For those who want big-screen 1080p, Panasonic obliges.

At Panasonic's press conference, the company highlighted the newest member of its 1080p projector line and announced three large-screen additions to its high-end 2008 plasma lineup.

The new PT-AE3000 LCD projector has a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution and generously sports three HDMI 1.3 inputs and two component video inputs. Panasonic has added some interesting features, including the ability to output 96Hz or 120Hz, with frame interpolation to reduce judder and render smoother movement.

A Lens Memory Load function lets users quickly recall preset zoom/focus positions, while a Pure Contrast Plate blocks unwanted light from the projection path and purportedly improves contrast ratio and light output, to a listed 60,000:1 and 1,600 lumens, respectively. The PT-AE3000 will be available in October.

In the plasma realm, the company rounded out its two highest-end 2008 lines by adding models with larger screen sizes. The PZ800 Series of THX-certified HDTVs will now include a 58-inch model, the TH-58PZ800 (The 50-inch version, the TH-50PZ800 is reviewed here). The Web-enabled PZ850 Series will add 58- and 65-inchers, the TH-58PZ850 and TH-65PZ850.

The PZ850 Series is Panasonic's first to employ the VieraCast Web feature, which allows users to stream content from sites like YouTube, Picasa Web Albums, Bloomberg News, and the Weather Channel directly to the TV. Both new models will ship in September.

PRICES:
PT-AE3000, $3,499
TH-58PZ800, price TBD
TH-58PZ850, $3,999.95
TH-65PZ850, $6,999.95

CONTACT:
(800) 211-PANA, panasonic.com