Panasonic readies YouTube-, Picasa-ready plasmas
updated 12:35 pm EDT, Tue May 20, 2008
Panasonic PZ850 plasmas
First announced in January, Panasonic's PZ850-series Viera plasmas have at last been given final details, prices and release dates. The sets are luxury models sized in 46, 50, 58 and 65-inch formats, and feature built-in Internet access, allowing users to view YouTube clips or Picasa photos without a separate player or interface. Support for more websites should be added automatically as Panasonic announces them.
Specifications include four HDMI ports, PC input, and a native contrast ratio of 30,000:1, with a maximum dynamic contrast of 1,000,000:1. The sets additionally feature H.264 decoding and built-in SD slots, allowing owners of HD camcorders to watch video immediately and without conversion.
The first 850s should become available in mid-June, beginning with the 46- ($3,100) and 50-inch ($3,500) models. The remaining 58- and 65-inch sets are only expected sometime in the fall, at prices of $4,300 and $8,000, respectively.
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Joined: Aug 2000
Isn't that their right?
Shouldn't it be up to Apple and AT&T as to whether or not they want to sell their products elsewhere? Its not like Apple was forced into this arrangement. Apple wanted to go exclusive, and since they design and manufacture the product, they have the right to say where they want it to be sold.
This arrangement is similar to the one between Cummins and Dodge for pickup trucks. Cummins builds the engine, and Dodge has designed a platform for the engine to go into. If a Ford owner wanted to use a Cummins engine in their truck, it wouldn't be just a drop in. There would be hurdles to get that to work (just as there are hurdles to getting the iPhone to work on other networks). But by this rationale, is the RCA saying that Cummins must design engines for Ford too?