NAB2012: Panasonic and LiveU Announce Strategic Technology Partnership.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

NAB2012: Panasonic and LiveU Announce Strategic Technology Partnership.

Panasonic and LiveU (Hackensack, NJ), a pioneer in portable video-over-cellular, are announcing a new collaboration to deliver an integrated camcorder and live video uplink solution, utilizing the groundbreaking LU40i video uplink device and the new AJ-HPX600 P2 camcorder with planned wireless integration features.

The LU40i will be linked via the camera interface, giving camera operators a real-time indication of LiveU's transmission status and video transmission quality. With the LU40i and HPX600, a camera operator will be able to manage the video uplink while shooting: a must for a one-person remote crew.

Samuel Wasserman, LiveU's CEO, said, "We're thrilled that Panasonic, a world-leading camera developer and manufacturer, has partnered with LiveU to develop this next-generation camera uplink solution using our cellular-based technology. We are confident that 'live cameras' symbolize the future for broadcasting and online media, and will open up new market segments for live video transmission around the world."

This integration strengthens LiveU's ongoing collaboration with Panasonic, following last September's announcement at IBC Amsterdam to facilitate HD 3D live mobile broadcasts over cellular networks.

Michael Bergeron, Business Development Manager for Panasonic System Communications Company of North America (PSCNA), said, "We want to deliver solutions for our broadcast customers that evolve with the pace of new technology, and the upgradable HPX600 camcorder platform gives us the flexibility to do that. When the operation of the LU40i is integrated with the camera, the complete system provides a high-quality video feed with the easiest remote operation yet."

Panasonic and LiveU are planning to offer the complete camcorder transmission system, and will be providing details as the AJ-HPX600 launch approaches.

For more information about LiveU, visit www.liveu.tv.

For more information about Panasonic professional camera products, visit www.panasonic.com/broadcast.

About LiveU

LiveU (http://www.liveu.tv/) is the pioneer of broadcast-quality, video-over-cellular solutions that allow live video transmission (HD and SD) from any location around the world. LiveU's backpack / handheld solutions include multiple 4G LTE/3G, HSPA+, WiMAX and Wi-Fi cellular links, which are optimized for maximum video quality based on the available network conditions. With top-tier customers in 60+ countries across five continents, LiveU's solutions have been used for breaking news and high-profile events, including the 2012 US Presidential Campaign, 2011 British Royal Wedding, Hurricane Irene, Academy Awards®, GRAMMY Awards®, Super Bowl, NBA All Star Weekend, Brazilian Carnival, 2010 World Cup in South Africa and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Panasonic Solutions for Business 

Through its broad range of integrated business technology solutions, Panasonic empowers professionals to do their best work. Customers in government, healthcare, production, education and a wide variety of commercial enterprises, large and small, depend on integrated solutions from Panasonic to reach their full potential, achieve competitive advantage and improve outcomes. The complete suite of Panasonic solutions addresses unified business communications, mobile computing, security and surveillance systems, retail information systems, office productivity solutions, high definition visual conferencing, projectors, professional displays and HD and 3D video production. As a result of its commitment to R&D, manufacturing and quality control, Panasonic engineers reliable and long-lasting solutions as a partner for continuous improvement. Panasonic solutions for business are delivered by Panasonic System Communications Company of North America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC). 

All brand and company/product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies. All specifications are subject to change without notice. Information on Panasonic solutions for business can be obtained by calling 877-803-8492 or at www.panasonic.com.

About Panasonic Corporation of North America

Based in Secaucus, NJ, Panasonic Corporation of North America provides a broad line of digital and other electronics products and services for consumer, business and industrial use. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC), and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic was the only Consumer Electronics company to be listed in the top ten brands on the Interbrand Best Global Green Brands 2011 ranking (http://www.interbrand.com/en/best-global-brands/Best-Global-Green-Brands/2011-Report/BestGlobalGreenBrandsTable-2011.aspx).

 As part of its continuing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, Panasonic Corporation of North America will relocate its operations to a new eco-efficient office tower adjacent to a mass transit hub in Newark, NJ in 2013. Information about Panasonic Eco Ideas initiatives is available at http://panasonic.net/eco/ecoideas/. Information about Panasonic and its products is available at www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is also available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

SOURCE LiveU

Sony and Panasonic expanding 3D-enabled TVs line up with LG’s technology.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

Panasonic and Sony have opted to lean a little further on the 3D screen technology of LG Electronics, according to a senior LG executive Sunday. 

