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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.
The BBC will stream the World Cup in 4K and VR, but not to all
The BBC is finally embracing live 4K. After a run of very limited tests back in 2014 and the recent FA Cup Final, the revered broadcasting institution plans on proving its mettle by showing the FIFA World Cup live to audiences in Ultra HD and virtual reality. It'll be the first time the Beeb has shown a live tournament in this way, and it's a heck of a tournament to start with.
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.
Epix is the first US network to stream 4K content within its apps
If you're about eye-watering clarity when it comes to home entertainment, get yourself an Epix subscription. The network has announced that from today it'll be offering Ultra HD content on its platform -- the first such offering from any premium network in the US. The service launches with a select number of movies and original programs, including a raft of old-school James Bond films and newer additions such as Arrival, Star Trek Beyond, Transformers: The Last Knight and the Epix original series Get Shorty.
Sky Q is getting better personalisation features and Spotify
All of a sudden, Sky has become the prize in a bidding war between US media giants Fox and Comcast, but for now, it's business as usual on the ground. The pay-TV provider has today announced a number of new features coming to its Sky Q service, primarily focused on making the user experience more personalised. Machine learning will begin to play a more important role throughout -- surfacing different TV shows depending on the time of day, for example. The sports tab is also becoming better tailored, assessing your viewing habits and liaising with the Sky Sports app so it knows your favourite events and teams.
Canon launches the EOS M50, its first 4K mirrorless camera
Canon has responded to criticism of the lack of 4K in all but it's high-end DSLRs by launching the EOS M50, its first mirrorless M-series camera with Ultra HD 4K video. Packing a new DIGIC 8 processor, the 24.1-megapixel, APS-C model can shoot 3,840 x 2,160 video at 24 fps, or 1080p video at 60 fps. At $780/£540 (body only) Canon says the M50 is now its "entry-level" M-series camera. Since it's the only one with 4K, that presents an awkward dilemma for potential buyers of the top-end EOS M5 and M6 models.
Westinghouse's 43-inch 4K Android TV set costs $350
Perhaps one of the best developments for tech consumers over the past few years has been the arrival of cheap, surprisingly feature-rich 4K TVs from companies like Vizio. That trend continues this year at CES 2018, as Westinghouse has unveiled a series of 4K models with Android TV starting at just $350. Don't expect miracles in terms of picture quality, but it's definitely a cheap way to get Netflix streaming, smart home control, Google Cast and other features.
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.
Hisense's $10,000 'Laser TV' is a true home cinema in box
Hisense announced a new theater system today -- the 100-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart Laser TV -- which is essentially a projector with speakers. The company says it uses movie theater technology to provide crisp, bright images that don't depend on the lighting in the room and Harman Kardon speakers to provide "room-filling sound with virtually no distortion."
Roku’s new UK players include an £80 4K streaming stick
Roku is a big name in home entertainment kit, but the UK market hasn't exactly been the company's top priority. In fact, aside from a regional mobile app update earlier this year, the last we heard from Roku was back in 2015, when the upgraded Roku 2 player was released over here. Earlier this month, the company launched a five-strong range of new players in the US, but it's decided Americans aren't to have all the fun. Two of those devices are hitting UK shores on October 18th, including the £80 Streaming Stick+, which boasts support for 4K and HDR streaming at up to 60 fps.
Apple TV 4K starts at £179 in the UK
The makers of most popular streaming pucks made the jump to Ultra HD some time ago, and today Apple has finally caught up. As expected, Apple announced the new Apple TV 4K, which plays nice with both high-resolution content and the high dynamic range standards HDR10 and Dolby Vision. It'll be available to buy in the UK for £179 for the 32GB model and £199 for the 64GB version on September 15th, with shipping starting a week later on September 22nd. The fourth-gen Apple TV (32GB) will continue to be sold for £149.
Disney's first 4K Blu-ray will be 'Guardians of the Galaxy 2'
At last, Disney is getting into Ultra HD movie releases. Fans of the studio's flicks have been stuck in 1080p for the last couple of years even as other studios have released 4K movies via streaming, downloads and disc. Now Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 director James Gunn has confirmed on Facebook that his movie will be the first one from Disney released in 4K and HDR -- especially welcome thanks to the sharp image and vivid colors captured by using Red's Weapon 8K camera. According to Gunn, "4K UltraHD is almost certainly the best way you can see this movie at home - with more definition and the most vibrant colors possible on your home screen, and with the brightest brights and the blackest blacks. A being composed of light truly appears to be a being composed of light!"
