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Dolby Vision imaging finally comes home this fall with Netflix and Xbox Video as partners
Dolby's TV image-enhancement tech has been in development for a long time, and today the company is finally ready to show you when and where you'll find it. What we saw in December has been graced with the Vision name, and the outfit has promised we'll see TVs with it baked in this fall. What's more, Sharp and TCL have compatible hardware on display in their respective CES booths this week, and Amazon, Netflix, VUDU and Xbox Video are stepping up as content providers. Hit the Dolby link below for more information, and be sure to check back later this week for our latest impressions.
Vizio's HDTV plans for 2014 focus on Ultra HD, in sizes going all the way up to 120 inches
We took a peek at Vizio's CES 2014 booth and came away impressed with not only its current mainstream HDTV lines, but also what it's planning for the future. The current E- and M-series are rolling out now with features like smart apps (cribbed from its Co-Star LT platform) and local LED dimming backlighting that are usually reserved for higher-end HDTVs. It's also readying a number of new audio products, from those Android-packing Bluetooth speakers to its current soundbars and even an upcoming sound plate device that you can sit your TV on. Still, the models we think most will be the most interested in are Vizio's upcoming Ultra HD televisions. The P-Series holds its mainstream approach, with 64 zones of LED backlighting and a built-in CPU with two CPU cores and four GPU cores in sizes of 50, 55, 60, 65 and 70 inches. The custom Vizio design handles all the processing and per-pixel tuning needed to work at that high resolution, and the TVs even support the latest wireless tech like 802.11ac, and 4K streaming from sources like Amazon and Netflix when it's available. Vizio's most striking assault however, is planned at the extreme high end with its Reference Series. Consisting of two models -- a 65- and 120-inch versions -- they promise all the features of the others, plus an upgraded 384 zones of local dimming, Dolby HDR tech for unprecedented lighting and color quality, and an integrated 5.1 soundbar (with wireless subwoofer). We don't have prices or release dates for Vizio's 4K-ready TV lineup yet, but the company reminds us of its groundbreaking pricing history. That's enough to have us interested and thinking these may be some of the first cheap Ultra HD TVs worth purchasing -- assuming they debut in the second half of the year as planned.
Dolby demos new imaging tech that pushes more light to your television (eyes-on)
You may think your current HDTV is bright enough, but Dolby disagrees. The company, which is known more for its audio tech than its imaging capabilities, has been putting a lot of effort into developing a new type of imaging technology that offers up to 4,000 nits of backlight out of an LED panel. Compared to the TV standard of 100 nits, this is certainly a hefty improvement. Why is such a thing helpful? The 100-nit limit makes life difficult for filmmakers in post-production because they're not able to represent their masterpiece with perfectly accurate colors; there's only so much you can do to accurately portray the real world on such a limited budget of light. Bumping the display up to 4,000, however, allows the viewer to enjoy a much better experience. Dolby showed us a prototype of this experimental tech, which we're told will likely be exhibited at CES next month (either in prototype or in a consumer product, though this will be up to individual manufacturers). The 2K panel sat next to a production monitor that many filmmakers use as their current reference -- in other words, what they use for viewing their footage before it goes through the process of compression and other tweaks -- and the difference was night and day. Despite the fact that both monitors have the same resolution, the prototype (on the left in the above image) offered far more realistic colors, higher dynamic range and more contrast sensitivity, all of which were factors that created a fantastic viewing experience. As an example, the skies were bluer on the new monitor, and clouds that were barely noticeable on the production model actually popped out far more accurately on the prototype. We're told that the new imaging technology has already been shown off to key filmmakers in the industry, and that we'll likely see a lot more (including, we hope, an official name) on display at CES. Where it goes from there, Dolby tells us, is all up to manufacturers. And while we may see a lot more of this tech in the near future, there's no guarantee that other companies will build their monitors to the same spec (manufacturers aren't forced to go all the way up to 4,000 nits, for instance). Regardless, we'll happily take one when they start making their way into production.
