[Update: more info here]
A friend of mine has a Panasonic PT-AE700, and he loves it. Panasonic has had a great run of projectors starting with the AE500, then the 700, and now the 900. Supposedly the new PT-AE900 has a contrast ratio of 5500:1 and can display images up to 14.5′ wide. Though at that size, I have to wonder how bright the image can be.

A sampling of new features found in the PT-AE900 include a dynamic iris with scene tracking capability, cinema color management technology , RGB 10-bit full digital processing, 2X optical zoom with lens shift technology that enables you to set up the projector in various locations in a room between 3 meters and six meters from the screen, dynamic sharpness control circuit, a high definition LCD panel (1280 x 720 x3 RGB) that features 2.76 million pixels in a 3-layer RGB construction, Smooth screen technology that outputs realistic, deep pictures that the company says is like what you’d see at the movies, selectable user equalization function that enables you to set the picture image to suit a mood.

Panasonic plans to ship the PT-AE900 in October for $3,199.

HD Issues - Panasonic Debuts PT-AE900 Home Theater Projector