In a perpetual battle with rival Samsung Electronics for bigger stakes in the growing global 3D TV market, LG’s film-based 3D technology has shown a clear advantage. It is cheaper than Samsung’s battery-powered option although arguments on technological competitiveness continue. 

LG has racked up success in 3D TV sales in China and North America as well formed tie-ups with many players. 

``Panasonic and Sony are planning to expand the lineup of 3D-enabled TVs this year. The key point is that their upcoming models will use LG’s technology,’’ said Nho Seok-ho, head of LG Electronics’ LCD TV division in an interview.

Nho said on the sidelines of his participation in an in-house event, ``3D TV Festival’’ at Lotte World, an amusement park in Seoul.

``That’s why we are sure to increase sales of 3D TVs this year,’’ said the executive, the right-hand man of LG’s TV chief Kwon Hee-won.

Panasonic and Sony were initially ready to adopt Samsung’s technology but they’ve decided cut costs and improve their bottom lines by using the cheaper version.

``The fact that more 3D TVs from Panasonic and Sony will be equipped with LG technology is significant as Japanese TV makers account for over 30 percent of the global 3D TV demand,’’ Nho said.

Sony rarely mentions that it has been selling 32-inch and 42-inch 3D TV sets with film-patterned 3D technology in China since this year, while Panasonic is relying more on LG for 3D screens for several of its sets.

LG plans to add a 60-inch model to its 3D TV lineup of a 65- and 72-inch set in June to actively respond to consumer demand, according to the executive. 

ACC.12: Panasonic Unveils Enhanced Software for CardioHealth® Station.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

 

ACC.12: Panasonic Unveils Enhanced Software for CardioHealth® Station.

The company demonstrates the CardioHealth Station at the American College of Cardiology's 61st Annual Scientific Session & Expo.

Panasonic Healthcare Group today debuted new, enhanced software for the CardioHealth® Station at the American College of Cardiology's (ACC's) 61st Annual Scientific Session & Expo, ACC.12, being held March 24 though March 28 in Chicago. 

 The CardioHealth Station, Panasonic's flagship healthcare product, is designed to assist medical professionals in making a quick and valuable assessment of cardiovascular health and has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the automated acquisition of carotid intima-media thickness data and risk assessment. The CardioHealth® Station and new software will be on display and demonstrated at Panasonic booth # 18075.

The CardioHealth Station has a built-in portable ultrasound system optimized to perform non-invasive examinations of the peripheral vessels. It provides an automated measurement of the intima-media thickness (IMT) of peripheral arteries such as the common carotid and allows the user to search for arterial plaques in B-mode imaging.

 The touchscreen keyboard allows the user to input various parameters related to traditional cardiovascular risk factors and a built-in calculator provides risk scores (Framingham Risk Score, PROCAM Health Check Score, Reynolds Risk Score, risk score based on the SCORE project) commonly used in a variety of medical environments. This information is supplemented with an IMT measurement of the artery to generate a comprehensive report to aid a physician in assessing cardiovascular risk.

The enhanced CardioHealth Station software being debuted at ACC.12 allows technicians to optimize workflow, and was created based on customer feedback from the 2011 software version. The new CardioHealth Station software also allows for a more robust acquisition of plaque detection in carotid arteries. 

 The combination of B-Mode and Color Flow Mode allows technicians to more fully distinguish between plaque-mimicking motion artifacts and the actual presence or absence of plaques. Additionally the new software allows for multi-angle image acquisition and selects the image with the thickest build-up of the arterial Intima-Media Thickness (IMT). Finally, the new software provides the ability to export reports to a network folder, helping to truly integrate the CardioHealth Station into a practice's electronic medical record, or in the case of larger institutions, DICOM storage system.

"We are eager to debut and demonstrate the CardioHealth Station's new software features to the medical community attending ACC.12. We spent many years developing the foundation of this flagship product, and I am very happy to say we are raising the bar again as we incorporate even more requests of the medical community," said Steven Lynum, Director of Clinical Products, Panasonic Healthcare Group. 

