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JBL's first Dolby Atmos soundbar has detachable speakers
Ahead of CES this week, JBL has unveiled its first Dolby Atmos-compatible soundbar. The JBL Bar 9.1 features four Dolby Atmos drivers that point upwards to bounce audio around the room.
HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HLG: How does HDR work?
With 4K now firmly in place as the standard for most new TV's, high dynamic range, or HDR, video is starting to move from being an enthusiast curiosity to the next big thing in home media. HDR content looks vibrant, crisp and can be a bigger upgrade than 4K, but what's done to make those great images? Part of the confusion is that HDR isn't one thing, it's at least 4 different technology standards being unevenly applied by about the same number of competing video formats. These video standards, with opaque names like Rec2020 and SMPTE 2084, build on dozens of previous standards, going back to black-and-white CRT televisions and the dawn of broadcast. In short, it's all kind of a mess.
Motorola is making Android TVs too
Shortly after smartphone company OnePlus launched a TV, rival Motorola has decided to do the same. In partnership with Indian e-commerce site FlipKart, Motorola India unveiled Motorola TV, a range of smart TVs with IPS technology in sizes ranging from 32 to 65 inches. The sets will pack in a lot of tech, including Dolby Vision and HDR 10, while running Android 9.0 and shipping with a wireless Android TV gamepad.
Samsung brings its HDR10+ tech to 8K TVs
Samsung has announced that it will support 8K HDR10+ streaming, meaning 8K movies and other content will have richer colors and deeper blacks on 8K TVs. It said that three European OTT streaming services, Chili, The Explorers and Megogo, will adopt 8K HDR10+ to go along with their 4K HDR10+ content. This is a mostly symbolic announcement for now, as none of those services offer 8K streaming of any kind right now and hardly anyone owns an 8K TV.
A look inside Dolby Vision and Atmos at CES
It's hard to believe, but we've only been talking about Dolby's Vision and Atmos tech for a few years. Now they're not only inside most of the TV and home theater devices we discuss, but also connect experiences across game consoles, headphones and even laptops. We took a quick trip to the company's CES booth to see how it's grown in the last year and where it might be going. Innovative uses of its HDR technology in Alfonso Cuaron's Roma and spatial audio applied to gaming experiences like Tomb Raider provide a pretty good hint.
Dell's XPS 13 is its first laptop with Dolby Vision
As it does nearly every CES, Dell has unveiled its latest, revamped XPS 13 laptops. Last year's models were already solid, but there are a few welcome changes. The webcam has been redesigned and is now on the top again, so you'll no longer look like Boris Karloff on Skype calls. Dell managed to shrink the bezels to 4mm and fit it into the size of an 11-inch laptop, despite the 13.3-inch display. And one of the screen options is a full HDR 4K Ultra HD version (3,840 x 2,160) that supports Dolby Vision -- the first for a Dell laptop -- which pumps out 400 nits of brightness.
Panasonic's GZ2000 4K OLED TV is for color accuracy fanatics
After alluding to it during its press conference, Panasonic has unveiled the GZ2000, a 4K OLED TV aimed at folks who want very accurate colors. Available in 55- and 65-inch models, it'll support both Samsung's HDR10+ and Dolby Vision for high dynamic range (HDR) video. Panasonic said that its engineers customized the "bespoke" panel to control parameters like brightness and contrast handling. On top of that, it was tuned by one of Hollywood's top colorists, Stefan Sonnenfield, who worked on Wonder Woman and A Star is Born, among other titles.
Inside Dolby and Odeon's mission to revive a British cinematic icon
Trips to the movies are just the worst, with exorbitant prices, endless trailers, bad seats and, of course, the other people. Attendances in the UK are flat and dwindling in the US as more folks choose to stay at home. As gimmicks like 3D fizzle, the cinema industry may be waking up to the fact that it needs to up its game -- or become second fiddle to Netflix. Which is probably why a British cinema chain decided to team up with Dolby to revive a once-loved "Cathedral of the movies."
The UK's first Dolby Cinema to open in London
London's iconic Odeon Leicester Square cinema has already firmly established itself in the silver screen history books, having hosted more than 700 film premieres since its opening in 1937. Now, it's getting another accolade. Following an 11-month, multi-million pound refurbishment, the cinema will re-open its doors this Christmas, complete with the UK's very first Dolby Cinema.
Microsoft is rolling out Xbox Avatars today
Xbox is rolling out its October update today, which will bring a number of new features that that have been in testing until now. First, the Xbox skills for Cortana and Alexa are now available. Using the skills, you'll be able to turn your console on and off, adjust the volume, launch games and apps, start and stop Mixer broadcasts and capture screenshots with just your voice. Just head to the Alexa and Cortana skill stores to find the skill and get started.
Dolby Vision HDR is ready for testing on Xbox One
Microsoft promised Dolby Vision HDR support for the Xbox One and starting today, testers with an Xbox One S or Xbox One X (and a compatible 4K TV) can try it out with Netflix streaming. Dolby's expansion on HDR10 -- that already drastically improves the capabilities for lighting and contrast -- adds 12-bit color support plus features for content publishers to adjust settings for the best lighting and color in each scene. Most owners of Ultra HD TVs with Dolby Vision and 4K probably already have an app built-in that will stream the right content, but now they can enjoy it without switching back and forth. There's still no word on support for Dolby Vision-ready 4K Blu-ray discs, but at least this step is done.
