Panasonic kicked off CEDIA and continues to show their commitment to innovation. They started out by debuting two new Blu-ray players solidifying their support once again for the new HD format.

The DMP-BD35 and BD55 combine the newest Blu-ray features right out of the box including BD-Live and Bonus View support. Both players decode the full range of audio formats and the BD55 includes a 7-channel analog audio output while the BD35 is limited to 2-channels. No price or shipping date was mentioned.

Panasonic also debuted a new A/V receiver, the SA-BX500 with 3 HDMI inputs and full support for the new HD audio formats. This receiver also includes a new Panasonic exclusive Bi-Amp/Bi-Wire feature allowing you to take advantage of these features without changing your wiring.

Displays were a big part of the presentation and Panasonic debuted their newest HD home theater projector, the PT AE3000 along with new plasmas in their Vierra line. The AE3000 boasts an impressive 60,000:1 contrast ratio thanks to a new high contrast plate and dynamic iris with 1600 lumens. The projector also features a new focus/zoom memory feature allowing you to use a 2.35:1 screen with multiple zoom settings so you don’t have to buy an expensive anamorphic lens. The AE300 will be available in October at an MSRP of $3500.

Panasonic continues to be a strong supporter of plasma and introduced their new Vierra offerings with 58” and 65” models. Panasonic also showcased their Vierra Cast IPTV system that is built in to their new models and supports Internet TV including You Tube and Piccasa photo sharing.

Last up was the introduction of True2Way cable. This new cable feature will be shipping by the holidays and eliminates the need for an outboard cable box with cable TV providers. The TV will download the guides and functionality normally requiring an outboard cable box making the system far more user friendly.