Panasonic To Release World's 1st Full-HD 3-D TVs In April

OSAKA (Nikkei)--Panasonic Corp. (6752) said Tuesday that it plans to introduce the world's first full-high-definition 3-D televisions -- a 50-inch (127cm) plasma set and a 54-inch (134cm) plasma TV -- in Japan on April 23.

The 50-inch model is expected to sell for 430,000 yen (3500EUR), about 60,000 yen (488EUR) more than the company's current 50-inch plasma TV. The 54-inch version is to be priced at 530,000 yen (4320EUR).

Both models will come with one pair of 3-D glasses, which will also be sold separately for around 10,000 yen (81EUR).

Panasonic hopes the competitive pricing will help it sell 1 million 3-D sets worldwide in the initial year. By releasing high-value-added products ahead of its rivals, the company also hopes to propel its TV business into the black.

Sony Corp. (6758), Toshiba Corp. (6502) and Samsung Electronics Co. are also gearing up to release 3-D TVs sometime this year.

Panasonic also plans to release 3-D plasma sets in the U.S. and Europe around the same time as the Japanese launch. It is targeting annual sales of 10 million 3-D TVs in the year through March 31, 2013.

The consumer electronics giant added Tuesday that it will start selling three Blu-ray Disc recorders and one Blu-ray Disc player that support the Blu-ray 3D standard in Japan on April 23.

With the 3-D TVs, Panasonic says it was able to reduce image ghosting by developing new plasma panels and system chips. The firm also made it possible for the Blu-ray Disc recorders and player to handle the large data volumes inherent in 3-D images by using advanced image compression technology.

Further down the road, Panasonic plans to release digital cameras, cellular phones and personal computers that support 3-D technology. It also aims to release commercial 3-D products, such as medical holography machines.

In addition, Panasonic has entered into the area of 3-D software production, winning orders to produce Blu-ray Disc titles for The Walt Disney Co.'s 3-D movies.

J'ai vu les TV 3D de Sony la semaine dernière en exposition à Ginza au Sony Plaza Building.
J'étais bluffé par la qualité de la vidéo. J'ai aussi joué à Wipe Out en 3D, héhé...

No Glasses Necessary For 3-D Nintendo DS Debuting In FY10

TOKYO (Nikkei)--Nintendo Co. (7974) said Tuesday that it will launch a 3-D version of its DS portable game system sometime in the fiscal year ending March 2011, using technology that will not require users to wear special glasses.

The Nintendo 3DS will be the first popular game system available worldwide to have such functionality. It is expected to debut in the second half of 2010. Details are to be released mid-June at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, in Los Angeles.

Nintendo plans to give the new system a 3-D joystick and a force feedback mechanism that will let players feel the collisions of a game character, for example. It had already acquired related patents at the end of last year. The firm is also considering employing an accelerometer so that games can be played by tilting the 3DS.

While offering compatibility with games for earlier members of the DS series, the 3DS will feature significant improvements in wireless communications speed and battery life. Its screens will likely be no larger than 4 inches -- smaller than the 4.2 inches of the DSi LL, released in Japan last November.

Nintendo aims to differentiate its hand-held from others by focusing on enhancing gaming capabilities. Apple Inc.'s iPhone and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.'s PlayStation Portable are increasingly serving as multimedia devices whose repertoires include music, video and wireless communications.

(The Nikkei March 24 morning edition)

Panasonic a commencé à vendre des TV 3D aux USA le 10 mars.
Le prix pour le modèle de base d'une TV 127cm est environ 2500USD.
Avec lecteur blu-ray et lunettes, il faut compter 3000USD.