Olympus as promised today released the E-P2 as its second-generation Micro Four Thirds compact. The update to the 12.3-megapixel camera primarily adds continuous, motion-track autofocusing that can better follow a subject across the frame. HD movie recording likewise gets a boost with manual control over the aperture and shutter speed.
Yesterday's leak of Walmart offering several sales on consumer electronics products has been confirmed today by the big-box electronics retailer. The one-day deals are slated to start on Saturday, November 7th at 8AM. The leaked image matches Walmart's official products down to the prices and includes an Xbox 360 Arcade gaming console coming with a $100 gift card for $199. The headline offering, according to Walmart, is a 46-inch plasma HDTV with 1080p resolution and three HDMI ports for $788.
Epson has began producing a small, high-temperature polysilicon LCD panel that is just 0.47 inches in diagonal size and has an extremely dense 800x600 resolution. The panel is meant for use in the electronic viewfinders (EVF) of some digital cameras and is crisp enough to replicate an actual optical eyepiece. Unlike competing products that display RGB colors in sequence, the new example doesn't produce color breakup. This is evident as an iridescence in the outlines of objects when panning or looking away from the screen at a certain speed.
Airline Lufthansa revealed it will soon offer improved cellphone and Internet services on its long-distance flights, bettering those offered from other airlines. According to a Monday WSJ report (subscription required), the German company will partner with Panasonic to offer the connection services, called FlyNet, on flights between Europe and North America in the next few months before expanding the service to all of its planes and routes.
Panasonic recently introduced its latest home theater projector, the PT-AE4000U. The 1080p LCD projector has a 1,600 lumens brightness ratio and a 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. To help integrate it into user's existing home theater systems, there is a programmable 12V trigger for a drop-down screen and Panasonic's VIERA Link compatibility for control of all compatible system components with one remote. The lens produces up to a 120-inch picture at 11 feet away.
At the ongoing CEATEC show in Japan, Panasonic showed off its next-generation IPS-Alpha plasma prototype panel. While specs aren't yet available, subjectively the new display has very true black levels, while fast-moving scenes are reproduced without much noticeable blur. Panasonic hung a 2008 model next to the IPS-Alpha for comparison purposes, showing off the advances it has made in the past year.
Panasonic on Tuesday morning debuted six new Let's Note models in Japan, which are the equivalent of the maker's ToughBook rugged notebook PCs in North America. There were updated versions of the F8, R8, T8, W8 as well as two new models in the S8 and N8. The main change is the inclusion of 32-bit Windows 7, with some models getting the option to downgrade to Windows XP. The new S8 and N8 PCs also get much more powerful processors, with Intel's 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo, whereas the R8 makes do with a low-power 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo. The main difference between the S8 and N8 is the inclusion of a DVD drive in the S8 and a lack of one in the N8.
Panasonic on Monday announced it has developed a 50-inch plasma display panel and the associated active shutter glasses that work with the company's 3D HD system introduced at CES in January. The set uses Panasonic's new high-speed 3D drive technology that allows for the rapid illumination of pixels while retaining brightness. Most systems often take regular output and end up either producing rougher-moving images or a dimmer picture.
Panasonic on Wednesday said it will soon release its first 2.1-channel Blu-ray Disc home theater system, the SC-BTX70. The upright system uses a proprietary Panasonic technology that can reproduce virtual 7.1-channel sound in Dolby's TrueHD and DTS-HD virtual 7.1 formats. The two speakers, made of bamboo, have a top-mounted design for better sound dispersion. The system is rated at 375W of power, with each speaker and the subwoofer getting 125W.
As expected, Panasonic today launched the Lumix GF1, its own take on the idea of a rangefinder-like Micro Four Thirds camera. In addition to being slightly smaller than the Olympus E-P1 it shares its system with, the GF1 has a surprise fix for the absence of built-in flash on its competitor: the corner opposite the grip has a hidden pop-up flash that properly distances the illumination from the lens. No viewfinder is built-in, but an optional electronic viewfinder provides 100 percent coverage regardless of lens.
