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Panasonic TX-P42GT30B info and resources

1080p

Full HD TVs are capable of showing high definition images that are up to five times as sharp and detailed as old style 'standard definition' images. You'll need to have an HD source, such as a Blu-ray player, games console or HD TV to be able to really see the difference though. All TVs on sale today are HD-Ready. A Full HD TV has a letter p after it and this means that the picture is shown in the best possible quality.

3D Ready

A TV that's 3D ready lets you view 3D television, movies and games in full 3D. 3D TV uses stereoscopic technology (the same thing currently being used to thrill audiences in 3D cinemas) which shows a slightly different image to each eye in order to create depth.  Forget crummy old cardboard glasses, modern 3D television uses Active Shutter Technology to delivery full HD 3D movies and programmes.

To watch 3DTV you'll need a TV such as the Panasonic TX-P42GT30B, a pair of 3D glasses for each viewer and a 3D video source. A 3D Blu-ray player is a popular choice, and Sky TV have content that's available now for 3D TVs. Although in it's infancy, 3D gaming is also set to take off soon, with the Sony PS3 offering free firmware upgrades to allow people to enjoy 3D gaming in HD.

600Hz Motion

DLNA Networking

DLNA is all about getting our digital devices in the home to talk to each other and work together. The Panasonic TX-P42GT30B features DLNA making it easier than ever to connect your cameras, camcorders and other sources to your TV. DLNA allows you to connect devices easiler as well a share content over your home Wi-fi network. It's a set of rules that manufacturers work to in order to get a range of devices working together. Lean about DLNA here.

Freesat HD

Freesat HD is a joint venture between ITV and BBC and allows you to watch high definition television on an HD-ready television. The Panasonic TX-P42GT30B has Freesat HD built in, but you can also buy separate digital 'boxes' that allow you to receive it. As with Freeview HD, there's no subscription charge to pay for the service. The difference between Freesat and Freeview is that Freesat is satellite based and Freeview is terrestrial. You will need a satellite dish in order to receive Freesat HD.  These are available cheaply online from Amazon. It's well worth a visit to the Freesat HD on the official webpage to find out more about the service. And there's an excellent article on Freesat HD and Freesat here. You'll also want to have a read through the helpful FAQ section on UK Satellite Help.

Freeview HD

If the idea of paying a subscription fee each month for HD television programs doesn't appeal then you'll be pleased to know that the Panasonic TX-P42GT30B comes with Freeview HD built in. Freeview HD is the high definition big brother to Freeview and allows you to enjoy completely free access to HD stations such as BBC HD and many more. There are currently over 50 Freeview HD stations, with the line-up constantly being revised and added to. Find out what you can watch on Freeview HD here.

NeoPDP Technology

NeoPDP technology is something you'll only find on large-screen Panasonic TVs like the Panasonic TX-P42GT30B. First shown at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2009, NeoPDP is specific to Plasma TVs. It increases the luminous efficiency of plasma TVs so that less current is required to create the coloured pixels that make up the picture. The obvious benefit to this technology is that it uses 50% less energy than other Plasma TVs. The other cool thing is that set can be much thinner than conventional plasmas - with the profile of the TV going from bulky to super-slim, just like LCD sets that use LED backlighting. And NeoPDP also delivers a higher standard of image than older Panasonic plasma TVs.

Here's a video of the NeoPDP technology from Panasonic that shows how thin

And if you're interested in finding out more, there's an informative post on Greenly about Panasonic NeoPDP. And the official webpage at Panasonic is packed with good info about this technology too.

THX certified

A number of TVs, such as the Panasonic TX-P42GT30B are whats known as THX Certified. This means that the model has gone through a rigorous testing proceedure to ensure that it delivers exceptional image quality. Far from a marketing gimmick or ploy, this is a real testing system that uses a whopping 400 different criteria to see check what a TV is capable of. While not an essential requirement for most people, it's still worth noting that a TV that does have THX certification will have a very high quality picture.

You can find out more about the THX testing process at the THX.com website. In particular, you might want to read up on 5 reasons why THX Certified TVs Kick Ass.

Viera Cast

Viera Cast is a technology from Panasonic that lets you stream videos, photos and music from the Internet to a Panasonic Television or Blu-ray player. It was first announced in 2008 at the CES show. Examples of things you can watch and do with Viera Cast on are:

• Youtube
• Bloomberg
• Google's Picasa
• Eurosport
• Twitter
• Stocks and shares
• Skype
• Games
• Apps

Viera Cast has an easy-to-use interface that lets you choose what you want to watch. One user at AV Forums commented:

"...the interface is superb, it quick and easy to find just what you want, and, the vids themselves actually look pretty darn good on the panny even in full screen. thats variable of course, but most the content i watch handles the full screen very well indeed."

VIERA Connect

Viera Connect is a service offered by Panasonic to owners of their Smart TV range. It allows users to download and install Apps from their App store. Users of Apple products such as the iPhone will be familiar with Apps. These small programs can be in a number of categories from games to productivity tools. Categories of Apps available using Viera Connect include sports, social networking, Youtube, Games and much more. As with other stores, there's a range of free and paid apps that will appear on your Panasonic TX-P42GT30B's home screen once installed. Here's a video showing the Viera Connect App Store in action.

Wi-fi Ready

The Panasonic TX-P42GT30B has features that use content from the Internet. To use these extra capabilities, you'll need to connect your TV to the web. This can be done via your existing home Internet connection using the router supplied by your service provider.