The Viera ZT series we saw at CES will be a launchpad for future work, according to the executive.

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With the addition of a new Louver filter, the ZT Series line delivers improved external light shading, clarity and light transmittance.

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The technology incorporated into our ZT Series Studio Master Panel will be the basis for continued plasma display panel development and production.

ENGADGET: Panasonic buries rumors of plasma TV's death HD

The ZT Series also includes two pairs of Active Shutter 3D Eyewear.

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The VT60 Series includes built-in side speakers, and a thin metal pedestal with one sheet of glass featured on the ZT and VT Series models delivers a minimalist aesthetics and design.

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Other contenders included Panasonic's new top-of-the-line ZT plasmas, Samsung's 85-inch UHDTV and LG's soon-to-ship 55-inch OLED, but when we're thinking about what the best thing we saw this year was, there's no question that this is it.

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While the Smart VIERA ZT Series introduces a new level of Plasma picture quality, we believe there is still room for further improvement and intend to continue to research ways to take our Plasma technology to even higher levels where it also has the potential to be applied in our other Plasma series in the future.

ENGADGET: Panasonic buries rumors of plasma TV's death HD