Big Brother is watching you. Your big brother that is. Or your mother, or your sister, or any number of your other Skype contacts that television maker Panasonic intends to beam into your living room while you recline on your sofa.
The electronics firm has been talking up its Skype partnership since January, but only now has it finally launched Skype capabilities on its line of 2010 VIERA Cast-enabled television sets. Talk about being a couch potato.
The VT25, VT20, G25, and G20 Series will all be Skyped up, but customers be warned – you’ll still have to cough up an extra $170 for a special Panasonic webcam, – the TY-CC10W – apparently capable of 720p HD video as well as ye old basic VGA.
To justify its ridiculous cost, the camera apparently also includes unidirectional microphones, echo cancelation and technology to ensure clear audio even at a comfortable three to four meter distance from the screen.
As if you would want to sit any closer to a huge image of your mother in-law’s head. Ugh.
Korean firm LG Electronics is also planning to bring the Skype app to 26 of its LCD and plasma TVs this year.
Skype – on a TV near you
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