AfterDawn: News

New Panasonic Blu-ray players add streaming capabiliy

Panasonic hasn't had the high profile among Blu-ray backers that the formats other major backers have. In fact just based on their decision to let others, such as Sony and Disney, take the lead in marketing it you might not realize they have as much to gain from its success as anyone. After all they own as many patents for the format as any other company and more than any besides Sony.

This year they seem determined to make more of a market impact, starting with the introduction of new Blu-ray players capable of streaming video from online sources like Amazon and YouTube. Support for the Netflix streaming video service is conspicuously absent.



The company has also added other improvements to their line of players.Perhaps one of the most interesting is the addition of a VHS deck to one model.

“With the expansion of the unique VIERA Cast functionality and the introduction of the industry’s first dual VHS-Blu-ray deck, Panasonic’s 2009 line cements our position as technology leaders and places Panasonic in the forefront of the Blu-ray arena,” said Richard Simone, Director, Panasonic, the Entertainment Group.

The new players also feature support for both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio

Written by: Rich Fiscus @ 13 Jan 2009 1:45

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• 7 comments

• mike.m

  Quote:...they own as many patents for the format as any other company and more than any besides Sony.When blu-ray came out, many thought it was made by Sony. When it fact they were mostly just a contributor to the format. It's nice to hear the other companies finally get some credit for it.
  
  
  Quote:Panasonic’s 2009 line cements our position as technology leaders and places Panasonic in the forefront of the Blu-ray arena.I hope these players don't make me regret already buying a Sony S550, I would have picked the Panny 55, but it was too expensive for me. I heard the 55 is better in quality than the S550, who knows how good these ones are going to be.

  13.1.2009 04:00 #1

• Hunt720

  OOOH! a Blu-Ray Player with a VHS deck included!!! That sounds increadibly useful! I could put that in my entertainment center next to my CD/vinyl combo player!

  13.1.2009 09:23 #2

• ZippyDSM

  Quote:Quote:...they own as many patents for the format as any other company and more than any besides Sony.When blu-ray came out, many thought it was made by Sony. When it fact they were mostly just a contributor to the format. It's nice to hear the other companies finally get some credit for it.
  
  
  Quote:Panasonic’s 2009 line cements our position as technology leaders and places Panasonic in the forefront of the Blu-ray arena.I hope these players don't make me regret already buying a Sony S550, I would have picked the Panny 55, but it was too expensive for me. I heard the 55 is better in quality than the S550, who knows how good these ones are going to be.With what sony spent to get studios.....with the PS3 hanging on its success....it is for all practical terms sonys baby.....

  13.1.2009 14:10 #3

• H_Seldon

  I like Panasonic. They're better than the crappy broken Sony products I've had to deal with over the last several years. Good luck to them - I hope it's a success.

  13.1.2009 16:13 #4

• afterenoo

  Now I am also confused what is blue-ray

  15.1.2009 04:06 #5

• H_Seldon

  Start here -
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray
  http://www.videohelp.com/hd
  
  Hari

  15.1.2009 12:03 #6

• BenLigeri

  "streaming video from online sources like Amazon and YouTube"
  
  YouTube doesn't stream video, and I didn't know Amazon even had video. Definitely not the ones you should mention. I would mention BetterStream and Hulu next time

  16.1.2009 14:22 #7