Vizio's feature-packed P-series 4K TVs go on sale
Vizio set the hearts of AV lovers aflutter earlier this year when it announced its newest lineup of 4K TVs. The almost overwhelmingly-large range features full-array backlighting, vast color spectrums, Dolby Vision, voice activation and smart home controls, with prices ranging from $350 to $2,600. Some of the models hit the shelves straight away, while would-be buyers were made to wait for others, namely the P-series, which has now finally arrived in stores.
Ultra HD group outlines next generation of 4K TV broadcasts
The concept of 4K TV broadcasting is only just getting off the ground, but its overseers are already planning for what comes next. The Ultra HD Forum has published its first "Phase B" guidelines detailing what companies should aim for with future 4K broadcast tech. Not surprisingly, high frame rates should play a major role -- the group is hoping for 100FPS and 120FPS video (depending on the region) with a fallback for 60FPS. It's also pushing for dynamic HDR video through formats like Dolby Vision and SL-HDR, while Dolby AC-4 and MPEG-H would provide audio that could adapt from elaborate 3D sound setups to a plain set of headphones.
Dolby's plan for 2018 includes Atmos and Vision in more places
It's no surprise that many companies are touting Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos in products announced at CES. You're making a safe bet if you assume that's an annual occurrence. However, there's always something unique about the devices that carry Dolby's visual and audio tech, and this year is no different. Here's a quick rundown of what was announced in Vegas and what Dolby has in store for 2018.
Sony's 2018 4K TVs keep the focus on OLED, HDR and Android
Last year Sony kicked off the year by adding OLED and HDR to its lineup, then later pushed Google's Assistant AI as an upgrade for its Android TV platform. In 2018 the company is sticking to those basics on its latest 4K TVs with a few tweaks. It will once again offer OLED TVs in 55- and 65-inch sizes, this time with an updated version of its technology that broadcasts sound directly from the display itself. Now dubbed "Acoustic Surface," this A8F series appears to pack the upgraded version of Crystal Sound that LG Display is showing off, with support for 3.1 channels of audio instead of the A1E's 2.1. There's no word yet on price, but last year's models launched at $5,000 and $6,500, and currently sell for around $3,000/$4,000.
TCL's 6-Series Roku TVs sport a metal design, 4K and Dolby Vision HDR
Building off of the success of its budget-friendly P-Series TVs, TCL is teaming up with Roku again on new 4K HDR sets for 2018. First up, the company has introduced its 6-Series premium line, which feature a slim, metal design, Dolby Vision and will be available in 55- and 65-inch models. The 6-Series models also come with a new Roku TV voice remote, 802.11ac WiFI, Ethernet and three HDMI 2.0a ports. TCL says that its latest TVs are designed to be a powerhouse in image quality, with things like a Contrast Control Zone Technology and an HDR Pro Gamma that's meant to reproduce the smallest of details in the darkest and brightest scenes.
Hisense plans to launch more versions of its Laser TV
At the end of last year Hisense launched the $10,000, one-hundred-inch 4K Laser TV projector first introduced at CES 2017. This year, it's continuing to push that idea of a home theater in a box. According to President Liu Hongxin, the company has more sizes in development (80- and 88-inch sizes will be in its booth) and already commands 60 percent of the market share for 85 inches and above. As far as regular TVs go, the company once again has a wide range of LED-lit LCD televisions ranging in size and price. However, the biggest change is that there's no mention of Roku built in. This time around the high-end H10E (pictured above, which features more than 1,000 zones of LED lighting) and H9E Plus series feature Android TV, while its other models are based on the Hisense TV Platform. That platform includes apps for Netflix, Amazon, Pandora, YouTube and Fox Sports Go. All of them are Amazon Alexa-enabled with voice control access, while the Android models also support Google Assistant. What we don't see in the lineup is any mention of Roku, which isn't too surprising, since those TVs were hard to find last year.
Philips launches new 4K TVs with Dolby Vision HDR
If you're building a 4K TV with HDR, then you have to pick a side: Dolby Vision or HDR10+. Philips is squarely in the former camp. This year, the company is expanding support for the standard, launching a new line of displays that will offer deeper, richer, Dolby-rendered colors. The 69- and 59-series televisions come in a variety of sizes running from 43 inches through 75 inches, and all offer Philips' NetTV smart TV platform. Other bullets on the spec list include macro dimming, wide color gamut, dual-band 802.11ac WiFi and HDMI 2.0a with HDCP 2.2.
Samsung adds another ally in its battle over HDR standards
This isn't exactly taking it back to the days of HD-DVD vs. Blu-ray, but Samsung's fight to push HDR10+ as an alternative to Dolby Vision is heating up. We have more details on how the two standards compare right here, but one main feature is that both improve on regular HDR10 by allowing content makers to dynamically adjust settings from one scene to another, or even from one frame to another.
LG has steep Black Friday discounts on its premium OLED TVs
Even if you don't follow 4K TV technology closely, you probably know that OLED TVs have the best picture available and that they're hella expensive. If you've been drooling over one but don't quite have the cash, now might be the time to pounce, as LG is offering all of its 2017 models with deep discounts for Black Friday starting today.
