Panasonic unveils Infinite Black Ultra Panel plasmas for 2012

DiGiTaL MoNkEY · 12th January 2012, 12:04 PM

Quote:

The leader in plasmas TVs keeps stepping up its game with 16 new 3D models for 2012 and one lonely 2D set. At the top of the line is the VT50 series -- 4 is unlucky in Japan -- featuring the new Infinite Black Ultra Panel with blacker blacks then the 2011 VT35 and 24,576 steps of gradation, which should provide more detail in dark scenes. It's too early to tell if this will officially dethrone the king of blacks, but we were able to appreciate the improved performance in a side by side demo. The picture quality isn't the only thing new, 2012 brings DLNA, a new more anti-reflective screen and a web browser that uses a smartphone app to avoid entering data with an onscreen keyboard. There are also new 3D glasses for 2012 that are much ligher and work via Bluetooth -- and of course not compatible with last year's. We wish there were more details (like price and availability) in the press release after the break, but we'd guess this Summer for less than you paid for your 2011 HDTV.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/p...as-for-2012-e/

Doso · 12th January 2012, 12:17 PM

Finally a TV that I may justify upgrading my Pioneer 508xda for!

Looks like all the Pioneer engineers that moved to Panasonic after Pioneer pulled the plug on their plasma division might be doing something

Mau1wurf1977 · 12th January 2012, 12:31 PM

The last hurrah before OLED production gets into gear?

MR CHILLED · 12th January 2012, 12:55 PM

I'm not worried so much about thinness, but bigger is better

csimpson · 12th January 2012, 3:17 PM

I'm very keen to trial one of these against my Pioneer LX509. I'll report more when I find out Australian release dates.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mau1wurf1977

The last hurrah before OLED production gets into gear?

Panasonic won't have OLED for a while, AFAIK they don't have any significant research into it.

Luke212 · 12th January 2012, 3:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doso

Finally a TV that I may justify upgrading my Pioneer 508xda for!

Looks like all the Pioneer engineers that moved to Panasonic after Pioneer pulled the plug on their plasma division might be doing something

you mean besides a PRO70X5FD

Fishface · 13th January 2012, 7:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csimpson

Panasonic won't have OLED for a while, AFAIK they don't have any significant research into it.

They are hoping to release an OLED TV this year:

http://www.oled-info.com/panasonic-b...oduction-plant

I suspect that it will be a long time before OLED prices come down enough to become competitive with plasma.

PsychoSmiley · 13th January 2012, 9:31 AM

The thing is now that we are on the cusp of OLED, plasma and LCD are dying tech. Panasonic need to start getting into R&D (they would be foolish not to have some R&D going into it at the moment) otherwise they are going to pushing old tech when the like of Samsung are already releasing OLED devices.

EDIT: Just read the above link. Looks like they are into it lets just hope they aren't too late to the game.

Space Hi-Fi · 13th January 2012, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csimpson

I'm very keen to trial one of these against my Pioneer LX509. I'll report more when I find out Australian release dates.

Yes, please do. I wouldn't mind hearing real life comparisons.

These TV's do look promising. Also, from a design perspective I must say I am impressed.

Zee · 14th January 2012, 2:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsychoSmiley

The thing is now that we are on the cusp of OLED, plasma and LCD are dying tech. Panasonic need to start getting into R&D (they would be foolish not to have some R&D going into it at the moment) otherwise they are going to pushing old tech when the like of Samsung are already releasing OLED devices.

EDIT: Just read the above link. Looks like they are into it lets just hope they aren't too late to the game.

I doubt plasma will vanish too soon - it is still the best bang for buck in terms of size and image.

OLED *should* blitz it in all areas, though prices will be steep off the bat. I'd also be expecting a fe wissues in the first few generations (as with all new tech).

I have no doubt it will kill off both Plasma and the various versions of LCD tech out there once it gains traction and becomes affordable.

I'm hanging for the "roll it up" and "thin as aluminium foil" 130" screens I was promised when first introduced to the tech in the late 90's...

Back on the plasma - I hope they will include their Calman capable calibration system in more of their newer models.

Z...

Mau1wurf1977 · 14th January 2012, 4:14 PM

The thing about OLED is that it's actually a very very cheap technology in regards to production. No need for a back-light for example.

So as soon as production and sales ramp up, prices will come down very fast.

It also depends on how many companies will produce. It certainly doesn't look like a single manufacturer will be first to market by a significant amount, which is very good for the consumer.

