Panasonic unveils Android tablets and console-free gaming

9 Jan 2011

LAS VEGAS – Japanese electronics giant Panasonic is to bring to market three new Android tablet computers – a 4-inch, a 7-inch and a 10-inch – that allow users to search for content and with a flick of a finger send that content to their living room TV.

At the CES today Panasonic said that TV is becoming closely aligned with the internet cloud and it plans to provide the accessories that integrate the cloud into people’s digital lifestyle via their television.

These include accessories for health and fitness including a fitness arm band that counts fintness level and calories, a body scale, a threadmill and a sleep scanning device to monitor sleep patterns and blood pressure.

Panasonic’s Rich Burchell revealed that the company is launching a new Viera Connect platform that also allows users to download and play hi-definition games minus a controller. “We’ll be using cloud computing and no controller is needed. We’ve also developed a wireless game pad that along with the health and fitness accessories can be bought directly from the Viera Connect Market via your TV.”

Burchell said the company is already working with third party developers to create new games.

Viera tablet computers

Burchell demonstrated how the new Viera tablet computers can allow users anywhere in the home to search for or manage videos on their tablet screen and with a swish of the finger send that content right onto the big HD TV screen.

The tablet computers will come in three formats and will run on the Android operating system.

“You can zoom in and out of videos on the tablet with your finger and when you’ve found the video you want just drag it with your finger from the tablet device right onto the TV,” he said.

Panasonic Viera

More from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas:

Microsoft reveals ‘connected tissue’ for future of gaming

Samsung’s BK Yoon: smart TV revolution to dominate to 2020

Sony shows off new 3D visor

Dell reveals new 7-inch Streak plus Venue smartphone

New Dolby technology converts stereo to surround sound on PCs

Alcatel-Lucent wins CES 2011 design award

First look at Google’s new Chrome OS netbook

Revealed – next-generation tablet PCs running on Atom

Sony Ericsson reveals Android 2.3 Experia arc

Skype founders’ on-demand music service hits the US

RIM BlackBerry 4G PlayBook tablet gets public preview

Motorola Mobility debuts new Android devices at CES 2011

Ballmer reveals CES vision of Windows on any device

Samsung reveals ‘Wi-Fi only’ version of Galaxy Tab

Windows 8 to run on Intel and ARM platforms, Microsoft says

Intel reveals silver bullet to save Hollywood

1m PCs are being shipped daily – Intel’s Otellini

Consumer electronics market vying for US$1trn mark in 2011

Angry Birds launched for Windows PCs on Intel apps store

Amazon reveals Kindle apps for Android and Windows tablets

PriceGrabber reveals localisation apps for iPad and iPhone

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com