All Sections

CES: MySpace and Skype make Panasonic appy for 2012 TVs

Panasonic’s new TVs will let users make Skype video calls or use MySpace on Viera Connect Smart TV while they watch TV or Blu-rays.

The split screen Skype experience joins simultaneous Twitter and Facebook use on Panasonic’s TVs, alongside a new MySpace TV channel and other apps.

These include the Flixster TV and film service, Miramax films and trailers, Home Shopping Network, independent films from SnagFilms, and a Disney films app that’s currently under negotiation.

Merwan Mereby, Panasonic’s vice president of interactive content & services, said: “Year after year Panasonic’s Viera Connect Smart TV platform has continued to expand rapidly, but with a singular focus to deliver to our Smart Viera HDTV and Blu-ray disc player owners an extremely robust and interactive connected TV experience that can be customized and enjoyed on their large-screen HDTVs.

“In 2012, Panasonic is proud to strategically partner with cutting-edge developers, brands and technologies that will take the Viera Connect Smart Viera platform to new levels of connectivity, content access, and engaging experiences for consumers.”

Panasonic with myspace's Justin TImberlake

The 2012 platform will also include a web browser with optional USB keyboard, a new YouTube app, an updated Viera Remote smartphone app for controlling your TV from a phone or tablet, a TV.com app with video clips, web-based video publishing from Ooyala and Brightcove’s video library.

More than 60per cent of Panasonic’s 2012 line of Viera HDTVs will feature full or limited access to Viera Connect features.

Full Viera Connect access will be available on a wide range of Viera HDTVs, Blu-ray players and home theater systems including Viera plasma HDTV (VT50, GT50, ST50, and UT50), Viera LED HDTV (WT50, DT50, ET5, E50, and E5), Blu-ray players (DMP-BBT01, DMP-BDT500, DMP-BDT320, DMP-BDT220), and home theater systems (SC-BTT490, SC-BTT195, SC-BTT19).

Some new apps and services will also be available on 2011 Viera TVs and Blu-ray players, while others may not be available in the UK. 

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *