Panasonic ToughBook S10 Announced

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"></span><br /> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 13px/19px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px; padding-bottom: 0.6em; padding-left: 0.6em; padding-right: 0.6em; padding-top: 0.6em;"> <div mce_style="text-align: center;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: center;"> <img alt="ToughBook S10" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-83779" height="336" mce_src="http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/5622/s10mk2openrightlr2.jpg" src="http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/5622/s10mk2openrightlr2.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" title="ToughBook S10" width="448" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Panasonic is updating its ToughBook S9 model with the release of the ToughBook S10, a 12.1-inch business-rugged notebook that weights only 3 lbs with an integrated DVD drive. The next-gen device offers a faster processor (Intel Core i5-2520M vPro™ -2.5GHz), USB 3.0 and 2.0 support, enhanced battery life (12.5 hours standard, impressive!) and increased RAM (4GB expandable to 8 GB) compared to the S9.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Business-rugged means that the S10 can survive a 30-inch drop to the base of the unit while operating, thanks to its magnesium alloy case and shock-mounted flex-connect hard drive. Additionally, it is 220 lbs compression resistant, and has a spill-resistant keyboard/touchpad (6 ounce/200cc spills).<br style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" />Like all the models in the ToughBook lineup, it features an optional Gobi 2000 3G mobile broadband to allow connectivity anywhere.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> If you really need a tough notebook with enhanced connectivity, you have to be ready to pay the price, the Panasonic ToughBook S10 will be available in September 2011 for a starting price of $2,449. The Toughbook S10 is backed with a three-year limited warranty, parts and labor.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Check out the detailed specifications provided by the manufacturer after the jump.,</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ubergizmo?a=xfhPWQE7bgk:qjdASNk2nuI:yIl2AUoC8zA" mce_href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ubergizmo?a=xfhPWQE7bgk:qjdASNk2nuI:yIl2AUoC8zA" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="" border="0" mce_src="http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/84/48080281.gif" src="http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/84/48080281.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ubergizmo?a=xfhPWQE7bgk:qjdASNk2nuI:qj6IDK7rITs" mce_href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ubergizmo?a=xfhPWQE7bgk:qjdASNk2nuI:qj6IDK7rITs" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="" border="0" mce_src="http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/7592/88517117.gif" src="http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/7592/88517117.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ubergizmo?a=xfhPWQE7bgk:qjdASNk2nuI:gIN9vFwOqvQ" mce_href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ubergizmo?a=xfhPWQE7bgk:qjdASNk2nuI:gIN9vFwOqvQ" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="" border="0" mce_src="http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/5351/94957161.gif" src="http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/5351/94957161.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ubergizmo?a=xfhPWQE7bgk:qjdASNk2nuI:-BTjWOF_DHI" mce_href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ubergizmo?a=xfhPWQE7bgk:qjdASNk2nuI:-BTjWOF_DHI" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="" border="0" mce_src="http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/5985/64294127.gif" src="http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/5985/64294127.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" /></a></div> </div> </div>

Panasonic ToughBook S10 Announced

Panasonic is updating its ToughBook S9 model with the release of the ToughBook S10, a 12.1-inch business-rugged notebook that weights ...

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More compact system cameras in Japanese top 20 than DSLRs

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman','Bitstream Charter',Times,serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; max-width: 640px; padding: 0.6em;"> <div mce_style="text-align: center;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: center;"> <img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="133" mce_src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/Review%20images/PhotoRadar/Olympus/Olympus%20PENS%202011/E-P3_silver__rightside_EW-M1220-XL-218-85-200-200.jpg" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/Review%20images/PhotoRadar/Olympus/Olympus%20PENS%202011/E-P3_silver__rightside_EW-M1220-XL-218-85-200-200.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 12px; max-width: 640px;" width="200" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> A new record has been set in Japan for camera sales. According to BCNranking, 11 out of the 20 most popular cameras sold in Japan were mirrorless compact system cameras.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Highest on the list was the newly launched Olympus PEN E-P3 twin lens kit, which rose from no.83 to no.6 last week.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Other cameras in the top 20 include the Olympus PEN E-P3 single lens kit (no.9), Lumix GF2 white double lens kit (no.7) and the recently announced Sony NEX-C3 (no.12).</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Older cameras, such as the Olympus E-PL1 and Olympus E-PL2, continue to appear on the list too.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Traditional DSLR systems still make up the top five in the list, though, with the Nikon D3100 entry-level model at the top, closely followed by the Canon EOS Kiss X5 (or the 600D to use its European name).</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> This is the first time that the majority of the cameras in the top 20 list have been mirrorless systems, which is a telling indicator of the format's growing popularity.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Nikon and Canon have yet to enter the compact system camera market, but rumours are circulating about imminent announcements from both companies.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> It's harder to assess the popularity of cameras in other countries such as the UK, since detailed reports are not made available.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Taking a quick peek at the best-selling cameras on Amazon, however, puts the Panasonic Lumix FS35 compact camera at the top of the list, with the first system camera, the Nikon D3000, not appearing until no.5.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> In Amazon's top-selling compact system camera list, the Panasonic G3 tops the list, followed by its predecessor the G2.</div> </div> </span></div>

More compact system cameras in Japanese top 20 than DSLRs

A new record has been set in Japan for camera sales. According to BCNranking, 11 out of the 20 most popular cameras sold in Japan were ...

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Review: Panasonic TX-L42E30B

