Compare Panasonic TX-P42ST30B Prices
- 42" Full HD Plasma TV
- 3D Ready
- USB HDD Recording
- 600Hz Motion
- Freeview HD
Today's Best Price
£499.97
inc. Free Delivery
At Currys
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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.
1920 x 1080 is the highest resolution available on a television. Often shortened to 1080p, it refers to the number of pixels a screen can display and the level of detail it can show.
There's nothing better than enjoying a film on your home cinema system. And if you're a fan of the movies then you'll want to make sure you buy a TV with 24p True Cinema. (Sometimes called 24p Real Cinema). The P42ST30B comes with 24p True Cinema. What this basically means is that the TV works in sync with your movie player and shows each frame of the film at a the exact rate it was filmed at. You may not have noticed in the past but older TVs weren't capable of this and had to subtly adjust the speed of the movie to match the TV. 24p shows films exactly at the same rate you'd get in a movie theatre.
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-P42ST30B, 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.
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-P42ST30B 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.
If you're into gaming then you'll appreciate the special game mode offered by the P42ST30B. Game mode alters the way the TV processes the picture from your games console and means faster response time, and better quality images. This is especially noticeable on an HD gaming console. Game mode optimizes image and sound quality making for the perfect gaming experience. It enhances dark areas and sharpens the picture as well as speeding up image processing.
NeoPDP technology is something you'll only find on large-screen Panasonic TVs like the Panasonic TX-P42ST30B. 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.
Skype compatible TVs allow you to use the successful Skype video chat system through your TV. Skype is a fantastic way to keep in touch with loved ones when they are in different parts of the country, or anywhere in the world. You can chat with your friends and family from the comfort of your living room without a headset or computer.
To get Skype TV you'll need four things:
You can find out more about Skype for TV at the official website: http://shop.skype.com/skype-for-tv/ which has info on compatible cameras and TVs. There's also a good video on the subject below.
V-Audio Surround is an audio technology used in Panasonic TVs, such as the Panasonic TX-P42ST30B, that creates the same effect you'd get from a surround sound speaker system from the TVs built in speakers. It aims to replicate the same sound you'd get from a multi-channel surround sound theatre system and deliver a rich sound, with deep bass and clear detail, from only two speakers.
Most modern TVs have some form of virtual or '3D' surround, with each manufacturer having their own name for the technology. Virtual surround is ideal for games, movies or listening to music. You can customize, or disable it in the TV's settings if you decide it's not for you.
There's a lot more info on the V-Audio page at Panasonic and some details on both V-Audio Surround and V-Audio Pro Surround at the Veira Exerience website.
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:
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 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-P42ST30B's home screen once installed. Here's a video showing the Viera Connect App Store in action.
Viera Link from Panasonic lets you control all your Home Theatre devices with one remote. It's something that's found on many Panasonic products from 2007 onwards. By pressing the Viera Link button on youre remote, you can access to your DVD recorder, Home Cinema, TV and even your iPod using simple on-screen menus. The information is passed along via HDMI cables. There's a good demo of Viera Link in action here:
And there's a lengthy page about how it all works on the Panasonic website here.
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