Continuing its history and tradition of producing award winning HDTVs and following on its success at the recently concluded 2012 CES, Panasonic Consumer Marketing Company of North America, the industry and technology leader in High Definition televisions, today announced the availability of the company’s initial wave of 2012 Smart VIERA® Plasma, LED and LCD HDTVs, defining the core of a new Internet connected lifestyle.

Panasonic models in the ST50, UT50, and XT50 Plasma series and the E50, ET5, E5 and X5 LED series will be available this month. The LED models introduce two new screen sizes – a 47-inch class (47 inches measured diagonally) that will be available this month, with 55-inch class (54.6 inches measured diagonally) models to follow in April and May. In addition to the two new screen sizes, Panasonic has increased its LED model line-up from seven models in 2011 to 16 in 2012.

The 2012 models expand Panasonic’s 3D lineup and enhance its commitment to its Internet platform, VIERA Connect™. With this in mind, new for 2012 is a cloud-based architecture that opens the VIERA Connect IPTV platform to an infinite number of apps, thereby cementing its reputation for creating innovative and cutting-edge products while focusing on providing the consumer with the ultimate in home entertainment…

Continue reading: First Models Of Award Winning 2012 Smart VIERA HDTVs Now Available

Introducing more than 20 large screen 60-inch plus class TVs, Sharp today announced its new line of AQUOS LED TVs, featuring picture quality enhancements, advanced smart connectivity and new designs. Serving as its flagship model, Sharp unveiled the first 80-inch (80” diagonal) screen size class Quattron 3D LED TV, available in April 2012.

“As the number one market share leader in the large screen television market, we’re excited to provide consumers with more choices, better designs and innovative features,” said John Herrington, president of Sharp Electronics Marketing Company of America, a division of Sharp Electronics Corporation. “It’s clear that consumers are looking for the biggest television experience coupled with the highest picture quality possible, which is exactly what Sharp is delivering in 2012.”

Sharp will expand upon its market-leading selection of large-screen LED TVs in 2012 by offering a wider array of choices to consumers, including more than 20 models in screen size classes of 60-inches or larger, many featuring 3D in 120Hz or 240Hz panel options. The AQUOS Quattron models will feature the new Quad Pixel Plus II technology. All Sharp AQUOS LED TVs meet or exceed ENERGY STAR version 5.3 standards, drawing a relatively small amount of power for their screen sizes…

Continue reading: New AQUOS LED TVs For 2012 Unveiled By Sharp

Continuing its history and tradition of producing award winning Plasma HDTVs, Panasonic introduced the company’s 2012 Smart VIERA line of HDTV Plasmas defining the core of a new IPTV lifestyle at the Consumer Electronics Show. The advent of Smart VIERA HDTV centers on five main points: Networking, Easy Operation, Picture Quality, Eco and Design elements. With 17 new models, ranging in screen sizes from 42-inches to 65 inches, Panasonic expanded its 3D line-up for 2012.

Also new for 2012 is a cloud-based architecture to increase the VIERA Connect IPTV platform to an unlimited number of apps, thereby cementing its reputation for creating innovative and cutting edge products and focusing on providing the consumer with the ultimate in home entertainment. New to select VIERA TVs is the inclusion of a browser, further enhancing the internet platform, as well as the addition of “3D Real Sound” with 8-Train Speakers to further enhance sound quality. In addition, Panasonic continues its commitment to the environment by improving the panel luminance efficiency, as well as producing mercury and lead free panels. To further improve the in-home 3D viewing experience, Panasonic introduced its latest generation of lightweight 3D glasses. Weighing only 27grams, the latest generation 3D glasses utilize Bluetooth technology and feature a rechargeable battery…

Continue reading: Panasonic Introduces 2012 Smart VIERA Plasma HDTV Lineup

Panasonic introduced an increased 2012 Smart VIERA line-up of LED LCD HDTVs defining the core of a new IPTV lifestyle at the Consumer Electronics Show, confirming Panasonic’s commitment to provide the highest quality home entertainment experience and viewing options to the consumer. The advent of Smart VIERA HDTV centers on five main points: Networking, Easy Operation, Picture Quality, Eco and Design elements. The 2012 series focuses on larger screen sizes and LED based HDTVs, with 14 of the 16 models incorporating LED technology. Adhering to its long standing focus on providing products that consumers ask for, Panasonic added 47 inch and 55 inch screen sizes to its LED/LCD family and its 3D line up.