<P align=center><img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Panasonic%20TX-LE42E30B/11637_TX-L42E30B_3_1-200-200.jpg"></P> <br /><P>Panasonic might reign unchallenged as king of plasma, but the LED-powered TX-L42E30B proves that its commitment to LCD is no less fierce. </P><br /><P>The 42-inch set sits near the top of Panasonic's 2011 range and is only out-specified by the smaller, 3D-toting TX-L37DT30B and TX-L32DT30B. The E30 range also features a pair of smaller screens, the TX-L37E30B and the TX-L32E30B.</P><br /><P>It's a bit of a looker, too. While some recent Panasonic TVs appeared to have been designed by a collection of three-year olds armed with a bunch of black crayons, this one hits all the right notes.</P><br /><P align=center><img alt="Panasonic tx-l42e30b" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Panasonic%20TX-LE42E30B/11636_TX-L42E30B_2_3-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>Combining a sleek cabinet factor with a thin bezel around the screen and a neat, dark grey finish. It's not as eye-catching as Samsung's new <a href="">D8000 series</A> LEDs, but many will find its mature aesthetics a better match for their living room.</P><br /><P align=center><img alt="Panasonic tx-l42e30b" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Panasonic%20TX-LE42E30B/11637_TX-L42E30B_3_1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>Aside from a lack of 3D support, the TX-L42E30B is a state-of-the-art screen. It continues Panasonic's theory that a modern TV should act as a home's entertainment hub, by providing playback of video, music and photo files from USB and SD card, and DLNA media streaming from a network-connected PC or Panasonic Diga recorder. </P><br /><P>Accessible files are displayed by tapping the green Viera Tools button on the remote and sectioned into Photo, Video, Recorded TV and Music (for USB/SD card) and Media Server for any DLNA-attached devices. Usability is good – we had no trouble viewing various music and video files located on a Western Digital NAS drive and a PC. </P><br /><P>The TX-L42E30B is net-savvy, too. Viera Connect is the 2011 iteration of Panasonic's online portal – previously known as Viera Cast - and comes with plenty of new features. Described as a 'cloud-based internet service', Viera Connect currently offers music and video on demand in the form of YouTube, Acetrax, Dailymotion, Ustream and SHOUTcast; Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Picasa, Skype and other apps; interactive games such as Blackjack and Catch Up TV from BBC's iPlayer. </P><br /><P>That may not sound very different to Viera Cast, but the platform is now open to third-party developers, so expect much more to be added in the near future. For instance, Panasonic has said that the capacity to expand hardware functions through linking health and fitness equipment or game controllers will be introduced later this year, so maybe it's time to dig out your tracksuit bottoms.</P><br /><P>The Viera Connect interface is a treat, and more finely tuned than that of the TV itself. A dedicated Viera Cast button on the remote control (Panasonic obviously hasn't got round to updating its handsets yet) brings up the bright, colourful, hi-res homepage, with icons for Skype, iPlayer, Acetrax etc.</P><br /><P>The iPlayer app is particularly worth investigating. It includes BBC HD playback, is easy to navigate and picture quality is on a par with material from the TV's own tuner.</P><br /><P>Prospective buyers should be aware, though, that Viera Connect doesn't allow unrestricted web browsing (a la Philips' Net TV).</P><br /><P>Another handy feature is recording to a USB storage device, which brings with it trickplay features like pausing and rewinding live TV. Recordings can't be played back on other devices, though, which makes one wonder why Panasonic doesn't just build a hard-disk drive into the TV when it's on the production line.</P><br /><P>The TX-L42E30B sports a healthy array of connections. The back panel houses three HDMI jacks, a component input, RGB Scart, PC input, stereo analogue audio in/out and an optical audio output. There's also an Ethernet port and pair of USB sockets. Further connections sit on the side of the bezel for easy access, including a third USB, HDMI input and an SD card slot - the latter perfect for owners of Panasonic's digital cameras.</P><br /><P>Features related more to the TX-L42E30B's AV performance include Panasonic's V-Real Live picture processing engine, Intelligent Frame Creation Pro motion smoothing, a Freeview HD tuner; an IPS Alpha LCD panel, edge LED lighting and, of course, a full HD 1,920 x 1,080 resolution.</P><br /><P align=center><img alt="Panasonic tx-l42e30b" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Panasonic%20TX-LE42E30B/11636_TX-L42E30B_2_3-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>Despite the TX-L42E30B's lack of in-depth picture adjustments, it delivers an assured picture performance with little to fault it, particularly with hi-def Blu-rays.</P><br /><P>Tweakers may bemoan the absence of serious colour management tools and will have to make do with an on/off Vivid colour mode, but Panasonic compensates for this by providing colour accuracy out of the box. With the TV in cinema mode and the Warm preset selected, we measured a spot-on 6,500K colour temp, so your DVD and Blu-ray platters should look close to how the director intended, colour-wise.</P><br /><P>A 16-step colour gradation test shows the TX-L42E30B excels in green, yellow and blue reproduction. It's only with the brightest red shades that subtle shifts are lost.</P><br /><P>With <EM>Toy Story 3</EM> on Blu-ray this solid colour performance equates to a superbly cinematic experience; the exotic palette employed by Pixar is delivered with aplomb, without ever veering into gaudy territory. Some LED-lit screens can give film material an artificial feel, but not the TX-L42E30B.</P><br /><P>Working in tandem with that considered colour presentation is a healthy black level. Panasonic is too grown-up these days to bother itself with outrageous contrast level claims (it just quotes 'High') and what's on offer here is fine enough. Darker areas of the picture remain free from crushed blacks, so shadow detailing, frequently evident in <EM>Toy Story 3</EM> when Woody and chums are abandoned in a toy box, is maintained.</P><br /><P>The solid black level is helped by an edge-LED lighting system that doesn't cause any unsightly light-pooling. Well, as long as you are sitting on-axis. We found that portions of the screen can brighten considerably if viewed from an angle.</P><br /><P>The TX-L42E30B is also commendably adept with motion. When fed a sequence of vertical, horizontal and diagonal camera pans, and scenes with fast-moving objects, the Panasonic didn't falter. Motion was smooth with detail levels kept up. </P><br /><P>Switching on the Intelligent Frame Creation Pro engine (it has two levels) makes things even silkier (almost comically so), but can introduce artefacts with multi-layered material. The TX-L42E30B's natural motion handling is sufficiently impressive to render IFC Pro all but redundant.</P><br /><P>As you'd expect from a full HD panel, detail levels are high. Close up footage of a dissected kiwi fruit (an odd, but effective reference scene) was so lifelike it made us hungry. Blu-ray movies that make the most of the format's high-pixel count look gorgeous. Back in the land of Woody and Buzz, the exquisite textures of everything from a wooden door frame to Mr Potato Head's moustache are jaw-dropping. </P><br /><P>With no 3D playback to get stuck into, the only other picture quality to report on is that of the TV's built-in Freeview HD tuner. Naturally, switching to this from Blu-ray brings a step-down in quality. </P><br /><P>Macro-blocking and mosquito noise take the shine off SD channels (although the latter can be countered by the TX-L42E30B's effective P-NR noise reduction) and even the HD channel lack the razor-sharp panache of Blu-rays. Not that the Panasonic's Freeview pictures are worse than the competition (they are more stable than many budget rivals), it's just that Freeview itself is beginning to look a bit shoddy.</P><br /><P align=center><STRONG><img alt="Panasonic tx-l42e30b" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Panasonic%20TX-LE42E30B/11636_TX-L42E30B_2_2-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P><BR></P></STRONG><br /><P><STRONG>Sound</STRONG></P><br /><P>In the last few years Panasonic flatscreens have consistently delivered above average audio and the TX-L42E30B upholds this tradition with a pair of 10W speakers that pack a surprisingly bassy punch and can reach a decent volume. Perhaps by not slimming the TV down to within a millimetre of its life Panasonic has given its drivers room to breathe.</P><br /><P>As with the picture tweaks, though, there aren't many sonic options to play with. Of the two presets, Music and Speech, you're best off sticking with the former, as the latter robs the soundstage of low-frequency grunt. </P><br /><P>Other than that you're limited to the V-Audio and V-Audio Surround modes, which don't really add much in the way of separation or depth. Thankfully, the optical digital output, and the presence of an HDMI input with support for the Audio Return Channel (ARC), means hooking up the TX-L42E30B to a dedicated surround system or soundbar is simple; a screen of this size and quality really deserves an appropriately refined audio partner.</P><br /><P><STRONG>Value</STRONG></P><br /><P>In value for money terms the Panasonic perhaps falls a little short. With an approximate launch price of £900 it feels expensive, especially when you consider that it lacks 3D support; some future-gazers who would consider it almost obsolete in this respect.</P><br /><P>Quality never comes cheap, though and the performance and feature set of the TX-L42E30B almost justify its price. Find a retailer offering it at £800 and you can't have any complaints.</P><br /><P><STRONG>Ease of use</STRONG></P><br /><P>The TX-L42E30B puts many of its competitors to shame when it comes to usability, starting from the moment you unbox it. Although we're certain Panasonic would recommend that you got a buddy to help lift the TV from its cardboard coffin, you can easily do it yourself. Attaching it to the desktop stand is a doddle, too, involving no more than four screws and a minimal amount of faff.</P><br /><P>Moving onto everyday use and this air of simplicity remains. The remote control, while not in danger of winning any RIBA awards, is well laid out and responsive.</P><br /><P>This combines with Panasonic's lightning-fast GUI to make browsing its menus and sub-menus a Luddite-friendly process. It helps, of course, that the TX-L42E30B isn't overladen with user adjustments and tweaks, but what it does offer is easily findable.</P><br /><P align=center><img alt="Panasonic tx-l42e30b" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Panasonic%20TX-LE42E30B/11635_TX-L42E30B_1_1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>The TX-L42E30B is proof that Panasonic's love of television doesn't begin and end with its top-end plasmas. Nor is it ignoring those who haven't yet succumbed to the lure of three-dimensional home entertainment. This is both a high-quality display and a nifty multimedia device that will look good in all but the gaudiest living rooms.</P><br /><P><STRONG>We liked</STRONG></P><br /><P>The Panasonic TX-L42E30B offers a quality, hi-def picture that retains the cinematic, naturalistic tone of the brand's plasma panels, plus an above-average audio performance, all wrapped up in a neatly designed and robust-feeling bezel. </P><br /><P>Usability is first-rate, too. The set's additional features, including the Viera Connect portal, broaden its appeal, and USB recording means you may decide you can throw away your clunky PVR once and for all.</P><br /><P><STRONG>We disliked</STRONG></P><br /><P>The lack of 3D support means it's hard to recommend this set to anyone who wants to stay future-proofed, and not integrating an open web browser into Viera Connect is an unnecessary shackle. And why Panasonic insists on persevering with the advertisement-laden Guide+ EPG is a mystery. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Final verdict </STRONG></P><br /><P>The 40/42-inch flatscreen market may be one of the most competitive, but Panasonic's TX-L42E30B offers enough to stand out. Good-looking, well connected and a top performer, it's definitely worth auditioning.</P><br /><DIV class=mf-viral><a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techradar/allnews/~3/PIs-3jnkUVE/story01.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Article</A></DIV>

Review: Panasonic TX-L42E30B

Panasonic might reign unchallenged as king of plasma, but the LED-powered TX-L42E30B proves that its commitment to LCD is no less fierce. T...

