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Tag: 4k

  • CES 2020: LG Intros New Smart TVs, Apple TV Integration

    CES 2020: LG Intros New Smart TVs, Apple TV Integration

    LG has unveiled 14 new OLED TVs at CES 2020, using artificial intelligence to push the envelope in terms of picture quality and features.

    “At the heart of the latest 8K and 4K LG OLED and 8K LG NanoCell TVs are a number of advanced core technologies, most notably the new α (Alpha) 9 Gen 3 AI Processor. This advanced processor leverages upgraded processing power and artificial intelligence deep learning algorithms to improve on LG’s renowned picture quality and enable a host of specialized features for various types of content including movies, games and sports, taking the user experience to new heights.”

    As an added bonus, LG will support the native Apple TV app. Despite Apple’s claim “the Apple TV app is everywhere,” Samsung was the only major manufacturer with native, on-TV support. Other devices and TVs required using AirPlay to broadcast content to the TV.

    “LG’s award-winning webOS smart TV platform will bring 2020 LG OLED and LG NanoCell TVs a plethora of programming from the constantly-growing number of top global content providers through apps and services such as Disney+, Netflix and CBS All Access. New for 2020, the Apple TV app allows customers to subscribe and watch Apple TV+ and Apple TV channels as well as access their iTunes video library and buy or rent more than 100,000 films and TV shows. Customers with 2018 and 2019 LG TV models will also be able to enjoy the Apple TV app this year.”

    LG’s adoption of Apple TV, as well as the other streaming apps, is welcome news as more and more consumers are looking to cut the cord.

  • ‘Planet Earth’ Follow-up ‘Our Planet’ Coming to Netflix in 2019

    ‘Planet Earth’ Follow-up ‘Our Planet’ Coming to Netflix in 2019

    Netflix has nabbed the exclusive rights to Planet Earth‘s follow-up.

    It’s called Our Planet, and it’s a four-year project that’ll premiere in 2019. Our Planet “will take viewers into never-before-filmed wilderness areas from the ice caps and deep ocean to deserts and remote forests, introducing them to the most precious species and places that must withstand the impact of humanity so generations to come can enjoy the bounties of the natural world.”

    And it’ll all be in 4K.

    The new show will feature eight parts and is being produced by Silverback Films and Alastair Fothergill who was responsible for the BBC’s Planet Earth, Frozen Planet and Blue Planet. The series also has the support of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

    Why is that important?

    “Our WWF network has operations in over 100 countries and over 5 million members. We can provide the Silverback team unparalleled access to our projects in protected areas around the world, to collaborate in creating innovative stories across all our media channels,” says the WWF.

    “Netflix is proud to be the global home for perhaps Silverback’s most ambitious project to date. The Planet projects have enjoyed great success on Netflix and have helped launch new technologies for viewing at home. We think watching Our Planet, fully on demand in 4K will be an unforgettable experience for our members,” said Lisa Nishimura, Vice President, Netflix Original Documentaries.

    Image via WIkimedia Commons

  • CES: Netflix Reportedly Prepares For HDR 4K Streaming

    CES: Netflix Reportedly Prepares For HDR 4K Streaming

    Last year, all of the talk was about 4K Ultra HD, but now that Netflix offers that, it’s on to the next best thing, which is apparently HDR or high dynamic range 4K streaming. And Netflix will reportedly launch this eventually.

    Steven Tweedie at Business Insider reports from the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas that he was “ushered into a dark room to see the new way to watch Netflix,” and that “it’s gorgeous.” He got a look at Netflix original Marco Polo this way as well as the movie A Million Ways to Die in the West Tweedie writes:

    Samsung showed off some impressive HDR 4K televisions at CES this week, but LG is arguably further along, with an official partnership with Netflix that will introduce HDR streaming later this year.

