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LG Display unveils an 88-inch 8K OLED screen with built-in sound
It wouldn't be CES without a few exotic screens from LG Display, and the company is keen to deliver this year. To start, it's offering a dramatic upgrade to the Crystal Sound screen technology it unveiled back in 2017. The new version is an 88-inch, 8K OLED display (not pictured yet) whose panel produces 3.2.2-channel Dolby Atmos audio -- you'd not only have a great picture, but good-enough sound that you might not rush to buy your own speakers. LG Display hasn't outlined plans for the screen, but there's little doubt this would be most relevant for a future TV set.
What to expect at CES 2019
We're not quite done dusting off the glitter from our New Year's Day celebrations, but it's time to turn our attention once again to that other big event in January: the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Yes, the annual flurry of tech and gadgets returns to Las Vegas next week, and we'll be right there in the middle of it all to check out what's new. From smart homes to the biggest of big-screen TVs, here's a brief sneak peek at what we expect from this year's show.
LG's 2019 TVs add HDMI 2.1 and 8K
CES 2019 hasn't started yet, but LG is already drip-feeding information about this year's OLED and LCD TVs. While it didn't mention the rollable OLED we're expecting, it did list model numbers for two 8K sets, with an 88-inch Z9 OLED and SM99 8K LCD TV on the way. There's no word on price yet, but the big confirmation is that thanks to HDMI 2.1 ports, all of its 2019 OLED TVs and "selected" NanoCell LCD TVs will support high frame rate (HFR) 120fps video inputs. Other features in the new standard include an enhanced audio return channel (eARC) as well as variable refresh rate (VRR) and automatic low latency mode (ALLM) to keep gamers happy. If you're snagging one of the new 8K TVs, you'll just be pleased to know you won't have to plug in four HDMI cables to get everything connected. The NanoCell name is a new brand for LG's high-end LCD TVs (SM9X and SM8X) with enhanced color, viewing angles and thin bezels. As usual, LG is also talking up its AI capabilities with Thinq technology, and a new Prime Video button on its Magic Remote that ties in directly to Amazon's Alexa routines.
NVIDIA and RED bring 8K video editing to the masses
In case you needed another reminder that your 4K TV will soon be obsolete, RED and NVIDIA have unveiled software that will make 8K video editing feasible for more creators. The NVIDIA CUDA-powered REDCODE RAW SDK will enable apps that can play back 8,192 x 4,320 files from RED's Weapon and other cameras at 24 fps with no need for caching or proxies. Best of all, it can run on relatively cheap systems and NVIDIA's consumer gaming graphics cards.
The first 8K satellite TV broadcasts launched today in Japan
As scheduled, at 10 AM local time on December 1st Japanese TV networks began publicly broadcasting 4K and 8K channels via satellite. Even after a couple of years of testing, NHK is currently the only one pushing content at 8K with 22.2 channel sound. The first movie listed in its TV guide is 2001: A Space Odyssey, and the BBC reports that Warner Bros. rescanned the film's original 70mm negatives specifically for this broadcast.
NASA and the ESA release first 8K video from space
NASA and the European Space Agency have teamed up on a new video about astronauts in the International Space Station. But this one is a little different than the videos you've watched in the past because it's the first 8K ultra high definition video delivered by the agencies, shot with a Helium 8K camera from RED.
Panasonic unveils the first 8K camera with an 'organic' sensor
Earlier this year, Panasonic unveiled a so-called organic sensor that would give cameras better dynamic range and low-light sensitivity. Now, it has unveiled a camera to go with it, the AK-SHB810, which will be the world's first to pack an 8K organic sensor. Panasonic claims it will have a "wide dynamic range" compared to regular CMOS cameras, and packs a global shutter that records the entire image at once, eliminating so-called "jello" or rolling shutter.
Samsung's case for buying an 8K TV: Why wait?
Samsung and LG will forever be locked in a perpetual tug-of-war, and display tech is just one of the many fronts on which they tussle. Conference halls are their battleground, and at IFA this year, 8K TVs were their weapons. But where LG's model was a sneak peek at what may come to pass, Samsung's was ready to box up and sell. Speaking to Samsung execs this week, I asked them why on earth someone would by a 8K TV right now. Their case was simple: Why wouldn't they?
Samsung's 85-inch 8K TV is available to pre-order for $15,000
Samsung's gigantic 8K QLED TV is very nearly available in the US... and you might need to take out a loan to afford it. The company has opened up American pre-orders for the 85-inch Q900 ahead of its October 28th ship date, and it will cost you a staggering $15,000. While that's not the most expensive bleeding-edge set we've seen (remember when a 4K TV cost $20,000?), it still means monthly payments closer to what you'd expect for a car.
Sharp's 8K satellite receiver is ready for broadcasts to start in Japan
As we learned during IFA last month, the 8K hype train is here whether we're ready or not. In Japan everything is timed to coincide with the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, and as such broadcaster NHK is planning to kick off hybrid 4K/8K broadcasts beginning December 1st. Assuming you have access to an 8K TV or projector, you'll need a box to actually catch and process the Super Hi-Vision video signal, and fortunately Sharp has one ready to connect to its 8K TV that has been on sale since 2017.
8K TVs are coming, but ignore the hype
It's time to throw out your 4K TV, 8K is here! Well, not quite. At IFA in Berlin this week, Samsung, LG and TCL showed off their upcoming 8K sets. It's like a flashback to the early days of 4K in 2013 -- all of a sudden the video format we've been hearing about for years is finally gearing up to reach consumers. Samsung is planning to actually sell its 8K QLED TV, LG gave us a glimpse at the world's first 8K OLED TV. But is this actually a huge leap beyond 4K? That's where things get complicated.
