Panasonic Singapore AV Launch and "Eco Ideas" Roadshow
To augment their VIERA fleet, Panasonic has added a sultry mix of home entertainment systems to accompany their HDTVs for their launch here in Singapore. We'll also bring you a snippet or two from Panasonic's "Eco Ideas" Roadshow held in conjunction with World Environment Day last week.
Blu-ray Goes Portable
Having showcased a similar VIERA collection during their recent regional event , the Japanese electronics giant has beefed up their local launch with a smattering of Blu-ray and DVD Home Theater systems for AV enthusiasts to savor on top of their HDTVs. Among the new systems revealed is the much anticipated portable DMP-B15 Blu-ray player which some of you might have read about. Here are some of Panasonic's sonic and visual attractions headed for your living room. We'll also bring you some of the highlights from Panasonic's "eco ideas" roadshow next.
The picture might have a huge VIERA logo slapped on it, but we'll bring you more of Panasonic's home entertainment toys instead since we've covered their bunch of VIERA HDTVs during the regional event.
Portable Blu-ray Disc Player DMP-B15
As if being the world's first DVD player creator isn't quite enough, Panasonic is now eyeing Blu-ray buffs who want a mobile BD unit to cart around. The portable DMP-B15 is supposed to be the first of its kind, blessed with an 8.9-inch WSVGA LCD screen, stereo speakers and a HDMI port which enables you to hook it up to a HDTV. The B15 also carries Pansonic's PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus technology, designed to reproduce images with twice the color accuracy. This feature is similarly found on Panasonic's newly arrived DMP-BD60 set-top Blu-ray player.
Is that a laptop or a digital photo frame? That's actually Panasonic's first portable Blu-ray player you're staring at. Supporting both HD video and audio streams outputs, the DMP-B15 is also ideal in accompanying your HDTV as a standalone Blu-ray player.
Watching a YouTube video on a Full-HD screen can be a refreshing experience. Here's Panasonic's VIERA Cast feature in action, fed to their Z1 flagship PDP from their new BD60 Blu-ray player.
Supporting the BD-Live profile, the B15 will also pack an SD card slot and a LAN port in its hardware. However, do note that an SD card of 1GB or more is required to enjoy additional content on certain Blu-ray titles. One notable new feature is VIERA Cast, an integrated service which allows you to access online videos and images from sites such as YouTube and Picasa. No official word is out on it pricing as yet, but we've heard from Panasonic that the B15 going for an approximate retail price of S$999.
Blu-ray Disc Home Theater Sound System SC-BT205
You can call Panasonic's SC-BT205 Home Theater Sound System a one-stop Blu-ray solution. Engineered with low-density Bamboo Cones for its front and center speaker units, Panasonic's new Home-Theater-In-A-Box also boasts of a Kelton subwoofer for more thumps and booms. The BT205 has other tricks up its sleeves besides being able to play Blu-ray titles, such as Panasonic's 4:4:4 signal processing technology which converts each pixel of the video signal into the horizontal axis to complement vertical direction processing.
With four tallboy speakers and a Kenton subwoofer, the SC-BT205 is one mean home entertainment package with a Blu-ray drive incorporated. Panasonic has made revisions to its power-board, offering a standby power consumption of just 0.3 watts.
Viera Cast, BD-Live and iPod playability are some of the features the BT205 supports as well. With an approximate power consumption of just 0.3W during its standby mode, the BT-205 is notably less of a power guzzler compared to its SC-BT100 predecessor. Total output power is set at 1,000 watts RMS.
Wireless Home Theater System SC-ZT1
Tired of messy cables associated with your AV system? Panasonic has come up with a wireless solution in the form of the SC-ZT1. This is made possible by sending uncompressed audio data over a 2.4GHz frequency band to the system's two Ultra Slim Pole speakers that houses 24mm tweeters. No subwoofers are required, since the ZT1 also integrates a woofer located at the speakers' base. Engineered with a diameter of 120mm, its long-stroke woofer deploys a down-firing structure for improved bass resonance.
It isn't hard to mistake the wireless speakers of the ZT1 as lightning conductors of sorts. Don't underestimate it though for they're capable of creating a virtual 7.1-channel surround effect. Interestingly, four speakers have been packed into a single pole.
