Panasonic announced two new 3D high-definition TVs that include a 3D Blu-ray player and hard drive for additional storage.
The new RT2B-series will ship in 42" and 46" screen sizes, and includes a 500GB HDD for recorded storage. A built-in Skype application will also allow TV owners to make free voice and video calls to nationwide and international contacts.
"With this product, it is easy to record and play 3D video," said Shiro Nishiguchi, Panasonic Corporate manager, in a statement to media. "We consider they are more reasonable compared with the case where a 3D TV and a BD/HDD recorder are separately purchased."
Owners will be required to wear active-shutter glasses with the new 3DTVs.
Panasonic will ship the 42" model for $4,487, while the 46" model will cost a very hefty $5,060. Both models will be launched in Japan on August 27. It remains unknown if the TVs will be released in North America and Europe, but it seems unlikely Panasonic will leave other markets behind.
The Japanese electronics company believes the Japanese market will buy almost 1 million 3DTVs in 2010 -- and Panasonic wants to control 50 percent of the market. Panasonic currently has around 35 percent marketshare, according to BCN, while Sony controls more than 50 percent.
This is an interesting move made by Panasonic -- and I expect Panasonic's rivals to follow suit -- but the price needs to obviously drop before this technology goes mainstream.
Even though the technology is still developing, and the prices remain extremely high, the number of 3DTVs, 3D Blu-ray players and set-top boxes, and 3D notebooks are expected to increase through the rest of 2010 and into 2011.
