PANASONIC GT50
The GT50 will come in four sizes from 50 inches to 65 inches and ships with an "Infinite Black Pro" panel. The full-HD 3D panel features 2D-to-3D conversion and a new louver filter designed to provide better contrast in lit environments.
With the exception of the Z1, design wasn't a key consideration for Panasonic plasmas until last year, with the "metallic brown" of 2009's otherwise-excellent VT25 a memorable low point. From the canned photos at least, the GT looks like it's spruced itself up a bit with a "glass and metal design" consisting of a gradated metal pedestal, glass-eque bezel, and metal frame.
Step-ups from the ST50 include an extra HDMI port (a total of four), a "smart browser," multitask feature--presumably for quicker flicking between TV and smart TV functions, and a THX tick for both 2D and 3D modes. The 2012 TV also includes onboard Wi-Fi for the first time.
Panasonic has been experimenting with its smart TV offering and, apart from the new browser, this year will make two major changes: the first is to keep the "apps" on a cloud-based server and the second is to introduce a sidebar.
Rather than talk in absolutes--this TV has twice the black levels of last year's, for example--this time around the company has chosen to go all-out with the figures: it has a 6-million-pixel dimming driver (something-or-other) and 0.25sf drive technology (thingamajiggy), but what we think they mean is, "It's better."
For a closer look at the tech behind this and the other TVs in Panasonic's range, check out our preview on the ST50.
Panasonic TC-PGT50 series features:
Plasma TV
3D compatible
2D-to-3D conversion
Infinite Black Pro Panel
Fast phosphor panel
Cloud-based Viera Connect Internet suite with Web browser
Multitask
Built-in Wi-Fi
Four HDMI ports
THX certified for 2D and 3D
Panasonic TC-PGT50 series models:
TC-P50GT50, 50-inches, price and availability TBD
TC-P55GT50, 55-inches, price and availability TBD
TC-P60GT30, 60-inches, price and availability TBD
TC-P65GT50, 65 inches, price and availability TBD
http://ces.cnet.com/8301-33379_1-57353261/panasonic-gt50-plasma-boasts-improved-picture-and-design/
PANASONIC ST50
The ST50 sits in the middle of Panasonic's 2012 range with four sizes starting at 50 inches and includes most of the goodies found in the more-expensive GT50 and VT50 televisions. It's the least-expensive to boast the "Infinite Black Pro" panel, which, if last year in any indication, delivers improved black level performance compared with step-down models like the UT50.
Panasonic also lists a "new louver filter" (to aid in bright-room picture quality) and a 2500 FFD (Focused Field Drive) among the ST50's step-ups compared with the UT50. The FFD is said to be a 0.25sf drive technology, designed to improve motion resolution, previously only available in professional monitors.
The ST50 includes Panasonic's smart TV system, called Viera Connect. New for 2012 it incorporates a Web browser (though it misses a Magic Motion-like controller like LG has) and on-board Wi-Fi. The redesigned IPTV interface now appears as a sidebar as opposed to last year's full-screen menus. The TV also comes with DLNA streaming and, interestingly, Bluetooth. Extra connectivity is served by three HDMI connections (one fewer than many competitors), and two USB ports.
Panasonic says it is expanding its Viera Connect system to a cloud-based architecture, rather than feed each new app to TVs in an update, in order to accommodate an "unlimited number of apps". Current apps include Netflix, Amazon VOD, You Tube, Pandora, Twitter and Facebook, Bloomberg News, AP, Wall Street Journal, Accuweather, Skype, Wealth TV, CinemaNow, Hulu Plus, and sports apps Fox Sports, MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS2.
The TV features an active 3D and a 2D-to-3D converter that works with Panasonic's new lightweight glasses. The number of glasses shipped with the TV is yet to be determined, although Samsung's decision to include two pairs with most of its 2012 TVs might influence the eventual decision.
All of Panasonic's 2012 plasmas, from the top all the way down to the entry-level U50, feature the company's Neo PDP plasma panel technology with additional tweaks over last year's models. All have an Infinite Black Filter that Panasonic says offers "improved external light shading, improved clarity and improved light transmittance." The panels also have faster switching phosphor panel on the 3D models.
This year, Panasonic's HDMI-CEC implementation will add support for networked video camera control via the TV interface, which the company suggests is "ideal for monitoring of a home/nursery".
While Panasonic has yet to announce pricing on the ST50 series we can't imagine there would be much of a change from last year; the 50-inch ST30 debuted at $1,499 MSRP and fell to $900 during the 2011 holiday season.
Panasonic TC-PST50 series features:
Plasma TV
3D compatible
2D-to-3D conversion
Infinite Black Pro Panel
Faster-switching phosphor panel
Cloud-based Viera Connect Internet suite
Web browser
Built-in Wi-Fi
Panasonic TC-PST50 series models:
TC-P50ST50, 50-inch, pricing and availability TBD
TC-P55ST50, 55-inch, pricing and availability TBD
TC-P60ST30, 60-inch, pricing and availability TBD
TC-P60ST30, 65-inch, pricing and availability TBD
http://ces.cnet.com/8301-33379_1-57...st50-be-the-best-tv-value-ever/?tag=mncol;txt
PANASONIC VT50
The flagship VT50 will come in two screen sizes, the 55-inch TC-P55VT50, and the 65-inch TC-P65VT50 and features all of Panasonic's current know-how with an Infinite Black Ultra Panel and new louver filter. The VT30 offered the second-best plasma pictures in a lit room, after the Samsung, so the VT50 has some room for improvement.
As a flagship the VT50 also includes features such as 3D with 2D conversion, cloud-based apps, a new browser and a Touch Pad Remote Controller, and a sidebar IPTV function that allows users to access social network sites while simultaneously watching TV. Twitter tickers are a fun feature, but we think any serious social media devotee would rather use a computer or mobile device instead of their TV.
The VT30 was undoubtedly the company's best looking TV in a long time--possibly ever--and the VT50 looks similar with a silver bezel and a "one-sheet-of-glass" look. Forget piano-black, "giant
iPod touch" is the new fashion king.
Connectivity includes onboard wi-fi so no more Ethernet cables draped across the living room floor, four HDMI connections, and a still-quite-rare three USB ports.
For an in-depth look at the rest of the features contained in the VT50, check out our preview of the
ST30. If you want to get a TV that promises to be almost as good without the cost, try the
GT50.
Will the VT50 take out the best TV of 2012? It's not that simple, as OLED could pose a serious threat this year with
LG poised to take the mantle from its competitors.
Panasonic TC-PST50 series features:
- Plasma TV
- 3D compatible
- 2D-to-3D conversion
- Infinite Black Pro Panel
- Faster-switching phosphor panel
- Cloud-based Viera Connect Internet suite
- Web browser
- Built-in Wi-Fi
Panasonic TC-PST50 series models:
- TC-P55VT50, 55-inch, pricing and availability TBD
- TC-P65VT50, 65-inch, pricing and availability TBD
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105...s-flagship-vt50-better-and-blacker-than-ever/