Service Care Blog

It features a wireless tuner, internet-capable (to a Panasonic server with select websites). But it's really all about the super-thinness of the TV, right?

Labels: Panasonic, TV

There will undoubtedly be some people who lose television when the broadcasters all switch over to digital. But will you really be affected?

If you have cable or satellite, the cable or satellite companies are responsible for making sure you can connect. You are fine. There is no need to upgrade your television if you have cable or satellite, unless of course you'd like to dramatically improve your television picture. But if you're happy, you don't need to upgrade.

But if you are depending upon antenna, over-the-air signals (you know, rabbit ears, etc) to watch TV, you're in for a surprise if your television is older than a certain year.

If you will leave us a comment with your Brand (Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, etc) and your full model number, we at Service Care would be happy to check and see if your television is ready for the digital switchover (it's really just an issue of whether you have an analog tuner only or digital). Just leave a comment below, and we'll look it up and post it here.

Hope we can help out.

Labels: digital, Panasonic, Samsung, Service Care, Sony, televisions

Among the brands covered by the reader survey were Sony, LG, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Magnavox, Philips, RCA, Toshiba, Hitachi, JVC, Mitsubishi and others.

This isn't a scientific study of the actual reliability of these televisions, but a survey of owner impressions of their own experiences with these television brands.

Still, it's worth reading to get a sense of what other buyers think about the brands you might be considering for purchase.

PC World article on reliability of various television brands

Service Care was not involved in this survey, and we make no claims about which brands are more or less reliable than any others. We've included this article because our customers might find it of interest.

Labels: Hitachi, JVC, LG, Magnavox, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Philips, RCA, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, televisions, Toshiba

"A high-tech tradition is about to come grinding to a halt: There won't be a new record set for "largest TV on earth" at this January's Consumer Electronics Show. Panasonic's 150-inch plasma television, unveiled last year at the show, is almost certain to retain its title as the largest TV on earth. "

Oh... my... goodness...

I'm having trouble picturing this in my head. As a servicer, I've stood fully inside the cabinet of an extremely large television. This was maybe 10 years ago, and it was a ridiculous monster of a wooden cabinet.

But 150 inches? Any bigger, and I can't imagine the impracticality of delivering this to a customer. Are they going to build it inside the home? Construct the home around it?

This is NOT the future of television, frankly.

The TV of the future will be rolled up in a tube, delivered to the home, rolled out onto the wall and plugged in. See OLED if you want to see what's coming.

Read more about the 150 incher here: http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/111486

Labels: OLED, Panasonic, Plasma, televisions

Apparently, this Toshiba REGZA television, an LCD TV, exceeded energy efficiency requirements (as did all involved in the manufacturing process).

It also helped that Toshiba, Panasonic, and Sharp have joined forces to recycle old electronics.

You can read more about the testing process here:

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Toshibas-REGZA-R-TV-Wins/story.aspx?guid={35E776C4-D530-4487-BAAF-416A26D35B5F}

Labels: electronics, green, LCD, Panasonic, REGZA, Sharp, televisions, Toshiba

I found this on Toshiba's website (and Panasonic & Sharp's)... finally read it. Who knows, you might find this of interest if you have old electronics products (televisions mostly, I presume) that you want to get rid of.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 30, 2008

MRM LAUNCHES NATIONAL RECYCLING INITIATIVE

Link: http://www.mrmrecycling.com/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Editorial Contacts:

David Thompson
MRM
201-348-3486
david@MRMrecycling.com

Maria Repole
Toshiba
973-628-8000 x4250
maria_repole@tacp.com

Christopher Loncto
Sharp
201-529-8680
lonctoc@sharpsec.com

Jim Reilly
Panasonic
201-392-6067
reillyj@us.panasonic.com

Minneapolis, MN (October 30, 2008) — Today, MRM, a leading provider of e-waste recycling management services to manufacturers, will begin creating a national recycling infrastructure that manufacturers can utilize to provide convenient recycling opportunities for their customers. Panasonic Corporation of North America, Sharp Electronics Corporation and Toshiba America Consumer Products, LLC, will be the first companies to utilize this expanded recycling service to operate their individual manufacturer recycling programs. MRM´s goal is to address America´s e-waste recycling needs most efficiently by bringing the electronic product manufacturing community together into a unified voluntary effort.

This new initiative will enable MRM to expand its operations beyond its current compliance management activities in Minnesota and Texas. Now entering its second year of operations, MRM has successfully implemented and currently manages recycling services in these two states for some 25 individual electronics manufacturers.

The first phase of the MRM nationwide ramp-up will kick off in November with management of electronics recycling for manufacturers in several additional states, including California, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. MRM will continue its expansion until its services cover all 50 states. Additional details on MRM´s plans will be available in January 2009.

"MRM is focused on enhancing the sustainability of individual company brands and product offerings through convenient, environmentally sound and efficient recycling," said MRM President David Thompson. "This type of collaborative effort is essential to providing consumers with convenient recycling opportunities and to achieving practical, long-term solutions."

"The power of MRM´s platform is its capacity to help the electronics industry move beyond individual company programs that focus on only a single company brand, often at separate, widely dispersed and costly collection locations, to make use of a common efficient system," said Tricia Conroy, MRM´s Executive Director. "Our consolidation and management services make electronics recycling more convenient and accessible for both consumers and manufacturers."

(Continued on Toshiba's news website)

Labels: electronics, green, Panasonic, Sharp, televisions, Toshiba

Found something of interest to Panasonic Plasma owners:

Dear Valued Panasonic Customer:

At Panasonic, we are constantly working to improve your satisfaction with our products. As such, we would like to inform you that a firmware upgrade has been made available for the following Panasonic Plasma Television models: TH-42PZ77U, TH-42PZ700U and TH-42PZ700UA.

If you own one of these models, you can perform the plasma firmware upgrade yourself. Click on the Self Service tab above to verify if an upgrade is required for your Panasonic Plasma Television set and download it yourself. If you'd rather receive the firmware by mail, click on Order Firmware.

The main purpose for performing this upgrade is to improve the reliability of your television. You can continue to use your television as you normally would after the upgrade is completed. Panasonic takes great pride in excellent quality, and customer satisfaction is our number one goal.

Your patronage as a satisfied Panasonic customer is valued and highly appreciated.

Thank you.

(From Panasonic website: Original link http://www.panasonic.com/announce/updatemytv/ (may not be working))

****************************************************************************
UPDATE! These links went bad within a few days of this blog, so here's a new link to the
firmware download... without instructions (unless they're contained in the download itself).

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vSupportDownloadDetail?idval=UCM_PRD_CNT_007552&ModelNumber=TH-50PZ77U&productTitle=PZ77+-+PZ700+Series+Plasma+TV+Tuner+Firmware+Update&contentType=Software+Download&storeId=15001

Not sure why the link died... it's still on their own consumer support page as a very recent announcement (maybe it will start working later).

Labels: electronics, Panasonic, Plasma, televisions