Last year the company demonstrated a 20.8-inch OLED display running at WXGA 1,280 x 768.  OLED has numerous benefits over LCD screens, including improved brightness and contrast and faster response times.  The panels also require much less energy to run and have wider viewing angles.  As Sony’s XEL-1 OLED TV has shown, the technology also allows for thinner screens.

Samsung have a 40-inch prototype OLED display which the have been showing at tradeshows.  However they do not expect the technology to reach production economy of scale until sometime in 2009.

[via Gizmag]

So, in a rather obvious move, Matsushita is looking to get into the LCD business. Right now there is word of one of two ways Matsushita plans on accomplishing this, the first is to takeover a joint venture of Hitachi and Toshiba to do it, and then pumping in 2.7 billion for a new facility.

The second is to go in with Canon on a minor stakes partner in Hitachi Displays LCD, who currently makes small (likely Canon’s interest) and mid-sized LCD’s and is working on OLED technology, all of which would allow Matsushita to remain a prominent player in the business. Regardless of which option they choose, I am sure the results will be good.

Matsushita, Hitachi Talking LCD Panel Deal [via digitaltrends]

Faced with a choice of either making non-exploding batteries or fireproof trousers for nervous laptop users, Matsushita have decided to go down the former route and mass-produce heatproof, spark-resistant Li-Ion cells.  Missed fashion opportunities aside, they intend to raise production of insulated batteries to half of all lithium-ion batteries they make in 2009.

This comes following the recalls of Sony and Sanyo batteries which have displayed a worrying propensity to blow up in people’s faces and crotches. 

Matsushita to mass-produce heatproof batteries [Reuters]

Panasonic’s HUGE 103-inch plasma TV, which we covered last week, finally has a price tag, though any comments we’ve jokingly made about second mortgages/selling spare body parts to afford these sets may actually be true for this baby. The TH-103PZ600 will be out this September for the hefty sum of 6,000,000 yen. For those of you playing the home game, that translates to over $51,000 USD; people with that kind of extra coin lying around might be better off spending it as a down payment on a small country or a Lear Jet.

To recap briefly, the TH-103PZ600 features such a number of HDTV features that you’ve come to expect from a top-end set: 1080p resolution, a 3000:1 contrast ratio, a weight of 215 kg (473.994 lbs.). While Panasonic holds the crown for largest HDTV at the moment, don’t expect it to last too long; sets of a similar size will most likely be unveiled by other HDTV manufacturers sooner rather than later. In the meantime, while you might be paying this TV off until the day you die, at least you can watch House in all its glory, right?

[via AV Watch (translated)]

Just in case you feel that your current TV is simply not large enough for your tastes, Matsushita is ready to begin selling their monster-sized 103-inch plasma TV, otherwise known as “that big-ass TV that requires a second mortgage on your home to buy.” It features such state-of-the-art features as 1080p HDTV capabilities and a 3000:1 contrast ratio, and weighs in at an astounding 215 kg (or roughly 474 lbs.).

Matsushita’s new baby also beats out Samsung’s 102-inch TV as the biggest available (even though Samsung has yet to begin selling their mega-set). While a price has yet to be announced, this thing won’t be cheap by any definition; Matsushita’s 65-inch plasma sets retail for $7,500 in Japan. Don’t be surprised if this new set clocks in at over $10,000, and also don’t be surprised if you’re forced to sell possessions to acquire one.

[via Reuters]