Xbox One Dolby Digital 5.1 support for headsets coming post-launch
Xbox One-owning audiophiles will need to loop the Super Audio CD version of Dark Side of the Moon a few more times before the console is able to take full advantage of a high-end headset, as the console will not ship with Dolby Digital 5.1 support for devices connected to the Xbox One's optical port. A system update adding Dolby support for headsets will be released at some point after the system's launch. Microsoft's Director of Product Planning Albert Penello detailed the temporary limitation in a post at NeoGAF. "For the Dolby only headsets, my understanding is that these will work but you will only get stereo audio since we only pass Stereo and DTS through the optical port," Penello wrote. "I have not tested this myself, but I'm told it works. Regardless, I understand this is an inconvenience, but again we're going to have Dolby coming." Penello also addressed speculation regarding the console's rumored inability to produce HDMI-IN surround sound output at launch, explaining that players will need to opt in to beta surround sound support via the Xbox One's TV Settings menu. Otherwise, HDMI-IN audio is converted to stereo output by default. Penello notes: "We found some inconsistencies in [set top boxes] during testing and decided to disable it by default to insure a good initial setup experience for people."
Audio pioneer Ray Dolby passes away
We've sad news to report today in the world of audio: Ray Dolby has passed on. His death comes relatively soon after losing both Dr. Fritz Sennheiser and Dr. Amar Bose, and as with those two gentlemen, Dolby's legacy will continue to impact viewers and listeners around the globe for many years to come. Dolby founded Dolby Laboratories in 1965, seeking to provide a place for like-minded engineers to "push the limits of sight and sound," as is stated on the outfit's homepage. He is perhaps best known for the Dolby noise-reduction system, and in more modern times, for his company's iconic stamp on just about every major motion picture and piece of AV equipment known to man. Dolby's surround sound magic continues to lead the industry, with Dolby 3D and Dolby Atmos as its latest contributions. Ray Dolby was 80 years old, and is survived by his wife Dagmar as well as sons Tom and David. A tribute video compiled by Dolby Labs can be found after the break.
Mad Catz F.R.E.Q. 7 gaming headset pushes the EQ side, adds virtual 7.1 sound
Mad Catz launched the F.R.E.Q. 5 gaming headset just over a year ago, and it's already skipping two model numbers ahead to the F.R.E.Q. 7. What justifies the out-of-order sequencing? The Dolby Pro Logic IIx processing, mostly. The pseudo-surround effect widens stereo and 5.1-channel signals to 7.1 channels for gamers who want the greater audio precision. Appropriately enough for its name, the F.R.E.Q. 7 also brings software-driven EQ to emphasize voice or music in computer games, as well as separate volume adjustment for chat and the main action. Pre-orders for the USB- and 3.5mm-friendly headset are available in red, white and two styles of black at $200, although you'll have to wait until the start of Mad Catz's fiscal 2014 -- after March, for non-accountants -- before it reaches your door.
