Gizmodo: 103-inch

Panasonic 103-Inch HDTV Reduced to a Mere $50,000

Brian Lam — Fri, 08 May 2009 10:14:25 EDT

The $70,000 Panasonic 103-inch TH-103PF10UK Plasma has been slashed to a price we can all afford: $50,000. See? The recession is your friend. [Pana]

103-Inch Panasonic TV Morphs Into a Giant, Multitouch Table Hockey Game

Adrian Covert — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:30:00 EST

Making use of a 103-inch Panasonic Plasma and a multitouch-capable overlay from U-Touch, British software developers UI Centric put together this awesome-looking table hockey demo that puts all other 103-inch, touch-based table games to shame.

UI Centric created the game as a demo for the 2009 Integrated Systems Europe show in Amsterdam, which is for A/V and electronic systems integration, presumably for homes, blah blah blah. And I wish there was more to say on the matter, but aside from professing my love for virtual table hockey games, that's about the extent of it. (Note to Microsoft: I'd like to see a 103-inch Surface at CES next year. 150-inch is cool too, thx.) [UI Centric via YouTube]

At Giz Gallery: 103-Inch Plasma

Brian Lam — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:30:00 EST

The big piece, out of 30+ devices, in our show is supposed to be a 103-inch Plasma from Panasonic, which we weren't sure would fit in the door. We found out it DOES fit, only a few days ago, but lo, we also found out that we are in deep doo doo when it comes to powering this 1500 watt monster. To even turn it on, we'll need the help of an electrician in NYC who can run a dedicated power cable for us. Here's where I beg for your help. Update:Not one but THREE Giz readers emailed to volunteer. They are heroes, and they have my thanks. The kids getting Toys from Toys for Tots also thank them.

Our place, REED ANNEX, is cool but not built to house a gadget that sucks the juice faster than the containment vault in Ghostbusters. I said 1500 watts, which is about a hairdryer, but that's 1500 watts at 220 volts. Using 110 volts upconverted, we need to be ready for 5000 watts of power. To actually power up the TV, we need an UL certified electrician to go down to to our space and run a cable for us sometime between now and next Tuesday. Otherwise, the TV will remain dark for the entirety of the show, and we'll be forced to play imaginary Gears2 deathmatch with all the readers that stop by. If you're a Giz fan that works as a professional electrician or knows someone who can lend us their expertise, PLEASE EMAIL ME. THANK YOU.

For those of you wondering why we don't just hire someone and pay them, well the gallery is a low budget fund raiser for Toys for Tots and we're already stretching what we can spend, including my own out of pocket contributions.

[Thanks to REED ANNEX and thanks to our benefactor gizmine.com]

Gizmodo Gallery
Reed Annex
151 Orchard Street
New York, NY 10002

Gizmodo Gallery Reader Meetup
The reader meetup takes place across the street from the Gallery, at a place called The Annex (not to be confused with REED ANNEX where the gallery is hosted.) The address is 152 Orchard Street and we'll be there at 9 PM SHARP on Friday December 5th.

Gallery Dates:
December 4th-7th

Times:
12/4 Thursday
12-8

12/5 Friday
12-8

12/6 Saturday
11-8

12/7 Sunday
11-4

[Read more about our Gizmodo Gallery here and see what else we'll be playing with at the event.]

Panasonic Updates 103-inch Plasma, Drops Price by One Car

Mark Wilson — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:45:00 EDT

The good news: Panasonic announced their newest 103-inch plasma, which will have updated features such as 10000:1 contrast ratio, 4 HDMI ports, Deep Color and x.v.Color support, not to mention a $20,000 price drop. The bad news: it'll still cost you around $50,000. In addition to the aforementioned features, the most incredible use of the gigantor display might be viewing photos and AVCHD home videos through the built-in SD port. Available now only in Japan, we're pretty sure that if you have the money to buy the television, you have the money to get Japan's friendly locals to load the 750lb set onto a boat or something. [Panasonic via Impress]

Hitachi's CMP1030FWJ 103-Inch Plasma

Brian Lam — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:41:12 EDT

Hitachi has announced a 103-inch plasma. As we've heard, there's only one place to get screens this big: Panasonic, mother of the original giant. Is Panny in full swing selling them to companies like Samsung and now Hitach'? And if Panny is selling, maybe, maybe, it means that they're ready to update their own 1080p. After all, it's based on 600 series standards, and it's only the 700/750 Panny Plasma models that have reviewers like Gary Merson calling it the best picture they've ever seen. But again, this is pure speculation on my part. [Akihabara]