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Panasonic TX-P65VT30B 3D TV

<div align="center"><img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Gadgets/CES%202011%20reviews/VT30/VT30%20pictures/DSCF4037-200-200.jpg" /></div>While Panasonic announced its new class-leading 3D plasma TVs at this year's CES, it's not exactly going out of its way to shout about them on its stand.<br /> There's only one VT30 TV on display at the show and it's not even showing any 3D pictures. It was situated on the outside of the stand – almost as an afterthought - and wasn't showing any pictures that we could draw any conclusions from regarding performance.<br /> Still though, we managed to have a bit of a poke around and take some snaps.<br /> <div align="center"><img alt="vt30" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Gadgets/CES%202011%20reviews/VT30/VT30%20pictures/DSCF4027-420-90.jpg" width="420" /></div><br /> The VT30 series packs Panasonic's new Infinite Black Pro 2 pro panel, and features a one-sheet glass design reminiscent of the LCD and plasma models that LG launched in 2009.<br /> <div align="center"><img alt="vt30" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Gadgets/CES%202011%20reviews/VT30/VT30%20pictures/DSCF4031-420-90.jpg" width="420" /></div><br /> We have to say though, Panasonic could do with taking a look at <a href="http://draft.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=3630952467398438450&postID=8151870242466068960">Samsung's stunning new D8000 series</a> of LED TVs which Marc looked at yesterday. They look absolutely stunning, while Panasonic's sets seem fairly understated and boring by comparison.<br /> <div align="center"><img alt="vt30" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Gadgets/CES%202011%20reviews/VT30/VT30%20pictures/DSCF4041-420-90.jpg" width="420" /></div><br /> Even last year's V20 series, with its brushed metal design, looked better than this one. But that's not to say this isn't a fantastic TV underneath – it's almost certainly the best plasma TV on the planet.<br /> <div align="center"><img alt="vt30" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Gadgets/CES%202011%20reviews/VT30/VT30%20pictures/DSCF4042-420-90.jpg" width="420" /></div><br /> Panasonic always holds its annual product showcase in February – this year it's in London – so we'll take a closer look at it then and let you know what we think.<br /> <div align="left"><a href="http://www.techradar.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Source</a></div>

Panasonic TX-P65VT30B 3D TV

While Panasonic announced its new class-leading 3D plasma TVs at this year's CES, it's not exactly going out of its way to shout abo...

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Review: Panasonic SC-BTT350D

<P align=center><img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/Review%20images/Home%20Cinema%20Choice/HCC%20190/HCC190.pansys.02-200-200.jpg"></P><br /><P>The art of designing AV kit to look contemporary and even attractive is a skill that seems to have passed Panasonic by – its designers refuse to match the exterior aesthetics or the menu systems of its products to the technological innovation that lies within their often dour exteriors. </P><br /><P>The BTT350's main unit, for example, looks almost the same as one of the brand's early DVD players, or dare I say it, a late VCR. </P><br /><P>Yet, this innocuous box is capable of serving up eye-popping full HD 3D images, to say nothing of its multimedia talents, including VieraCast internet video, DLNA networking, SD card playback and a built-in iPod/iPhone dock. </P><br /><P>It's also a fully-fledged home cinema system, with 5.1 capability out of the box and the potential to deliver 7.1 surround sound by adding extra speakers and an optional wireless kit. </P><br /><P>As per the main unit itself, the dinky sound boxes are remarkably unassuming to look at, if solidly built, although the side-firing sub looks as if it were made from MDF offcuts and warrants, like the main unit, being kept out of sight. </P><br /><P>Be warned that when you place an iPod in the recessed dock on the top of the unit the overall height goes from 62mm to 150mm, which may be too much of a snug fit for some shelving systems. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Easy route</STRONG></P><br /><P>The connections are hardly generous, but they do tick most of the AV boxes. Naturally, there's an HDMI v1.4, and this has an audio return channel, through which you can route your TV's sound, while using the single digital optical input for a games console, perhaps. </P><br /><P>The BTT350 is a DLNA fiend that's easy to integrate into a home network using wired or wireless LAN connections. The DY-WL10 wi-fi adapter is an invaluable optional extra that simplifies the process of setting up a network and accessing Panasonic's rather limited VieraCast internet video service.</P><br /><P>It seems incongruous to find a composite video output on the rear of the unit, but this is the only video conduit that functions with the iPod dock. You can access an iPod's music folders using HDMI or digital optical, but if you really want a laugh try watching a video on a 50-inch plasma using composite video. It's similar to watching TV through a fish tank. </P><br /><P>Setting up the system is straightforward, thanks to the colour-coded speaker wires and an easy setup wizard that guides you effortlessly through the various parameters, provided you don't lose interest when navigating the soporifically dull menus. </P><br /><P>There's no auto setup microphone; instead you can adjust the level of each channel manually while listening to white noise. Call me Mr Sad, but I think this is actually kinda fun. </P><br /><P>There are four 'easy listening' DSP modes: flat; heavy; clear and soft. Setup enables you to choose which input is used for your TV's sound and whether or not to convert all sources to multichannel output. You can also engage Quick Start or Low Power standby, which registers 0.2W on the consumption scale. </P><br /><P>The remote control is compact yet nicely laid out using Panasonic's eclectic Start button as the route to all sources and functions. The main annoyance is the absence of an eject button on the handset. </P><br /><P>By default, the centre channel has a few more dB up its sleeve than the other satellites, and this allows subtle dialogue to shine through, such as The Thing's mutterings on the Brooklyn Bridge scene in <EM>The Fantastic Four</EM>'s DTS MA-HD soundtrack on Blu-ray. </P><br /><P>Yet the subwoofer lacks subtlety and blooms slightly when the going gets tough. It also vibrates uncomfortably with bass-heavy music. </P><br /><P>My THX test disc showed that rear effects can be nicely imaged, but as expected from such compact satellites, the upper part of the spectrum is clipped, producing a raspy metallic sound, especially at high volume when the cabinets also rattle. </P><br /><P>So long as you don't drive it too hard, though, the BTT350 will reward you with decent, involving audio, infinitely superior to any flatscreen's built-in speakers. </P><br /><P><STRONG>2D demon</STRONG></P><br /><P>Picture wise, the system is no slouch either. On both 42-inch Panasonic and 50-inch Samsung 3D plasmas it conjured up a highly-polished and engrossing <EM>Monsters vs Aliens 3D</EM> experience. </P><br /><P>But in fact it's with 2D that the player's prowess is best observed. With <EM>Avatar</EM> and <EM>The Fantastic Four</EM> detail levels don't quite match some of the elite decks out there, but overall images are, vibrant and capable of subtle gradations even in low light. </P><br /><P>There's a lot about the BTT350 that won't make a home cinema enthusiast get overexcited. But it is a well built and solid performer that's very reasonably priced, so could be an ideal first step on the ladder for an AV novice.</P>

Review: Panasonic SC-BTT350D

The art of designing AV kit to look contemporary and even attractive is a skill that seems to have passed Panasonic by – its designers refus...