    Once Netflix officially launches HDR streaming, Netflix will “talk” to your TV, checking to see whether your TV is equipped for HDR. Your TV will enable the feature and handle all the HDR processing, so you won’t have to worry about Netflix being slower just so you can see some extra color.

    Of course, you’ll need a high-end HDR 4K TV to be able to get the experience.

    Image via Netflix

  • Amazon Releases 4K Ultra HD Video Content

    Amazon Releases 4K Ultra HD Video Content

    Amazon announced that it has added 4K Ultra HD video to Amazon Instant Video. And guess what. It’s not only for Prime members! I’ll bet you didn’t see that coming. Of course Prime members do still get the perk of not having to pay extra for the quality.

    Amazon’s Ultra HD movies and TV shows are accessible through the Amazon Instant Video app on compatible Ultra HD smart TVs from LG, Samsung and Sony.

    Among the included television titles are the second season of Alpha House, Transparent, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street, Orphan Black, and the upcoming Mozart in the Jungle, Bosch , Hand of God, The After and Red Oaks. The seven new pilots from Amazon Studios—Cocked, Down Dog, Mad Dogs, Man in the High Castle, Point of Honor, Salem Rogers and The New Yorker Presents—will also be offered in Ultra HD. Movie titles include Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Funny Girl, Hitch and Philadelphia. Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: Cheek to Cheek LIVE! is also available.

    “We want to deliver the best entertainment experience, and offering Ultra HD movies and TV shows raises the bar on quality and innovation that customers have come to expect from Amazon,” said Michael Paull, Vice President of Amazon Digital Video. “We’re also excited that Ultra HD is the latest benefit of the Amazon Prime membership, giving members instant access to great movies and TV shows in a premium picture resolution at no additional cost.”

    Movies available for purchase in 4K include After Earth, American Hustle, Captain Phillips , Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Elysium, Godzilla, Hancock, Moneyball, The Mask of Zorro, The Monuments Men, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, The Da Vinci Code, The Patriot, Think Like a Man Too, This Is the End, etc.

    Image via Amazon

  • Amazon Won’t Charge Prime Members For Ultra HD

    Amazon Won’t Charge Prime Members For Ultra HD

    Amazon confirmed this week that it will not charge Prime members for Ultra HD content.

    Earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show, Amazon announced it would make Ultra HD content available this year. The company sent us this statement from Michael Paull, VP of Amazon Digital Video:

    “We want to be the best entertainment destination for customers. We’re confident that offering Ultra HD content, whether it’s a TV series or a film, will help create the ultimate viewing experience and can’t wait to start making it available this year. We’ve already announced that the Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: Cheek To Cheek LIVE! concert will be available in the premium resolution as well as Amazon Original Series including Transparent, Alpha House and the upcoming Mozart in the Jungle series, and we’re excited to unveil even more titles that Prime members and customers can watch in Ultra HD later this year and into next year. Amazon Prime members will have access to a great selection of Ultra HD content on Prime Instant Video at no additional cost.”

    “Customers are excited about the future of 4K and the next evolution of high resolution video. We’re working with consumer electronics leaders and Hollywood studios to make that a reality,” said Bill Carr, Vice President of Digital Video and Music for Amazon in January. “There are a number of elements that need to work together to create a true 4K experience for customers—you need great content and compatible devices but you also need a service that can deliver that content to your devices so that it plays beautifully—we’re excited about making that a reality.”

    At the time, Amazon had announced partnerships with Samsung, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, and others to offer 4K Ultra HD content.

    Rival Netflix also announced this year that its originals would all be available in 4K. It has since made Breaking Bad available in Ultra HD as well.

    Beyond its contribution to Ultra HD content, Amazon’s news represents part of its strategy to give Prime members more and more features. At some point, it’s going to be hard for many consumers to justify not becoming a member.

    This week, Amazon also announced its first set of pilots for 2015.

