SC-ALL8, SC-ALL3 and SH-ALL1C will be
available in spring 2014 on www.shop.panasonic.com.
Home theater systems
Panasonic's 2014 lineup of wall-mountable bar-style home
theater systems includes three slim models that complement a
users home. The SC-HTB880, SC-HTB580 and SC-HTB8 Home Theater
Systems will be available later this year on
www.shop.panasonic.com.
The SC-HTB880, SC-HTB580 and SC-HTB8 Home Theater Systems
feature speaker units with a triangular cross section to
achieve a slim body size, and incorporate a Delta Form Design
to deliver dynamic sound. The top panel of each model's main
unit is inclined to provide extra space inside for the
installation of large speaker units.
The Panasonic SC-HTB880 premium model features a 4K Pass
Through function to feed 4K video signals directly from a
Blu-ray Disc player. The SC-HTB880's main unit houses the
front, center and surround speakers; combined with the wireless
subwoofer, this model's sound system delivers 5.1-channel
dynamic surround sound. This model incorporates the LincsD-Amp
2nd generation, which boasts a performance level that rivals
many high-end amps. It reduces jitter noise generated in the
playback of digital data to the lowest possible level to
reproduce clear sounds faithful to the original.
The Panasonic SC-HTB880 and SC-HTB580 are enhanced with
Clear-mode Dialog, a function in previous models which achieves
true-to-life ambience by making the dialog in a TV program or
movie seem to come from the center of the TV screen, instead of
from the center speaker. All three home theater system models
also have a revamped linkage function with a TV, Blu-ray Disc
or DVD player and smartphone. The Near Field Communication
(NFC) function (featured in the HTB880 and HTB580) simplifies
Bluetooth pairing with an NFC-compatible smartphone. A user
need only wave their smartphone over the One-touch Connection
mark to establish a connection, eliminating the need for going
through cumbersome screen settings.
Smart Network 3D Blu-ray Disc Home Theater Systems
Panasonic's new Smart Network FULL HD 3D Blu-ray Disc Home
Theater Systems include advanced network functions and will be
available www.shop.panasonic.com later this year.
The SC-BTT465 and SC-BTT405 incorporate Panasonic's FULL HD 3D
image reproduction technology to play back dynamic 3D movies
faithful to the original. The 5.1-channel Rich Surround System
with Powerful Bass-Reflex Subwoofer faithfully reproduces sound
from Blu-ray Disc media through five speakers that are designed
to surround the user's viewing position and a bass-reflex type
subwoofer. The BTT465 is equipped with tall-boy front speakers,
satellite speakers for surround sound and a bass-reflex type
subwoofer, while the BTT405 uses satellite speakers for the
front and surround, and a bass-reflex type subwoofer.
The new Smart Network 3D Blu-Ray Disc Home Theater Systems from
Panasonic support popular Internet applications including
YouTube, Netflix and CinemaNow. An optional wireless adapter
can establish a wireless connection to a home network.
Additionally, both the BTT465 and BTT405 have built-in Near
Field Communication (NFC) capability.
1080p LED LCD Life+ Screen Line-Up
Panasonic' line-up of 2014 Life+Screen 1080p HDTVs is featuring
four model lines ranging in screen size from 39-inch class to
60-inch class.
The AS680 Series (55-inch class) to AS650 Series (60-inch
class, 55-inch class, 50-inch class) are advanced models
featuring "Beyond Smart" features and picture-enhancing
functions. The AS640 Series (one model: 60-inch class) and
AS530 Series (four models: 60-inch class, 55-inch class,
50-inch class, 39-inch class) are basic models combining
"Beyond Smart" features and practical picture-performance
functions.
The AS680 Series, AS650 Series, AS640 Series and AS530 Series
of LED LCD HDTVs will debut this spring.
Also debuting in 2014 is the Panasonic VIERA A400 Series (three
models: 50-inch class, 39-inch class, 32-inch class) ? a
non-Life+Screen series of models with a slim cabinet.
2014 Blu-ray Disc Player Line-Up
Panasonic's 2014 line-up of Blu-ray Disc Players includes the
Smart Network 3D Blu-ray Disc (DMP-BDT360), and two
Blu-ray-Disc Players (DMP-BD91 and DMP-BD81). All three models
are available now for pre-order at www.shop.panasonic.com.