Uncrating a 103-inch Panasonic Plasma (Gallery)

Wilson Rothman — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:30:02 EDT

You don't unbox a 103-inch plasma, you uncrate it. Today, during our sortie to Secaucus, I got a chance to wander deep into the caverns of Panasonic HQ to the highly secure Big Service locker, see where they stash the 103-inch TVs. I got to check out one from the back—a rare treat, since when they are on tour, they are mounted with only the fronts visible. This may be the very first public look at the 103's rear end.

At $70,000 a pop, these are toys for the likes of Mark Cuban and Phil Jackson. But for one day, it was a toy for Giz staffers too. Stay tuned for more hands-on, plus the videos, next week.

103-inch Panasonic Plasma Smashed At Trade Show

Wilson Rothman — Wed, 30 May 2007 13:20:00 EDT

A forklift accident, rather than a publicity stunt by Sharp or some other big-n-flat competitor, was the cause of death for Panasonic's 103-inch plasma pride and joy. The rumor floated a few weeks ago, but the Gizmodo team in Australia was able to confirm the CeBit Sydney mishap. Not, it wasn't the first plasma to meet its maker, and yes, Panasonic was insured for the 771-pound, $63,000 TV, but let's just say our bet is that some forklift operator is scanning the classifieds right now. – Wilson Rothman

Panasonic 103-inch plasma smashed at CeBIT Sydney [Gizmodo Australia]
Thanks Séamus!

Panasonic's 103-inch Plasma Reviewed: Grandstanding Performance

Louis Ramirez — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 12:11:11 EDT

We're not sure how they got their hands on it, but the guys at Trusted Reviews were lucky enough to test out Panasonic's 103-inch plasma TV. The monster TV, which weighs in at 771 pounds with the massive stand, took about 3 hours to install (and that's with the help of professional installers). So how'd it perform? Well, according to the TR team, you haven't played Call of Duty 3 until you've played it on a 103-inch screen.

First of all, the screen (which has a 1080p resolution) kicks out deep black tones and excellent shadow details. High-def DVDs looked stunning and Xbox 360 games looked equally sharp. The only problem, aside from its $63k price, is that standard def sources looked like 103-inches of crap. That's not the TV's fault, but definitely something to keep in mind when buying mammoth TVs.

Overall, they claim the TV is worth dipping into your Swiss bank account, and I don't doubt them at all, but me, I'm sticking with my 42-incher for now. – Louis Ramirez

Panasonic TH-103PF9 103in Plasma TV [Trusted Reviews via Born Rich]

Panasonic's Eight 103-Inch Plasmas Live With Kung Fu and Flamenco Dancers: Videos and Gallery

Brian Lam — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 15:38:40 EST

Here's that amazing Panasonic booth, that we found under cover on Friday, 3 days before the show opened. It's like we said: Eight of those amazing, but now second best 103-inch plasmas, dancing on display, each with their own 1080 stream and hydraulic pivoting mounts.

What we didn't know was that they'd put an entire stage show of flamenco dancers, bboys, and kung fu masters in front of the sets. Only in Vegas.

Bonus video of the spinning displays, after the jump

–Brian Lam103-inch Plasmas [Gizmodo]

CES 2007 Big TV Watch: 120-inches?

Brian Lam — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 15:55:49 EST

Like you, I'm obsessed with big HDTVs. I'm gonna put on a safari hat and hunt em down like big cats. Before the new sets are uncaged, lets take a poll: How big will the HDTVs be this year?

Last year, the 103-inch plasma HDTV from Panasonic was named heavyweight champ, inch-for-inch of CES 2006. Chris Null from Yahoo! Tech guesses that the biggest TV in this year's CES show will breach the 120-inch mark. What do you think?

Synchronized at CES: Panasonic's Eight 103-inch Plasma HDTVs

Brian Lam — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 23:41:28 EST

While strolling through the pre-birth of the CES machine, we happened upon the most amazing thing ever: No less than eight of Panasonic's 103-inch Plasma HDTVs set on a stage, with independent, but synced 1080p content on each. And they were on pivoting mounts, that rotated to the content of an attractive couple dancing provocatively. We set out to take some better shots, from the eye, not the hip, and as we raised our cameras we were spotted and stabbed by a PR rep's dagger eyes. RUN!