Panasonic has inadvertently spoiled its launch plans for the Lumix GF1 through at least one ad. Appearing on UK sites, the tower spot is short on details but confirms its position as Panasonic's rough equivalent to the Olympus E-P1 with a point-and-shoot style body but a Micro Four Thirds lens system. It also supports notions that the GF1 will ship in multiple colors, such as the red found on the G1/GH1 as well as black, silver and white.
Panasonic in Japan on Thursday introduced the first Blu-ray player made for cars with its CY-BB1000D along with a conventional but HD-capable counterpart, the HX-3000D. The former sports an HDMI input and 7-inch display with 1280x720 resolution that will play the Blu-ray content in HD. While the player will support Bonus View content on compatible BD media, accessing BD-Live content that requires an Internet connection isn't an option.
Panasonic's Lumix GF1 could get an announcement in three weeks based on a invitation that was briefly posted in a Chinese forum. The image lists an "unvealing" (potentially a play on words) for a new Lumix model in a two-day event that starts September 1st. A silhouette in the shot appears to match that of the GF1.
Panasonic's third camera using the Micro Four Thirds system in less than a year should be a direct answer to the Olympus E-P1, a leak through a Chinese forum shows. The Lumix GF1 is potentially smaller than the E-P1 but should answer some of the weaknesses of its sibling, including adding a hidden (likely pop-up) flash on the top left. It would still omit a dedicated viewfinder but would bring a dedicated movie button to start capturing 720p video in the AVCHD Lite (H.264) format also used by some of Panasonic's fixed-lens compact cameras.
Olympus is already preparing a sequel to its E-P1 that would address at least one main complaint about the Micro Four Thirds camera, according to a claim by French magazine Chasseur d'Images. Coming from the same issue that accurately leaked the Nikon S1000pj under its working codename, the assertion intercepted by Photo Rumors has an Olympus E-P2 adding a built-in viewfinder. The current model only has an optional viewfinder that needs to use the camera's hot shoe, preventing it from using flash at the same time and providing a view separate from what the lens itself sees.
Panasonic this morning gave all of its Viera Cast Blu-ray players support for Amazon's Video On Demand service. The feature gives the company's more advanced disc readers from 2009, including its portable reader, the option of streaming purchases and rentals directly from the reader without needing the storage for a complete copy. Using VOD isn't dependent on having a matching Panasonic TV (which already supports the feature) and supports HD with a sufficiently fast connection.
Panasonic this morning swelled the ranks of its Lumix cameras with three new models that all have new features. The FZ35 replaces the FZ28 as the company's ultrazoom and adds a new High Dynamic mode that improves the high dynamic range (HDR) of a scene, bringing detail back to overly bright highlights and darker shadows. A pseudo-manual mode known as My Color gives control over brightness, contrast and saturation with live previews of each, and a faster autofocus system that helps both for action scenes as well as capturing 720p video.
The Olympus E-P1 is now shipping to the US through Amazon. The camera avoids the common SLR profile and instead has a more retro look that resembles the former Olympus PEN cameras. Although the camera is visibly smaller than an SLR, the E-P1 features a large DSLR sensor and removable lenses. The 12-megapixel camera is the first Olympus to incorporate the Micro Four Thirds system and, unlike Panasonic's cameras using the system, does not include a electronic viewfinder above the 3-inch LCD. However, an optical add-on viewer is available.
Panasonic on Wednesday claimed the capacity lead for HD camcorders in revealing the HS350. Carrying a 240GB hard drive, the camera can capture up to 31 hours, 40 minutes of 1080i widescreen footage in AVCHD (H.264); It can also take SDHC cards to add up to another 32GB of storage or offload video from the camera.
While today, July 1st, was the agreed-upon deadline between cable operators and consumer electronics companies to support the new Tru2Way interactive digital cable standard, it's now learned today that none of the cable operators will meet or come close to this date. The new standard is due to replace CableCARD, and does not require a standalone set-top box, instead being integrated into devices such as TVs, DVD or Blu-ray players from existing electronics manufacturers. While cable companies such as Comcast, Time Warner and Cox Communications will not have the necessary support for the interactive service, execs from Samsung and Panasonic said good-faith effort has been made to deliver on the promises.