    Image: Amazon, YouTube

  • Breaking Bad Now Available In Ultra HD 4K On Netflix

    Breaking Bad Now Available In Ultra HD 4K On Netflix

    Netflix’s Joris Evers announced on Twitter that Breaking Bad is now streaming in Ultra HD 4K everywhere the service is available.

    The company had said in the past that the show would be available in 4K in June, and has now made good on that promise.

    Netflix began offering 4K streams in April. Last month, it gave an update on its efforts, and talked about the future of the format.

    “We’re excited about the picture quality we’re seeing in Ultra HD 4K, and we’re even more excited that expert reviewers of the first TVs capable of streaming Netflix Ultra HD 4K, including the Samsung UH8550 and UH9000, seem to agree,” wrote Netflix’s Richard Smith. “This is just the the beginning, expect more TVs that support Netflix in Ultra HD 4K in stores soon from Samsung, Sony, LG, and Vizio. If you buy one of these new TVs, just connect it to a power outlet and the internet, turn it on and sign into Netflix. Ultra HD 4K streaming will work out of the box. ”

    Netflix recommends available bandwidth of at least 20Mbps to get the highest-quality 4K experience. The stream is actually about 16Mbps, but the rest is for variability of service. The company notes that how the broadband provider handles incoming bits from Netflix is also a variable.

    Via Engadget

    Image via YouTube

  • Netflix Talks About Its Future With 4K Streaming

    Netflix began offering 4K streams last month. On Friday, the company took to its blog to talk up its capabilities and the future of the ultra high-def format for the streaming service.

    “We’re excited about the picture quality we’re seeing in Ultra HD 4K, and we’re even more excited that expert reviewers of the first TVs capable of streaming Netflix Ultra HD 4K, including the Samsung UH8550 and UH9000, seem to agree,” wrote Netflix’s Richard Smith. “This is just the the beginning, expect more TVs that support Netflix in Ultra HD 4K in stores soon from Samsung, Sony, LG, and Vizio. If you buy one of these new TVs, just connect it to a power outlet and the internet, turn it on and sign into Netflix. Ultra HD 4K streaming will work out of the box. ”

    Netflix recommends available bandwidth of at least 20Mbps to get the highest-quality 4K experience. The stream is actually about 16Mbps, but the rest is for variability of service. The company notes that how the broadband provider handles incoming bits from Netflix is also a variable. The company is working to address that with deals with providers like Comcast and Verizon.

    Netflix says it will probably take up to five years before 4K really becomes mainstream. This is when it’s expected that most TVs will deliver this kind of quality.

    Right now, Netflix is only offering House of Cards: Season 2 and a few nature films from Louis Schwartzberg in 4K, but expects to add Breaking Bad and more Netflix originals to the line-up later this year. Earlier this year, CEO Reed Hastings indicated that all of Netflix’s original shows will be produced in 4K.

    “As more content producers shift their production and mastering to create Ultra HD 4K output, and more Ultra HD 4K TVs are in the market, we’ll bring more of that content to you,” said Smith. “We’re excited about bringing you Ultra HD 4K, but it’s been a joint effort with our partners to create the TVs, the streaming tech, and the shows we all love. We’ve all worked hard to design products and produce shows that support the broader feature set of Ultra HD 4K. This, of course, includes the Ultra High Definition 3840×2160 resolution, and 10-bit color precision, but also framerates up to 60 frames per second and richer colors.”

    Smith says Netflix will share more about the technical details in a future post.

    It’s unclear if the upcoming seasons of Netflix’s Orange is the New Black or Hemlock Grove will premiere in 4K. These come out in June and July respectively.

    Image via Netflix

  • 4K TV Lineup Priced by Sony, Available For Pre-Order

    Sony Electronics this week announced that it will begin selling nine new 4K ultra HD TV models sometime in June. The models are those that the company showed off at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show.

