Panasonic: 3D Blu-ray Trending Upward

8 Mar, 2011 By: Chris Tribbey

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UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. — The differences between the 2010 and 2011 slate of Panasonic Blu-ray Disc players is telling: The initial Panasonic line-up saw three regular Blu-ray players, and one that did 3D.

2011 is just the opposite: The DMP-BDT310, DMP-BDT210 and DMP-BDT110 are all 3D, while Panasonic’s DMP-BD75 is the lone non-3D Blu-ray player out in market from the company.

The reason, according to Troy Livingston, entertainment group product manager for Panasonic Consumer Electronics, is simple: By the end of 2011, 3D Blu-ray players will represent more than a quarter of all Blu-ray players in the U.S. market. And it’s a trend Panasonic sees continuing.

“Especially with all the focus on 3D content, consumers are really going to start adopting [3D] at a much higher rate,” he said March 8 during a preview of Panasonic’s Blu-ray and home audio hardware.

The new 3D players feature a slicker, more PC-like menu, a 3D effect controller, 2D-to-3D conversion for non-3D content (as well as the ability to slightly alter that content for depth and Skype video call capability). The DMP-BDT310 and DMP-BDT210 also have built-in WiFi and touch-free opening and closing.

The players also feature Netflix, Amazon VOD, CinemaNow, Vudu, YouTube, Twitter, Pandora, Picassa and Bloomberg.

The company expects to show off its HDTV and 3DTV line-up in April.
 

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