upscaling
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Adobe's new upscaling tech uses AI to sharpen video
Adobe has unveiled VideoGigaGAN, an experimental AI feature that can upscale video by eight times without the usual artifacts like flickering or distortion.
Microsoft plans to streamline game upscaling across different graphics cards
Microsoft has developed a new API to simplify super-resolution coding in PC gaming. The company’s DirectSR will provide unified entry and exit points for developers to tap into Nvidia, AMD and Intel’s three distinct approaches to graphical upscaling in Windows games.
NVIDIA’s DLSS 3.5 brings upgraded ray-tracing to Cyberpunk 2077 this week
The latest version of NVIDIA's DLSS upscaling tech debuts this week with enhanced ray-tracing capabilities. Cyberpunk 2077 is the first game to employ it.
MetalFX is Apple's take on upscaling tech for games
'Resident Evil Village,' 'Grid Legends' and 'No Man's Sky' are all coming to Mac.
‘No Man’s Sky’ update brings buildable AI mechs and improves the Sentinels
The first big patch of 2022 adds Steam Deck touch controls too.
'Horizon Zero Dawn' now supports NVIDIA and AMD upscaling on PC
Sony also revealed the PC specs and features for 'God of War.'
AI has remastered Rick Astley's 'Never Gonna Give You Up' in glorious 4K
Rickrolling will never be the same.
NVIDIA wants to make video calls better with AI
Its Maxine platform can sharpen audio and video, and reduce bandwidth.
Meet the Upscalers
Fans across the world are using technology to bring low-res video entertainment up to HD standards. Meet the Upscalers.
How AI helped upscale an antique 1896 film to 4K
When the 50-second silent short film L'Arrivée d'un train en gare de La Ciotat premiered in 1896, some theatergoers reportedly ran for safety at the sight of a projected approaching train, thinking that a real one would burst through the screen at any moment, Looney Tunes-style. A wild thought, given the blurry, low-resolution quality of the original film. Thankfully those panicky cinephile pioneers never saw the AI-enhanced upscaled version released by Denis Shiryaev, or they would have absolutely flipped their lids.
Why your Avengers UHD Blu-rays aren’t actually 4K
Welcome to the latest episode of Upscaled, our explainer show where we look at the components and parts that make our favorite tech better. In this week, we're actually taking a step away from components to talk about 4K movies and TV. As companies push higher resolution screens and cameras, 4K resolution has become the standard for high-quality content. Distributors have also embraced high-resolution, with 4K streaming becoming more common on platforms like Netflix and Amazon, and Ultra HD Blu-Rays generally considered to be the best video quality you can get at home.
Google's new image compression tech is actually pretty cool
In a bid to save you precious mobile data, Google has developed a technique that improves image quality without taking up more bandwidth. Entitled RASIR (Rapid and Accurate Super Image Resolution) this impressive software quickly reads large photos and manages to replicate them using a quarter of the pixels. RASIR achieves this by analyzing both low and high-quality versions of the same image. As it reads the image, it learns from the superior version and applies filters to its low-res counterpart that simulate extra detail, creating a convincing data-friendly replica of the original high-res photo.
JVC reveals e-Shift2 4K scaling projectors, promises true 4K LCDs for under $20k
At CEDIA 2012 JVC showed off its 2012 line of home theater projectors, most which feature its e-Shift2 technology, a new version of the "4K precision" upconversion it introduced last year. While they are not capable of accepting a 4K source (not that you have any 4K Blu-ray discs lying around anyway), they work by creating two 1080p frames from the HD source, shifting one down and to the right. e-Shift2 promises higher native contrast and improved processing over its predecessor thanks to a new polarizing wire grid engine and updated algorithms. All of the new projectors are 3D capable with RF-connected active shutter glasses, and there's a new smartphone app available for controlling settings without interrupting viewing. Of course, a 130,000:1 native contrast ratio doesn't come cheap and the top of the line DLA-X95R/DLA-RS66 models sporting the spec have a pricetag of $11,999. Of course, if you're looking for the 4K upscaling for a (relative) bargain, the DLA-X55R/DLA-RS48 can be had for just a hair under $5,000. That's not all JVC had to display however, as it also brought along one "early pre-production model" of an 84-inch UHDTV it plans to release in the first quarter of 2013. Like its projectors, it will come in both home theater and professional trim branded the RS-840UD and PS-840UD. It may be a price beater as well since JVC is targeting a sub-$20k price tag for both models, which would be well shy of the $25k set Sony just announced. Unlike some of the other 4K screens we've seen it does not include any 3D support, which may be a part of the lower cost. We got a quick peek at the display and the picture looked as sharp and punchy as we've come to expect, and even had less glare than other displays we've seen. Check out all of the prices and specs after the break, and bring your wallet.