The BDT360 is designed for users who enjoy having access to a
wide variety of digital content. While maintaining the 3D
picture quality performance elements found on Panasonic models
last year (Leaping Effect, Enhanced Depth, Luster and Texture)
the BDT360 is further equipped with Built-in 4K (UHD)
Up-scaling. This function up-converts the Full-HD images of BD
media to ultra high-resolution 4K video signals (8 megapixels).
The BDT3601 also features Miracast, which allows photos, music,
and video content stored on a smartphone or tablet to be
displayed onto a large-screen TV for larger group viewing.
Miracast applies Wi-Fi Direct technology, so content can be
directly transmitted from a smartphone or tablet to the TV,
even when there is no Wi-Fi access point in the house.
As for networking, Built-in Wi-Fi, which makes it possible to
access the Internet without having to connect a LAN cable, is
included on both of the DMP-BDT360 and DMP-BD91 models. Both
models are also compatible with Internet Apps for IP
services such as Netflix, CinemaNow, Vudu and Hulu plus. The
DMP-BDT360 supports a Web Browsing3 function for viewing news,
online shopping, and other websites on a large-screen TV, to
expand viewing enjoyment beyond movies.
AS680 Series
TC-55AS680U (54.5 inches diagonal)
Key Features:
- Native 240Hz Refresh Rate
- my Home Screen
- my Stream
- Voice Assistant
- Remote Sharing
- Swipe & Share
- Internet Apps
- Wireless LAN Built-In
- Touch Pad Remote
- HEXA-Processing Engine
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AS650 Series
TC-60AS650U (59.5 inches diagonal)
TC-55AS650U (54.6 inches diagonal)
TC-50AS650U (49.4 inches diagonal)
Key Features:
- my Home Screen
- my Stream
- Voice Assistant
- Remote Sharing
- Swipe & Share
- Internet Apps
- Wireless LAN Built-In
- 3D
- 1500 Backlight Scanning
- Touch Pad Remote
- HEXA-Processing Engine
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AS640 Series
TC-60AS640U(59.5 inches diagonal)
Key Features:
- Home Theater System Bundle
- my Home Screen
- my Stream
- Voice Assistant
- Remote Sharing
- Swipe & Share
- Internet Apps
- Wireless LAN Built-In
- 240 Backlight Blinking
- Media Player
- HEXA-Processing Engine
- Touch Pad Remote
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AS530 Series
TC-60AS530U (59.5 inches diagonal)
TC-55AS530U (54.6 inches diagonal)
TC-50AS530U (49.5 inches diagonal)
TC-39AS530U (38.5 inches diagonal)
Key Features:
- my Home Screen
- Remote Sharing
- Swipe & Share
- Internet Apps
- Wireless LAN Built-In
- Media Player
- 240 Backlight Blinking
- Voice Guidance
- DLNA
- Narrow Bezel
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A400 Series*
TC-50A400U (49.5 inches diagonal)
TC-39A400U (38.5 inches diagonal)
TC-32A400U (31.5 inches diagonal)
Key Features:
- Media Player
- 120 Backlight Blinking
- HDMI Terminals
- USB Terminals
- Narrow Bezel
- V-Audio
*A400 Series does not include the Life+ Screen
functions
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Collaboration on New Firefox OS Open Platform
Panasonic and Mozilla also today announced at CES that the two
companies have agreed to form a partnership to develop and
promote the new Firefox OS, an open platform based on HTML5 and
other Web technologies, for next generation smart TVs.
The development of the new Firefox OS platform aims to deliver
more expansive access into smart TVs by leveraging the HTML5
and Web technologies already prevalent on PCs, smartphones and
tablets, to offer consumers more personalized and optimized
access to Web and broadcasting content and services through the
Internet.
With the launch of this new open platform, next generation
smart TVs will gain full compatibility with Web technologies
and HTML5 standards used for cloud services and various future
networked devices, enabling data from Web services and devices
to be easily mashed up on a single application. By using new
Mozilla-pioneered WebAPIs for hardware control and operation,
next generation smart TVs will also be capable of monitoring
and operating devices inside and outside of the home, such as
the emerging smart home appliances.
In next generation smart TVs, basic functions, such as menus
and EPGs (Electronic Program Guide) which are currently written
as embedded programs, will be written in HTML5, making it
possible for developers to easily create applications for
smartphones or tablets to remotely access and operate the TV.
In addition, through the Web services, next generation smart
TVs can display personalized user interfaces, featuring the
user's favorites and even add new functions for multiple users
sharing the same screen after devices are purchased.
Panasonic will release next generation smart TVs powered by
Firefox OS, and Mozilla and Panasonic will work together to
promote this Firefox OS and its open ecosystem.
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