Sennheiser gets back in the (video)game, refreshes renowned PC360, PC350 headsets (update)
Sure, many gamers will choose between the likes of Turtle Beach, Astro and Tritton for their headset needs, but let's not forget about Sennheiser. While the German headphone-maker hasn't announced anything too exciting for audiophile gamers in last few years, that's changed here at CES 2013. The ever-popular, and impressive sounding, PC350 and PC360 have finally been refreshed with features for times as the P350 Special Edition and the PC363D -- keep reading for the juicy details. Aside from some aesthetic tweaks, the two headsets continue to sport the look found on its HD500 series audiophile headphones. As such, both units are still wired, stereo headsets at their cores, loaded with swiveling boom microphones -- although non-removeable, placing the booms in the up position serves to mute the mics. The PC350 Special Edition features a closed back design with folding earcups for travel like the original, but with improved sound. Sennheiser claims it's enhanced the audio using "Eargonomic Acoustic Refinement," which aims the drivers more precisely at your ear canals. "What about the PC363D," you ask? The headset has the same velour pads as the PC360, but the back of the earcups have vents instead of grills. The big news, however, is that the headset comes bundled with a Dolby decoder box for virtual 7.1 surround sound that hooks in through your USB port. Essentially, this spares you the need to pick up the likes of a pricey Astro MixAmp or Turtle Beach DSS. (Correction: looks like this is going to be computer-only, folks.) The headsets will be available this month, with no word on pricing as of this writing. Check out the press release after the break for more in the meantime. Update: Despite Sennheiser claiming that these headsets officially launched at CES, some of our readers pointed out that both have been quietly available for at least some weeks now. Currently, Amazon US has the PC350 SE priced at $350, while its UK site has the PC363D set at £209.99 (roughly $337). We've pinged the company for clarification. Update 2: A rep from the company confirmed that Amazon has had a quiet exclusive on the headsets for about the past two months, noting they'll now be released to retailers in general.
Sony, Universal and Warner to use Dolby Digital Plus audio for UltraViolet common file format encodes
Although the UltraViolet common file format (CFF) was supposed to offer the promise of download once, play anywhere sometime in 2012, that year is behind us. There is some hope that 2013 will indeed be the year your UltraViolet Digital copies, that were bundled with a disc or upgraded via a disc-to-digital program, as Dolby has proudly announced that three of the major studios have chosen Dolby Digital Plus (aka E-AC-3) as their audio codec of choice for their CFF encodes. Essentially this means the most efficient surround sound codec will give them the ability to deliver high quality downloadable versions of your movies with up to 7.1 surround sound. The following press release stops short of specific dates and titles, but we are promised thousands of movies and TV series from Sony, Universal and Warner when UltraViolet CFF launches later this year. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Acer CloudMobile review: an ambitious Android phone that arrived a little too late
More Info Acer CloudMobile hands-on at MWC 2012 Acer CloudMobile moves to China, dumps Android for Aliyun Acer CloudMobile available in the UK at long last, is priced at £290 It's been a while since we last took a look at a smartphone from Acer. Today's offering -- the S500 CloudMobile -- however, might not be all that unfamiliar, having first met our eyes way back at MWC in spring. This time around Acer presents us with a leaner, slicker, much more design-conscious handset, one that isn't just about the pretty looks, either. With a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus processor, 1GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel camera and a 720p display, all for £289 SIM-free, it's pitched against similarly specced phones like the HTC One S. In short, it's yet another alternative for people seeking a full-featured smartphone, except it comes without the pocket-draining price tag. More importantly for Acer, however, is the chance to get back onto people's smartphone radars. So, now that the CloudMobile has gently drifted over our shores, does it have us looking to the sky, or putting on our raincoats of indifference? Read on to find out.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey to receive the Dolby Atmos treatment
The CinemaCon crowd may not have been keen on 48fps footage of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, but we defy anyone to say they don't want the best sound possible. A select few will get just that, as Dolby and Peter Jackson's own Park Road Post Production have announced the film will be mixed for the speaker-packed Atmos technology. If you're lucky enough to live near one of the select establishments it's installed in, we doubt you'll be grumbling about the immersive audio, even if the frame rate makes those orcs look unsettlingly real. Update: That link of "select establishments" is somewhat out of date and, although the official list of locations you'll be able to see The Hobbit in Atmos has yet to be released, Dolby says there should be between 80 and 100 screens capable of delivering the over-the-top audio experience by the film's debut.
