Panasonic Named As CES Innovations 2014 Design And Engineering Award Honoree

NEW YORK, Nov. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company today announced that the SC-NT10 Bluetooth® Wireless Speaker, SC-NA10 Portable Wireless Speaker, LUMIX GX7 and RP-BTGS10 Bone Conduction Headphones have all been named International CES Innovations 2014 Design and Engineering Awards Honorees.  Products entered in this prestigious program are judged by a preeminent panel of independent industrial designers, independent engineers and members of the trade media to honor outstanding design and engineering in cutting edge consumer electronics products across 29 product categories.  Panasonic's award-winning products are available online at www.shop.panasonic.com.

An Honoree in the Portable Media Players and Accessories product category, the Panasonic SC-NT10 Bluetooth Wireless Speaker features a Quad Proof "tough" design to protect the speaker from dust, shock, water and extreme temperatures so a user can enjoy their music from the top of a ski slope to the white sandy beaches of a tropical destination.  In addition to a durable design, the Panasonic SC-NT10 incorporates two Full Range Speakers (1-3/ 8 inches) and a Passive Radiator (2 inches) to produce crystal clear audio.  Using Boost Mode, the SC-NT10 can boost the midrange sounds that are naturally easy to hear, so music that was lost in surrounding noise is clear for comfortable listening.  Smart Networking features, including NFC (Near Field Communication) pairing for connection to a smartphone or tablet device and a built-in microphone for hands-free phone conversations, allow for greater ease-of-use.

The Panasonic SC-NA10 Portable Wireless Speaker, also an Honoree in the Portable Media Players and Accessories product category, boasts 20 hours of playback time, the longest currently available on a wireless speaker* and provides users with outstanding connectivity options for easier usability.  Featuring two front 1.6-inch speakers for crisp, clear vocals and a single passive radiator to help deliver great quality, undistorted bass, the SC-NA10 delivers high quality audio in a compact body.  The SC-NA10 features a contemporary design based on classic Hi-Fi style and includes a detachable purse-like cover stand to allow for easy portability, indoors or out.  Users can enjoy music playback through a variety of wireless technologies including the Panasonic Music Streaming application, NFC or Bluetooth connectivity.   

The LUMIX GX7 is a new breed of digital camera suitable for the Hybrid Photographer.  An Honoree in the Digital Imaging product category, the LUMIX GX7, features high photographic performance and a sleek design with a tilt-able LVF (Live View Finder) for ease-of-use. Panasonic developed a new 16.00-megapixel Digital Live MOS Sensor for the GX7 that achieves both high resolution and high sensitivity image recording with minimum noise by utilizing cutting-edge Semiconductor Fine Technology.  Capable of recording full HD 1920 x 1080 60p smooth, high quality video recording in AVCHD Progressive and MP4 with stereo sound the GX7 also integrates Wi-Fi® connectivity with NFC technology to offer a more flexible shooting experience and seamless instant image sharing. 

An Honoree in the Headphones category, the Panasonic RP-BTGS10 Bone Conduction headphones have a sleek, wireless design that provide sound transmission via bone conduction, freeing up a user's ears for other important sounds.  The headphones are also equipped with a bone conduction microphone, which allows a user to record voice notes or take telephone calls while listening to their music.  The RP-BTGS10 Bone Conduction headphones encapsulate a minimalistic and modern design yet provide the user with comfort and user-friendly functionalities.  The headphones were designed to rest comfortably in front of a user's ear canal and were designed to be drip-proof.  The Panasonic RP-BTGS10 Bone Conduction will be available in January 2014.

"We are honored to have our products recognized again this year by the Consumer Electronics Association in the 2014 Innovations Design and Engineering Awards," said Julie Bauer, President, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company.  "Panasonic is always striving to develop products with advanced technologies to help create a better life and a better world for our customers.  Part of developing excellent products is also creating unique design features that enhance usability to improve the product experience for the users."

The prestigious Innovations Design and Engineering Awards are sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)^®, the producer of the International CES, the global gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technology, and have been recognizing achievements in product design and engineering since 1976.

Panasonic's honored products will be displayed in The Venetian at the 2014 International CES, which runs January 7-10, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Honorees will also be displayed at CES Unveiled: The Official Media Event of the International CES from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, January 5 in South Seas Ballroom C at Mandalay Bay.

The Innovations entries are judged based on the following criteria:

• Engineering qualities, based on technical specs and materials used
• Aesthetic and design qualities, using photos provided
• The product's intended use/function and user value
• Why the product deserves the Innovations award, including specifics regarding its unique/novel features and features that consumers would find attractive
• How the design and innovation of this product directly compare to other products in the market place

Products chosen as an Innovations honoree reflect innovative design and engineering of the entries. Examples may include the first time various technologies are combined in a single product or dramatic enhancements to previous product designs.

Innovations 2014 Design and Engineering honoree products are featured on CESweb.org/Innovations, which lists product categories, as well as each product name, manufacturer information, designer, description, photo and URL.

*as of August 26, 2013

About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company
Based in Newark, NJ, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company is a division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation. The company offers a wide-range of consumer solutions in the U.S. and Canada including products from VIERA Smart TVs, Blu-ray players, LUMIX Digital Cameras, Camcorders, Home Audio, Cordless Phones, Home Appliances, Wellness, Personal Care and Dental Care products and more. In Interbrand's 2013 Annual "Best Global Green Brands" report, the Panasonic brand ranked number four, the highest ranked electronics brand in the report. http://bit.ly/17ezCDI

To learn more about the company and its products, visit www.shop.panasonic.com. Follow Panasonic on Twitter @panasonicUSA; additional company information for journalists is also available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

SOURCE Panasonic