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Review: Panasonic TX-L37V20E

<P align=center><img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Panasonic%20TX-L37V20E/TX-L37V20E_2_hjpg-200-200.jpg"></P><br /><P>Panasonic's edge-lit TX-L37V20B is one of its thinnest and most attractive LCDs to date. A metallic bezel and 45mm-deep cabinet house a fine feature count that includes both Freeview and Freesat HD tuners, plentiful multimedia options including HD video recording to USB and Panasonic's top-level picture processing suite. There's also a healthy suite of picture calibration tools, one area in which Panasonic has been rather miserly on previous LCD generations.</P><br /><P>If £1k price tag is a bit steep for you, Panasonic has a range of 'designer' edge LED models, the D28 series, available in 37-inch, 32-inch, 22-chin and 19-inch flavours, with the 32-inch and smaller models also available in a variety of colours, including purple and white.</P><br /><P>The more conventional D25 series still use edge LED lighting and include Panasonic's first 42-inch LCD TV. </P><br /><P>You can make the most significant savings, though, by heading further down Panasonic's range to its CCFL-lit LCD TVs, as represented in decreasing order of features by the G20s (which have Freeview and Freesat HD dual tuners), the S20s (Freeview HD only) and finally the X20s, which don't have Freeview HD or any significant picture processing. </P><br /><P align=center><img alt="Panasonic tx-l37v20e" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Panasonic%20TX-L37V20E/TX-L37V20E_1_hjpg-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>As noted in the introduction, the L37V20B is more attractive and slimmer than most of Panasonic's TVs, thanks to its use of edge LED lighting. </P><br /><P>It still manages to find the room for a healthy suite of connections on its rear, including four HDMIs, a component video input, a D-Sub PC input, an Ethernet port, two USB slots, and an SD card slot. As you would expect, this sort of connectivity opens up an expansive suite of features.</P><br /><P>Perversely, the TX-L37V20, alongside every other Panasonic LCD this year, is not 3D ready. What it does have, though, is plentiful multimedia support. The USBs, for instance, can play back video, photo and music files, make the TV Wi-Fi capable via a provided dongle or else you can use one of them to attach a Buffalo JustStore Desktop HD-EU2-UK HDD for recording video from either of the set's Freeview or Freesat HD tuners. </P><br /><P>The Ethernet port is just as flexible, enabling you to stream in files from a DLNA PC, use future interactive services associated with the HD tuners, and access Panasonic's decent – if unspectacular – Viera Cast online service. Highlights include YouTube, Skype video phone calling if you add an optional external camera, EuroSport, and the AceTrax on-demand movie service.</P><br /><P>The system is currently let down (compared with some rival online TV platforms) by its lack of any TV catch-up services such as the BBC iPlayer. Panasonic isn't currently showing much interest in app-style functions either, which may need to change if it wants to keep up with its rivals in 2011.</P><br /><P>The SD card slot, meanwhile, offers an alternative way of playing the same multimedia files supported by the USB ports. You can't record video onto SD cards, though. </P><br /><P>The TX-L37V20's screen is full HD and its edge LED lighting enables an extravagant claimed contrast of 2,000,000:1. Experience suggests, though, that such manufacturers' contrast ratio figures should be taken with even more of a pinch of salt than usual when applied to edge LED technology.</P><br /><P>Potentially more interesting is the amount of video processing Panasonic has thrown at the L37V20B. For a start, it's got the very top level of the brand's processing engine, Vreal Pro 5. On top of this there's the most powerful incarnation of Panasonic's Intelligent Frame Creation system, IFC Pro. Obviously, frame interpolation systems like IFC Pro aren't to everyone's tastes, but hopefully Panasonic's will prove at least persuasive.</P><br /><P>Video gamers alarmed by the sound of all this processing should note that it's mostly optional, and that a provided Game preset deactivates pretty much all of it to leave you with an acceptable input lag of around 30-40ms.</P><br /><P>As well as making most of the processing optional via its onscreen menus, the TX-L37V20B gives you a reasonably large suite of tools for fine-tuning pictures. Just choose the Advanced ISFCC option – found, rather unhelpfully, within an advanced features menu rather than the picture menu – and you'll be free to tinker with such niceties as the hue, saturation, gain and cut-off of the RGB colour elements and gamma settings via a series of presets. There's room for improvement in terms of both gamma and colour calibration, but the set is sufficiently flexible to an endorsement from the independent Imaging Science Foundation (ISF).</P><br /><P>Other key features of the L37V20 that help define it as a flagship model are picture in picture options, playback of Deep Colour sources if you find any, and its use of an IPS (In-plane Switching) LCD panel. Such displays are far less prone losing contrast and colour saturation than normal LCD panels when viewed from a wide angle, which is very handy to for anyone with potentially large audiences to cater to.</P><br /><P align=center><img alt="Panasonic tx-l37v20e" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Panasonic%20TX-L37V20E/TX-L37V20E_3_hjpg-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>Even if the TX-L37V20B wasn't a flagship LCD TV from one of the TV world's biggest brands, its pictures would disappoint. </P><br /><P>There's one simple but unavoidable reason for this: backlight inconsistency; while watching predominantly dark scenes it's possible to make out areas of the picture that look brighter than the rest.</P><br /><P>The TX- L37V20 is hardly unique in this respect, particularly among edge LED TVs, but the problem affects a few disturbingly large portions of the picture, and as such is more distracting than usual.</P><br /><P>It is possible to reduce the aggressiveness/obviousness of the backlight issues if you take care to adjust the contrast and reduce brightness to around 35 per cent, but the point at which the backlight inconsistencies fade to the extent that a discerning eye will be happy with them leaves you with a picture that looks dull and, worse, is severely lacking in shadow detail.</P><br /><P>Some other reviews of the L37V20 have suggested that the TrueCinema preset delivers an unusually good picture for an LCD TV and while this may be true in terms of colours and sharpness, the setting suffers extremely badly with backlight inconsistencies until you work your way around them. </P><br /><P>The Cinema preset is probably the best starting point, but the bottom line is that no matter what mode you use, the backlight issues are never completely resolved.</P><br /><P>This is a pity, because there's no doubt that the TX-L37V20B has got some potent picture tricks up its sleeve. HD pictures are ferociously sharp, for starters, especially when Blu-ray is the source, picking up every last detail from the best discs. </P><br /><P>Crucially, the sharpness feels wholly natural, with none of the forced, gritty, edge-stressing nonsense produced by the circuitry of some rival sets.</P><br /><P>Colours are frequently superb at time; post-calibration the set produces a really startlingly wide tonal range and proves remarkably adept at combining intense saturations with blend subtlety, even within single frames. Skin tones in particular have seldom – if ever – looked more credible on an LCD TV and for this Panasonic deserves hearty praise. </P><br /><P>The TX-L37V20B also handles motion deftly. It's not as adept at spotting different video cadences as it perhaps should be for a flagship TV, but it handles judder nicely and the screen's fast response time irons out most motion blur.</P><br /><P>You might even want to give Panasonic's IFC frame interpolation processing a go, for provided you don't set it beyond its lowest level of power, it definitely can reduce judder without producing too many distracting side effects. Some may not like the way it makes 'film' sources look more like video, but it's certainly not the total no-go area found with some motion processing engines.</P><br /><P>The TX-L37V20 is also an above-average rescaler of standard-definition. The key to its success appears to be that it doesn't get too caught up with trying to make standard-def pictures look like HD in detail and sharpness terms, instead focusing adeptly on retaining colour tones and reducing noise.</P><br /><P>The unusually wide viewing angle is apparent during everyday use and overall there's no question that the TX-L37V20 can produce pictures of mind-boggling quality. It's just a shame that this quality tends to slump during the sort of very dark sequences that find their way into almost any film at some point.</P><br /><P align=center><img alt="Panasonic tx-l37v20e" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Panasonic%20TX-L37V20E/TX-L37V20E_2_hjpg-420-90.jpg" width="420"></P></IMG><br /><P>The TX-L37V20B does a better job with sound than the vast majority of edge LED TVs. There's more power and dynamic range than you would usually expect to find, enabling the soundstage to open up at least a little during the transition from a quiet to a loud scene. There's even a hint of bass in the soundstage, which is almost unheard of on modern flatscreens.</P><br /><P>While it's got the features and processing power to justify its price, the TX-L37V20B's performance isn't dazzling enough to make it a particularly tempting thing on which to blow the best part of a grand, especially when you can the superior, larger <a href="">TX-P42V20</A> plasma TVs for around the same money.</P><br /><P><STRONG>Ease of use</STRONG></P><br /><P>The more other brands serve up vibrant, colourful menus able to handle huge amounts of features effortlessly, the more out of date Panasonic's current menus start to look. They're drab to look at, text heavy, prone to forcing you to scroll down long boring lists, and rather unintuitive with some of their organisation. </P><br /><P>The remote control feels plasticky for a unit supplied with a premium TV and, although Panasonic zappers used to have the best button layouts in the business, all those extra features haven't been accommodated particularly well and relegating the main Menu button to a small key in the top left corner proves problematic.</P><br /><P>The good news is that the onscreen menus are pretty free of jargon and the system feels like a first step towards a more sophisticated operating system.</P><br /><P>Panasonic has consistently struggled to achieve the same critical success with its LCD TVs that it routinely enjoys with plasma. But the TX-L37V20 is, on paper at least, unusually well equipped to put this imbalance right, given that it's Panasonic's most fully featured LCD TV to date, complete with that technology du jour, edge LED lighting. </P><br /><P>It even looks a cut above Panasonic's usually rather drab TV aesthetics, with its silver, vaguely metallic finish and slinky lines. </P><br /><P>It hits all the right buttons with its multimedia support, offering playback of most of the key video, photo and music file formats, enabling you to record from its twin HD tuners to USB drives and carrying DLNA support for PC streaming. </P><br /><P>However, while its pictures exhibit many strengths, familiar edge LED weaknesses rear their ugly head during dark sequences.</P><br /><P>If you have a very dark room and so can run the screen with its brightness dialled down, the TX-L37V20 is possibly worth considering if you don't mind a lack of shadow detail, but should you really have to accept such compromises with a TV that costs nearly £1,000?</P><br /><P><STRONG>We liked</STRONG></P><br /><P>The TX-L37V20B hits the ground running with its slender design and metallic bezel and builds on this with exceptional connectivity and an impressive feature sheet, complete with multimedia tools galore and some solid calibration aids.</P><br /><P>Its HD pictures are very sharp and colours are superbly well judged. It's no slouch sonically, either.</P><br /><P><STRONG>We disliked</STRONG></P><br /><P>The edge LED lighting's problems with achieving a consistent lighting level across the screen are at times excessive, and trying to calibrate around them results in a rather dull image devoid of shadow detail, which ends up making the L37V20 look rather expensive.</P><br /><P><STRONG>Final Verdict</STRONG></P><br /><P>The TX-L37V20B delivers considerable strengths in the sharpness and colour departments, but also suffers significant disappointments when it comes to black levels and, particularly, backlight consistency. </P><br /><P>The strengths of the TX-L37V20B arguably suggest that with a little more experience Panasonic might be able to use edge LED tech to deliver a truly excellent LCD TV, but it's not there yet. </P>

