Panasonic VIERA(R) Internet-Connected HDTV's with VIERA CAST(TM) Feature
Offer Seamless and Easy Access From The Living Room to Google's Picasa Web
Albums(TM) and Millions of Originally Created Videos from YouTube(TM)
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic, the leading brand by which
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC) is best known, and
YouTube today announced plans to bring big screen High Definition TV
viewers quick and easy access to millions of originally created videos from
YouTube directly from Panasonic's new VIERA(R) PZ850 line of Plasma
Internet-connected HDTV's. The new VIERA HDTV's, equipped with VIERA
CAST(TM), also include easy and seamless access to Picasa Web Albums, a
free online photo-sharing service from Google.
Panasonic's new VIERA PZ850 series Plasma HDTV's with VIERA CAST will
enable consumers, using the new and elegant Panasonic VIERA CAST interface,
to easily browse, find and watch free videos from YouTube and view photos
from their Picasa Web Albums in the comfort of their living room.
"We are thrilled to introduce Panasonic VIERA PZ850 series Internet-
Connected HDTV's with virtual one-click access to YouTube and Picasa Web
Albums from Google," said Toshihiro Sakamoto, President of Panasonic AVC
Networks Company. "This is the first time mainstream consumers will be able
to easily enjoy YouTube videos from the living room with the enhanced
quality of a fully integrated widescreen TV experience. YouTube is already
a huge worldwide sensation, and Panasonic VIERA Internet-connected HDTV's
will greatly expand users' entertainment options."
The first generation of Panasonic VIERA PZ850 series Internet-connected
HDTV's will be available to consumers in spring 2008.
"We're dedicated to providing users around the world with a great
YouTube experience no matter where they are," said Steve Chen, co-founder
and CTO of YouTube. "Working with an industry leader like Panasonic will
deliver the same great YouTube experience that users have come to expect on
their computers; browsing, finding and watching millions of YouTube videos
from the comfort of their living room."
"One of the most powerful things about the Internet is the access it
enables, and the family TV is a fun and useful way to access your photos,"
said Mike Horowitz, product manager for Picasa Web Albums at Google.
"Consumers can put their favorite photos on the web and enjoy them with
friends and family on a large screen from the comfort of their couches.
Having Picasa Web Albums integrated into new Panasonic VIERA Internet-
connected HDTV's with VIERA CAST functionality helps us achieve our goal of
putting consumers' photos within easy reach wherever and whenever they
want."
"Panasonic's cooperation with YouTube and Google's Picasa Web Albums
exemplifies our commitment to leading the natural evolution of the Internet
and extending it to the High Definition television," said Merwan Mereby,
Vice President, New Business Development, Panasonic Consumer Electronics
Company, the consumer electronics sales division of Panasonic Corporation
of North America.
About Panasonic
Based in Osaka, Japan, Panasonic AVC Networks Company is an internal
division company of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC),
which is best known worldwide by its Panasonic brand name. Panasonic
Corporation of North America is based in Secaucus, N.J., and is the
principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric and the hub of
Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic
Consumer Electronics is the consumer electronics sales arm of Panasonic
Corporation of America. Information about Panasonic products is available
at http://www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists
is available at http://www.panasonic.com/pressroom.
About YouTube
YouTube is the world's largest online video community allowing millions
of people to discover, watch and share originally created videos. YouTube
provides a forum for people to connect, inform and inspire others across
the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators
and advertisers large and small. YouTube is based in San Bruno, CA and is a
subsidiary of Google, Inc.
About Google Inc.
Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people
around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford
Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web
property in all major global markets. Google's targeted advertising program
provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing
the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon
Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more
information, please visit http://www.google.com.
Google, Picasa, Picasa Web Albums, and YouTube are trademarks of Google
Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.
SOURCE Panasonic
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Related links:
http://www.panasonic.com
CONTACT:
MeeJin Annan-Brady, Panasonic,
+1-201-392-6124, annan-bradym@us.panasonic.com; or Chris De
Maria, Panasonic, +1-201-348-7182, demariac@us.panasonic.com; or
Charles Leone, Peppercom, +1-212-931-6158, cleone@peppercom.com
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