At the Infocomm show in Florida on Wednesday, Panasonic showed off an 85-inch, 1080p plasma display based on the company's NeoPDP technology. Meant for use in business presentations and as an electronic billboard, the display lacks a TV tuner of any kind. The display is four times larger than a typical 42-inch HDTV. The static contrast ratio is rated at 40,000:1, while the dynamic ratio jumps to an extremely high 2,000,000:1.
Clearwire on Tuesday officially released its 4G WiMAX wireless broadband network in Atlanta, making it the largest city in the US to offer the service. The service, CLEAR, is available to about three million people in a 1,200-square mile area, offering users DSL-like cable speeds wherever they are, wirelessly. Running on a WiMAX radio system from Motorola, the service is said to deliver realistic download speeds between 4 and 6Mbps, with burst speeds greater than 15Mbps. In comparison, existing 3G networks provide download speeds between 1 and 1.7Mbps.
The E-P1 will be supplemented by more distinct Micro Four Thirds models and with more professional features, Olympus product planning manager Akira Watanabe said in the wake of the new camera launch today. He explains to DPReview that the E-P1 is just the first in a larger range and that at least one future model will have an electronic viewfinder, much as Panasonic's Lumix G1 and GH1 have now. More lenses should also come in tow and may include more prime lenses beyond the new 17mm f2.8.
Olympus today finally launched the E-P1, its first camera using the Micro Four Thirds system and the first to adopt a non-SLR profile. Meant to recall the company's PEN cameras, it has a consciously retro but compact design that allows a large DSLR sensor and removable lenses but without the depth needed with a conventional mirror box or large optics. In a unique approach, Olympus doesn't have a dedicated electronic viewfinder beyond the 3-inch LCD but does give the choice of an optical add-on viewfinder.
One day ahead of its scheduled release, Olympus' EP-1 micro four thirds digital camera has been leaked. The camera is equipped with a 13-megapixel, 3 CCD sensor and can capture RAW images. It relies on an SD memory card for storage, and much like Panasonic's Lumix GH1 can shoot seven minutes of 720p video or else 14 minutes of 640x480 resolution video.
Panasonic today brought two camcorders to the US that it believes set records. Both the SD10 and TM10 are deemed the lightest cameras to record 1080i in AVCHD (H.264) and each weigh exactly half a pound. Aside from being more comfortable to hold, either has a relatively long-range 16X zoom and an advanced optical image stabilizer that specifically extends the effect when the user is on the move.
Panasonic on Monday released pricing and release information for the first portable Blu-ray disc player, the DMP-B15. First shown at this year's CES, the device sports an 8.9-inch LCD screen with 1024x600 resolution and, more importantly, Internet access via Panasonic's VIERA CAST technology along with Bonus View and BD Live functionality. This allows users to access some websites from any connected TV in their home or on the DMP-B15 itself.
Panasonic late on Wednesday said a real chance exists that it may develop an Android-based phone of its own before the end of its fiscal 2010 year, which ends next March. The company's mobile device director Keisuke Ishii told guests of a press conference for its new phones that Panasonic is "seriously considering" Google's mobile OS. He couldn't provide a timeframe but said the market for open-source smartphones would explode to 100 million phones by 2012, giving the electronics giant a strong reason to do well in that area itself.
Panasonic today set a record with its SDHC card line by launching the first-ever Class 10 cards. The rating promises a minimum 10MB per second and is better tailored to high-end compact cameras, entry digital SLRs or HD camcorders where baseline speed is essential: a still camera with 3MB shots can capture 3 frames per second without the SDHC card becoming the bottleneck. It also peaks at 22MB per second and is about 40 percent faster than a Class 4 (4MB per second) card in sustained transfers of large files.
Sony is bringing its TransferJet wireless data transmission technology closer to production by announcing recently it is now accepting licensing applications from interested companies. A Wednesday report has Sony taking "adopter" membership from companies that are interested in incorporating TransferJet into their products. TransferJet, which operates on a 4.5GHz radio frequency, lets users transfer data between portable devices at up to 375Mbps when they are about an inch apart. It is faster than wired USB 2.0 and FireWire connections and is supported by Japan, the US, European Union members and South Korea.
Panasonic today unveiled a pair of camcorders in Japan that each claim their own world's firsts. The TM350 is the first HD camcorder to hold 64GB of flash memory and can use the storage to record about 16 hours of 1080p, AVCHD (H.264) video at a film-level 24 frames per second, with an SDHC card slot holding more. It can also add 5.1-channel surround audio to the mix and uses a 3MOS (3 CMOS) sensor that better handles lower light compared to CCD.