Review: Panasonic TX-L37V20E

Panasonic's edge-lit TX-L37V20B is one of its thinnest and most attractive LCDs to date. A metallic bezel and 45mm-deep cabinet house a ...

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Avatar 3D Blu-ray: Panasonic nabs rights till 2012

<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Avatar" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/world%20of%20tech/images/Avatar_image-420-90.jpg" width="420"></div><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=latesttecompu-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002VPE1B6&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Panasonic has said to have bought the rights to <i>Avatar</i> 3D Blu-ray until February 2012, meaning that if you want to see the movie in 3D and on Blu-ray you will have to wait more than a year of purchase some Panasonic AV kit.<br> AV enthusiast blog <a href="http://avzombie.com/blog/2010/12/13/panasonic-ties-up-avatar-3d-blu-ray-until-feb-2012-no-retail-release-planned-for-2011/#more-1855">AVZombie</a> has spoken to Panasonic and it seems that it has the exclusive global distribution rights to the blockbuster title until February 2012.<br> The company's exact words: "Just to confirm the <i>Avatar</i> bundle deal does run until Feb 2012."<br> <br>

Avatar 3D Blu-ray: Panasonic nabs rights till 2012

Panasonic has said to have bought the rights to Avatar 3D Blu-ray until February 2012, meaning that if you want to see the movie in 3D and ...

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Win a 50 inch Panasonic 3D TV worth £2,000

<P>T3 and 3D Radar have teamed up to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a Panasonic TX-P50VT20 3D TV worth £2,000. </P><br /><P>The TX-P50VT20 3D TV marks Panasonic's first foray into the 3D TV market, and comes with two pairs of Panasonic's 3D specs. </P><br /><P>To have a chance of winning you'll have to cast your eye over TechRadar's <a href="http://3dradar.techradar.com/3d-tests/panasonic-tx-p50vt20-3d-plasma-tv-review-24-05-2010?page=0,0">Panasonic TX-P50VT20 television review</A> and then head over to the <a href="http://www.t3.com/competition-item.html?compId=555">T3 competition page</A> to enter. </P><br /><P><img alt="Panasonic 3d television" src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Panasonic%20TX-P42VT20E/TX-P42VT20E_3_hjpg2-420-100.jpg" title="Panasonic 3D television" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P><a href="http://3dradar.techradar.com/">3D Radar</A>is the new online home for all things extra dimensional covering the latest 3D technology and developments in the most exciting and rapidly advancing emerging market of the technology industry. </P><br /><P>From TV and Blu-ray set-up reviews to news and updates on 3D movies and services,<a href="http://3dradar.techradar.com/">3D Radar</A> will keep you up-to-date and in the know on everything 3D related.</P><br /><P>Enter the competition to win a <a href="http://www.t3.com/competition-item.html?compId=555">Panasonic TX-P50VT20 3D TV</A></P>

Win a 50 inch Panasonic 3D TV worth £2,000

T3 and 3D Radar have teamed up to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a Panasonic TX-P50VT20 3D TV worth £2,000. The TX-P50VT20 3D TV m...

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Panasonic Jungle gets some public testing

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com///classifications/home-entertainment/gaming/consoles/Panasonic-jungle-200-200.jpg"><br /><P>Public testing has started on the <a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/panasonic-jungle-portable-gaming-console-revealed-721085">Panasonic Jungle</A> gaming device in the US. </P><br /><P>A select group of the great unwashed have been asked to try out the handheld console that's looking to take on the might of the <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/gaming/games-consoles/sony-psp-go-640935/review">Sony PSP</A> and <a href="http://3dradar.techradar.com/3d-tech/depth-nintendo-3ds-what-future-holds-15-07-2010">Nintendo DS</A>.</P><br /><P>The Panasonic Jungle is an interesting beast in the handheld market. It's a console that's primed for online gaming and, in particular, MMOs.</P><br /><P>The Jungle houses a QWERTY keyboard, runs Flash and has all the normal gaming buttons you would expect.</P><br /><P><STRONG>It's a Jungle out there</STRONG></P><br /><P>It's not a device that the lucrative MMO market has embraced just yet, however. While there's a trickle of titles announced for the Panasonic Jungle, including a <EM>BattleStar Galactica</EM><EM> game</EM>, they have been thin on the ground.</P><br /><P>Lucky, then, that the Jungle is also targeting the Machinima market, with something called<EM> Online Underground.</EM></P><br /><P>This isn't Panasonic's first stab at a console. The company also launched the 3DO way back in 1994.</P><br /><P>Considering the 3DO didn't exactly set the gaming world alight, Panasonic will be hoping that it has more success with its Jungle jaunt.</P>

Panasonic Jungle gets some public testing

Public testing has started on the Panasonic Jungle gaming device in the US. A select group of the great unwashed have been asked to try out...

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Panasonic to make Android smartphones

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com///classifications/images/Panasonic_DivX_1-200-200.jpg"> <br /><P>Panasonic has announced its intention to re-enter the smartphone market this week, with the first launch of Android-based handsets due in Japan in early 2011.</P><br /><P>Panasonic isn't exactly known for its phone output outside of Japan, having left the oversees smartphone market in 2006.</P><br /><P>Panasonic admits that it is "late to the party" but the tech company believes it can make an impact.</P><br /><P><STRONG>Playing catch-up</STRONG></P><br /><P>In a <a href="">news conference</A>, Osamu Waki, head of the company's mobile communications unit, said: "We misjudged the speed at which smartphones would be taken up in the Japanese market.</P><br /><P>"With the rapid shift to Android, we want to catch up quickly."</P><br /><P>Although the launch is initially in Japan for 2011, Panasonic is set to bring Android handsets oversees (including the UK) in 2012.</P><br /><P>Panasonic currently sells around 5 million phones in Japan. It is aiming to triple its phone sales by 2015.</P>

Panasonic to make Android smartphones

Panasonic has announced its intention to re-enter the smartphone market this week, with the first launch of Android-based handsets due in J...