    The new TVs are part of three different product lines from Sony. The high-end XBR-X950B series will come in 65″ and 85″ models priced at $7,999 and $24,999, respectively. The mid-range XBR-X900B series comes in sizes of 55″ ($3,999), 65″ ($4,999), and 79″ ($8,999). The entry level XBR-X859B series comes in four sizes and prices: 49″ at $2,099, 55″ at $2,999, 65″ at $3,999, and 70″ at $5,499. All of these models are now available for pre-order through the Sony website.

    In addition to the ultra HD displays seen on the products, the TVs will come with a variety of features and software. Every set will include HDMI 2.0 standard, HEVC codec decoding, MHL 3.0 for mobile 4K playback. The TVs will also come with support for Sony’s PlayStation Now streaming gaming platform, as well as Sony’s recently released Video Unlimited 4K ultra HD video streaming platform. PlayStation Now will allow customers to stream PlayStation 3 games through their TV, which can be connected to a DualShock 3 controller.

    “We continue to be the only company that offers a complete line-up of consumer 4K products, including TVs, front projectors, cameras, and camcorders, while also leading the industry in providing 4K content,” said Mike Fasulo, president of Sony Electronics. “Sony’s new 4K Ultra HD TVs, 4K media player and new 4K content offerings continue to strengthen our growing ecosystem. We strongly believe 4K is the future for entertainment and we remain committed to leading the 4K movement, from lens to living room, in a way that only a company like Sony can.”

    After splitting its TV division off into a separate subsidiary, Sony is leaning heavily on ultra HD technology to prop up TV sales. An industry report earlier this week revealed that Sony is hoping to quadruple its ultra HD sales this year.

    Image via Sony

  • Sony Hopes Ultra HD Sales Will Quadruple This Year

    The TV industry isn’t contracting in the same way the PC industry is, but TV manufacturers are still desperately searching for the next big feature that can convince satisfied HDTV owners to upgrade their screens. Smart TV features such as apps and streaming content channels will certainly help, but only in a limited way as streaming boxes such as the Apple TV can be had for less than $100.

    With the 3D TV experiment now burned out TV manufacturers are betting heavily that Ultra HD displays will be the next feature to excite the consumer market. This year’s Consumer Electronics Show was filled with Ultra HD displays from every major TV manufacturer, with a few even showing off advanced “8K” screens. Those same manufacturers are now confident that Ultra HD will be the kick the TV market needs.

    A new DigiTimes report today shows that Sony, one of the largest TV manufacturers in the world, expects Ultra HD sales to take off during 2014. The report cites Sony as predicting that its Ultra HD sales will quadruple this year. In China alone the company expects its Ultra HD sales to increase by six times its 2013 sales numbers.

    Sony also expects to gain a full 10% of LCD TV shipments during 2014. The company is shooting for 20 million LCD TV shipments by the year’s end.

    A majority of Sony’s TV shipments during the coming year are expected to have Ultra HD displays. DigiTimes, citing unnamed market observers, estimates that Sony will ship 13 to 15 million Ultra HD TVs during 2014.

    The report also cites Sony as saying its TV market strategy this year will focus on high-end displays, similar to its strategy in past years. In addition, the report claims that Sony will begin focusing more on in-house production rather than outsourced manufacturing.

    This strategy fits well within the major changes that Sony has recently announced for its TV division. The company announced in February that its TV division will be spun off into a subsidiary. Though the subsidiary is not expected to turn a profit in 2014, the company believes that this restructuring will make the division more competitive in the near future.

  • “2K” Smartphone Shipments to be Limited in 2014

    TV manufacturers are feeling giddy over the chance that ultra HD TVs could raise demand for new TV sets. This year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was filled with “4K” (and even “8K”) displays from nearly every tech manufacturer.

    At the same time, PC manufacturers are hoping that Ultra HD displays will spur notebook and desktop PC sales before mobile devices are able to catch up. Unfortunately for them, analysts are already predicting “2K” and higher-resolutions displays for mobile devices in the coming quarters.

