By David Ponce

The little fellow you see on the picture here is called Evoia and is powered by two Panasonic EVOLTA AA alkaline batteries. We like to think of him as a modern version of the Energizer bunny. And his claim to fame is that he entered the Guinness Book of World Records as “the longest distance covered by a battery-operated remote-controlled model car.” That’s right, the little guy kept pedaling non-stop, following an infrared beam from a lead car for 5.6 laps – 23.726 km or 14.82 miles – around the 4.2 km Le Mans race circuit for 24 hours.

We’re not sure whether the toy ran out of juice at the end of the 24 hours, or if the stunt was simply stopped due to the lead car’s driver going insane from driving around at 0.6mph for 24 hours. Either way, hit the jump for an entertaining video of a bunch of photographers getting all paparazzi-ish around a two inch tall cycling toy.

PRESS RELEASE
Osaka, Japan – Panasonic Corporation today announced that its EVOLTA batteries powered a tricycle robot to achieve a Guinness World RecordTM on August 6 at the Le Mans Circuit in France. This is the second Guinness World RecordTM for the EVOLTA battery which was already recognized as “the longest lasting AA alkaline battery”* in January 2008.
The new honor is based on the robot’s challenge for the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race.

The robot on a tricycle with a pair of AA size EVOLTA dry cell batteries on its back kept pedaling non-stop, following an infrared beam from a lead car, for about 5.6 laps – 23.726 km or 14.82 miles – around the 4.2 km Le Mans race circuit for 24 hours. Guinness World Records recognized the feat as “the longest distance covered by a battery-operated remote-controlled model car.” The robot, measuring 30 (L) x 20 (W) x 20 (H) cm including the tricycle, was designed by a renowned robot creator, Mr. Tomotaka Takahashi.

The Le Mans challenge was the second endurance test for the EVOLTA battery, whose name derived from “evolution” and “voltage.” The first test confirmed its durability when the humanoid robot, also powered by two AA EVOLTA batteries, successfully scaled a Grand Canyon cliff by climbing up a 530.4 m rope suspended from the cliff in about 6 hours and 46
minutes.

Widely recognized for its durability and long shelf-life of up to 10 years, 180 million EVOLTA batteries were sold worldwide in 2008 since its debut in the Japanese market in April 2008. Panasonic expects its global sales will increase to 300 million pieces in 2009. The EVOLTA batteries are suitable for any application from low-current applications such as TV remotes to high-drain applications like digital cameras. Coming in four different types, AA, AAA, C and D, they can be used for a wide variety of equipment.

VIA [ Akihabara News ]

By David Ponce

This has been out since February, actually, but I can’t find any mention of it anywhere for some reason. It seems Panasonic has released for the European market three different models of washing machines that feature a special 3D sensor. Why?

As the advanced 3D sensor detects how the drum moves according to load, a variable speed control system uses that information to fine-tune motor operation. This eliminates unbalanced loads and creates an ideal three-dimensional washing effect. The result here is less stretching, less tangling and fewer wrinkles — and an altogether gentler effect on the clothes in the wash.

There’s also some talk of energy-saving, water saving and other environmentally friendly buzzwords.

It should currently be available in Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland and the United Kingdom, followed by other parts of Europe over the course of the year.

Full press release after the jump.

Panasonic Corporation has announced that it will launch its first washing machines into the European market with the introduction of three new models: a premium model (NA-16VX1), a deluxe model (NA-16VG1) and a standard model (NA-14VA1).

The new washing machines features 3D Sensor Wash, a drum rotation speed control system with 3D acceleration sensors to ensure high performance clothes washing, and Inverter technology which assists in lowering sensory noise and vibration. Panasonic will introduce the three models from March 2009 in seven European countries including Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom followed by other European countries thereafter.
The prestigious EU A-20% energy efficiency standard uses 20% less energy than an ordinary A-category washer.

The three new models from Panasonic will offer a wide range of state-of-the-art options delivering a reliable and affordable performance. To meet the rising needs in environmental preservation and energy conservation, Panasonic has incorporated energy-saving technologies in its three models, which have received favorable results in other countries such as Japan. For example, Panasonic’s premium washing machine, the NA-16VX1, operates to the prestigious EU A-20% energy efficiency standard and so uses 20% less energy than an ordinary A-category washer. Also, combined with the highly innovative inverter, tilted drum and 3D sensor technologies, the three models are able to realize a high washing performance resulting in a shorter wash and using less water in the process. All these technologies are unique Panasonic ideas developed by in-house engineers.

All three models use 3D Sensor Wash technology to modify motor rotation and output for best possible washing performance. By tilting the drum at 10°, Panasonic has lowered the water level in the drum. This makes for enhanced control of drum movement and washing action. Even though the models use less water, the clothes are still rinsed well and freed of detergent residue.