The 2012 line-up continues to benefit from the addition of the IPS LED LCD Panel (In Plane Switching) technology. The IPS LED LCD Panel delivers a wide viewing angle with almost no picture degradation at off angle viewing, a super high speed 1920 Backlight Scanning for higher moving picture resolution during fast action scenes, reduction of afterglow and a smooth, crisp image. The high performance, high speed, high transmittance panel materials contribute to the wide viewing angle, high contrast performance and fast response time, which in turn dramatically reduces artifacts and 3D crosstalk…

Continue reading: Panasonic Expands And Enhances 2012 LED/LCD Model Line-Up

Panasonic today announced the launch of a new Internet Social Network application, Social TV, that will be available on VIERA Connect-equipped 2011 VIERA HDTVs and subsequent models. The app allows one to access social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook while also enjoying programming simultaneously on their VIERA HDTV. Panasonic also announced the addition of a new gaming application from PlayJam and a movie/video channel dedicated to Bollywood, called BigFlix.

These three applications come with no additional fee. BigFlix will allow users to access Bollywood Video on Demand, while PlayJam is a game channel with multiple game apps. Additionally, and in time for the holiday season, Panasonic will be introducing a promotion that will allow users to download three games from Gameloft, including Asphalt 5, free of charge.

“Panasonic prides itself on listening to consumer opinions and acting upon those suggestions to provide the best possible entertainment experience,” said Panasonic Corporation of North America Vice President, Merwan Mereby. “Our thorough research pointed to a desire to be able to watch content on the TV, while at the same time being able to tweet on Twitter or update your status on Facebook…

Continue reading: Panasonic Expands And Enhances VIERA Connect’s IPTV Platform With New Apps

Continuing to build on its leadership in large screen LCD TVs, Sharp today introduced the largest LED LCD TV to date, the 80-inch AQUOS (80-inch diagonal) LC-80LE632U. This new TV is a full HD 1080p (1920 x 1080) Smart TV, equipped with built-in Wi-Fi and access to apps like NetflixCinemaNow and VUDU as well as Sharp’s exclusive AQUOS Advantage Live online support.

“Our 80-inch AQUOS TV delivers more than double the screen area of a 55-inch TV, for an amazing viewing experience,” said John Herrington, president, Sharp Electronics Marketing Company of America. “It’s truly like nothing else on the market. Consumers want bigger flat panel TVs for deeper, more immersive viewing experiences and that’s exactly what Sharp’s delivering here,” Herrington continued.

The AQUOS 80-inch LED LCDTV offers stunning picture quality and sleek design. The full array LED backlighting system ensures uniformity in both color and brightness from edge to edge and corner to corner while also enabling an incredible dynamic contrast ratio of 6,000,000:1. Additionally, the LC-80LE632U employs 120Hz Fine Motion Enhanced which virtually eliminates blur and motion artifacts in fast-moving video. At an incredible depth of less than four inches, the new AQUOS 80” is a stylish replacement for similar screen size rear-projection TVs, with depth of almost two feet…

Continue reading: Sharp Unveils 80-Inch LC-80LE632U LED LCD TV

LG Electronics has launched “LG PenTouch TV” – an innovative series of plasma HDTVs that takes TV interaction to a whole new level – available now through specialty retailers across the United States. When connected to a personal computer* the LG PenTouch TV lets viewers use a special touch-sensitive stylus pen to interact with the Internet and to create, modify and control a variety of content directly on the screen.