    The mobile industry won’t be flooded with ultra HD devices just yet, though. A new DigiTimes Research report today predicted that the 2K mobile display market will be slow during 2014. This is based on its belief that low yield rates and a small manufacturing infrastructure capacity will simply limit the number of higher-resolution panels that can be shipped throughout the year.

    With the ultra HD hype in full swing during CES many industry watchers anticipated that new devices coming in the spring from large brands would sport 2K or higher displays. This turned out to be wrong as new high-end devices from Samsung, LG, and Sony were all recently announced to have normal HD displays.

    As manufacturing capacity improves brands will be able to include higher-resolution displays in their high-end devices as standard. According to DigiTimes this could happen as early as the second half of this year as quickly-rising Chinese brands look to improve their lower shipment counts with higher-quality features such as ultra HD displays.

  • Ultra HD PC Monitor Market Seen Rising

    Ultra HD TV sets were the main attraction at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. TV manufacturers are hoping that higher resolutions can entice consumers who were so apathetic about 3D over the past two years and prices for ultra HD TV sets are set to fall quickly.

    As a side effect of this 4K TV and content craze, desktop PC users will also be seeing more ultra HD monitors for more affordable prices. Market research firm NPD DisplaySearch today released a new report showing that ultra HD monitor shipments are set to increase over in the coming years.

    According to the report, ultra HD monitor shipments are forecasted to reach two million this year. This is despite the fact that the overall desktop monitor market is predicted to decline to just 133 million units shipped in 2014. Both of these trends are set to continue into the future, with ultra HD monitors predicted to reach 8% market penetration by the year 2017. Over the same period average sale prices for ultra HD monitors are set to drop, from an estimated $1,347 this year to just $927 in 2017.

    “Increased 4K-class monitor shipment volume will depend on how far and how fast ASPs decline,” said Hidetoshi Himuro, director of PC and IT research at DisplaySearch. “Although manufacturers hope to raise prices for 4K-enabled monitors, price competition has already begun.”

  • Over 3 Million Ultra HD Panels Shipped Last Year

    Television manufacturers are betting big on Ultra HD TV sets, pushing the technology hard to customers that are largely satisfied with their large-screen HDTVs. This year’s Consumer Electronics Show was packed with Ultra HD displays from nearly every manufacturer, with Sharp going so far as to show off what it has branded an “8K” display.

    The good news for manufacturers is that prices on Ultra HD devices are soon set to drop to consumer-friendly levels, giving 4K a much better chance than the failed 3DTV movement. HDTV shipment are already predicted to skyrocket in 2014, and now component manufacturers are gearing up for this year’s flood of orders.

    DigiTimes today reported that shipments for Ultra HD panels hit 3.1 million during 2013. According to the report’s unnamed “market observers” a large portion of those shipments (1.34 million) came during the fourth quarter of 2014, showing just how quickly production on Ultra HD displays is being ramped up.

    Taiwanese manufacturer Innolux currently leads the Ultra HD panel industry. The DigiTimes report estimates that Innolux accounted for 60% of the Ultra HD panels shipped during 2013.

    DigiTimes’ sources have predicted that Ultra HD panel shipments should reach 20 million units during 2014. This would represent an over 500% increase in shipments from last year, and is in line with earlier predictions. The increased supply is expected to help prices drop in the coming years as more 4K content is produced, which could lead to a viable consumer market for the devices.

  • CES 2014: Sharp Shows Off an 8K Display

    The 2014 Consumer Electronics Show is here and the buzzwords of the show are “ultra HD” and “4K.” As TV manufacturers concede that 3D TV was generally a dumb idea many of them are now turning toward 4K as the next big feature to sell customers on new TVs.

    This being CES, however, manufacturers are known for showing off technology that is years away from the consumer market (if it ever makes it into practical applications at all). This week Sharp is one-upping its 4K display competition and showing off what it’s calling an “8K” display at CES.

