Panasonic reveals first tru2way HDTVs in Chicago and Denver

by Darren Murph, posted Oct 15th 2008 at 4:58PM

We already saw Panasonic's 50-inch TH-50PZ80Q plasma doing the tru2way thing at CEDIA 2008, but the official lever has just been pulled in Denver and Chicago. As of today, Comcast's tru2way platform is active in the aforesaid cities, and the very first tru2way-capable HDTVs are arriving to retail. Eager consumers in the Windy or Mile High City who are ready to ditch the set-top-box altogether without sacrificing VOD and such can polish off their wounded credit cards, as both a 42-inch (TH-42PZ80Q; $1,599.95) and 50-inch (TH-50PZ80Q; $2,299.95) VIERA plasma will be on sale by "late October." As for the rest of the US anxious to dip in the cool, cool waters of tru2way? A few undisclosed locales should be going live with the service "in the coming months," though your guess is as good as ours as to what exactly that means.

Filed under: Industry, Displays, Tuners, Panasonic, Plasma

Tags: breaking news, BreakingNews, cablecard, chicago, comcast, denver, EPG, glenview, illinois, panasonic, plasma, th-42pz80q, th-50pz80q, tru2way, VIERA

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

TJ @ Oct 15th 2008 5:08PM

Hmm....I'm in Denver, and about to buy a new TV (looking at a Samsung LN46A650), but I don't see a big benefit in getting tru2way on a larger set, when I've got a nice entertainment center to put a cable box into. Now, when they get this into a 22inch or so HDTV, that would be perfect for the bedroom, where one fewer boxes would be greatly appreciated.

Neutral

Grant @ Oct 16th 2008 6:00AM

That is what I always thought too. This feature would be great in a 26" and under sized TV for places like the kitchen where having a box isn't exactly convenient.

Neutral

rendezvous65 @ Oct 21st 2008 10:06PM

Well maybe in a few years it will get cheaper. By then, DCAS will be used instead of CableCard's. DCAS can simply download the security off the network. Cablecards are about 100 USD wholesale so yeah. Cablecards can easily be hidden. I think this will be great in Kitchen TV's and even bedroom TV's that don't need a DVR.

Neutral

Pip @ Oct 15th 2008 5:49PM

Since Comcast is working with Tivo directly with their DVRs, does this mean Tivo in general will be supporting True2Way shortly for other providers who might start using this?

Neutral

rendezvous65 @ Oct 15th 2008 11:58PM

Yes a Tru2way tivo will exist. Infact, Tivo is a partner of tru2way. The Series 4 will likely have tru2way integration. It would have the tivo guide you all know and love and then it would have the cable company guide. The cable company guide would be used for VOD and 2 way interactive features. The Cable mode will not allow recording. The Tivo mode will allow recording and will also support SDV right out of the box. tru2way will still require a cablecard though DCAS is the future.

Neutral

mikeb12345 @ Oct 16th 2008 8:35AM

Sorry if this gets double-posted, but my reply didn't show up after about 15 miinutes.

Is there any "official" word from Tivo as to whether tru2way will be a new hardware platform, or a software update of Series 3/TivoHD + tuning adapter?

Neutral

rendezvous65 @ Oct 16th 2008 4:50PM

Mikeb12345,

Tivo wrote a letter to the FCC explaining their tru2way hardware. I already said what it does and will say it again. The Series 4 tivo will likely have tru2way. It won't be an updated series 3 since it would need special hardware. It would have 2 modes. A Tivo mode and a Cable Mode. Tivo mode would be able to record your shows with the same tivo interface we all know and love. Tivo mode will be able to record SDV. So yes it will have the proper SDV hardware built in. Thats the only 2 way communication service that tivo mode supports. Then you have Cable/tru2way mode that will have your cableco's guide for their 2 way interactive services like VOD, and PPV. Also other features include Games, pay your own bill, remote setup, or anything else that needs it. Tivo hasn't confirmed that it will be the series 4 but it would likely be the series 4.

Neutral

rendezvous65 @ Oct 22nd 2008 4:19AM

Intel's new Larabee chipset may be the first to have tru2way certification. It may however only be limited to OEM's. If Intel, ATI/AMD get their way you could have the ability to build your own tru2way PC. tru2way will eventually make it into HTPC's. Files will have DRM. The HTPC version could use Windows Media with SDV support and then a cableco guide for any tru2way features like VOD, PPV, pay your bill, stupid little games, and who knows what the cable company has plans for.

Neutral

rendezvous65 @ Nov 7th 2008 5:47PM

There is a guy who has one on AVSforum and it does have that guide. It does have some interesting things going to it. The remote could be better though. Has all the digital cable features. Next year Panasonic will make even more tru2way models with their new 12G Plasma Panels.

Neutral

tanner @ Nov 8th 2008 6:29PM

So how would you setup one of the tru2way TVs with an existing DVR (e.g. comcast, tivo 3 series, HTPC)? I'm assuming the TV has to talk straight to the cable company for tru2way, b/c the current DVRs don't support it. Would you have to output from your TV into one of the DVRs? Would you have to split the signal into the DVR and TV? Tru2ways give you the ability to ditch the cable company box which is nice.... but having a DVR is a much higher priority.

Thanks!

Neutral

rendezvous65 @ Nov 9th 2008 11:21PM

Just use the component/HDMI cable. You have to enable the tru2way mode to have that feature. Just plug in your DVR via Component/HDMI. There is nothing from stopping you from doing that it's the only way to do it unless they make a dual tuner model. One plan was to have a dual tuner set that used an eSATA drive as the DVR. That would reduce a point of failure since Hard drives do fail.

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