The Cable Show 2008, an annual convention and international exposition of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association saw Panasonic (News - Alert) demonstrate its commitment in providing tru2way solutions to the cable industry. Panasonic is showcasing its tru2way-based cable product line-up in its booth #3005. The exhibit includes PCH2180 HD-DVR Set-Top, tru2way-Enabled VIERA Plasma HDTV’s, Innovative TZ-LC100 Portable Digital Video Recorder and more.

 

Panasonic Corporation of North America markets a broad line of digital and other electronics products for consumer, business and industrial use. They have also worked in the development and application of tru2way technology. tru2way is an industry initiative to allow electronics manufacturers to make TVs and other gear that will work regardless of the cable provider.

 

“We are proud that Panasonic has been able to work closely with the cable industry in developing tru2way products ranging from advanced digital cable boxes incorporating digital video recorder capability, which cable companies can provide to their subscribers, to spectacular new tru2way-enabled VIERA Plasma HDTV’s, which will be available for consumer purchase at retail this fall,” said Dr. Paul F. Liao, chief technology officer, Panasonic Corporation of North America. “And we are especially delighted to be partnering with Comcast, CableLabs (News - Alert), and other leaders in the cable industry in rolling out tru2way technology. This technology brings the benefits of open networks to cable subscribers.”

 

The PCH2180 is an advanced multi-tuner tru2way set-top receiver that integrates High Definition video recording, a multi-stream CableCard host interface for separable security, and a high-speed DOCSIS modem to support DOCSIS Set-top Gateway (News - Alert) Signaling (DSG), all within a compact set-top configuration. The PCH2180 is capable of supporting MoCA Home Networking option and also digital video codec like MPEG2, MPEG4 (h264) and VC-1 (HD).

 

“In 2008, we are proud to be the first and only company to announce a line of tru2way flat panel HDTV’s available at retail,” said Charlie Hare, National Sales and Marketing Manager, Cable Products, Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Company. “The PCH2180 HD-DVR platform truly is the next-generation all digital set top and is ready for the rollout of tru2way technology in the field. The PCH2180 will ship in quantity starting in July 2008 and is available to all cable MSO's whose network supports tru2way specifications.”

 

The tru2way enabled VIERA Plasma HDTV has a built in tru2way cable receiver that removes the need for an external cable set top box. And the Panasonic’s tru2way based Portable DVR (P-DVR) model TZ-LC100 will let cable customers record programming at home and take it with them wherever they go.

 

The TZ-LC100 incorporates full-digital video recording functionality into a Panasonic portable DVD player platform and allows playback of cable programming anytime anywhere. The TZ-LC100 P-DVR features 60GB of digital video recording capacity, an 8.5” folding LCD display screen, and integrated stereo speakers. When placed onto a companion docking station the TZ-LC100 functions as a standard DVR set-top box.