Event Coverage

Panasonic VIERA Launch - Stepping into the 3D World

By Andy Sim - 6 Apr 2010

VIERA Goes 3D

Into The Third Dimension

As far as product launches go, they're being held at Sentosa so often lately that it's happening almost like clockwork. Today, we are here at the ritzy Resorts World (again) to witness Panasonic's preliminary blast of VIERA displays for 2010. Suffice to say, the 3D-ready VT20 is arguably the most exciting entry amongst the five new plasma displays. On top of that, the Japanese also introduced a collection of six LCD TV series, of which two models are powered by LED backlights. That's something new for Panasonic if we may add. Before we take a peek at the rest of the models and multimedia enhancements like VIERA Cast, let's dig in to see what the VT20 has to offer. The new range of VIERA flat-panel displays are expected to reach Singapore in the third quarter of the year. Tight-lipped as they are, we've yet to hear from Panasonic regarding their retail prices.

You can call this Panasonic's doorway to a rather glamorous media affair. Held here at the Resorts World Convention Center, we waited our turn before we beheld the new suite of VIERA flat-panel displays. There are 11 models in all.

An imposing billboard greeted us as we stepped into Panasonic's 3D world. Aside from the 3D-ready VT20 model, Panasonic is also introducing a new fleet of Plasma and LCD displays for 2010, including those with LED-backlights.


VT20 Plasma Display Panel - Panasonic's 3D Revelation

As with the rest of the major television vendors, a 1080p 3D-ready model is undeniably granted the flagship spot given the current rage over 3D sets these days. Panasonic is no different. The THX-certified VT20 will hit the stands in 50 and 58 inch sizes, and will feature the best that Panasonic has to offer. That includes a 600Hz sub-field drive, 1080 lines of moving picture resolution, dynamic contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1, VIERA Cast and its slew of networking and multimedia functions. 

As for its 3D technology, the VT20 is known to deploy the frame sequential method akin to Sony, Samsung and LG, where Full-HD images are flashed alternately for the left and right eye which runs in sync with a pair of active shutter glasses. Panasonic is also touting a reduction of crosstalk concerns, kudos to their NeoPDP panel which helps to minimize any overlapping of left and right eye images. Interestingly, the VT20 is dressed with a tinge of color this time, brown to be precise, which is quite a departure from Panasonic's typical arrangement of black or silver dress codes.  

This shot in the dark might not do the VT20 justice, but we did like what we saw at Panasonic's 3D demonstration booth. The flagship VT20 will be cloaked in a radical brown hue, and will grace the shelves in 50 and 58 inch sizes.

Panasonic will be bundling a pair of active shutter glasses (TY-EW3D10) with the VT20 model. Here's one practical feature. The glasses turn off automatically once they are placed out of range for more than 5 minutes. Panasonic has collaborated with RealD, a prominent 3D innovator in the theatrical field, to make the VT20 model a 3D reality.

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