Panasonic brings at the end of August, just before the start of the IFA trade show in Berlin, a firmware-update for 2010 tv models with internet access. This is the Viera Cast iptv platform upgraded to the current Viera Connect.
The announcement of the upgrade to Viera Connect could actually be on the 31st of August will take place the press conference of Panasonic at the IFA 2011 trade show. Panasonic Germany has, however, on his Facebook page already announced the firmware update. Peter Terwindt, product manager for televisions at Panasonic Benelux, confirms the opposite Tweakers.net the Viera Connect firmware upgrade.
With the update, owners of 2010-tv-models like the Viera VT20 and G20 plasma tv ” s access to the apps in the Viera Connect Market, compared to the previous Viera Cast platform, the most important addition to Viera Connect. Think of applications such as Facebook, UStream, Break.com, Shoutcast, and a variety of free games.
With the release of the new firmware is the installed base of the Viera Connect platform directly is a lot bigger and therefore its attractiveness for third-party developers. Although the main international apps now through Viera Connect are available, are translated apps are still thin on the ground. To think of, for example, apps Hyves, 9292ov or TomTom.
Panasonic announced at the CES early this year to the new Viera Connect to make it accessible to external developers and has released a sdk released and a Viera Connect-ontwikkelsite opened.
According to Panasonic to get the firmware update made no changes in the supported media formats. The streaming of mkv and divx hd files over dlna therefore remains reserved to the 2011 models. According to the posting on the German Facebook page of Panasonic it has to do with the lack of the necessary hardware for the extended media support in the 2010 models.
Competitors such as Samsung and LG have this year also new iptv platforms have been introduced. It is not known whether these two manufacturers also have a firmware update in the pipeline. Last year, the focus is still on 3d lag, is the attention of tv manufacturers now on other features, such as the iptv platform.