 "The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology recently updated the guidelines for the screening of asymptomatic patients with intermediate risk, creating awareness for the necessity to reduce healthcare costs through prevention. It is Panasonic's intention to work closely with the medical community to provide important diagnostic tools, such as the CardioHealth Station, to assist practitioners in achieving the goal of lowering healthcare costs through the early detection of disease."

"When Panasonic first introduced the CardioHealth® Station product at ACC 2011, I was truly pleased to see that a company was listening to the market needs and delivering a revolutionary new product to fit those needs," said S. Wayne Kay, the President and CEO of CardioNexus Corporation. "Now, Panasonic is implementing truly meaningful software optimizations that further perfect the CardioHealth Station for practitioners of Personalized Preventive Medicine, at ACC 2012. Over the past year, thousands of people have been screened with this device, and I believe using the latest guidelines, screening these asymptomatic intermediate risk patients, based on the guidelines, finding an unsuspected plaque, has really helped save lives."

About Panasonics Healthcare Group

Based in Secaucus, NJ Panasonic Healthcare Group is a business group of Panasonic Corporation of North America. Bringing together Panasonic's expertise in a wide range of health and medical device technologies the business unit develops products for the healthcare industry relating to hearing care and diagnostic machines. For more information visit www.panasonic.com/cardiohealthstation or http://www.panasonic.com/business/medicalvideo/hearing-aids/index.asp

About Panasonic Corporation of North America

Based in Secaucus, NJ, Panasonic Corporation of North America provides a broad line of digital and other electronics products for consumer, business and industrial use. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC), and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic recently announced that it will relocate its North American headquarters to Newark, NJ in 2013 as part of is plans to reduce the size of its carbon emissions footprint. Information about Panasonic and its products is available at www.panasonic.com and its Full HD 3D site at www.panasonic.com/3D. Additional company information for journalists is also available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

About the CardioNexus Corporation

Founded on January 2009 in Houston Texas, CardioNexus Corporation is an authorized distributor of Panasonic Healthcare Group. CardioNexus focuses on early detection of cardiovascular disease using an innovative multi-modality approach. Panasonic Corporation of North America became a shareholder of CardioNexus Corporation in October 2010. For more information, visit the company's website at www.cardionexus.com

SOURCE Panasonic

March 2012: Panasonic to Expand Smartphone Business to European Market.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

Panasonic announced today that it will expand its smartphone business to the European market in March 2012. At the same time, it announced its aim to bring its overseas smartphone sales to nine million units in fiscal year 2016, ending March 31, 2016, using Europe as a stepping stone to the global market.

With the mobile phone market rapidly shifting to smartphone usage worldwide and a steady growth expected particularly overseas, Panasonic aims to tap into this growth with its first global model smartphone for the European market in March 2012.

The main characteristics of the global model are:

1. An ultra-slim D-shaped design for easy portability
2. Slim bezel with high viewing quality Quarter HD (QHD) 4.3-inch large organic light emitting diode (OLED) screen
3. Waterproof and dustproof for ease of handling

Using this as a reference model, Panasonic will expand its lineup, aiming at sales of 1.5 million smartphones in Europe next fiscal year. Furthermore, in fiscal year 2016, Panasonic targets global sales of 15 million units, including nine million in Europe, Asia, China, and the United States and six million in Japan (of which five million are smartphones).

The Panasonic Group created the Systems & Communications Company (SNC) in April this year in advance of its reorganization scheduled for January 2012 in order to handle products and services related to system, network and mobile communications. Within this company, Panasonic will maximize its internal resources, including making use of an existing factory in Malaysia. Currently, phones for the Japanese market are manufactured in this factory but now the same factory is also scheduled to manufacture the first global model as announced.

Panasonic will continue to expand its product lineup and increase sales in a speedy process by thoroughly utilizing the Group's technological assets and development resources as well as its production and sales sites around the world, thereby strengthening development, production, and sales structure and product competitiveness.

About Panasonic

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronic products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated net sales of 8.69 trillion yen (US$105 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2011. The company's shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and New York (NYSE:PC) stock exchanges. For more information on the company and the Panasonic brand, visit the company's website at http://panasonic.net/.

Media Contacts:

Global Public Relations Office

Tel: 03-6403-3040 Fax: 03-3436-6766

Panasonic News Bureau

Tel: 03-3542-6205 Fax: 03-3542-9018