    Sharp’s 8K display is large at 85 inches and includes technology meant to allow viewers to watch content in 3D without the use of glasses. Though the 3D technology is something Sharp has been showing off for years, this year’s display has a 7680 x 4320 resolution – around 16 times the resolution of a modern 1080p HDTV. According to Sharp, the 8K display was created in part by Phillips and Dolby.

    Though the 8K display undoubtedly makes a fine piece for Sharp’s CES booth, consumers should not get excited about the technology just yet. Early adopters are just now jumping on the 4K bandwagon and 4K content is also slowly coming into existence. U.S. bandwidth is also a limiting factor for 8K technology, as streaming even 4K content is near-impossible in many parts of the country.

    Still, 8K could come quicker than many may believe. Already 4K TV prices are set to drop amid strong competition and Netflix is poised to lead the way in 4K content with its original series.

  • Sharp 85-Inch TV Unveiled at CES 2014

    Sharp 85-Inch TV Unveiled at CES 2014

    Early reports from CES 2014 showed that this year might be the year of the humongously-big TV, with Samsung and Vizio both unveiling TV’s topping the 100-inch milestone. Of course, both TV’s feature the newest 4k technology, allowing one to view TV as one has never viewed it before.

    That was until Sharp revealed their designs for an 85-inch, 8k television during their CES press conference. This is not the first time Sharp has unveiled an 85-inch 8k television, doing so during last year’s CES. The difference this year, however, is that the model is now less of a prototype / more of a reality, and it offers glasses-free, 3D viewing.

    Sharp produced the 85-inch TV alongside Phillips and Dolby. The 8k rating for the TV means that it will be able to handle resolutions measuring 7680 x 4320, which is 16 times more than current, standard HD TV’s. (1080p resolutions being 1920 x 1080.)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QawPm3E7bfE

    That being said, the 85-inch 8k offering from Sharp may be stretching a bit beyond current technological carrying capacity. Much debate has been raised over the past few years concerning whether or not the eye can discern the differences between ultra-high resolutions. Most television producers are currently focusing on furthering the development of 4k resolution televisions (3840 x 2160), a viewing quality which already faces difficulties due to the lack of channel support (due to inadequate technology) from satellite or cable companies.

    As it currently stands, most experts agree that one could only notice the increase in viewing quality with an 8k TV if one views it at uncomfortably close distances. If that is the case, the one positive aspect of this offering from Sharp would be the glasses-free (autostereoscopic) 3D viewing capabilities.

    Fortunately for Sharp, the company has not placed all of its eggs into one basket. During CES 2014, the company also unveiled new products in its Aquos line, the most impressive of which being the Aquos Quattron Plus, a television offering 10 million more subpixels than standard HD televisions. These extra subpixels places the Aquos Quattron Plus at the level between standard HD and 4k, making it a viable viewing option for those with less-deep pockets and being more compatible with current cable and satellite provider technologies.

    Sharp Quattron Plus

    Images via YouTube

  • Netflix: All Originals (And ‘Breaking Bad’) To Be 4K, 3D Support May End

    Netflix: All Originals (And ‘Breaking Bad’) To Be 4K, 3D Support May End

    All of Netflix’s original shows will be produced in 4K, according to the company. CEO Reed Hastings said as much at the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas, where he promoted the company’s use of the ultra HD video format along with partnerships with TV makers.

    We knew that House of Cards: Season 2 was produced in 4K, and a new trailer (also in 4K) was made available this week. Now we can expect upcoming seasons of shows like Hemlock Grove and Orange is the New Black to follow suit, not to mention initial seasons of shows that have yet to debut (like Sense8 and the untitled project from the Damages creators).

    Netflix reportedly has partnerships in place with Sony, LG, Vizio and Samsung for 4K video. The Hollywood Reporter shares some comments from Hastings:

    “Netflix is working with Sony to create a fabulous entertainment experience. When 4K started to be talked about, we saw the Internet as the natural medium to deliver it because most 4K content was going to be available online. We know that content creators are very excited about 4K because of the additional picture range they get to play with. All new original content from Netflix, including season two of House of Cards, will be shot, edited and produced in 4K…and we’ve been working with Sony to show Breaking Bad in 4K.”

