Panasonic announced the debut of its first 2.1 channel Blu-ray DiscTM home theater system. The new SC-BTX70 is designed with a chic, upright silhouette, making it an ideal match for a flat panel TV. Panasonic’s SC-BTX70 unleashes the beauty of Blu-ray Disc, while also providing a wide variety of other digital media options for family and friends to enjoy.

Sporting a sleek and compact form factor, the SC-BTX70 is a 2.1 system delivers realistic virtual 7.1 channel sound dispersed through a wide listening area. Panasonic’s advanced proprietary surround technology delivers Dolby® TrueHD and DTS™-HD virtual 7.1-channel surround sound. The two front speakers, boasting a new top mounted speaker design which expands the listening area, are constructed with rigid, low-density bamboo cones to achieve pure sound and crisp dialogue. A Kelton-type subwoofer delivers robust, reverberating bass.

Sony introduced the BDP-N460 networked Blu-ray Disc™ player. Beside playing Blu-ray Discs and DVDs, the N460 instantly streams one of the largest collections of premium and free on-demand entertainment from the BRAVIA™ Internet Video platform including thousands of movies, TV programs, and music from YouTube, Slacker, and, later this fall, Netflix.

“Whether its Full HD 1080p or streaming video and audio from the Internet, entertainment comes in so many flavors that consumers want choice,” said Chris Fawcett, vice president of Sony Electronics’ home audio and video business. “Leading the entertainment experience, Sony brings the best of both worlds together in one player that offers more content than other stand-alone devices on the market.”

Sony introduced a new line of ultra-thin BRAVIA™ LCD HDTVs featuring an advanced edge-lit LED backlight and exceptional contrast ratio of over 1,000,000:1.

The XBR10-series models also deliver full 1080p wireless transmission of high definition signals from a separate media box to a receiver embedded in the TV, allowing source components to be placed out of sight.

“BRAVIA is on the cutting edge of television technology and the XBR10 series pushes the limits of industry-leading, innovative features,” said Jeff Goldstein, vice president of the television business for Sony Electronics. “Not only will this TV look striking when hanging on a wall, the wireless feature clears the clutter of components and messy tangles of unsightly wires, allowing you to hide components away across the room.”

At CEDIA EXPO 2009, Microsoft Corp. discussed key Windows Media Center features for Windows 7 and announced a series of initiatives that enhance the digital cable experience in Windows Media Center.

With the addition of native support for additional international broadcast TV standards, including QAM and ATSC, there will now be support for switched digital video (SDV), a new tool that will make it possible for end customers to add a digital cable tuner with CableCARD to their PC, and for existing digital cable tuner with CableCARD customers to enjoy more portability for digital cable TV that is marked as “copy freely” (CF). In addition, Microsoft and the Media Center Integrator Alliance (MCIA) announced the winner of the 2009 Windows Media Center Ultimate Install Contest, showcasing the many ways Windows Media Center can be used in a whole-home solution.

“We’re continuing to work on creating opportunities for partners that will enable great entertainment experiences on the PC,” said Craig Eisler, corporate vice president of entertainment client software for the TV, Video & Music Business at Microsoft. “Consumers understand that having access to content via the PC is critical when it comes to entertainment experiences, and with these announcements, we’re underscoring our broader commitment to deliver a rich experience with Windows Media Center.”

Bolstering its ability to provide a rich user experiences to consumers, Microsoft Corp. announced plans to release Internet Information Services (IIS) Media Services 3.0, which enables delivery of interactive, high-definition-quality Live Smooth Streaming, along with new tools to simplify the process of delivering online experiences with Microsoft Silverlight.

At the International Broadcasting Conference (IBC), Sept.11–15 in Amsterdam, Microsoft also will preview the latest media feature developments in Microsoft Silverlight 4, including native multicast support and support for offline digital rights management (DRM) powered by Microsoft PlayReady technology. In addition, the company announced the release of its IIS Smooth Streaming Transport Protocol and Protected Interoperable File Format (PIFF) specification under the Microsoft Community Promise, helping to ensure openness and industry interoperability.

Toshiba America Consumer Products L.L.C. underscores its commitment to high-definition entertainment with the introduction of its first Blu-ray Disc player. The BDX2000 provides Full HD 1080p digital output that when coupled with a REGZA® LCD TV, enables consumers to enjoy the superior quality of high-definition audio & video content.

Supporting BD-Live™ (Profile 2.0), the BDX2000 allows users to take advantage of interactive features through an Ethernet connection. With interactive content enabled on select Blu-ray discs and Bonus View™ support for picture-in-picture capability, Toshibas Blu-ray player offers state-of-the-art home entertainment.

LG Electronics (LG), a major player in the global flat panel display and audio-video devices market, announced the launch of its SL9000, a Full HD LED TV that is almost as thin as the single sheet of smoked glass it resembles. The TV, which LG unveiled at the 2009 Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (IFA), delivers picture quality as flawless as its smooth surface with the use of advanced LED backlight and other display technologies developed by LG.

LG’s latest HDTV, the SL9000, uses film lamination to eliminate the gap between the screen and the bezel. A special sheet of laminate film completes the SL9000’s perfectly flat surface, eliminating the line between the screen and the bezel while also significantly reducing glare. The result is a uniform, seamless surface from edge-to-edge, with no visible frame. The screen and bezel are the same deep shade of black and LG even carried this theme down to the glasslike stand. With a depth of just 2.9cm, the SL9000 is a beautiful window into a new world of home entertainment.

“This BORDERLESS™ TV is captivating whether on or off and is an artistic centerpiece for any living room, drawing viewers in with its high-quality LED-backlit picture,” said Simon Kang, President and CEO of LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company. “SL9000 and other BORDERLESS™ TVs demonstrate exactly how LG is leading in innovative design and working tirelessly to establish our brand as the pinnacle of advanced technology in entertainment.”

LG Electronics (LG), a major player in the global flat panel display and audio-video devices market, announced the launch of its new SL8000 BORDERLESS™ TV at the 2009 Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (IFA), the world’s leading trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances. The new SL8000 boasts a single-layer screen that represents the future of television design and offers consumers a more sophisticated choice in televisions.

“The SL8000 is unlike any LCD TV you’ve ever seen before. It’s a true work of art,” said Simon Kang, CEO and President of LG Home Entertainment Company. “With its BORDERLESS™ design, the TV appears to be a window into a new world of Full HD entertainment. This TV perfectly combines artistic design with the ultimate in picture quality and easy-to-use features, making it unlike anything else in the market.”

LG’s latest LCD TV is truly BORDERLESS™, with the screen and bezel blending seamlessly together. Unlike conventional LCD TVs, where the panel is recessed slightly within a thick plastic frame, LG’s new SL8000 has a single-layer design that sets the panel flush with the narrow bezel surrounding it.