Panasonic, who has struggled to hold ontoTV market share as LG and Samsung went head to head in the Smart TV and 3D TV market, is set to launch a new range of Smart Viera plasma, LED and LCD HDTVs which some CES observers claimed were among the best TVs in the world today.The new range, which is set to go on sale in Australia soon, will come with new movie and TV content and a brand new Telstra TV application that is embedded on a Panasonic processor which is faster than what Samsung and LG are able to offer according to Telstra executives.
Panasonic said models in the ST50, UT50, and XT50 plasma series and the E50, ET5, E5 and X5 LED series will make up part of the new range; however, it is not known how many SKUs Panasonic Australia will range.
Among the new range will be a sleek new 47″ and 55″ LED LCD TV model which SmartHouse saw at the recent CES Show in Las Vegas. The TV is stylish and slim.
The new Panasonic range will include new 3D capability along with an updated Viera Connect IPTV cloud based platform which allows users to open a web browser in select models to access applications and content.
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A key feature of the new range is that the LCD TVs use advanced LED IPS (in-plane switching) panels that reduce on-mode power consumption by about 25 percent compared with last year’s models, the company said.
Energy efficiency was also improved this year in both LCD and plasma models.
Matt Pearce, Group Marketing Manager, at Panasonic Australia said that the new 2012 Viera plasmas use a newly improved phosphor mixture and more efficient electronics to deliver a better picture at lower power levels.
He said that select Smart Viera plasma models that will be launched in Australia in May will use new NeoPlasma Black 2500 technology to provide a crisp image with 2500 FFD (Focused Field Drive) capability even when the content shows very fast motion.
The new technology also controls the light, which enables viewers to see subtle details in dark scenes, with the new 24,576-steps super fine gradation.
Speaking to SmartHouse at the CES Show Pierce said that the black level performance has also been boosted in the 2012 Smart Viera plasma HDTVs, and that the new LCDs feature improved response times.
Panasonic is credited with having the best TV in the world with their high end plasma models.
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The new range which is thinner and lighter than past models, use a new form of “glass and metal” to deliver a smart new cosmetic design.
The 2012 panel further reduces reflections and creates sharper pictures with higher contrast in brighter environments. In addition, a new panel structure with improved filter and pre-discharge control technology contributes to an increased native contrast level.
All 3D models include DLNA connections to network with PCs and other devices to share digital entertainment content between similarly configured devices.
The Smart Viera LED line-up continues to benefit from the addition of the IPS LED Panel technology.
The 2012 LED models deliver a wide viewing angle with almost no picture degradation when viewed from an angle. They are also delivering up to 1,920 backlight scanning for higher moving picture resolution during fast action scenes, with a reduction of afterglow resulting in a smooth, crisp image.
The high-performance, high-speed, high-transmittance panel materials contribute to the 178-degree colour viewing angle, high contrast performance and fast response time, which in turn dramatically reduces artefacts and 3D crosstalk.
The first Smart Viera plasma series to hit the market features self-illuminating panels with deep black levels and Neo Plasma technologies, providing an Infinite Black Filter with a high-efficiency panel that generates the best balance of black and white under bright environments.
Select 2012 models employ the NeoPlasma Black 2500 (VT/GT/ST), a 2 million pixel dimming driver, a new custom driver LSI and a fast switching phosphor panel on all of Panasonic’s 1080p 3D models.
The ST50 series is set to be among the first of Panasonic’s 2012 plasma models to go on sale in Australia.
The ST50 models include the Infinite Black Pro panel; FullHD 3D; Viera Connect with a web browser and built-in Wi-Fi; 1080p Full HD resolution; 2500 FFD (Focused Field Drive); fast switching phosphors; 2D-to-3D conversion; Social Networking TV, which allows the user to simultaneously view a program on the TV and connect with their Twitter and/or Facebook account on the same screen; 3D Real Sound with 8-train speakers; Media Player; Bluetooth; DLNA; Viera Link; three HDMI connections and two USB ports.
Panasonic’s top-of-the-line plasma series, the VT50 and GT50, will also be available later this year.
