Panasonic buries rumors of plasma TV's death

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Panasonic plasma TV at CES 2013" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/01/pannytvs132md.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> A certain demographic of home theater connoisseurs has fretted for a few weeks over talk that Panasonic might end plasma TV production and research -- would viewers have to resort to anything so vulgar as... an LCD? No, Panasonic says. Despite earlier claims of frozen development, the company's merchandising VP Henry Hauser is emphatic that there remains "room for further improvement" in the plasma realm, and that Panasonic fully intends to develop upgrades. The Viera ZT series we saw at CES will be a launchpad for future work, according to the executive. Hauser's full statement awaits after the break if there are any lingering doubts; for now, it appears that Panasonic values plasma's distinct qualities as much as the next basement movie maven.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <span>"Reports that<span> </span><span>Panasonic</span><span> </span>will no longer develop and manufacture Plasma HDTVs are not correct.<span> </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <span>"This week in New York City,<span> </span><span>Panasonic</span><span> </span>demonstrated the latest development of our gapless Plasma panel technology in our 2013 Smart VIERA ZT Series Plasma HDTV. The technology incorporated into our ZT Series Studio Master Panel will be the basis for continued plasma display panel development and production. While the Smart VIERA ZT Series introduces a new level of Plasma picture quality, we believe there is still room for further improvement and intend to continue to research ways to take our Plasma technology to even higher levels where it also has the potential to be applied in our other Plasma series in the future. <span> </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span>"VIERA Plasma HDTVs continue to set the standard for picture quality and black level excellence and the ZT Series is another example of the continued ability of Plasma to evolve and continue to deliver a best-in-class HDTV."</span></div></div>

Panasonic buries rumors of plasma TV's death

A certain demographic of home theater connoisseurs has fretted for a few weeks over talk that Panasonic might end plasma TV production and...

مزيد من المعلومات »

Panasonic reveals pricing for (most) 2013 HDTVs, puts plasma R&D on ice

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/01/pannytvs132md.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Panasonic's NYC press event had more than pricing for its media streamers and Blu-ray players, as the company also put tags on its 2013 HDTVs. While it wasn't ready to announces MSRPs for its top of the line ZT60 plasmas that impressed us greatly at CES, it did put prices and shipping windows on its other models (check after the break for a complete list). The former flagship VT60 series will be available in 55-, 60- and 65-inch versions later this month for $2,600, $3,000 and $3,600, respectively. Cheaper plasma models include the ST60 and S60 series, available in sizes up to 60-inches. Its top of the line WT60 LCD LED-lit models will also ship later this month, topped by the 55-inch version with a sticker price of $2,999.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> The bad news? While Panasonic's plasma manufacturing will continue, <em>The Verge</em> reports VP Kiyoshi Okamoto confirmed at the event that development has ceased on its plasma models, although some engineers have been shifted to work on OLED displays. We'll see if its recovery efforts and technological developments lead to new large-size OLEDs anytime soon, but for now it appears we're seeing the last of its efforts to push plasma technology forward.</div></div>

Panasonic reveals pricing for (most) 2013 HDTVs, puts plasma R&D on ice

Panasonic's NYC press event had more than pricing for its media streamers and Blu-ray players, as the company also put tags on its 20...

مزيد من المعلومات »