The ZT1's receiver is also able to reproduce a 7.1-channel virtual surround effect though it's only driven by two speakers. Audio-wise, the ZT1 has built-in Dolby Digital and DTS Surround decoders, as well as support for Dolby Pro Logic II which converts stereo sources into various playback channels for that surround sound experience.
DVD Home Theater Sound Systems
If a Blu-ray HTIB isn't what you're after, maybe you could pick one from Panasonic's DVD Home Theater Sound Systems? Like the Blu-ray capable SC-BT205, Panasonic's new DVD-based models such as the SC-PT875, SC-PT870, and SC-PT570 will also incorporate the same Bamboo Cone Speakers and Kelton Subwoofer. However, do note that the SC-BT470 model will not feature the subwoofer. An additional wireless kit for the rear speakers is also available for the models mentioned above, except for the PT875 which comes bundled with it. For more information, please refer to our table below. All DVD Home Theater Sound Systems are available in stores now.
Model | Key Features | Recommended Price |
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The Green Ones
The equation is rather simple. Global CO2 emissions can be reduced if household energy consumption is equally minimized as well. In most cases, culprits such as air conditioners, refrigerators, lighting equipment and TVs are to be blamed for almost 80 percent of the total power consumption in an average household. Whether it's about saving electricity, water, or producing longer product life spans, it would seem that Panasonic has got them all covered with their painstaking green endeavors. Here are some of their recent gizmos with earth saving details. Do check them out.
Panasonic's new energy saving lamp comes in a spiral design, which emits less heat and thus power loss. This translates to greater efficiency in producing the same brightness as a normal incandescent lamp as showcased here.
Panasonic's latest range of washing machines has its drums tilted at 45 degrees which is great for water reduction and long term savings in terms of utility bills.
In numbers, the new Panasonic NA-VR5500L/R washing machine can save up to 77 liters of water.
The new Panasonic Viera lineup is also on the eco route, promising at least 29% in power savings with a reduction in power usage across the board for its latest products.
Panasonic is definitely covering all grounds, as seen in its battery range with the new Evolta that promises greater power efficiency as compared to its older alkaline range.
Panasonic Wants To Turn You Green
Held in conjunction with World Environment Day on the 5th of June, Panasonic Asia Pacific has launched their "eco ideas" roadshow recently to raise eco-awareness as well as to make their green intentions known.
Panasonic's "eco ideas" interactive show held at Suntec City recently was part of the corporation's grand plans to promote eco awareness and their three-pronged eco solutions.
Established in 2007, their eco-friendly declarations include the company's drive to encourage the global spread of environmental activities via their "eco ideas for Everybody, Everywhere" initiative. On the manufacturing side, Panasonic is aiming to cut CO2 emissions by 240,000 tons by the year 2010.
The Japanese company will also establish an eco-ideas factory in countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Locally, the Panasonic Refrigeration Devices factory in Bedok will be the first in Singapore to achieve the eco-ideas accreditation. In line with Panasonic's third eco pledge, simply known as eco ideas for Products, they've pledged to achieve an 80 percent sales figure for Asia Pacific with environmentally-friendly products which are energy and water efficient.
Guest of Honor Mr Ng Meng Hiong, Deputy Director of 3P Partnership Department from the National Environment Agency was there to grace the event. With him is Mr Ikuo Miyamoto from Panasonic, Managing Executive Officer from the Corporate Management Division for Asia and Oceania.
Mr Ng Meng Hiong (left) and Mr Ikuo Miyamoto representing both the National Environment and Panasonic in promoting eco-friendliness for everyone.
From left: Mr. Low Beng Huat, General Manager, Regional Planning & Affairs Group, Mr. Katsumi Takahashi, Director, Corporate Communications Group, Mr. Ikuo Miyamoto, Managing Executive Officer and Mr. Akira Nakamura, General Manager, Environmental Planning Group.
"When we talk about Panasonic's environmental activities, it's not only relevant in Singapore but other parts of the world as well. We have banded together to do something for the environment. In some regions, we offer school education to educate children on green ideas, such as tree planting and so forth. In other parts of the world, we've also conducted marine conservation activities and so on. Why do we bother with such activities in the first place? It's because of the eco promise we have made with the eco ideas for Everybody, Everywhere initiative," says Mr Low Beng Huat.
There's more juice on Panasonic's eco-friendly products over at the next page.
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