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Review: Panasonic TX-L32X20B

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Panasonic%20TX-L32X20B/TX-L32X20E_1(2)-200-200.jpg"><br /><P>The TX-L32X20B is that rare beast: a 32in LCD focused on pictures to the near-exclusion of fancy features.</P><br /><P>A chunky 83mm deep, this HD ready X20 Series set is initially notable for what it doesn't include – there's no Freeview HD tuner, LED backlight or Panasonic's Viera Cast online hub – but is nevertheless a stunningly simplistic attempt at cut-price picture prowess. </P><br /><P>The next screen size up is the <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-visual/televisions/plasma-and-lcd-tvs/panasonic-tx-p37x20-683931/review">TX-P37X20B</A>, a 37in plasma, which also has an HD ready resolution. </P><br /><P><img alt="Panasonic tx-l32x20b" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Panasonic%20TX-L32X20B/TX-L32X20E_1%281%29-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>A resolution of 1366x768 pixels earns it just a HD ready badge, though the biggest faux-pas is the TX-L32X20B's lack of a Freeview HD TV tuner. Elsewhere in its extensive flat TV line-up Panasonic has shown itself to be rather obsessive about installing a DVB-T2 tuner (and, in some cases, a Freesat HD tuner, too), but not here. Nor is there any semblance of web connectivity and certainly no sign of Panasonic's Viera Cast online entertainment hub. </P><br /><P>It's fitted with a traditional CCFL-backlight rather than an LED array, though this helps bestows on the TX-L32X20B its most enticing feature – that rock-bottom price. </P><br /><P>It's not all back-to-basics stuff; Panasonic's Vreal 5 picture processing is present, as is an SD card slot – you won't find that on any other brand of TV.</P><br /><P>Connectivity is strong for a budget set, with three HDMI inputs leading the charge, though one is on the side of the TV, leaving just two on the rear. The side panel (on the TV's left-hand side as you watch) also includes a SD card slot, headphones jack, composite video input, stereo audio inputs and a Common Interface slot – the latter crucial since it expands the available channels to Top-Up TV packages. </P><br /><P>Elsewhere on the rear panel are a couple of RGB Scarts, a set of component video inputs, an RF aerial jack and a D-sub 15-pin PC input. Audio is dealt with by a set of stereo audio ins and outs and an optical digital audio output. </P><br /><P>The bog-standard DVB-T tuner inside the TX-L32X20B finds all channels quickly, though the software that supports the service is surprisingly poor. Somewhere along the line Panasonic signed-up for Guide+Plus and its clunky, advert-strewn interface, which was a mistake. </P><br /><P>Schedules are shown for seven channels over the next seven days, but such is the space taken up by descriptions – and even diagrams – of what button does what, that information for at least 11 channels could theoretically be displayed. Ditto the actual programme titles, which are squeezed into overly small boxes. It's all very well using large fonts, but what's the point making it easy to read half a word? </P><br /><P>Incidentally, Panasonic sells a tilting TY-WK3L2RW wall mount specifically for this model, which costs around £170 online.</P><br /><P><img alt="Panasonic tx-l32x20b" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Panasonic%20TX-L32X20B/TX-L32X20E_2%281%29-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>Even in a decidedly budget package, picture quality should not be skimped on – something that's very easy to do in a world swamped by cheap LCD panels. Panasonic isn't one of them, and though it never reaches reference level, the TX-L32X20B provides pictures that appear unassailable value when compared to similarly priced sets.</P><br /><P>In 4 HD's baffling <EM>The Event</EM> (from a Virgin V+ HD box) the President's sharp suits look dark while revealing just enough detail to convince – certainly more than you'd expect from an LCD TV at this price. </P><br /><P>A desert scene reveals a lot of detail within a vista studded with natural-looking colours, with a quick camera pan not too troubling for the panel; motion blur is evident if you look for it, but it's never distracting. In practice, a 100Hz mode isn't missed too much, though if your diet is largely Blu-ray it's worth upgrading beyond the TX-L32X20B to Panasonic's <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-visual/televisions/plasma-and-lcd-tvs/panasonic-tx-p42gt20b-902084/review">G20</A> Series. </P><br /><P>A close-up of Sean in hospital is equally compelling, with individual pores and beard follicles visible on a panel that's clearly been upgraded from last year's X10 Series. Not bad for a HD ready panel. </P><br /><P>These impressions are drawn with the excellent contrast-heavy Cinema preset engaged. Similar strengths apply to the True Cinema setting, which, if reserved for blackout conditions, puts the TX-L32X20B's excellent contrast characteristics on show to stunning effect. </P><br /><P>A special skill of the panel is the viewing angle; it makes almost no difference if you watch the TX-L32X20B from the wings, since contrast and colour remain virtually unchanged. Black areas of the image take on a bluish hue, but it's ever so slight. </P><br /><P>Left on the dreaded Dynamic setting skin tones are off the mark and there's a strong purple bias to dark areas of the image. As always, it's best avoided. </P><br /><P>Other tweaks are few, comprising just contrast, colour, brightness, sharpness, noise reduction and C.A.T.S – the latter being an ambient light sensor called Contrast Auto Tracking System, which can be set to either on or off. It's best left on if you're watching in bright conditions. </P><br /><P>With Game mode engaged, images from an Xbox 360 hold up well, with little in the way of motion blur, though as on all LCD panels it's easy to detect some loss of resolution when the camera pans to follow a goal kick taken on <EM>Pro Evolution</EM>. </P><br /><P>HD channels from a V+ box enjoy similar strengths to Blu-ray, and the TX-L32S20B's treatment of SD channels from its own tuner isn't bad, either. That same dollop of contrast and spot-on colouring gives pictures from BBC1 a rare boldness and clarity, though quick camera pans aren't as comfortable to watch as with HD. </P><br /><P>The money saved on cutting-out features like DVB-T2, USB and Viera Cast has clearly been spent on providing this set with the best LCD panel possible; IPS Alpha has for a long time set a benchmark for wide viewing angles and decent contrast, and here's it's paired with some decent upscaling circuitry, too. </P><br /><P>Both those facets continue here on what could be one of IPS Alpha tech's last hurrahs; the market for traditional CCFL-lit LCD TVs is in decline, with some predicting that more expensive LED-backlit sets will be all conquering within a year or two. With prices this low for a TV that offers more than enough detail, contrast and natural colouring for most living rooms, it's hard to see sets like the TX-L32X20B disappearing just yet. </P><br /><P><STRONG><img alt="Panasonic tx-l32x20b" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Panasonic%20TX-L32X20B/TX-L32X20E_2%282%29-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG><BR></STRONG></P><br /><P><STRONG>Sound </STRONG></P><br /><P>While it's hardly in the upper echelon of flatscreen TVs that have decent audio (that honour goes to Philips), Panasonic's audio engineers have once again done an adequate job on the TX-L32X20B. <BR>It's no substitute for a home cinema system, but the downfiring speakers are backed-up by audible low frequency that proves fine for everyday TV watching. </P><br /><P>A simple equaliser is provided to tweak across the spectrum, while there's an option to set exactly how far from the wall the TV has been placed, with the subwoofer compensating. That measurement of a room's characteristics is ramped-up even more in the set's V-Audio options. </P><br /><P>The standard setting creates a stereo soundstage that's noticeably wider and more nuanced, dragging up a lot of background detail than the plain old 'normal' setting. Panasonic says that this option is based on actual room measurement generated from the digital signal processor, though it goes a touch too far on V-Audio Surround; the effort to achieve surround sound from two speakers ends up in confusion with stereo effects too far separated. Music in particular suffers.</P><br /><P>Perhaps Panasonic isn't too confident in these 'V' modes because there's no dedicated button on the remote, but the overall sound quality is a notch above the mainstream competition. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Value</STRONG></P><br /><P>The TX-L32X20B is available for as little as £369 online, and that's a fantastic price for this accomplished LCD TV. </P><br /><P>The lack of LED backlighting might concern some, but if you're going to put the TX-L32X20B in a corner or on a AV stand, the rather bulky 8cm depth won't be an issue – and the financial saving is considerable. Plus, the TX-L32X20B's IPS Alpha has more than enough contrast to compete with budget LED-backlit LCD TVs from Panasonic's competitors. </P><br /><P>There's little to get excited about in terms of advanced or multimedia features and the lack of a Freeview HD DVB-T2 tuner is rather short-sighted. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Ease of use </STRONG></P><br /><P>Media playback is disappointing. There's no USB slot to be found adorning the TX-L32X20B, though it does have something most TVs don't; a SD card slot, which is situated on the side-panel. </P><br /><P>Photos can be displayed from within the Viera Image Viewer software, either as singles or as a slideshow, by accessing the SD card – either via a dedicated button on the remote, which disables all other inputs, or through Viera Tools, a set of icons that appear at the bottom of the screen. </P><br /><P>They're presented as a bunch of thumbnails, though only JPEG files are recognised by the TX-L32X20B's severely limited media player software; TIFF and BMP files didn't work in our test. A slideshow can be started from anywhere in the grid by displaying the picture, then pressing the red button. </P><br /><P>Pictures fade in and out nicely, and load quickly, though it's not possible to change the orientation of pictures, which is a shame. And a word of warning: have the mute button nearby unless you want your holiday snaps to be displayed to the sound of some decidedly dodgy lounge jazz (other dodgy tunes are available). </P><br /><P>Video is more shabbily treated, with virtually no files handled. Only AVCHD files, which are produced by other Panasonic gear, are supported; some footage recorded on a <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/cameras-and-camcorders/cameras/compact-cameras/panasonic-lumix-fz45-712629/review">Panasonic DMC-FZ45</A> camera in the AVCHD Lite format worked perfectly, complete with moving thumbnails on the home screen, but the samples we tried from third-party camcorders didn't work at all. Best, then, to keep it in the family if you're into hi-def filming. </P><br /><P>And music? Oddly, the TX-L32X20B avoids this rather popular medium and can't even muster support for a humble MP3 file. </P><br /><P><img alt="Panasonic tx-l32x20b" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Home%20Entertainment/Panasonic%20TX-L32X20B/TX-L32X20E_1%282%29-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P>The TX-L32X20B might not be the most advanced TV we've sever seen, but it and its ilk represent by far the largest chunk of the flat TV market. But while a lot of 32in LCD TVs are of poor quality, this Panasonic combines essential features with excellent pictures. </P><br /><P>There's no Freeview HD tuner, but if you live in a non-HD area, use Sky or Virgin, or simply don't care about watching <EM>EastEnders</EM> in hi-def, that won't matter. By next year a Freeview HD tuner will be a default option in all TVs, but not yet – and for now it helps the TX-L32X20B hit a tempting price. </P><br /><P><STRONG>We liked</STRONG></P><br /><P>A wide viewing angle, excellent colour and as impressive contrast as you're likely this side of a LED-backlight (or, ultimately, a bigger plasma) make the TX-L32X20B an excellent choice if picture quality is your goal. Were also impressed by the above-average speakers. </P><br /><P><STRONG>We disliked</STRONG></P><br /><P>The lack of any notable digital media support beyond simple JPEG photos is enormously disappointing and while the provision of a SD card is a unique nicety, we'd rather see a USB slot. We also have concerns about the Guide+Plus interface for the TX-L32X20B's Freeview tuner, which is graphically weak and a long way behind the efforts of rival brands. </P><br /><P><STRONG>Final verdict</STRONG></P><br /><P>The lack of a Freeview HD tuner will probably prevent a lot of you selecting this model, but bear in mind that the vast majority of Panasonic TVs do have one; the TX-L32X20B is all about the bargain price – and produces a cracking picture for the money. </P><STRONG>Related Links</STRONG><br /><UL><br /><LI><a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/techradar-s-reviews-guarantee-622749">TechRadar Reviews Guarantee</A></LI><br /><LI><a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-visual/televisions/plasma-and-lcd-tvs">Read more HDTV reviews</A></LI></UL>

