Remember back to CES 2008 back in January and you’re sure to have a particular 150-inch Panasonic plasma monster somewhere in the forefront of your memories. Panasonic has completed a test run of the Neo Plasma at its P5 plant currently being built in Amagasaki, Japan and is rumored to be hitting shelves as early June 2009. Of course by shelves, we mean ones in Japan.

The lineup includes a petite 24.7mm-thick 50-incher and its life-size 150-inch sibling. The latter also offers four times better image details over standard full-HD TVs with a native 4,096 x 2,160-pixel resolution. Size and picture quality aside, there is the FX or Double Efficiency technology. This eco-friendly feature delivers the same level of screen brightness at only half the power required by current flat panels.

Panasonic Projectors Systems Company announced today two new LCD projectors designed for fixed installations, the PT-F200NTU and the PT-F200U. Both projectors feature long-lasting brightness with 3,500 Lumens that ensure reliability through 5,000 hours, vertical and horizontal lens-shift, closed caption capability for hearing-impaired, and cost reducing properties. They also feature Auto Rolling Filter (ARF), which is a feature that reduces maintenance costs that deal with dust build-up and air contamination. Also featured with the projectors is a fourth-generation Daylight View 4 image-processing which includes Edge Enhancement. The PT-F200NTU features a built-in wireless local-area network capability which supports the Japanese issued PJLink protocol. To purchase one of the projectors, you can look at a cost of around $4,499 for the PT-F200NTU and around $3,999 for the PT-F200U. Panasonic Projector Systems Company is a supplier of projector systems in the United States and is a unit of Panasonic Corporation.
[via Business Wire]

The Panasonic SC-BT100 Blu-ray home theater system, first announced at CES 2008, is supposed to be available later this spring at an unconfirmed price. It seems to have popped up on the J&R website already for pre-order priced at $999.95. Not a bad price for a higher-end home theater system with Blu-ray playback.

The SC-BT100 system’s key features:

• Blu-ray profile 1.1 for picture-in-picture viewing
• 7.1 channel ready (meaning you actually have to purchase an extra couple of speakers and a wireless transceiver to actually make it a 7.1 channel system)
• five disc changer
• SD card slot (for digital media playback
• wireless rear speakers

The system has a few lacking areas as well. Profile 1.1 is a step behind Profile 2.0/BD Live which enables more interactive features and internet connectivity straight from Blu-ray disc titles. The SC-BT100 only plays back iPod video via a low-res composite output and its pretty barren in the connectivity area.

At $1000, this is a better deal than many, but we’ll have to see the price drop substantially before we run out and purchase the Panasonic SC-BT100.

Panasonic Corporation of North America rolled out its complete 2008 line of 21 plasma and LCD flat paneltelevisions, all branded VIERA for the first time in North America. A Panasonic spokesperson explained that VIERA stands for “Visual Era,” and for “exceptional picture, connectivity and customer service and satisfaction” [But the latter didn’t make such a spiffy acronym!-Ed.].

The 16 new plasma sets, divided among four lines, include all new panels, a new 46″ screen size and improved contrast ratios and feature sets including HDMI connections, SD Memory Card slots, Game Mode and Viera Link. In addition, the full line includes a defeatable 110% color scale setting, “deep color” capabilities, 10-bit color gradation, and anti-glare screens.

Last year’s highest performing Panasonic PDPs featured 10,000:1 contrast ratios. The company claims 30,000:1 for this year’s best, with even the lowest tier 42″ ($1,199.95) and 50″ ($1,699.95) 720p PX80 series offering 15,000:1 performance.

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If you are looking for a new TV right now, then there are several things that you have to consider in choosing the right set. First, you have to get a set that has a good perception of light. That is your ability to enjoy your favorite movies or shows is, then, fundamentally linked to your TV’s ability to emit light. How long you are able to enjoy those programs is based on how long your TV is able to produce light. With these simple facts in mind, Panasonic has equipped the new PT61LCX70 with an innovative, new light-source technology called LIght FIdelity

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The TH42PH10UK displays a maximum of 29 billion. 16-bit processing produces 3,072 shades of gradation. The more a TV has, the more colors you see. The high contrast ratio of up to 10,000:1 ensures rich blacks and stunning whites.All of the technology comes wrapped in a smooth black exterior that looks good whether it’s on or off. Impress your co-workers, students, or business partners with this high definition TV.

With the TH42PH10UK, you won’t have to worry about giving presentations or lectures nor getting nervous with the equipment. Using reliable, professional equipment like this plasma HDTV prepares you for success. The Progressive Cinema Scan (3:2 Pulldown) achieves faithful movie reproduction through an analog-to-digital conversion. The widescreen 16:9 width-to-height aspect ratio projects movies the way directors intended. Add the unique professional features like weekly command timer, dual picture mode, digital zoom, and a built-in video wall image enlarger, plus more, and you’re on your way to a triumphant presentation.

The TH42H10UK comes loaded with a multi-function input slot system. Which means it integrates seamlessly in virtually any AV, PC, or interactive environment, so it can be used in the widest range of vertical or horizontal display applications.

It comes standard with PC Input, Audio Input (for PC), Serial Control (RS-232C) Input, BNC Component Video/RGB Input and Audio Input, BNC Composite Video Input, S-Video Input, and Audio Input (for Video). There is an available slot for an optional terminal board. Or, you can remove the standard boards and mount up to three optional boards.

The TH42PH10UK 42″ compact size is perfect for moving from room to room. Plus you can choose from various energy-saving functions like DPMS, auto power off, power save mode, and more.

Panasonic’s TH50PH10UK Professional HDTV series achieves picture quality that gets the point across in a clear, colorful way. The TH50PH10UK displays a maximum of 29 billion colors. 16-bit processing produces 3,072 shades of gradation.The high contrast ratio of up to 10,000:1 ensures rich blacks and stunning whites. All of the technology comes wrapped in a smooth black exterior that looks good whether it’s on or off. Impress your co-workers, students, or business partners with this high definition TV.

Using reliable, professional equipment like this plasma HDTV prepares you for success. The Progressive Cinema Scan (3:2 Pulldown) achieves faithful movie reproduction through an analog-to-digital conversion. The widescreen 16:9 width-to-height aspect ratio projects movies the way directors intended. Add the unique professional features like weekly command timer, dual picture mode, digital zoom, and a built-in video wall image enlarger, plus more, and you’re on your way to a triumphant presentation.

The TH50PH10UK 50″ size is adaptable to any sized room. Plus you can choose from various energy-saving functions like DPMS, auto power off, power save mode, and more. All of these features grant this plasma an ENERGY STAR, which means it passes rigorous government standards for saving energy.

The TH50PH10UK comes standard with PC Input, Audio Input (for PC), Serial Control (RS-232C) Input, BNC Component Video/RGB Input and Audio Input, BNC Composite Video Input, S-Video Input, and Audio Input (for Video). There is an available slot for an optional terminal board. Or, you can remove the standard boards and mount up to three optional boards.