This is what native 4K home cinema looks like on Sony's VPL-VW1000ES projector
Why are folks so keyed up about 4K? At first glance, that's the type of question that answers itself: by definition, a 4096-pixel wide image delivers around four times the resolution of 1920 x 1080, and that's a healthy multiple. It's actually of a broadly similar magnitude to the difference between 1080p and old-fashioned analog NTSC video, and nobody these days questions the value of that upgrade. On the other hand, there must come a point where pixels cease to be visible in a home theater environment, such that buying more of them at inflated prices stops being worth it. Sure, 4K can be a big help with 3D footage, because it boosts the resolution to each eye -- something we experienced with the REDray projector. But what about regular 2D material, which is still very much the default viewing option? That question's been nagging at us, so when Sony invited us back for a second look at its 4K projector, the VPL-VW1000ES, this time with full-throttle native 4K source material rather than just upscaled 1080p, we turned up with a tape measure. Read on for what came next.
Sony 4K home cinema projector coming in January for £18,000
You were so happy with that 1080p projection spread across your garage wall. But then you got up to fetch a beer and noticed horrible fingernail-sized pixels all over Johnny Depp's mustache. The illusion promptly shattered and you realized it was time for an upgrade. An £18,000 (£17,612) upgrade, no less, which will render your Blu-rays bearable again by upscaling them to four times the resolution of Full HD and blasting them out at 2,000 lumens. We've seen the VPL-VW1000ES in action with 2D content from a PS3 and its 'Reality Creation' upscaling algorithm really does make a big difference, but if you absolutely insist on having native 4K video then you'll currently need to budget an extra £40,884 for a player. (Well, you insisted.)
Sony NGP confirmed to be backwards compatible with downloaded PSP games
There was a bit of confusion over what sort of backwards compatibility the Sony NGP would have when it was announced earlier this year, but it looks like that particular mystery's now been cleared up. Eurogamer reports that the NGP (or whatever it's eventually called) will be indeed compatible with existing PSP games -- of the downloadable variety only, of course. What's more, the site says that it has actually seen Resistance: Retribution demonstrated on the handheld, and that all PSP games are run via a software emulator that will let you turn upscaling on or off to suit your preference -- games will also be able to take advantage of the NGP's dual analog sticks (to control your character's view in Resistance, for instance). As Eurogamer notes, that sounds similar to Sony's remastering effort for PSP titles on the PS3, which also promises to add cross-device playability. Might the NGP also get in on that act? We should know more at E3 next week.
Sony to remaster select PSP titles for PlayStation 3, allow cross-device continuous gameplay
As much as you love your PSP, we suspect that its low graphics definition is starting to bug even the most devoted fans. Sure, you can wait for the almighty NGP, but for the time being, Sony's offering the next best thing for you game connoisseurs: the PSP Remaster series for PlayStation 3. As the name says for itself, Sony will be porting select portable game titles to the PS3 in high-def Blu-ray flavor, and some may even come with new add-on content plus stereoscopic 3D support. But that's not all: gamers will also be able to share game save data between the two platforms, meaning you can pick up where you left off on your preferred device. Pretty neat, though it'll be interesting to see how much Sony and the studios wants to charge for what are essentially the same games you already own. The first PSP Remaster title announced is Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, but this is only heading to Japan at an unknown date -- gamers in other countries will just have to keep squinting at the PSP for now.
Sony rolls out four more 3D-ready receivers
Sony just refreshed its lineup of non-ES AV receivers, adding four models available for less than $500 that all include 3D HDMI pass-through this time around and have at least six HD inputs each. All feature the BRAVIA Widget on-screen interface, while some include iPod docks, Faroudja DCDi Edge video upscaling, Sony Media Remote iOS / Android app control and other features. The top model is the DLNA-certified STR-DN1020 pictured above, it has all the checkboxes ticked, an MSRP of $500, and is due to arrive in May. Check out the details on the rest after the break.
PowerDVD 10 Ultra 3D Mark II update finally adds 3D Blu-ray support
If you're one of the 2 people who have lost sleep anticipating the Mark II update to Power DVD 10 after our previous post, it's time to relax. Support for 3D Blu-ray playback has officially been added and it's even certified by the Blu-ray Disc Association - a first for software players. To sweeten the pot, a new "Enhanced" version of TrueTheater 3D can now upconvert DVDs or just regular video files with basic 3D effects thanks to optimized GPU hardware acceleration or a high end CPU -- that is if you're willing to submit your eyes to watching it. Coinciding with this release, the company's free BD & 3D Advisor software has also been updated to help users assess what aspects of the Mark II's smorgasbord of video playback / upscaling updates their computer can handle. So if your machine has the hardware and you've been dying for more 3D content -- Blu-ray or otherwise -- consider your wish granted.
Mitsubishi's upconverting technology takes 1080p to 4K x 2K, you to cloud nine
So, there's good news and bad news, and we tend to prefer starting with the former. According to Akihabara News, Mitsubishi has whipped up an upscaling technology to end all upscaling technologies -- one that takes vanilla 1080p material to 4K x 2K without breaking a sweat. Now, for the less-than-awesome tidbit. For whatever reason, the tech is not yet compatible with Blu-ray content, and moreover, you're still nowhere close to being able to afford a 4K television or projector. Here's hoping this breakthrough makes 'em a wee bit more feasible for the layman, though.