Review: Panasonic TX-L32X20B

The TX-L32X20B is that rare beast: a 32in LCD focused on pictures to the near-exclusion of fancy features. A chunky 83mm deep, this HD ready...

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Panasonic Micro Four Thirds Lumix DMC-GF2 now official

<P><a name="4588775825457002622"></A> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicavPAr90aIF56uYAInFHGG-iTqCwJimHtdapbHYS70WBmoXA37KPauhsquUVos1PxvLvBS8ImjPHLZnumlC2PdAJ0maZ4lJ063Nt9ZQ79KwaxADoqaGE1aFQfwVP-UnA4Tt-CnI6cN7Y/s1600/panasonic-dmc-gf2-silver.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="196" src="/panasonic-dmc-gf2-silver.jpg" width="320"></A></P><br /><P>The first legit contender for <B>Sony NEX-5</B> when it comes to <B>Micro Four Thirds</B> rig, we welcome with open hands the <B>Panasonic's Lumix DMC-GF2</B> ----it's official. It's the company's smallest and lightest interchangeable lens system camera packing "a 12.1 megapixel Live MOS sensor, compatibility with the company's own 3D interchangeable lens (the <B>LUMIX G 12.5mm / F12</B>) and an enclosure that's seven percent lighter (not to mention 19 percent smaller) than the GF1. You'll also find a three-inch touchpanel on the rear, contrast AF system, a freshly designed Touch Q user interface, internal dust reduction system and the ability to record video at 1920 x 1080/60i or 1280 x 720/60p in AVCHD. Better still, lower resolution options are available with Motion JPEG recording, and the 23-area focusing system shouldn't have a difficult time nailing your subject. We should point out that the ISO only ranges from 100 to 6400, but the included hot shoe accessory definitely allows for a flash." as <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/04/panasonic-lumix-dmc-gf2-now-official-12-1mp-full-hd-movie-mode/">reported</A>. Unfortunately, there's no pricing yet until mid-late December with availability in three color choices (silver, red and black) this January with bundle options of a 14mm F2.5 pancake kit and a 14-42mm zoom lens kit. Full press release after the break.<BR><a name="more"></A><BR></P><br /><BLOCKQUOTE readability="112"><B>Press Release</B><BR><B><BR></B><BR><B>PANASONIC INTRODUCES COMPANY'S SMALLEST AND LIGHTEST DIGITAL INTERCHANGEABLE LENS SYSTEM CAMERA WITH FLASH</B><BR><B><BR></B><BR><B>New Panasonic LUMIX GF2 Features Touch-Screen Operation, Full HD Video Recording Capability and Compatible with Panasonic's Interchangeable 3D Lens</B> <br /><P>SECAUCUS, NJ (November 4, 2010) – Panasonic today announced the LUMIX DMC-GF2, the latest of the company's DSL Micro (DSLM) compact mirrorless cameras, which is Panasonic's smallest and lightest interchangeable lens system camera – complete with a built-in flash. The LUMIX GF2 is compatible with lenses from the Micro Four Thirds standard, meaning the system is small and compact, while not compromising ease of operation or image quality. Even more, the LUMIX GF2 is compatible with Panasonic's new 3D interchangeable lens, the LUMIX G 12.5mm / F12, so users can take 3D photos.</P><br /><P>"The LUMIX GF2 is key in the Panasonic DSL Micro line-up, as it's the smallest and lightest model we offer, while still offering superb image quality, which our consumers have come to expect from LUMIX. Compared to the GF1, its predecessor, the GF2 has been reduced approximately 19% in size and approximately 7% in weight yet is still retains its signature built-in flash," said Darin Pepple, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. "We expect the LUMIX GF2 to be an attractive model for consumers who want to step up to a more powerful camera that is easy to use, and a camera that is 'future-proof' with its 3D capabilities."</P><br /><P>The LUMIX GF2 is extremely easy to operate for consumers at any level, thanks to a newly- designed user interface, which allows for the focus to be set, or shutter released, by simply touching the large 3-inch touch-screen LCD. The touch-screen LCD with a 460,000-dot-resolution makes taking great photos intuitive. Once a user locks on a subject by touch, the LUMIX GF2 tracks the subject with the AF tracking function, even if the subject moves – making it easy to take photos of moving subjects, like children playing. The contrast AF system adopted by the LUMIX DMC-GF2 is not only accurate and easy to use, but also very fast. Users can choose from a wide range of AF (Auto Focus) modes, including multiple-area AF with up to 23 focus areas, 1-area AF with a selectable focus area, Face Detection, and AF Tracking.</P><br /><P>The touch operation also dramatically shortens the time spent navigating the menus. With the LUMIX GF2's newly-designed Touch Q-menu, the user can customize the camera's shortcuts with the most commonly used settings. Together with the simple button components, including dedicated buttons for video recording and iA (Intelligent Auto) mode which lights in-use, users can operate the camera intuitively with ease.</P><br /><P>With the Intelligent Scene Selector in the iA mode, the camera automatically switches to the appropriate mode according to the subject touched. For example, a touch on a human face switches to the portrait mode and a touch on the background or scenery switches to the scenery mode, while a touch on the subject close to the camera switches to the close-up mode. With the MF assist mode for manual focusing, users can enlarge the subject by just a touch to select 1x, 5x or 10x and smoothly move the subject by dragging it on the screen. In iA mode and the Peripheral Defocus mode, the range of defocus can be adjusted by just moving the slider with a finger, something not possible with larger more complicated DSLR cameras that don't feature touch control.</P><br /><P>While achieving breakthroughs in compactness of design and outstanding photo and video quality, the Panasonic LUMIX GF2 can contribute its professional-level imaging performance to well-balanced engine and sensor technologies. For the image processor, the Venus Engine FHD is incorporated, featuring exceptionally high performance signal processing capabilities in both photo and movie recording. With the advanced noise reduction system employing the 3D NR and CNR (Chromatic Noise Reduction), users can capture clear, naturally-balanced images even when shooting at high ISO sensitivity levels to help prevent the color bleeding.</P><br /><P>Panasonic's Venus Engine FHD enables Intelligent Resolution technology, which means that three areas – outlines, detailed texture areas and soft gradation – are automatically detected. Then, the outline parts are enhanced effectively to give edges more clearness while giving a moderate accentuation to the texture areas to look more finely detailed. To the soft gradation part, noise reduction system is applied to make it smoother. Apart from the uniform enhancement of sharpness, the innovative technology Intelligent Resolution precisely performs signal processing pixel by pixel, resulting in images that are naturally clear and crisp in both video and photos. The 12.1-megapixel Live MOS sensor featured in the LUMIX GF2 offers the best of both worlds – the superb image quality of a CCD sensor, plus the lower power consumption of a CMOS sensor.</P><br /><P>All of Panasonic's LUMIX G-Series DSLM cameras are equipped with the highly-efficient Dust Reduction System. If dust gets inside the camera when the user changes lenses, it could cling to the image sensor and show up as a spot in photos. The Dust Reduction System helps to reduce this risk by placing a supersonic wave filter in front of the Live MOS sensor. Vibrating vertically around 50,000 times per second, the filter repels dust and other particles.</P><br /><P>The LUMIX GF2 shoots professional-quality full High Definition (HD) videos as well as handling still photography. The LUMIX GF2 can record 1920 x 1080 videos at 60i or smooth HD 1280 x 720 movies at 60p in AVCHD. For those looking for better compatibility with computers, the LUMIX GF2 can also record HD Motion JPEG in 1280 x 720 and QVGA, VGA and WVGA. A dedicated video record button makes it easy to start shooting videos, and high quality sound is recorded with the stereo microphone for Dolby® Digital Stereo Creator. Panasonic's iA mode extends to video recording, with the following features: Optical Image Stabilizer, Face Detection, Intelligent D-range Control and Intelligent Scene Selector.</P><br /><P>The Panasonic LUMIX GF2 is artistic not only in form, but also in function, as it provides an array of features that lets users capture true-to-life images while also creating their own expressive, beautiful images. The LUMIX GF2 features My Color mode which is integrated with the conventional Film mode. My Color mode offers a total of eight preset effects - Expressive, Retro, Pure, Elegant, Cinema, Monochrome, Dynamic Art, Silhouette, plus Custom mode, which lets users manually set the color, brightness, saturation and contrast levels. Also, with the Full-time Live View function, users can see how these settings will affect the images before they shoot, which makes it easier to capture the exact effect desired. The LUMIX GF2 has 17 Scene modes, most which can be used during video shooting, too. The exposure meter can be displayed in the P/A/S/M shooting modes for entry-level users to visually learn the correlation between shutter speed and aperture to enhance their photography skills.</P><br /><P>The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF2, with a quality and solid aluminum body, will be available in black, silver, white, and red models with the following kit options: DMC-GF2C – 14mm F2.5 Lens Kit and DMC-GF2K – 14-42mm Zoom Lens Kit. The LUMIX GF2 will be available in January 2011 and pricing will be announced approximately 30 days prior to shipment. </P></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>