Sharp will reportedly start building OLED TV panels next year
Now that Sharp is under new ownership by Foxconn, it may have big plans for a return to TV prominence. In a move that could explain a sudden push to recover the use of its name from Hisense, the Japanese company apparently has a plan to add OLED TV production lines at one of its plants next year. The Japan Times reports that at a cost of 57.4 billion yen ($515 million US), it could have production operation at two plants in the spring of 2018. While one would work on small and medium screens for phones (like, maybe a new iPhone?) and laptops, the other would focus on TVs, where LG dominates the segment, producing OLED panels for its own TVs as well as other brands.
Verizon plans to test 4K TV for its FiOS customers
Verizon has been relatively late to 4K TV (its competitors hopped aboard a while back), but it's at least making up for lost time. The carrier and its partner SES have confirmed that they'll soon test 4K delivery to FiOS TV customers. There's no mention of when this dry run will begin (an IPTV launch may be coming later in 2017), but it'll include nine channels that will serve more as a proof of concept than anything. NASA TV will be the highlight, but you can also expect 4K Universe, C4K60, Fashion One 4K, Insight, Nature Relaxation, Travelxp 4K, UHD1 and SES' own demonstration channel.
Vizio's new entry-level 4K TVs make HDR accessible
Vizio's higher-priced HDR-capable TVs aren't exactly pricey, but you now have some truly low-cost options if you're just looking for the basics. The company has launched its 2017 E-Series line, and the emphasis this time is on making high dynamic range video accessible to many more people. As long as you buy a 55-inch set or larger, you're getting both 4K and HDR -- not bad when that means paying as little as $550. While you aren't going to get the best HDR compatibility or visual quality (no Dolby Vision HDR or quantum dots here), you at least won't have to pay a premium to see what the fuss is about.
Google preps a 4K set-top box for Fiber homes
Google Fiber looks ready to release a new 4K set-top box with WiFi support, despite scaling back its operations and not having very many video subscribers at all. An FCC listing has revealed a "4K wireless TV box" from Google with Bluetooth 4.1 and WiFi bands operating in the 5GHz and 2.4GHz spectrum. If accurate, it would be the Google's first TV streaming box equipped with WiFi and 4K for the latest generation of TVs.
The first Ultra HD Blu-ray PC drive ships next month
More and more, we're getting our movies and TV via streaming services instead of on disc. But a certain DIY crowd still appreciates support for physical media piped through a home theater PC, and that's the group the first Ultra HD Blu-ray drive is made for. Pioneer Japan announced two disc drives, the BDR-S11J-BK and the BDR-S11J-X that it will release in late February, ready to read the triple-layer 4K-ready discs.
I want Sony's new 4K OLED TV in my home
Sony didn't have too much to show at CES this year, but it did come packing one surprise: a new, absurdly thin and sharp 4K TV. The horrifically named XBR-A1E (try remembering that one a few minutes from now) features a 55-inch, 65-inch or 77-inch OLED panel capable of spitting out Ultra HD and high dynamic range (HDR) with ease. The most intriguing part, however, is "Acoustic Surface," which integrates the speaker into the screen itself. That's possible because of how ridiculously thin the set is. In fact, LG Display took a similar approach with its Crystal Sound prototype.
Hisense's laser projector promises a 100-inch 4K screen for $13K
After a few years of absence, laser projectors are back: First LG announced one, and now Hisense has, too. Unlike LG's 1080p beamer, however, this short-throw projector can display a 100-inch 4K image from just a few inches away, and 2,700 lumens that will make it usable in the daytime. Dubbed 4K Laser Cast TV, the package is HDR-compatible and will include a 5.1 audio system when it goes on sale this summer.
LG Display's new OLED TV panels bake in the sound system
It wouldn't be CES without LG Display wheeling out its latest panel tech and forward-looking prototypes. This year is no different, with the company announcing it's got all kinds of displays to show off at the convention, including transparent and double-sided OLED numbers. LG Display, which makes the panels that end up in consumer TVs sold by other firms such as LG proper, is also introducing new, "paper-thin" 65- and 77-inch Ultra HD Wallpaper OLED screens intended for wall-mounted sets. "Crystal Sound OLED" is by far the most interesting new tech the company has developed, though, as the 55- and 65-inch Ultra HD panels feature an integrated sound system.
