Panasonic Unveils Smart VIERA WT600 - World's First(1) Ultra HD TV with 4K(2) 60p Input Designed Based on HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort™1.2a Specifications

NEWARK, N.J., Sept. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic, a leader in High Definition technology, unveiled today the Smart VIERA TC-L65WT600, the world's first Ultra HD TV with a 4K 60p input designed based on HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort™1.2a specifications. Offering up to 60 frames per second 4K playback, the WT600 is the ultimate choice for consumers looking to access the next level in home entertainment, or for anyone for who picture quality is imperative.

The 65-inch class (64.5 inches measured diagonally) Panasonic Smart VIERA WT600 Ultra HD TV will be available in mid-October on shop.panasonic.com (http://shop.panasonic.com/pr/tc-l65wt600) and at select retailers.

With its THX™⁴ 4K certification, the Smart VIERA WT600 is perfectly tailored for home cinema enthusiasts. The WT600 panel's 2,400 Back Light Scanning (BLS) technology provides incredibly high motion sharpness, even in fast action scenes. The TV also features a minimalist design, with a thin metal frame that focuses attention on the stunning 4K images. Even when not in use, the WT600 presents an elegant and stylish addition to the living room.

4K Content at Your Fingertips

The WT600 offers access to a wide range of 4K content to make the most of its screen innovations allowing users to dramatically expand their 4K experience with not only video content, but also groundbreaking games, Internet content, and their photos, all in stunning 4K quality⁵.

The next generation 4K 60p input, designed based on HDMI 2.0 and Display Port^TM1.2a specifications, helps assure compatibility with future 4K-players, set-top boxes and next-generation gaming consoles.

PC gaming enthusiasts can easily connect their PC to the WT600 via the 60p-capable DisplayPort^TM, allowing them to enjoy the latest blockbuster games in incredible detail and with high motion clarity.  The WT600's built-in HTML5 web browser can also show Internet pages in crisp 4K quality⁵.

As an industry leading-edge technology, the WT600 has a built-in 4K H.264 (MPEG4) decoder, which not only enables the playback of 4K video files via USB and SD Memory Card, but – even more importantly – enables the playback of 4K content directly from the Internet⁵.  Photo enthusiasts can access their photography either via an SD card with the 4K Photo Viewer SD⁶, or use 4K Swipe & Share⁶ to wirelessly transfer photos from their mobile phone or tablet in Ultra HD resolution.

Superior 4K Image Quality

To ensure the best 4K home cinema viewing experience, the WT600's THX4K™-certified 4K display demonstrates its ability to reproduce the colors, tones and resolution intended by the Hollywood directors. With 4K Intelligent Frame Creation, the WT600 achieves smooth panning of up to 120 frames per second, even with Ultra HD sources. Panasonic's 4K Ultra HD TV also analyzes complex scenes - with movement from a variety of directions - and optimizes each object independently.

The Local Dimming Pro enhances overall image by improving control of details in both darker and brighter areas. Meanwhile, the new 4K Fine Remaster Engine maximizes the image quality for content created with resolution lower than 4K. The circuit processing technology produces images with higher definition by interpolating the missing parts of the images and re-producing the non-existent data, bringing them to a level of quality that approaches 4K sources.

The WT600 features ISFccc Calibration Mode¹⁰ and is compatible with CalMAN™ calibration software, ensuring precise color neutrality. The Panasonic TV Remote 2 App also offers Smart Calibration, a powerful function which enables the viewer to set detailed correction curves for gamma, white point, and color saturation on the TV via their Android or iOS⁷ Smartphone or tablet.

Easy Operation

Thanks to the intuitive user interface, the WT600 is designed to ensure your Smart TV experience is as easy as possible. The personalized My Home Screen feature enables every family member to easily access their TV favorites through their own personalized home screen.

Following the success of the Smart VIERA My Home Screen feature, Panasonic has also developed new pre-set Home Screens. The Smart VIERA Home Screen Collection function offers users quick and easy access⁸ to content from their favorite providers including YouTube.

The WT600's control and input options are further boosted with the innovative Voice Interaction feature, allowing users to control their TV by speaking into the microphone of the touch pad controller, or into a smartphone or tablet with the installed Panasonic TV Remote 2 App. This allows users to quickly access their internet content or browse their home network for their favorite music, video and photo. In addition, the photo-sharing capabilities of Swipe & Share mean that users can share images in 4K-resolution on the WT600's large screen with just a swipe of their finger⁶.

Advanced Networking and Connectivity

As with all Smart VIERA TVs, the WT600 features built-in Wi-Fi as a standard. Users can quickly and easily access multimedia content on their home network via DLNA streaming, as well as the Apps for the Smart VIERA platform with its continuously expanding range of Smart TV applications including popular social networking TV apps such as Facebook, Twitter and Skype™. With the WT600's automatic pop-up camera, video calls can be made with just the click of a few buttons.

The WT600 includes a 4K web browser. For easy text and web address input, users can connect a keyboard to the WT600, using a USB adapter or wirelessly via Bluetooth™⁹. The Bluetooth^® module provides users with additional wireless connectivity options, allowing them to connect compact speakers or headphones.

Chance to Win a WT600

To celebrate the launch of Panasonic's new Google Plus page, consumers will be given a chance to win¹¹ a Smart VIERA WT600 Ultra HD TV. Visit Panasonic's Google Plus page at www.bit.ly/panaplus to learn more.

About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company

Based in Newark, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Electronics, a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American Subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations, offers a wide-range of consumer solutions in the U.S. The Company's portfolio of innovative consumer products ranges from VIERA Full HD 3D Televisions, Blu-ray Disc players, LUMIX Digital Cameras, Camcorders, Home Audio, Cordless Phones, Home Appliances, Wellness, Personal Care and Beauty products.

Panasonic is pledged to practice prudent, sustainable use of the earth's natural resources and protect our environment through the company's Eco Ideas programs. In the 2012 Interbrand Annual Best Global Green Brands ranking, the Panasonic brand jumped four spots to number six (http://www.interbrand.com/en/best-global-brands/Best-Global-Green-Brands/2012-Report.aspx). Follow Panasonic on Twitter @panasonicusa, and additional company information for media is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

¹ As of September 4, 2013

² Actual resolution: 3840 x 2160p

³ DisplayPort is a trademark owned by the Video Electronics Standards Association in the United States and other countries.

⁴ THX and the THX logo are trademarks of THX Ltd. registered in some jurisdictions.  The THX 4K DISPLAY logo is a trademark of THX Ltd.  All rights reserved.

⁵ USB 3.0 is required and provides 4K input up to 30p.  Picture resolution will depend on its original source.  Viewing experience varies depending on the Internet connection.

⁶ Picture resolution will depend on its original source and the content may vary depending on the file format.

⁷ Supported OS: iOS 5.0.1 or later, Android 4.0 or later

⁸ Access to a broadband Internet connection is required to access apps for Smart VIERA features.

⁹ HID (Human Interface Device Profile) complaint keyboards are available.  A2DP(Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) complaint audio devices are available.

¹⁰ ISF and IMAGING SCIENCE FOUNDATION are Trade Marks owned by Imaging Science Foundation, Inc.

¹¹ NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  Open to legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.) 18 years and older.  Contest ends 10/25/13.  Visit www.bit.ly/panaplus for Official Rules, including odds and prize descriptions, and more information on how to enter which will be posted on or around 9/25/13.  Void where prohibited.

SOURCE Panasonic