Panasonic Micro Four Thirds Lumix DMC-GF2 now official

  The first legit contender for Sony NEX-5 when it comes to Micro Four Thirds rig, we welcome with open hands the Panasonic's Lumix DM...

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Panasonic KX P2023 24 Pin Dot Matrix Printer Specifications

The KX-P2023 can print in four different fonts: Courier, Prestige, Bold PS and Script. It can also print between 40 and 160 characters per line, which gives the user a degree of versatility in her font-size choice. <P>When printing images, the KX-P2023 can print 360 by 360 dots per inch, meaning that each square inch of image printing is made up of just under 130,000 dots. This yields enough quality to print reasonably clear images that the user can recognize, but is not acceptable for things like photos.</P><P>The KX-P2023 only prints in black and white. </P>

Panasonic KX P2023 24 Pin Dot Matrix Printer Specifications

The KX-P2023 can print in four different fonts: Courier, Prestige, Bold PS and Script. It can also print between 40 and 160 characters per ...

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 made official

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/gadgets/digital-cameras/images/Panasonic/GF2k_front_body-200-200.jpg"><br /><P>The Panasonic DMC-GF2 has officially been unveiled – with the Micros Four Thirds digital camera claiming to be the world's smallest and lightest digital interchangeable lens compact system. </P><br /><P>Panasonic's DMC-GF1 has been both a commercial and critical hit for the company, and the follow up will be aiming to follow its success. </P><br /><P>The GF2 is 'dramatically' downsized from its predecessor – 19 per cent smaller and 7 per cent lighted and also features a new built-in flash which pops up to avoid any 'vignetting' effect by being too close to the lens. </P><br /><P><STRONG>12.1MP </STRONG></P><br /><P>The Panasonic DMC-GF2 features a 12.1MP high speed Live MOS sensor and can take video footage in full HD 1920x1080 in AVCHD.</P><br /><P>"The operation is extremely easy to understand for any level of users with the adoption of touch control and the new Graphic User Interface (GUI) designed especially for DMC-GF2, adds Panasonic. </P><br /><P>"The focus is immediately set to the subject by just touching it on the large, 460,000-dot LCD and you can even release the shutter."</P><br /><P>The camera has a UK release date in January – with three kit options - and is available in black silver or red. We are still trying to ascertain the UK price. </P>

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 made official

The Panasonic DMC-GF2 has officially been unveiled – with the Micros Four Thirds digital camera claiming to be the world's smallest and ...

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In pictures: Panasonic DMC-GF2

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/gadgets/digital-cameras/images/Panasonic/Image_GF2k_PopUp3-200-200.jpg"><br /><P>The Panasonic DMC-GF2 is a significant arrival on the digital camera market – but it has a lot to live up to if it is to replicate the success of its critically-acclaimed predecessor the GF1.</P><br /><P>The GF2 is smaller and lighter than its predecessor, and Panasonic has made changes to the flash. </P><br /><P>The 12.1 megapixel snapper brings much of the convenience of a compact digital camera, but also offers interchangeable lenses much like a DSLR. </P><br /><P>That's down to the Micro Four Thirds system, which allows for a much smaller chassis. </P><br /><P>We've put together some of the available pictures of the GF2 to show it off in all its glory.</P><br /><P><img alt="Panasonic gf2 - also in red" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/gadgets/digital-cameras/images/Panasonic/GF2r_slant-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P><img alt="Panasonic gf2 - without lens" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/gadgets/digital-cameras/images/Panasonic/GF2k_front_body-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P><img alt="Panasonic gf2 - a view from the top" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/gadgets/digital-cameras/images/Panasonic/GF2k_top_body-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P><img alt="Panasonic gf2 - the requisite arty shot" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/gadgets/digital-cameras/images/Panasonic/Image_GF2k_PopUp3-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P><img alt="Panasonic gf2 - with a 3d lens" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/gadgets/digital-cameras/images/Panasonic/GF2k_slant_3D_lens-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P><br /><P><img alt="Panasonic gf2 - a more typical view" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/gadgets/digital-cameras/images/Panasonic/GF2k_front_PopUp-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG></P>

In pictures: Panasonic DMC-GF2

The Panasonic DMC-GF2 is a significant arrival on the digital camera market – but it has a lot to live up to if it is to replicate the succe...

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