Because the world of 3D isn’t confusing enough already! Yes, a new standard is rising, led by Panasonic and joined by a number of partners. M-3DI is a new “can we all just agree on this” standard for active-shutter 3D systems. What differentiates it from the systems that don’t follow its standard? Nothing, it appears, except that M-3DI devices will all work with each other. I guess that’s something. → Read More
Panasonic Japan today announced the SV-ME870 [JP], a portable, digital 7-inch VIERA TV. There are quite a few of these devices available in Japan, but this one is probably the “mobile TV” with the most features on board at this point. → Read More
DP Review has posted their (as usual) exhaustive and technical review of Panasonic’s latest micro four-thirds camera, the DMC-GH2. We’ve been looking forward to this one, and it doesn’t disappoint: it addresses some of the failures of the GH1 while improving and expanding on the feature set and ameliorating noise issues. I’m still waiting on the Fujifilm X100 (or Panny’s own GF2), personally, but this GH2 does look like a sweet piece of kit. → Read More
If you thought the face recognition technology from NEC we’ve shown you last year was impressive, think again: Panasonic is working on a system that can recognize 64 faces and compare 32 faces at the same time. The maker, Panasonic System Networks, says that’s up from only 8 faces the previous system (NV200) could register. → Read More
Word comes today that consumer electronics giant Panasonic is joining the Linux Foundation at the Gold level, which is the Linux Foundation’s second highest tier. Panasonic joins AMD, Cisco, HP, Google and other big names at the Gold level, confirming beyond any doubt that Linux is an integral part of the consumer electronics market. Panasonic had been a founding member of the Consumer Electronics Linux Forum, which merged with the Linux Foundation last year. All members of the CELF were brought into the Linux Foundation at the Silver level, but Panasonic has decided to step up their commitment to embedded Linux by raising their support to the Gold level. → Read More
While e-bikes are struggling on their way to enter the mainstream in other places of the world, makers in Japan are already starting to segment the market. Panasonic today announced [JP, PDF] the BE-ENSK63 for the local market, an e-bike specifically aimed at “junior high-school students”. → Read More
The official word from Panasonic is that “changes in the market and in our own strategic direction” caused the cancelation of the Jungle gaming system. In other words, Panny suits finally came to their senses and decided it’s a bit too late in the game to bring a whole new platform to market. With Sony rolling out the powerhouse NGP handheld and Nintendo moving towards 3D bliss with the 3DS, the Panasonic Jungle simply didn’t have a chance in Mordor. Because, you know, it gets worse here everyday. → Read More
It turns out Fujitsu isn’t the only Japanese electronics company still producing Windows tablets: Panasonic today announced [JP] the so-called BizPad, a device with a 6.5-inch screen specifically aimed at – you guessed it – businesses. → Read More
Panasonic today announced [JP] what it says is the world’s first gesture-controlled TV, meaning the device doesn’t require you to use the remote control or touch the screen (at least for basic operations). Instead, you can change channels by waving your hand to the right or left in front of the display (if you’re 5-10cm away), thanks to the 2 motion sensors the TV comes with. → Read More
Panasonic just outed two camcorders for the adventurous types among us. These cams pack 1080p recording modes, electronic image stabilization, mild waterproof/shockproof casings and high megapixel stills. You know, the type of things for extreme sports or general parenting. The pistol style-HX-WA10 and candy bar-ish HM-TA20 should hit retailers by the end of April at competitive prices. → Read More
Panasonic today announced [JP] the SV-MV100, a new media player with a special feature: it’s powered by Android 2.1. And it’s specifically designed to make it easier for users to view TV, and connect to the web and Panasonic home electronics. → Read More
The news has become muted regarding <a href="fuel cells and their future role in energy supply in recent years, but it seems we’re getting there step by step: Panasonic today said that it has developed a new type of home-use fuel cell [press release in English], which is more efficient and cheaper than its existing solutions. → Read More
Companies and institutions from the US filed 44,855 applications in 2010, down 1.7% from last year, but enough to keep the top spot among all companies for a second straight year, according to data released yesterday by the World Intellectual Property Organization. → Read More
Panasonic has announced [JP] a total of ten new 3D TVs yesterday, two LCDs and eight plasmas. The LCD TVs will be part of the VIERA DT3 series, while the plasma models will be branded as VT3, GT3 and ST3 (glasses are required to view pictures in 3D for all of these displays). → Read More
Panasonic, makers of cameras, will sell these new cameras. These cameras include the FX78 with 5x optical zoom and “smart touch screen” and the ZS10 with 16x optical zoom. They will attempt to distribute these cameras for as long as they’re salable and then make new ones. Eventually they will end up on Woot.com. Then they will poison a landfill. → Read More
Alright camera people, it’s time to get your pre-orders in for the DMC-GF2, the sucessor to the GF1. The camera offers interchangeable lenses and comes with a 14mm f2.5 kit lens. Also, the camera sports a 12 megapixel sensor featuring Full-HD video capabilities, all viewed with a 3-inch touch-screen LCD. Even more cool is that the camera is compatible with Panasonic’s new 3D 12.5mm f12 lens, so users can take 3D photos. → Read More
Blu-ray recorders with integrated HDDs aren’t really new, but what the DMR-BR30, announced [JP] today by Panasonic for the Japanese market, offers is: a slot for swappable HDDs. The company says the idea here is to transfer the functionality VHS cassettes used to offer to the present (well, OK). → Read More
CES 2011 was set to be filled with tablets and Panasonic briefly showed off their first entry into the form factor. Viera Tablet, as it will be called, will connect to “cloud servers” but that’s about all we know at this point. The tablet will be officially announced in Panasonic’s home country of Japan “in a few hours” although it sounds like it will be at the Panny CES booth so we’ll grab some hands-on as soon as we can. The company expects to launch the slate to the global market later this year. → Read More
Panasonic Japan announced [JP] the TH-L42G3 today, a new VIERA TV whose unique point is that it lets you record content in full HD resolution directly on SD cards. The 42-inch, full HD LCD TV supports SD, SDHC (up to 32GB) and SDXC cards (up to 64GB). → Read More
Not too many people know that Panasonic is a quite prolific maker of robots, but big P has actually been quite active in this area in recent years. Case in point: Hospi, a cute hospital robot and one of the winner’s of this year’s Robot Awards (as selected by the Japanese government). It was first publicly shown in 2004. → Read More
