Panasonic’s VieraCast provides access to a number of Internet services, such as YouTube and DailyMotion videos, Skype, Picasa and Twitter. There’s also a VOD service called AceTrax, which turns out to be even more expensive than Apple’s iTunes - £10.99 for Iron Man 2, compared to £9.99 on iTunes. However, I was disappointed to see that there was no sign of the BBC iPlayer, or of the LoveFilm service to which I subscribe.
Impressive picture and looks good too, despite its plastic construction
There were a couple of rough edges on the EPGs too. Like a number of other Panasonic televisions, the TX-L37D28 has the nerve to slap adverts onto the Freeview programme guide. Not only are these annoying and intrusive, but they also take up a large chunk of the screen and reduce the one-day view to only an hour and a half of upcoming programme info.
There’s no advertising on the Freesat EPG, but when you change channels both EPGs have the irritating habit of asking you to confirm whether you want to watch or record that channel. If I wanted to record a channel I’d press the ‘Record’ button, so this quickly becomes rather tiresome.
Verdict
The TX-L37D28 gets it right where it matters most, with the IPS/LED display producing very good image quality for a TV in the sub-£1000 price range. The dual tuners for Freeview and Freesat are also very welcome, as is the comprehensive set of interfaces and connectivity options. However, it is marred by its underwhelming build quality and the annoying niggles in the programme guides - I'm not paying £900 for ads on the EPG - which prevent it from really standing out amongst its rivals at this end of the market.
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COMMENTS
Deception
Could it be argued that if shop mode omits the ads, it is intentionally deceptive?
What?
So let me get this straight, it's cheaply built, has an annoying UI (asking for conformation when you tell it to change channel? Sounds like a deal-breaker to me) and costs £900?! That sounds like a lot of wedge for a 37", and then when you've given them the best part of a grand for a TV they have the temerity to display adverts in the UI as well? What happened Panasonic, you used to be good.
Argh
The most annoying thing about Panasonic TVs is that it cuts off picture, sound - EVERYTHING - when you go into the EPG. Why??????????????????
Guide Plus Adverts
Nope 0% Do not want.
If they want to advertise in my house they can pay me.
Yes, it probably does do iPlayer
I have just bought a TX-L37D25, and that does do iPlayer, via the red button, so I am assuming that the D28 does too. I wanted a Panny as they are the only maker that builds in Freesat, and the reviews give them good marks for picture quality. I compared specs of various Panny models, and I cannot for the life of me work out what the difference is between the D25 and the D28, except the D28 comes in various strange colours (white?, purple??!). I'm very pleased with the D25 so far.
