PC Tech World: pricing

Showing posts with label pricing. Show all posts

Friday, April 12, 2013

Panasonic reveals pricing for (most) 2013 HDTVs, puts plasma R&D on ice

Panasonic's NYC press event had more than pricing for its media streamers and Blu-ray players, as the company also put tags on its 2013 HDTVs. While it wasn't ready to announces MSRPs for its top of the line ZT60 plasmas that impressed us greatly at CES, it did put prices and shipping windows on its other models (check after the break for a complete list). The former flagship VT60 series will be available in 55-, 60- and 65-inch versions later this month for $2,600, $3,000 and $3,600, respectively. Cheaper plasma models include the ST60 and S60 series, available in sizes up to 60-inches. Its top of the line WT60 LCD LED-lit models will also ship later this month, topped by the 55-inch version with a sticker price of $2,999.

The bad news? While Panasonic's plasma manufacturing will continue, The Verge reports VP Kiyoshi Okamoto confirmed at the event that development has ceased on its plasma models, although some engineers have been shifted to work on OLED displays. We'll see if its recovery efforts and technological developments lead to new large-size OLEDs anytime soon, but for now it appears we're seeing the last of its efforts to push plasma technology forward.

Panasonic reveals pricing for most 2013 HDTVs, and that it's put plasma R&D on ice

Source: Panasonic

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Google Fiber rollout detailed for Austin: connections by mid-2014, similar pricing (updated)

The Google Fiber rollout for Austin has been spoiled twice, but today it's officially official: the music-centric city will become a gigabit city... eventually, that is. Google now says that it will start wiring Austinite homes for super-fast internet access by mid-2014 -- we wouldn't cancel that cable or DSL service just yet, sadly. At least the pricing should be familiar. Google still plans to offer both stand-alone internet access and internet-plus-TV bundles, both at rates within the ballpark of what it offers for Kansas City, and there will still be a near-free 5Mbps plan that only requires a one-off construction fee. Institutions will get free gigabit access, of course. While we'd like Google Fiber as soon as possible, we're just happy to realize that our next SXSW crash pad may have a lot more bandwidth on tap.

Update: During a formal announcement call, Google and the city of Austin provided a few minor details. They revealed that Google didn't get any incentives to land a deal, and that engineering work is only beginning in earnest on April 10th. As for AT&T's me-too initiative? Kevin Lo from Google Fiber says that it's "great" to see AT&T aware that the demand exists for gigabit access. No hard feelings, then.

Source: Google Fiber

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Panasonic reveals pricing for 2013 home theater systems, March availability

Spring is right around the corner, which means it's time for a new home theater system, or at least that's what Panasonic would have you believe. The electronics giant just unveiled pricing of four of its 2013 home theater systems, some of which were announced at CES 2013. They are the SC-HTB770, the SC-HTB370, the SC-HTB70 and the SC-HTB65, and are priced at $399.99, $299.99, $199.99 and $179.99 respectively. Both the SC-HTB70 and SC-HTB65 are standalone bar models while the decidedly more complicated SC-HTB770 and SC-HTB370 systems come complete with luxe stainless mesh speakers.

All are equipped with wireless or built-in subwoofers and Bluetooth, are compatible with televisions 42 to 65 inches wide and can be wall-mounted or used with TV stands. Strangely, while we were able to find listings for the first three systems on Panasonic's US online store, we could only find the SC-HTB65 over on the UK side. They're all available for pre-order now with a promise of shipping in March, which happens to be, well, this month. Feel free to take a peek at the source links for more details or check out the press release below.

Show full PR text

PANASONIC ANNOUNCES PRICING AND AVAILABILITY OF 2013 HOME THEATER LINEUP WITH NEW, ADVANCED DESIGNS AND MULTI-POSITIONAL SPEAKER LAYOUTS

Secaucus, NJ (March 13, 2013) – Panasonic, today announced pricing and availability for the new 2013 lineup of Home Theater Systems. The new SC-HTB770, SC-HTB370, SC-HTB70 and SC-HTB65 Home Theater System models have been crafted with the consumer's needs in mind. Compatible with various TV sizes, the new lineup offers superior sound quality with stylish and flexible layouts.