As the advanced 3D sensor in the NA-16VX1 detects how the drum moves according to load, a variable speed control system uses that information to fine-tune motor operation. This eliminates unbalanced loads and creates an ideal three-dimensional washing effect. The result here is less stretching, less tangling and fewer wrinkles — and an altogether gentler effect on the clothes in the wash.

One factor contributing to a superior washing performance is an adequate soak procedure before the first cycle. The wide-angle shower at the top of the Panasonic machine, helps soak the laundry more thoroughly, bringing the detergent into the fabric quicker, again for better results. The Panasonic auto load sensor detects how large the load of laundry is, reducing water and energy consumption where necessary. A special foam sensor will register that there is too much foam and direct water to ensure the best washing result.

Panasonic designed the three models with ease of use and convenience in mind. With the large double-layer window acting as a heat protection surface and the door operating on the one-push-open principle, the tilt-angle design makes for easy loading and/or unloading. There is a time-saving 15-minute Rapid Program for small loads of lightly soiled items and a 60-minute Quick Program for larger ones. The three models also include an auto power off feature as an energy saving measure.

“Water is the earth’s most precious resource. A new Panasonic washing machine consumes about 44 liters of water per wash compared to the 100 liters used by a conventional 15-year-old machine. Add those savings together – i.e. 56 liters every wash – and you save anything up to 10,000 liters of water a year,” says Maik Stahlbock, Manager Major Domestic Appliances at Panasonic Europe.

Panasonic washing machines will be available in Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland and the United Kingdom from March 2009, followed by other parts of Europe over the course of the year.

VIA [ Xataka ]

By Shane McGlaun

The first camcorder that I ever saw was one that my uncle had. The thing was huge and looked like something the newscasters used. It wasn’t only the huge camera though; the thing had a huge VCR that had to go along with it. It weighed about 30 pounds altogether.

Panasonic has announced a couple new camcorders today that are being called the world’s lightest camcorders at 0.5 pounds. The camcorders are the HDC-TM10 and the HDC-SD10. The only real difference between the two is that the SD10 stores video to SD and SDHC cards only. The TM10 has 8GB of internal storage and then changes to SD/SDHC cards.

The cameras feature 16x optical zoom and use advanced optical image stabilization to minimize shake at high zoom levels. The image stabilization system also works while walking. Both cameras record full 1080p resolution video and can be ready to record in 1.9 seconds. Navigating the settings is done with a touchscreen and a video light and flash are built-in. The SD10 will sell for $549.95 and the TM10 will sell for $599.95 both are launching in September.

[ Panasonic ]

This post is syndicated with permission from Gadgetoholic.com

If you get a bunch of geeks and around a table who are really in the home theater and HDTV’s, at some point of debate over the pros and cons of plasma versus LCD TVs will take place. The plasma fans say their preferred technology is brighter and offers more contrast. The LCD brigade will say their preferred technology last longer.

The life span argument may finally be settled thanks to Panasonic. It announced that new plasma 1080p TVs have been added to its VIERA plasma line that can last for up to 100,000 viewing hours before the TV dims to half brightness. Panasonic’s 720p VIERA TVs are good for up to 60,000 hours.

Panasonic says that the average American watches and 6.5 hours of TV each day. Using that number Panasonic claims that its new plasma TVs could last for up to 42 years. That could mean for some people who buy a new Panasonic plasma TV it would last longer than they will.

Gadgetoholic

This post is syndicated with permission from Gadgetoholic.com

When it comes to digital cameras you can go with the simple point-and-shoot camera or you can opt to go for the more difficult to use, but infinitely more flexible DSLR camera. For most users the point-and-shoot camera is the better option and many of the newer point-and-shoot cameras are starting to add features that were previously only found on DSLRs.

Case in point is the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 digital point-and-shoot camera. The camera has a 10.1-megapixel 1/1.63-inch CCD developed specifically for the camera and can shoot RAW format images. Panasonic says that the special CCD used in the camera is 40% more sensitive and saturation is increased by 35% compared to other Panasonic 10.1-megapixel cameras. The CCD can also capture images in three aspect ratios including 4:3, 3:2, or 16:9. The camera also features a Multi Aspect mode that shoots images in all three modes at once and allows users to pick the one they prefer.

The lens of the LX3 is a F2.0 24mm LECIA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON unit with 2.5x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom. The aperture range at wide angle is F3.3 / F8.0 and for telephoto is F5.8 / F8. The camera has ISO settings of Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 and 6400 in High Sensitivity mode. Other features include the ability to shoot image bursts at 2.5 frames per second for a total of 8 images in standard resolution, 4 images in fine resolution or 3 images in RAW format.

The camera uses a 3-inch LCD with a 460,000 dot resolution. HD video can be recorded at a resolution of 1280 x 720p at 24 fps. A full array of manual settings are featured and the camera has optical image stabilization built-in. The Lumix DMC-LX3 will be available in August in silver or black for $499.95.

Via Gadgetoholic