ZTE Anthem 4G unveiled for MetroPCS, has us singing a dual-core, LTE tune for $219
Although ZTE is no stranger to the US, it hasn't been as quick to embrace LTE-based 4G as some of its rivals. The new Anthem 4G for MetroPCS puts the company back in sync, and then some. In addition to the faster speeds, the company's first American LTE phone touts a comparatively speedy dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor, a 4.3-inch, 800 x 480 screen and perks like HDMI video output with Dolby Surround sound. Our only immediate reservation is the use of Android 2.3, which really shouldn't be on any shipping devices almost two years after it first left Google's doors. Any takers may forgive the old software when they see their bill, though -- the Anthem 4G's $219 contract-free price will put it at the more affordable end of MetroPCS' spectrum when it arrives sometime within the next few weeks.
UltraViolet movie format to use Dolby Digital Plus encoding, keep sound thumping across platforms
Movies encoded in UltraViolet's Common File Format represent just one of multiple takes on paid internet video -- what's to make them stand out? The answer might just be Dolby Digital Plus audio encoding, which should be a staple feature of CFF from now on. A newly ready development kit lets producers feed the multichannel sound to hardware and apps that can recognize it, including web-based avenues like Apple's HTTP Live Streaming, Microsoft's Smooth Streaming and MPEG's DASH. Just in case a few devices fall through the cracks, Dolby is talking directly with digital production firms like castLabs, Digital Rapids and Elemental Technologies to make sure the audio codec's implementation truly spans platforms. We don't know how soon movies will take advantage of the upgrade, but the Dolby addition lends weight to a fledgling format that might have as fierce a battle in home theaters as it does on PCs and tablets.
Tritton Warhead 7.1 two-way headset for Xbox 360 now shipping
Companies are no strangers to superlatives where new kit is concerned and Mad Catz is definitely no exception. With the release of its newest flagship, the Tritton Warhead 7.1, the outfit's claiming a novelty in the Xbox 360 space, labeling these cans as the "first... to deliver two-way communication" without the need for wires or controller adapters. Made specifically for Microsoft's green X gaming platform, the pair of 50mm drivers pump out Dolby 7.1 virtual surround sound over a 5.8GHz channel for up to 33ft of interference-free smack talk. The headset also offers gamers the ability to monitor their in-ear voice levels (SVM), control the volume of other players, as well as select EQ presets for a variety of media playback. And just so you never have to press pause to keep the friendly banter (read: cusses) flowing, the company's bundled in a dock and pair of of Li-ion batteries for "hot-swappable" recharging. These over-ears are available now for a cool $299 at BestBuy and the company's own site, so if you take your first-person action seriously, prepare to part with a few Benjamins. Official presser after the break.
Next generation of Dolby Digital Plus coming soon to tablets and phones, we go ears-on (video)
Whenever we review tablets, the section on audio quality is usually short, and it usually goes something like this: "The quality is tinny and the volume is low, especially since the speakers are located on the back side." (Translation: "What did you expect, people?") That's a shame, given how tablets are supposedly ideal for content consumption. Fortunately, though, this is something Dolby's been working on. The company is bringing a new version of its Digital Plus technology to tablets, phones and laptops with the aim of enhancing sound quality, and also making movie dialog easier to make out. In the demo video embedded after the break, for instance, that Galaxy Tab is cranked to full volume, but it's still hard to follow along with The Incredibles. With Digital Plus turned on, the conversation is easier to hear, and you can also parse background noises, like a phone ringing in an office. Right now, the technology is compatible with Windows 7, Win 8 and Android. Dolby says the software is specially tuned for each device, and it's up to OEMs to license the technology, so don't hold your breath for an app you can download on your own. For now, we don't know of any devices with Digital Plus, but a Dolby rep told us the first should be announced within the coming months. So, what you'll see in the video after the break isn't some unannounced product but rather, an older Samsung tablet rigged to run the software as a demo. Oh, and the UI is apparently not final, so don't put too much stock in the way the app looks. Anyway, have a listen and let us know if you can hear the difference.