The 2013 Panasonic Home Theater Systems will be available in March 2013 with pricing as follows: SC-HTB770 SRP $399.99, SC-HTB370 SRP $299.99, SC-HTB70 SRP $199.99, SC-HTB65 SRP $179.99.

The new 2013 SC-HTB series of Home Theater Systems offer options for the entire home. The latest lineup can be paired with screens ranging from 42-65 inches, allowing consumers to choose the ideal system based on the size of their televisions. Equipped with wireless or built-in* subwoofers and Bluetooth® capabilities, all four models promote an easy, customizable setup and eliminate messy wires in the living space.

The SC-HTB70 and SC-HTB65 models offer a unique, sleek solid bar design for free and flexible layouts. The SC-HTB65 provides users with two-way placement- by rotating the bar 90 degrees, users can opt for a wall-mount setup or a TV-sized stand. Similarly, the SC-HTB70 allows for four-way, multi-angle positional placement enabling a user to set the speaker to the most suitable angle regardless if it is placed on a top or middle shelf. A built-in sensor automatically detects the bar direction and switches the directional characteristics to suit the layout. With an Anti-Vibration Integrated Subwoofer inside the speaker unit, the SC-HTB70 provides high-quality, clear sound playback in each of its four layouts.

Both the SC-HTB770, which will be available in both black and silver, and SC-HTB370 models sport a luxurious, stainless mesh design that compliments the decor of any room in the home. With a versatile and stylish design, users can choose a modern horizontal layout for a wall-mount setup or TV-sized stand, or detach to create two separate freestanding vertical speakers for a classic tabletop style. In addition, while providing flexibility in layout, the SC-HTB770 features a 3.1-channel speaker for vivid sound localization and crisp and clear sound sensation.

Source: Panasonic Shop (1), (2), (3), Panasonic Shop UK

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Adobe CEO clumsily dodges pricing questions in YouTube 'farce' (video)

If Adobe has any love whatsoever for its non-US customers, it's not great at showing it. The video after the break reveals CEO Shantanu Narayen evading the genuine questions of a Delimiter journalist at a press conference in Sydney. The reporter wanted to know why Adobe's Creative Suite is priced $1,400 higher in Australia than in America, reflecting a geographic disparity that has long vexed Australian customers and lawmakers alike. But instead of answering, Narayen reverted to type and sought to shrug the journalist off with some marketing spiel about an entirely different product -- Creative Cloud -- ultimately leading Delimiter to condemn the whole episode as a "farce."

If we understand Narayen right, he seems to be implying that Australian customers are being charged a high price for traditional boxed software in order to nudge them towards Adobe's subscription-based cloud service instead. Given that the Creative Cloud was itself hugely overpriced in Australia until a sudden and awkward u-turn just a couple of days ago, that sort of argument is hardly likely to win back much affection. However, this older Narayen clip actually might.

Via: The Verge

Source: Delimiter

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Murtazin: next Vertu blingphone will run Android, stoop to Rolex-style pricing

Murtazin next Vertu blingphone will run Android, stoop to a Rolexstyle price

Our favorite Russian blogger, who's admittedly often wrong on a few little things, says he has the low-down on a new Vertu smartphone coming in February. It'd be the first release since Nokia sold the luxury brand to a private equity firm last year, and Eldar Murtazin claims the rumored switch from Symbian to Android is definitely a go-er. He also reckons the handset will cost around $4,000, which is loose change compared to some previous Vertus -- like the $27k model shown above. There are no further details to report, aside from a fleeting reference to the legacy of Nokia's 8800 slider, so don't go converting your Swiss francs just yet.

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Monday, November 5, 2012

Editorial: Amazon and Google are undermining mobile pricing, and that may hurt everyone (updated)

See the end of the editorial for an important update.
When Google unveiled the Nexus 4, Nexus 10 and a refreshed Nexus 7 in October, the moment was arguably the crescendo of a change in the Android ecosystem that had been building ever since Amazon's Kindle Fire first braved the marketplace in 2011. Along with a widely expanded Amazon lineup that includes multiple Kindle Fire HD models and a price-cut tweak to the original Fire,

By: Dilusha On 2:11 PM