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Panasonic releases more Blu-ray players than anyone else

Panasonic's Blu-ray line bulges with six new models, including the ultraslim DMP-BBT01 and three other 3D Blu-ray players.

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Matthew_Moskovciak.jpg
Matthew Moskovciak Senior Associate Editor / Reviews - Home theater
Covering home audio and video, Matthew Moskovciak helps CNET readers find the best sights and sounds for their home theaters. E-mail Matthew or follow him on Twitter @cnetmoskovciak.
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Matthew Moskovciak
Panasonic DMP-BBT01
Panasonic's slimline DMP-BBT01 is only a little wider than a Blu-ray disc. Panasonic

Most manufacturers have made a marked effort to pare down the number of different Blu-ray player models they make, but not Panasonic.

Panasonic announced six new Blu-ray models at CES 2012, with separate 3D and 2D lines, plus the ultraslim DMP-BBT01. Half of the models also feature Panasonic's new touch pad remote, which might make it easier to navigate online content.

Panasonic's line of 3D Blu-ray players breaks down as follows:

DMP-BDT220: Wi-Fi + Viera Connect
DMP-BDT500: Wi-Fi + Viera Connect + touch pad remote
DMP-BDT320: Wi-Fi + Viera Connect + touch pad remote + slot-loading drive
DMP-BBT01: Wi-Fi + Viera Connect + touch pad remote + slot-loading drive + slim design

A welcome change for 2012 is that the 3D Blu-ray players feature the full suite of Viera Connect apps. (Last year they only supported the more limited Viera Cast suite.) The list of apps is impressive: Netflix, Amazon Instant, Hulu Plus, MLB.TV, Flixster, NHL, NBA, MLS4, YouTube, and Skype.

Panasonic will also release two 2D Blu-ray players, both with a limited suite of streaming-media services (Netflix, Vudu, CinemaNow, and YouTube), dubbed "IP VOD."

DMP-BD77: IP VOD + Wi-Fi-ready (requires dongle)
DMP-BD87: IP VOD + Wi-Fi

As cool as the touch pad remote might be, the DMP-BDT220 looks to be the sweet-spot player for 2012, possibly following in the footsteps of the Editors' Choice Award-winning DMP-BDT210.