Tritton Warhead 7.1 Wireless Surround Sound Headset for Xbox 360 review
This is for sure: if you're a gamer seeking a primo wireless surround sound headset, now is a very good time to buy. It's been less than two weeks since Astro Gaming's A50 wireless surround headset impressively traversed the Engadget review gauntlet, and now the crazy kitties that are Mad Catz and Tritton are up for a turn. It's taken the duo well over a year and a half to get its full range of Microsoft-licensed Xbox 360 headsets off the ground, with the flagship Warhead 7.1 Wireless Surround Sound Headset set to hit shelves in just a few days. Aside from packing some innovative and exclusive features for Xbox 360 users, it stands as the only totally integrated wireless headset for the system -- for the first time you won't need a pesky controller-to-headset cable or a controller-mounted Bluetooth dongle for voice chat. We've been fortunate enough to get an early look at this $300 Dolby Headphone-enabled headset, so join us past the break and we'll let you know whether it's been worth the wait -- or whether it's too much, too late. %Gallery-161720%
Aperion Audio Intimus 4T Summit touts uncompressed surround sound without the cords
See that little box next to those huge speakers? That's Aperion Audio's ticket to what's reportedly a no-compromise approach to wireless home theater. The Intimus 4T Summit Wireless is billed as the only system of its kind to transmit uncompressed 24-bit, 96KHz audio to its 5.1- or 7.1-channel speaker array without having to string wires across the living room. There's no interference and no more than 5ms of lag, even when that wunderkind box is processing Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio. Aperion is still touting an easy setup that can create a sweet spot in awkward spaces. If you like the idea, the only real catches are the $2,999 and $3,499 prices for the respective 5.1- and 7.1-channel systems -- although the outlay may be worthwhile to cut the clutter without sacrificing the finer details of Blu-ray movie soundtracks.
Real-world impressions of Dolby Atmos surround sound (ears-on)
Dolby and AMC are both marketing the latest in surround sound technology heavily this past weekend with the release of "Brave," the first movie mixed and presented in Dolby Atmos. There are only 14 theaters in the world with the setup right now and one of them, and with one just an hour away yours truly decided to make the trek and report back for those who can't. Read on to see if our impressions of this new tech live up to the hype.
Dolby Atmos crosses the Atlantic in time for Barcelona's CineEurope 2012
If you're a European jealous of those of us stateside when you first read that we had fourteen theaters featuring Dolby's new end-to-end revolution in surround sound, Atmos, then maybe this news will give you solace. Starting today the new technology will be demoed at CineEurope at both Dolby's booth as well as at the Cinesa Diagonal Mar Screen 9 theater in Barcelona. No word on when you'll actually be able to take in Disney's Brave in said format, but the Mar Screen 9 will be joined at the Atmos party by a number of other theaters in Europe in the coming months, like the Empire Leicester Square in London. Want to know more? Well, check out the full press release after the break.
Dolby confirms 14 theaters for inaugural screening of Pixar's 'Brave' with Atmos audio
If you want to be among the first to experience Dolby's new Atmos surround sound experience, the company has released a list of 14 theaters that will have it up and running in time to show the first movie with the technology. Disney / Pixar's Brave hits the screens June 22nd and thanks to the Atmos setup is ready to direct sound to listener's ears from as many as 64 speaker feeds and 128 simultaneous inputs, combining with 3D visuals to increase viewer immersion. Not sold yet? Check out a few instructional videos about intelligent surround sound, and why 13.1 channels just wouldn't have been enough, plus of course, the list of all fourteen theaters.
Dolby reveals Atmos launch locations, invites you to come and 'see' the sound
Dolby's Atmos is being rolled out to a few selected locations to show off the groundbreaking new technology. It lets sound mixers project sounds over your head and around you with pinpoint accuracy -- kinda making you wish it'd kept the "surround-sound" name in reserve for it, really. After the break we've got the list of where it's making its debut, some of which are public, some of which are private -- we wouldn't suggest you try to break into the Skywalker ranch's screening room, for example.