Panasonic and chemical producer Sumitomo said (sign up required) on Friday that they have teamed up to accelerate the development of OLED displays. The move will give Panasonic, which is normally known for its LCDs and plasmas, the resources to create panels using the organic technology at sizes of 40 inches or larger by Panasonic's fiscal 2010, possibly outpacing its competition. The company wouldn't say whether it planned to make TVs based on the developments, but Samsung, Sony and others have typically only expected OLED TVs at or near 27 inches in 2009.
Panasonic on Wednesday officially confirmed the price for its second Micro Four Thirds digital camera, the Lumix GH1. The official price of nearly $1,500 for a bundled kit includes a 14-140mm, f4.0-5.8 lens and matches the unofficial pricing from electronics retailers J&R, revealed just yesterday. Panasonic adds that the camera will ship early in June.
Efforts to solidify very high-speed, short-range wireless gained steam today with the creation of the WiGig Alliance (site active soon). The organization is meant to produce a common standard for sending data over a 60GHz link and to streamline developing computers, handheld devices and home theater equipment that can use the wireless link. The ultra wideband technology is fast enough to run about 10 times as quickly as an 802.11n connection -- effectively, 1Gbps -- and has the headroom to not just stream HD video but also to allow for previously impossible features like fast wireless displays and syncing entirely over the wireless connection.
The Panasonic Lumix GH1 Micro Four Thirds camera, introduced at the start of March, has finally received a tentative US price through electronics retailer J&R's website. The new model is set at $1,500 for its standard kit version, which carries Vario HD 14-140mm, f/4.0-5.8 lens, which features four aspherical pieces of glass, optical image stabilization and is meant to capture both the close-up and telephoto shots likely in the camera's signature 1080p video mode.
Panasonic on Wednesday introduced its new flip-out in-car navigation and entertainment head unit, the 7-inch touchscreen CN-HX3000D. The 720p, Windows Automotive-powered unit has GPS functionality, is compatible with Google Maps, and has a 40GB hard disk drive built-in that handles both points of interest as well as a user's own media. The optical drive can play back DVDs in 5.1-channel surround sound or broadcasts from the 1Seg TV Tuner. An HDMI port lets users connect the also just-unveiled CY-BB1000D Blu-ray drive, endowing the CN-HX3000D with the ability to play HD video.
At the currently ongoing National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show in Las Vegas, Panasonic is showing off a new professional video camera from its AVCCAM lineup, the 3-megapixel AG-HMC40. Capable of capturing 10.6-megapixel still images, the camera uses 2-megapixel quarter-inch 3MOS imagers, a 12x optical zoom and a weight of less than 2.2lbs to both record better in low light while remaining easy to carry. It records to SDHC memory cards in AVCHD (H.264) format at up to 1080p for 30 or 60 frames per second and can also record at a film-speed 24 frames per second at 720p.
Panasonic UK on Thursday announced it is adding the 10.1-megapixel DMC-FS62 point and-shoot camera to its FS line-up, following up on the release of the FS25 in January. The new camera sports an Intelligent Auto mode that has an optical image stabilizer, auto ISO control, face detection and full auto scene selection. The new Intelligent Auto chooses between one of two optical stabilization modes depending on which of the two zoom ratios is being used. Advances in detection accuracy and correction effect come via a new Venus Engine IV image processing chip.
Lensbaby, makers of unusual optics add-ons for DSLRs, continues to evolve the product, as seen with the recently introduced Composer. We've taken a quick look at the system to see how it works as well as to provide some anecdotes from our experience using it in practice. We've also taken a look at the Optic Swap System that lets you tailor the visual effects of the Composer.
Panasonic on Thursday announced the upcoming release of two SC-HC-series iPod D-docks, with the main difference between the SC-HC3 and SC-HC4 being color availability and the inclusion of an SD card slot in the SC-HC4. Users have the option of copying music from CDs to an inserted SD or SDHC card at up to 8x speeds. Each dock features a pair of nearly 2.6-inch (6.5cm) diameter speakers made of bamboo fiber, powered by a 40W stereo amplifier.
