Although they've been announced way back, at CES 2007, no info has been made available ever since about Panasonic's LIFI rear-projection HDTV sets. Up until now, that is, because the Japanese company has announced that it will finally start shipping these very innovative products, divided into series, the high-end LCZ and the mid-range LCX.

The most important feature provided by both series is represented, quite obviously, by the LIFI system, the light fidelity projection display application that ensures image brightness over an extended period of time as well as greatly reduced start-up time. The reason? When the electrodes in HID lamps deteriorate and the tungsten evaporates, it causes diminished brightness, as well as damage to the lamp itself. The light source in the Panasonic LIFI HDTV does not use electrodes, resulting in more stable performance and a considerably longer lifespan. Additionally, Panasonic's LIFI technology projects a wide variety and spectrum of light, allowing for the display of much more vivid colors.

The LCZ series, available in three large-screen screen sizes, 61-inches, 56-inches and 50- inches, feature 1080p resolution and an elegant glossy black finish with a new floating panel design. Moreover, the three displays in this family can attain a 3,000:1 contrast ratio, sport SD card slots and HDMI connection interfaces, as well as a high-end full range speaker system, with a 20 W output.

The two models in the LCX series, namely the PT-61LCX70 and PT-56LCX70, offer 720p resolution, 3,000:1 contrast ratio, HDMI interfaces, a full-range speaker system (20 W), as well as a PC input and EZ Sync compatibility.

"The unique LIFI technology provides the consumer with a viable, affordable option for big screen, 1080p High Definition entertainment," said Dennis Eppel, Vice President of Panasonic Display Company. "The fact that the bulb will virtually never need to be replaced is a great benefit to the consumer and one of the reasons we strongly believe that LIFI will be successful. From our Plasma and LCD TVs to the LIFI HDTVs, we want Panasonic consumers to experience the absolute best in High-Definition home theater. With our breadth of High Definition choices we are confident that Panasonic can provide that experience."

Due to the LIFI system, the new family of rear-projection displays is also cheaper than previous models. The two devices in the LCX series of 720p LIFI HDTVs retail for 1700 and 2000 US dollars respectively, while the three LCZs (1080p LIFI HDTVs) are available for around 1700, 1900 and 2200 US dollars respectively. Obviously, they're not very cheap, but they're not that expensive, either, considering the fact that they incorporate the latest display technologies created by Panasonic.

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