    He added that Netflix’ 4K service will require 15Mb/s of in-home bandwidth compressed using HEVC. “This is very practical,” said Hastings. “You can stream 4K over WiFi if you want to. It’s testament to the work we’ve been doing on encoding and what Sony has been doing on decoding.”

    Hastings also appeared at LG’s press conference at CES, which saw the launch of LG’s Web OS-powered Ultra HD smart TVs.

    As Netflix focuses on 4K content, 3D appears to be taking a backseat. A year ago, Netflix launched Super HD and 3D streaming, but now the company is indicating that 3D will likely go away due to lack of interest.

    Giga Om’s Janko Roettgers spoke with Netflix’s Joris Evers at CES, and was told that the company may end support for 3D in the future. Evers also reportedly said that Netflix will not charge consumers any extra money to watch content in Ultra HD.

    Image: Breaking Bad (YouTube)

  • CES 2014: Toshiba Announces 4K Display Notebooks

    As the notebook segment’s decline has continued, PC manufacturers are now turning toward a handful of features that they hope will lure consumers away from popular bargain-priced tablets. One of these features is an ultra HD display, which could let users view and work with 4K content for a fraction of the price of current ultra HD TV sets.

    At this week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Toshiba officially unveiled two new notebooks featuring ultra HD displays. The devices, called the Tecra W50 and the Satellite P50t, are being aimed at consumers who work with high-resolution imagery, such as 3D modelers, photographers, and graphic designers. Toshiba is claiming that its new notebooks are the first in the word to feature ultra HD displays.

    “As a leader in ultra HD, we are leveraging our 4K TV expertise to deliver a display capable of four times the resolution of Full HD to provide smoother images with astounding details,” said Carl Pinto, VP of marketing and engineering for Digital Products at Toshiba America. “We have applied years of experience and engineering resources to bring ultra HD 4K technology into our premium laptops for consumers and businesses so they can usher in the next generation of content creation and consumption.”

    The Tecra W50 is the higher-end of the two notebooks, sporting an Nvidia GPU with 2GB of video memory. The device has a 15.6-inch ultra HD display with a 3840 x 2160 resolution and a pixel density of 282 PPI.

    The Satellite P50t is geared more toward those who might use the notebook as a mobile entertainment device. Its display is identical to the one seen in the Tecra W50, though the P50t features an edge-to-edge glass display that is also a touchscreen.

    Both notebooks will be out sometime in “mid-2014.” Toshiba has not yet announced pricing for the devices.

  • CES 2014: Vizio Unveils 120-Inch Ultra HD TV

    Vizio this week has one-upped Samsung in what is sure to become an ongoing ultra HD TV size pissing contest.

    Just before the end of 2013 Samsung unveiled its 110S9, a 110-Inch ultra high definition (UHD) TV. Today at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Vizio revealed that it will soon sell a 120-inch UHD TV.

    Vizio’s new Reference Series (R-Series) televisions come in two sizes, a 65-inch and a 120-inch, and feature full 4K resolutions, 10-bit color, and 384 active LED zones for fine-tuned contrast. They also feature video modes allowing the TVs to display content in a variety of frame rates, allowing movies to be viewed in 24fps or PC games to be displayed in up to 120fps.

    Of course, Vizio’s R-Series TVs are more than just screens. The devices will come with a fully array of smart TV features and streaming video/music apps. All of this is powered by a dual-core V6 processor and a quad-core GPU.

    Vizio has not yet announced pricing or release date information. If Samsun’g $150,000 110S9 is any indication, though, Vizio’s new R-Series will be very expensive and sold primarily to businesses and a handful of very rich individuals.