Toshiba is in negotiations to buy out Panasonic's stake of a joint LCD venture, claims the Financial Times. Panasonic currently controls 40 percent of Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology, which produces smaller LCDs used in products like cellphones. The venture has been hit by falling product prices however, and is predicting an operating loss of approximately 30 billion yen ($309.6 million) in the fiscal year ending March 2009.
Panasonic today edged closer to a formal launch for the Lumix GH1 by providing details for its Japanese launch. Introduced at PMA, the camera will ship to the country on April 24th and cost the equivalent of $1,535 after both tax and the inclusion of its special 14-140mm lens, which is optimized for the camera's central video recording feature. Colors have changed from the original G1 and will give Japanese owners the choice of gold in place of blue while keeping black and red options.
Bang & Olufsen has announced on Thursday it will release its giant 103-inch plasma HDTV this summer. The set is called the BeoVision 4-103 and together with its motorized stand, weighs in at 1,100lbs. The stand will motor up to reveal a center channel speaker that is also motorized and comes out to sit flush with the screen. Users can also adjust the angle and rotate the display to face them squarely via the remote control. The plasma panel comes from a same-size Panasonic display.
For the first time in company history, Sony will freeze the wages of its workers in Japan in an effort to cut operating losses and keep a lid on costs, according to a Financial Times report on Thursday. At the same time, the company will cut average bonuses, with factory workers getting a 53 percent smaller bonuses, down from the equivalent of about $23,400, that in itself is expected to save Sony about $105 million in 2009 compared to last year. The move would let Sony take active steps to keep costs in check without cutting more permanent jobs in its home country.
Hitachi turn around involves new president, company split Hitachi on Monday announced it has named a new president to head up the company's turnaround plan to return to profitability. According to Monday WSJ report, Takashi Kawamura, a 47-year senior at the company who is 69, will replace Kazuo Furukawa in April. At the same time, the company will split up its automotive supply and consumer television operations. About two months ago, Hitachi announced the biggest loss ever among Japanese manufacturing companies and is expected to post a 700 billion yen ($7.1 billion) loss for the year at the end of March. The loss-making businesses will be made into wholly-owned subsidiaries but become independent in July.
HD Guru on Thursday revealed unannounced pricing for the Panasonic 2009 TV line-up, including the flagship 1-inch thick 54-inch Z1 plasma. The panel of the Z1 uses the company's Neo PDP technology and gives the set a 40,000:1 contrast ratio along with low energy consumption. The TV achieves its thin profile thanks to a separate HDMI receiver that sends signals to the display wirelessly. The TC-P54Z1 is due to ship this June, priced at $6,000.
Panasonic on Wednesday introduced a 17-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD HDTV, the TH-L17F1, which has four built-in digital terrestrial antennas that combine their signals to create one high-quality image. The TV is thus able to pick up 12 channels of Japan's digital TV broadcasts and can pick up 1Seg signals when signals strength is very weak. The small set has the ability to display 1366x768 high-definition resolution and is one option for those in Japan who still aren't ready for Japan's upcoming DTV transition.
Olympus' first digital camera based on Micro Four Thirds technology, originally spotted at Photokina in September, has made another appearance that now includes a likely release date. The company now expects the DSLR, which resembles a vintage rangefinder, to ship sometime during the summer. Olympus is still keeping mum about pricing for its unnamed Micro Four Thirds camera, however. Specs, including megapixel count, are also not yet disclosed.
Panasonic has announced a second entry into its Lumix G series of Micro Four Thirds cameras, the GH1. The camera continues to use a 12.1-megapixel sensor, but introduces the ability to record in 1080p, 24fps video, echoing one of the primary features of Canon's more expensive EOS-5D Mk. II. Video is saved in AVCHD format to the camera's SDHC slot, and can additionally be scaled down to 1280x720 for 60fps recording. Shutter and aperture settings can be tweaked to produce special effects.
LG may be the next to discard plasma TVs, company vice president Lee Gyu-hong says. The executive has told Kyodo News that a sustained poor world economy would make it unprofitable to keep developing and selling the more expensive display technology. If no recovery seems likely, Lee estimates that plans to exit plasma would be made public before the end of the year.