If you're reading this, grey haired man, why were you angry? We came to adore. The eight TVs, by the stats:
• Roughly, a combined 49,000 square inches in screen
• Worth a combined $560,000
• My love: Priceless.–Brian Lam

CES First Blood [Gizmodo]

Panasonic Broadcast to Ship the Grandaddy of All Plasmas: 103-Inches, 1080p

Charlie White — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 17:21:55 EDT

Panasonic Broadcast announced it's now shipping its 65-inch TH-65PF9UK 1080P plasma display aimed at the professional market, and also tipped us off that it will be shipping its gigantic 103-inch plasma display, which it calls the world's largest, by the end of this month. It's also rolling out a more reasonably-priced 50-inch version in November.

The company claims a 5000-to-1 contrast ratio on each of these whopper displays, and in back they're all equipped with DVI and component inputs. To really show you these displays are aimed at professionals, there's an HD-SDI (Serial Digital Interface, used almost exclusively by pro video jockeys) input but no HDMI. The 65-incher that's now shipping runs $10,995, while the 103-inch monster will set you back a cool $70K. The 50-inch model will ship next month at a more-reasonable $5995.

It doesn't get any better than this. Huge displays like these are commonly used as set pieces in television studios and in remote production trucks. In fact, we've seen a similar display used for camera control on board the Monday Night Football production truck. Heck, if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for our home theater. Bring it on. – Charlie White

SOLD: First 103-Inch Plasma, to NBC Meatheads

Brian Lam — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 20:38:31 EDT

Geeks, we lost. It reminds me of wedgies and having lunchroom meatloaf dumped on my head, but the first two Panasonic 103-inch plasmas were just sold to NBC for use on the set of Football Night in America. No, the first thing to run on these TVs won't be Xbox. The set, with a fully HD, 1920 by 1080 resolution screen, a 5000:1 contrast ratio, will first run the live version of Madden. The TV still has the screen real estate equivalent to four 50-inch plasmas, or a queen-sized bed.

And its full abilities have just surfaced. Everything looks standard (except the size, obviously) But we like the selective backlight control that tweaks contrast on individual parts of the screen. Want? Whateva! If you're so poor that you actually have to read Gizmodo without a Butler pouring wine into your mouth, fuggetabout it. The TV will be available for $69,999.95, come November. Panasonic says keep the extra nickel. They also said F U to Mark Cuban, who begged to be the first to buy it. Looks like between the 100-inch LCD, and this baby (huey) this could be the year that TVs got too big to fit in our livingrooms.– Brian Lam

Panasonic TH-103PF9UK 103" Professional Series Plasma Spec Sheet [Panasonic via the amazing Gizmag]

Panasonic 103-inch Plasma: Named "TH-103PZ600U", Mark Cuban Wants It NOW

Brian Lam — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 21:55:45 EDT

Oh the rich, they're so funny! It's not often we get to link to a Gawker.com Source, but Page Six reports that Mark Cuban, founder of HDNet, and this little sports team called the "Mavericks", wants to be the first to own a 103-inch Panasonic Plasma. He doesn't care that he might have to knock down a bedroom wall in his mansion to fit the set. He wants it. He doesn't care that they're trying to raffle off the first (of 5000) for charity. He wants it. Cuban was last seen crying and hyperventilating himself into a major league hissy, because he may not get exactly what he want. I hear when the rich don't get what they want, they Hulk out.

Oh, the 103-incher got named, too: TH-103PZ600U. The "TH" and the "PZ" actually stand for the noises the sales people will make at people who ask how much the $51,000 set costs. If you have to ask, you're obviously not Mark Cuban, and you can't afford it.

The Post notes the 103-inch TV is the size of a queen sized mattress, weighs a quarter of a ton, and has over 40-square feet of screen. Really puts things in perspective, doesn't it? Question: What native resolution is that screen?– Brian Lam
MAVERICK WANTS TO BE FIRST TO
BUY MONSTER TV [NY Post]
Panasonic 103-inch Plasma [Panasonic]