“Touch displays have become the norm in mobile phones and tablets, but remain almost unheard of in TVs,” said Jay Vandenbree, senior vice president, home entertainment, LG Electronics USA. “The PenTouch TV brings all the excitement of touch displays, computers and the Internet to the world of television, with functions and programs that are great fun and really educational. Families, in particular, will have more than ever to enjoy on LG PenTouch TV plasma screens.”

Users can activate the PenTouch mode with a single click on the remote control. The interface is intuitive and easy to navigate. In PenTouch mode, users can access files created on their PCs, and work on them, edit them or move them around the screen using the stylus. The TV supports simultaneous two-pen use, and pen batteries can be recharged through USB ports on the TV or PC…

Continue reading: LG Introduces The "PenTouch" Series of Plasma HDTVs

Following the release of study results showing that four out of five consumers prefer LG CINEMA 3D over Sony and Samsung active 3D televisions,* LG Electronics today launched two new LG CINEMA 3D entertainment packages, which include an LG CINEMA 3D HDTV, 3D Blu-ray Disc player and four pairs of LG’s lightweight 3D glasses – all packed together in one box.

“As more and more people seek to bring the 3D viewing experience into their homes, LG is offering them an easy-to-buy and even easier-to-enjoy 3D home entertainment package,” said Jay Vandenbree, senior vice president, home entertainment, LG Electronics USA. “Our LG CINEMA 3D entertainment packages are very attractive for retailers and consumers alike to bring the latest 3D movies and sporting events into your living room, delivering a theater-like, comfortable viewing experience and a superior 3D picture preferred by consumers.”

The attractively priced LG CINEMA 3D entertainment packages come with a 47- or 55-inch class (47.0- and 54.6-inch diagonals, respectively) LG CINEMA 3D HDTV, an LG 3D Blu-ray Disc™ player with the capabilities to play 3D Blu-ray Disc movies in Full HD 1080p picture quality, and four pairs of lightweight, battery-free LG CINEMA 3D glasses…

Continue reading: LG Electronics Expands LG Cinema 3D Line With New Home Entertainment Packages

Sharp is bringing back an iconic name in television by introducing Elite LED LCD TVs. Providing the highest caliber picture quality and technology available, Elite TVs are designed for discerning consumers who want the best home entertainment experience.

"Over the past 25 years the Elite brand has developed a loyal and avid fan base of audiophiles and videophiles," said Tom Evans, Sharp's associate vice president and general manager of Product & Marketing for Elite televisions. "We are confident that our new line of Elite LCD TVs will appeal to the Elite purists who expect the highest picture quality and experience as well as today's luxury technology enthusiasts looking for the most innovative products to outfit their digitally connected homes."

Elite LED LCD TVs will be available in 60" class (60 1/32" diagonal), and 70" class (69 1/2" diagonal) screen sizes in late August. Elite LED LCD TVs feature the most innovative video technologies available on the market.

Elite LED LCD TVs are designed to provide a superior picture quality to other LCD TVs currently on the market. A unique combination of features and technology developed specifically for Elite televisions deliver deep black levels, depth of color, high brightness and smooth images to achieve an astonishing picture…

Continue reading: Sharp Releases Elite LED LCD TVs

Samsung Electronics America Inc. is now the top-selling brand in the U.S plasma TV market, based on newly released revenue and unit sell-through data from the market research company The NPD Group.

According to NPD, 41.3 percent of all plasma TV units sold in the U.S. in the first four months of 2011 (January through April, 2011) were Samsung branded TVs. Samsung’s market share improved by 2.8 percentage points during this period, compared to the same period in 2010. Samsung is also leading the plasma market in terms of dollar value with 45.2 market share…

Continue reading: Samsung Takes The Lead In U.S. Plasma Market