LG shows off an 8K OLED and huge MicroLED TV, because Samsung
A few years ago it was curved TVs and 4K, but the never-ending game of LG vs. Samsung and who can create the most unnecessary display porn has moved on. Yesterday, Samsung showed off its first consumer-ready 8K QLED TV at IFA, but LG wasn't going to let its Korean nemesis take all the super-ultra-high-definition glory. And so today LG announced its own 88-inch 8K OLED panel, which is, naturally, a "world's first" because there's little reason for it to exist right now. There's no price or release date or really any information whatsoever on the TV because it's basically just a technical exercise, and because it's 3 inches bigger than the biggest Samsung TV, LG kinda won, I guess? And yes, it looks incredible.
Samsung's 8K QLED TV looks great, but who needs it?
Samsung's 8K ambitions became a bit more real today with the announcement of the Q900R, its first 8K QLED set that you'll be able to buy. It's the company's follow-up to the Q9S concept we saw at CES, complete with the same AI processing to upscale content into something resembling 8K. That feature is particularly important, since it gives Samsung a reason to deliver an 8K TV before there's any real content available. Based on my short time ogling the Q900R at Samsung's IFA booth, it certainly looks great. But at the end of the day, I wonder who really needs it.
Samsung unveils an 8K QLED TV you'll actually be able to buy
Back at CES, Samsung gave us a glimpse at the Q9S 8K TV, which notably used artificial intelligence to upscale content to 8K. That was cool, but it was just a concept. During its IFA presentation today, the company unveiled its first 8K QLED TV that'll actually be available for purchase: The Q900R. It loses the easel-like design of the concept for a more traditional stand but it packs in many of the same features, including a real 8K resolution and AI upscaling. Samsung claims the set will also feature a 4,000 nit peak brightness, as well as support for the HDR10+ standard, which can optimize content on the fly. The Q900R will be available in 65-inch, 75-inch, 82-inch and 85-inch sizes.
NVIDIA's Turing GPUs can process 8K video in real time
You and I won't likely be working with 8K video anytime soon, but a lot of the movies and YouTube videos we enjoy are shot in that format. NVIDIA announced that with camera company RED's help, it has solved one of the thorniest problems with 8K. The latest Quadro RTX Turing GPUs will support real-time 8K playback and effects, significantly speeding up workflow for video editors, compositors and colorists. Eventually, the tech will make it possible for all of us to play videos in 8K glory, once we graduate to supported monitors and TVs.
Apple's rumored AR headset may pack 8K displays and VR support
Those rumors of Apple making an augmented reality headset just got a little more concrete. A CNET source claimed that the stand-alone device (codenamed T288) would also support virtual reality, and would have an 8K display for each eye. For reference, even the HTC Vive Pro is limited to 'just' 1,440 x 1,600 per eye. If this is accurate, Apple could effectively eliminate the screen door effect you often get with current VR, where the proximity of the display lets you see the gaps between pixels. The improved realism might also help fend off motion sickness for some wearers.
Samsung shows record profits despite weak demand for mobile OLED
With its latest earnings report, Samsung notched its fourth straight quarter showing record operating profits of $14.4 billion. As predicted, that's mostly due to the memory chips it makes that go inside its phones as well as many other devices, but the most notable element of the report might be its warning of slow OLED sales. Samsung makes the OLED screen fronting Apple's iPhone X, and like other iPhone suppliers, its results imply that shipments and demand have been lower than anticipated. Still, Samsung appears to be expecting a follow-up version in the second half of this year when "OLED panels in the smartphone industry are expected to see a rebound in demand." Apple will report its earnings May 1st, although it doesn't usually provide information on sales of specific iPhone models. As far as its own devices, sales of the Galaxy S9 family were strong along with unexpectedly high numbers for the outgoing Galaxy S8. That's all while Samsung prepares for its next flagship phone later this year, which should be a new Galaxy Note. In TVs, sales were slightly down, but we're keeping an eye on updates about the stunning 8K and MicroLED Wall displays shown off at CES. According to the report, those are both still in the works for a launch in the second half of this year.
Adobe Premiere makes it easier to edit Insta360 Pro footage
Insta360's more affordable 8K VR camera was made available for pre-orders in 2017, with a major software update in December of that same year that kicked the high-end 360-degree camera's image processing up a notch. The camera got a stamp of approval from Google last year, too, which gives you the power to contribute to the tech giant's Street View mapping with the device. Now Adobe just made editing 360 video captured with the Insta360 Pro much easier with a new plugin for Adobe Premiere Pro CC.
NHK is ready to shoot slow motion 8K video
TV broadcasters are still wrapping their heads around 8K, but that isn't stopping NHK from pushing the technology forward. The Japanese industry giant is coming to the annual NAB trade show with a slew of 8K inventions, headlined by a high-speed camera. It's not exactly portable, but it can shoot 240 frames per second -- ideal for slow motion sports footage or reduced motion blur at full speed. Appropriately, there's dedicated hardware for stretching out playback at the extra-high resolution.
RED and Sharp team up on 8K monitor technology
Cinema camera company RED is working with Sharp on new 8K technology, according to Phil Holland, a cinematographer who works closely with RED. He has been testing an unreleased, prototype 70-inch 8K TV, and comparing it against a Sharp 4K model using 8K aerial footage he shot in LA. From seven feet away, "which is within the ideal viewing distance for a 70-inch screen based on THX's numbers," the difference is like "looking at a decent fine art print versus a really good one," he said.
