Panasonic Full HD 3D at Best Buy

From: http://www.bestbuy.com/

Panasonic Full HD 3D: An All-New Viewing Experience Imagine a sense of depth so realistic, you feel like you're being pulled into the scene. Imagine textures so natural-looking, you can almost touch them. It's all possible with Panasonic's new full HD 3D-ready HDTV, Blu-ray player and 3D Eyewear, now available for purchase in Best Buy stores (not currently available online). The new 50" class VIERA 1080p 3D-ready HDTV offers unique panel technology that brings a breathtaking level of beauty to both 3D content and the 2D content you currently enjoy. The 600Hz refresh rate delivers an ultra-smooth display of sports and action, while Internet connectivity means you can have instant access to movies, music, news and much more. The Panasonic full HD 3D experience includes: Panasonic 3D-ready HDTV Panasonic 3D Eyewear Panasonic 3D-ready Blu-ray player High-speed HDMI cable(s) A/V receiver with HDMI 3D pass-through technology (One pair of Eyewear is included with the Panasonic 3D-ready HDTV. Other products sold separately.) 3D content will be somewhat limited initially, but the number of 3D Blu-ray movies and TV channels will continue to grow in the coming years. This summer, for example, ESPN will be launching a dedicated 3D channel and featuring a minimum of 85 events within the first year. DIRECTV, in partnership with Panasonic, will be offering multiple 3D channels this summer (most likely a pay-per-view channel, an on-demand channel and a demo channel featuring sports, music and other content). If you'd like to see 3D in person, over 250 Best Buy stores will have Panasonic 3D experiences starting March 21. We recommend calling your local store(s) to see if they'll have a Panasonic display. Read about the upcoming 3D content schedule and get full details on 3D technology in our article 3D is Coming Home. You can also visit the Panasonic 3D experience at www.panasonic.com/3d. Panasonic VIERA 1080p 3D-ready Plasma HDTV High native contrast ratio enables deep, rich black color for both 3D and 2D content. Enhanced black gradation means that even in darkened scenes, fine textures are clearly reproduced. 600Hz technology lets you view superb full-HD motion and still images with 1,080 lines of resolution. New panel technology means dramatically increased contrast in brightly lit locations. Self-illuminating plasma technology allows images to look beautiful from any angle. Internet connectivity allows access to VIERA CAST online content, including Netflix (subscription required), Pandora, Twitter and much more. Make voice and video calls over Skype (mic/webcam required). SD card slot lets you view photos and videos stored on SD memory cards. Panasonic 3D-readyBlu-ray Player Plays 3D Blu-ray Discs in 1080p on a 3D-ready HDTV Plays standard Blu-ray Discs and DVDs with superb picture resolution on any HDTV Connects to the Internet for instant content from Netflix (subscription required), Pandora, Twitter and much more Can connect wirelessly to the Internet using built-in Wi-Fi (USB dongle required) Includes 2 HDMI outputs, SD card slot, Ethernet port and USB port Panasonic 3D Eyewear Frame can be easily adjusted to fit a wide range of faces Durable hinges can withstand repeated opening and closing Eyewear turns off after 5 minutes outside of TV range Eyewear can be worn over ordinary prescription glasses Eyewear case included Panasonic Videos Inside the Panasonic 3D Truck Tour Audience Reactions (1) Audience Reactions (2) Full HD 3D Explained 2010 Panasonic Touch the Future Tour Between March 15–April 17, the tour will visit popular venues in 15 U.S. cities and present demos of new Panasonic products, including an amazing 3D home theater experience. See the tour schedule ›

Panasonic's first 3-D TV set in $2,900 package

By http://www.boston.com/

(David Goldman/AP Images for Best Buy) Brad Katsuyama, holding a receipt, and wife Ashley, become the world's first consumers to purchase a Panasonic Full HD 3D system at Best Buy in New York on Wednesday March 10, 2010.

NEW YORK—Panasonic Corp. on Wednesday revealed the price for its first 3-D TV set, confirming that $3,000 is about what it takes to be among the first to watch 3-D movies in the home.

The Japanese company put its first 3-D sets on sale at an event in New York on Wednesday. Panasonic's suggested retail price is $2,900 for a 50-inch plasma set, one pair of glasses and a 3-D Blu-ray player. An extra pair of glasses costs $150.

South Korean competitor Samsung Electronics Co. announced Tuesday that its 3-D sets would go on sale this week. For $3,000, buyers get a 46-inch set, two pairs of glasses, a 3-D Blu-ray player and a 3-D copy of "Monsters vs. Aliens." There's also a 55-inch set available -- it's $3,300 for the set alone.

Both manufacturers plan to expand their 3-D lines rapidly. Rivals are on their heels: LG Electronics Inc. plans to put its 3-D sets on sale in May and Sony Corp. is bringing out its 3-D sets this summer.

The sets can switch between 3-D and regular 2-D mode, which doesn't require glasses.

There's a dearth of movies on 3-D discs, but studios are rushing to put them out. On Wednesday, Twentieth Century Fox, the studio arm of News Corp., said it would make "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" its debut title in 3-D Blu-ray.

© Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Nokia tells all on Booklet 3G: $299 with a 2-year contract on AT&T

by Paul Miller

Nokia, AT&T, Best Buy and Microsoft are all holding hands and singing the same song about Nokia's Booklet 3G today. The good news is that the device will be subsidized by AT&T, at $299 with a 2-year contract at a $60 a month data plan -- with other rate plans and prices to be announced -- and a $599 non-subsidized price. It'll be out with the launch of Windows 7 on October 22nd and available exclusively through Best Buy through the holidays. Nokia's also pretty strong about stating that 12 hour battery life isn't a "brochure number" but a real number -- though we doubt that since Nokia is using Mobile Mark '07 which doesn't include wireless in its base tests.

Refurbished iPhones Land at Best Buy

Scott Nichols, PC World

Best Buy seems to have a good deal going with Apple, as it was the first retailer outside of Apple's own stores to carry iPhones, and now will be the first again, by selling "refreshed" or, more accurately, refurbished 3G iPhones.

The refurbished iPhones will be devices that were returned within 30 days by the original owner and are priced $50 less than a shiny new model. So an 8GB model would sell for $149 while the 16GB model sells for $249. The refurbished iPhones are now available at 350 Best Buy locations that have a Best Buy Mobile store.

This will also make the iPhone the only refurbished item Best Buy currently carries. Of course the retail giant tries to get around that fact by calling the iPhones "refreshed" instead, but a marketing ploy through semantics doesn't change the fact that these are refurbished iPhones.

So what does this mean for you? Well, if you are in the market for a 3G iPhone, then Best Buy is a great place to get one for $50 less than full price. Best Buy stores are far more plentiful than Apple stores, so it's now more convenient than ever to get a 3G iPhone that someone else didn't want.