Panasonic today introduced a next-generation Blu-ray player which is said to be the first with the format’s Final Standard Profile feature. The DMP-BD30, which replaces the $599 DMP-BD10, will be the industry’s first player to use support Final Standard Profile.

Final Standard Profile is an advanced function added to the Blu-ray standard, which opens the door to new functions such as Picture-in-Picture (which displays a second image in a sub window) and Audio Mixing (allows the consumer to switch the sound between the main and sub windows). It is also the first Blu-ray deck to also feature the inclusion of an SD card slot for playback of high-definition content recorded in the AVCHD format. The SD slot also allows for viewing of digital still images recorded to an SD card. Read more… »

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Panasonic today announced the launch of its first portable navigation device (PND) Strada CN-GP50U for the U.S. market. Strada which is already a best-seller in Japan, has a sleek, slim design and boasts a 5-inch touch panel display for clear viewing and optimum ease of use.

The other features of the PND include digital networking, voice command and GPS Assist — an electronic compass to compensate when GPS reception is interrupted, as in a tunnel.

The Strada CN-GP50U is the ultimate travel companion, providing quick and easy access to maps and 1.8 million searchable Points of Interest in 51 categories, such as gas stations, airports, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, ATMs and historic landmarks. The pre-loaded NAVTEQ® mapping software provides map data for the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico, plus detailed maps of 86 U.S. cities. Users can easily upgrade their software using an SD Memory Card or USB port. There’s even a voice guidance feature, which can be activated in several languages. Read more… »

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