What I expect to see now are ridiculously cheap LED LCD and Plasma TVs in 2012 / 2013 as manufacturers scramble to squeeze the most profit out while the market is declining.

Another thing I noticed is all this "smart TV" stuff. I wish one manufacturer would launch a "Just a TV" or something like that. Huge size, excellent IQ and great price.

mtma · 14th January 2012, 4:30 PM

Like anything it will be a case of cheap OLED is cheap to produce. It will undoubtedly have its own idiosyncrasies that will turn into the next black reproduction craze.

Probably to the tune of dither noise and top end saturation.

Brett · 14th January 2012, 4:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mau1wurf1977

"Just a TV"

Yeah I don't want a built in PVR, web browser or media player, I've already got stuff to do those jobs better.

Luke212 · 14th January 2012, 5:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mau1wurf1977

The thing about OLED is that it's actually a very very cheap technology in regards to production. No need for a back-light for example.

So as soon as production and sales ramp up, prices will come down very fast.

It also depends on how many companies will produce. It certainly doesn't look like a single manufacturer will be first to market by a significant amount, which is very good for the consumer.

What I expect to see now are ridiculously cheap LED LCD and Plasma TVs in 2012 / 2013 as manufacturers scramble to squeeze the most profit out while the market is declining.

Another thing I noticed is all this "smart TV" stuff. I wish one manufacturer would launch a "Just a TV" or something like that. Huge size, excellent IQ and great price.

I wouldnt say its cheap tech. You pay per pixel. rather than per display(or per region) for backlight

Mau1wurf1977 · 14th January 2012, 5:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtma

Like anything it will be a case of cheap OLED is cheap to produce.

Well the way OLED works simply lends itself much better for displays. Compare that to the very first LCD monitors. How shocking were they?

They still haven't been able to match the good old CRT TV in terms of black levels and other IQ parameters. The technology simply isn't ideal for displays, but was the best available at that time...

The approach Sony took (Crystal-technology something) is quite interesting. I doubt that they will continue down this path took.

12th January 2012, 12:31 PM	#3
Mau1wurf1977 Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Country WA Posts: 12,966	The last hurrah before OLED production gets into gear? __________________ Ultimate GOG.com DOSBox Tutorial, Roland vs Yamaha General MIDI DOS Games Music Comparison

13th January 2012, 9:31 AM	#8
PsychoSmiley Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Darwin Posts: 5,132	The thing is now that we are on the cusp of OLED, plasma and LCD are dying tech. Panasonic need to start getting into R&D (they would be foolish not to have some R&D going into it at the moment) otherwise they are going to pushing old tech when the like of Samsung are already releasing OLED devices. EDIT: Just read the above link. Looks like they are into it lets just hope they aren't too late to the game. __________________ Currently Playing: StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm (PC) \| Homeworld 2 (PC)

14th January 2012, 4:14 PM	#11
Mau1wurf1977 Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Country WA Posts: 12,966	The thing about OLED is that it's actually a very very cheap technology in regards to production. No need for a back-light for example. So as soon as production and sales ramp up, prices will come down very fast. It also depends on how many companies will produce. It certainly doesn't look like a single manufacturer will be first to market by a significant amount, which is very good for the consumer. What I expect to see now are ridiculously cheap LED LCD and Plasma TVs in 2012 / 2013 as manufacturers scramble to squeeze the most profit out while the market is declining. Another thing I noticed is all this "smart TV" stuff. I wish one manufacturer would launch a "Just a TV" or something like that. Huge size, excellent IQ and great price. __________________ Ultimate GOG.com DOSBox Tutorial, Roland vs Yamaha General MIDI DOS Games Music Comparison Last edited by Mau1wurf1977; 14th January 2012 at 4:17 PM.

12th January 2012, 12:17 PM	#2
Doso Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: [Vic]Melbourne Posts: 5,586	Finally a TV that I may justify upgrading my Pioneer 508xda for! Looks like all the Pioneer engineers that moved to Panasonic after Pioneer pulled the plug on their plasma division might be doing something

12th January 2012, 12:55 PM	#4
MR CHILLED D'oh! Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 90,783	I'm not worried so much about thinness, but bigger is better

14th January 2012, 4:30 PM	#12
mtma Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2,649	Like anything it will be a case of cheap OLED is cheap to produce. It will undoubtedly have its own idiosyncrasies that will turn into the next black reproduction craze. Probably to the tune of dither noise and top end saturation.