Panasonic To Launch Worldís Smallest And Lightest Portable DVD Player With Built-In LCD Screen
Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company (PCEC) announces its latest triumph in DVD technology the new DVD-L50 PalmTheaterô portable DVD player. The miniature miracle is even more compact and versatile than last yearís celebrated DVD-L10 (hailed by many as the ""coolest gadget of 1998""), making it the worldís smallest and lightest portable DVD player with a built-in LCD screen. Like its predecessor, the DVD-L50 puts all the incredible video and audio performance of DVD right in the palm of your hand. The DVD-L50 weighs less than 2 pounds (without battery). With the battery attached, it weighs just 2.07 lbs. It measures 5.51 inches by 5.96 inches and is less than 2 inches thick. The portable player features a built-in, 5-inch LCD monitor with 280,000 pixel resolution for outstanding picture quality with a wide viewing angle. The touch of a button lets you select either the 4:3 standard TV screen dimension or the 16:9 (1.78:1) widescreen aspect ratio supported by most DVD titles. Advanced Virtual Surround Sound and a DTSÆ Digital Surround audio output are among the new features found on this yearís player. Other improvements include up to 3 hours of playback time, thanks to a new lithium ion battery pack. The DVD-L50 has its battery recharger built right into it, so recharging is easier than ever. For added convenience, a ""credit card"" sized remote control is supplied. The DVD-L50 also comes with a multi- voltage AC adapter for power supply from 110V to 240V, making it more convenient than ever to take your favorite DVD movies on the road. ""Weíve taken our PalmTheater concept to the next level,"" notes Rusty Osterstock, Assistant General Manager for Panasonicís consumer DVD division. ""DVD forever changed the way people view movies. Panasonic added the convenience of portability. With its extraordinary mobility and playing time, the DVD-L50 lets consumers enjoy the exceptional performance of digital entertainment virtually anywhere."" Although designed to travel, the ultra-compact PalmTheater DVD-L50 offers the same wide array of features found on full-size DVD decks, and can optimize the performance of the most sophisticated home theater systems. The player features S-video output, composite video outputs, and direct digital audio output for convenient connection to a TV and audio system for home enjoyment. A 10-bit video DAC (digital-to-analog converter) provides superb picture quality by minimizing digital artifacts. On-screen menu icons make navigating the playerës features and functions fast and simple. Features include multiple language selection, title/chapter search with marker function, auto-switching field/frame still, frame advance (forward and reverse), repeat mode and more. The DVD-L50 also provides the advanced audio features needed to completely appreciate the DVD experience. Its 96 kHz, 24-bit audio DAC produces optimal sound quality whether youíre playing a CD or DVD disc. The player can deliver superb sound through built-in, front-firing stereo speakers, or through external headphones via a headphone jack. And if you wish to connect the DVD-L50 to your home theater system, Panasonicís Advanced Virtual Surround Sound feature simulates a 5.1 channel surround sound effect, downmixed from either a 5.1 channel or 2.0 DolbyÆ Digital soundtrack, from the stereo speakers of any home audio system. The player also features output for both DTS Digital Surround and Dolby Digital decoding. The Panasonic DVD-L50 PalmTheater portable DVD player carries a suggested retail price of $1,099.95, and is available now. For more information, contact Panasonicís Customer Call Center at 800-211-PANA or visit the Panasonic Web site at www.panasonic.com.