  • Here’s A 4K Video On YouTube (House Of Cards Trailer)

    Last week, reports came out indicating that YouTube would be showing off 4K video at the Consumer Electronics Show this week.

    Netflix has just put out a new trailer for House of Cards: Season 2, which comes with a 4K viewing option (2160p), in addition to 1440p, 1080p and 720p HD options.

    According to a report from Giga Om, Google has nineteen hardware partners lined up for 4K. These include ARM, Intel, Broadcom, Marvell, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba, LG, Panasonic and Sony.

    Google is offering its 4K video via its own ultra HD VP9 codec, which is to reportedly serve as a royalty-free alternative to the H.265 codec.VP9 is epxected to hit PCs and mobile devices first, and then TVs by 2015.

    Netflix revealed late last year that House of Cards: Season 2 would be its first original content shot for 4K. The season debuts on February 14th.

    Image: YouTube

  • ‘House Of Cards’ Season 2: Netflix Releases New Trailer

    Netflix has released a new official trailer for the upcoming House of Cards: Season 2:

    This is the third trailer Netflix has released for the second season of its flagship original series. The first was just a teaser, then a real trailer was released a few weeks ago (“And the butchery begins.”).

    The season will be made available to Netflix subscribers on February 14th. Netflix is also putting out some cool cinemagraphs to promote it.

    It’s worth noting that the new trailer is available in 4K, as House of Cards: Season 2 is the first real Netflix material to be shot for it. This is also a confirmation that YouTube is offering 4K streams, which it is supposed to be showing off at CES this week.

  • Affordable 4K TVs Are Coming Soon

    With TV manufacturers now giving up on mistake that was 3D, the entire industry is now looking for ultra HD to increase TV sales in the coming years.

    So far the technology has shown promise, but real sales growth has been hindered both by exorbitant hardware prices and a severe lack of ultra HD content. However, these factors could change sooner than many think and 2014 could end up being the year that 4K TV becomes the next big TV product category.

    The Wall Street Journal today reported that prices for ultra HD TVs are set to come sliding down in the coming months. While current models sell for the same prices as cars (Samsung’s 110-inch ultra HD TV costs a ridiculous $150,000), new models will soon hit levels that average consumers can afford.

    According to the journal, the price erosion for ultra HD is being led by Chinese brands that are putting the technology in smaller screen sizes and selling sets for under $1000. Brand name electronics companies are expected to show off competing models next week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Already Polaroid is rumored to have a $999, 50-inch ultra HD TV that will be on display at CES.

    Though a lack of 4K content is still a stumbling block for sales, that too could change come next week. It is rumored that Google will be displaying 4K YouTube content at CES in the booths of LG, Sony, and Panasonic. Other big content providers are also ramping up for 4K content, with Netflix debuting the second season of House of Cards in 4K in February, and Sony already releasing 4K movies through its 4K Video Unlimited service.

  • YouTube To Reportedly Show Off 4K Video At CES

    YouTube To Reportedly Show Off 4K Video At CES

    It looks like Google is doing its part to make 4K video available to the masses. The company will reportedly show off 4K on YouTube via its own ultra HD VP9 codec at the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas next week.

    This is according to GigaOm’s Janko Roettgers, who reports that Google has “lined up a whole list of hardware partners” to kickstart deployment of the codec, which is to serve as a royalty-free alternative to the H.265 codec used by others. According to Roettgers, YouTube has nineteen hardware partners including ARM, Intel, Broadcom, Marvell, Samsung, Sharp and Toshiba, and will be demonstrating the video at the booths of LG, Panasonic and Sony.

    The codec is expected to hit PCs and mobile devices first and TVs by 2015.

    Netflix recently revealed that its upcoming second season of House of Cards will be its first Ultra HD offering though few will likely view it that way for some time.

    These two streaming heavyweights, however, will no doubt usher in mainstream viewing of 4K video, even if it doesn’t happen for a while. The wheels are in motion.

    Image via jm3, Flickr Creative Commons