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Netflix adds HDR support for iPhone 8, iPhone X and iPad Pro
Netflix is adding high dynamic range (HDR) support to more mobile devices. A handful of Android handsets are already benefitting from the picture upgrade, including the LG G6, Sony Xperia XZ Premium, and Samsung Galaxy Note 8, among others. Now, thanks to the release of iOS 11, iPhone users suffering from FOMO can get in on the action too. You'll be able to binge watch in Dolby Vision HDR on the newly launched iPhone 8, 8Plus, and the upcoming iPhone X. Along with Apple's new smartphones, iPad Pro (2nd-gen) owners will also receive the bump in picture quality -- that goes for both the 10.5 and 12.9 inch models of the tablet.
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.
Apple TV 4K will have as much power as the iPad Pro
Apple just can't seem to keep leaks from outing all of its new hardware. After a few new iPhone details dropped over the weekend, now we're hearing about the Apple TV 4K, the next version of its streaming video box. It'll be powered by the three-core A10X Fusion CPU -- the same chip at the heart of the most recent iPad Pros -- as well as 3GB of RAM, according to developer Steve Stroughton-Smith. The details come from a leaked version of the iOS 11 GM release, which makes it fairly trustworthy.
Samsung recruits Panasonic to bring HDR10+ to more TVs and devices
Despite corralling the likes of Sony and TCL into using its high dynamic range tech, it seems not everyone is interested in Dolby Vision. In April, Samsung bucked the trend by announcing its upgraded HDR10+ open standard. It also managed to snap up Amazon as its first video streaming partner. Fast-forward several months, and now the tech giant is looking to widen its net. In partnership with 20th Century Fox and Panasonic, Samsung will start licensing HDR10+ in January. Together, the trio will attempt to lure TV, Blu-ray, and set-top box manufacturers away from Dolby, to their fold.
Code hints the next Apple TV will support 4K and HDR
There have been murmurs of a 4K Apple TV and even hints of 4K HDR videos on iTunes, but now we have evidence tying it all together. Remember that incredibly revealing HomePod firmware? Developer Guilherme Rambo has sifted through it to discover references to both 4K and HDR support in an upcoming Apple TV model. And the HDR support is particularly broad, too. The media player's code mentions support for Dolby Vision, HDR10 and Hybrid Log-Gamma formats, so the odds are that HDR's enhanced picture quality will be available even if your TV only has limited compatibility.
Engadget giveaway: Win a 55-inch TCL P-Series 4K Roku TV!
TV prices are dropping and quality is on the rise, at least compared to my initial foray into HD over a decade ago. Now, you can pick up a set with 4K, HDR and a built-in streaming platform for well under a grand, like this $650 55-inch P-Series from TCL. This unit is in our Back to School guide for its bang-for-buck value, but it's also a good deal for anyone who wants to upgrade from an aging display and still save a few bucks. The P-Series offers 4K resolution paired with support for Dolby Vision HDR, along with 72 contrast zones and a wide color gamut for your viewing pleasure. On top of that, this TCL set is a Roku smart TV with access to over 4,000 streaming channels and includes a built-in tuner so you can pluck HD content from the air if you pick up an antenna. The price for this 55-inch set with these features is a pretty good deal, but thanks to TCL, one lucky winner will get one for free. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning this 4K HDR Roku Smart TV from TCL! Winner: Mike S. (TBC)
Oppo's 4K Blu-ray players are the first with Dolby Vision HDR
Late last year Oppo promised its Ultra HD Blu-ray players would eventually be the first with support for Dolby Vision HDR (in addition to the required HDR-10 spec that all Ultra HD Blu-ray players support), and now a software update is available to unlock the feature. It only works if you have Ultra HD Blu-ray discs made to support Dolby's flavor of HDR (plus a compatible TV), and, coincidentally, two just went on sale this week: Despicable Me 1 & 2. Later this year, they will be joined by movies including The Fate of the Furious and Power Rangers, as more studios release Dolby Vision-ready discs, while Sony and LG have their own players on the way.
Sony's first 4K OLED TV starts at $5,000
Sony's first consumer OLED TV, the XBR-A1E was easily its best product at CES 2017, but now comes the rub: How much is it? Before I answer that, know that Sony sets tend to be expensive to begin with. And on top of 4K OLED, this one has advanced video processing, all the flavors of HDR (Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG), the first-ever "Acoustic Surface" sound system that's integrated within the panel, an ultra-thin, near bezel-less design, a stand-mounted sub-woofer and Android TV support, including Google Cast and Google Assistant.
LG G6 ditches modularity in favor of essentials
LG's handful of recent teasers for its new G6 flagship left us wondering if there'd be any surprises left for us at its launch event today. Back in early January, the company was rather frank about moving away from the G5's modular design due to a lack of consumer interest, followed by a promise of increased safety measures after the Samsung Note 7 fiasco. While it may seem as if LG has taken a more conservative approach this time, it used three teasers to emphasize the G6's unique 18:9 "FullVision" display.
Dolby Vision software promises HDR on more of your devices
Wonder why you can only get Dolby Vision's high dynamic range video on a limited number of devices? It's because you've needed specialized hardware -- if a device wasn't designed with Vision in mind, you're out of luck. Expect to see it in many more places before long, though. Dolby tells Forbes that Vision is now available in pure software form, enabling its take on HDR for any reasonably capable device. In theory, your console, media hub or TV can get Vision support through an update. It could also lower the cost of including Vision by avoiding the cost of dedicated components.
Sony's $300 Ultra HD Blu-ray player will arrive in March
Last month we got our first look at 2017's best electronics, in the next few months some of them will start hitting shelves, and in between, we're getting pricing information. Sony's taken the wraps off of details for much of its XBR TV lineup (with the exception of that high-end A1E OLED model), which all pack Android TV and Google Assistant for control of other smart home devices and multiroom audio. They're also ready for all kinds of HDR, with support for HDR-10 out of the box, plus Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) and Dolby Vision coming later in the year.
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.
TCL adds Dolby Vision HDR to more of its 4K Roku TVs
Today at CES, Roku unveiled 25 new Roku 4K TVs for the North American market, lowering the price bar for Dolby Vision HDR tech. As with past models, its latest C-series and P-series sets have built-in Roku streaming, giving you access to most smart TV and streaming services. TCL isn't exactly known for its great picture quality, but those lineups come with Dolby Vision HDR, giving you more colors, a brighter image and deeper blacks. And while such sets have generally cost $1,000 and up, the 50-inch P-series TV will launch for an affordable $500.
Warner, Universal and Lionsgate promise Dolby Vision 4K Blu-ray discs
Ultra HD Blu-ray already features high-dynamic-range (HDR) video for better colors and contrast, but now a few more studios are promising to support the expanded Dolby Vision standard on their disc releases. Warner Bros., Universal and Lionsgate are on the list, although there's no mention of which movies will be released that way this year.
Oppo's first Ultra HD Blu-ray player is a tribute to physical media
Add one more Ultra HD Blu-ray player to the list, now that Oppo is ready to release its UDP-203. While the $550 deck doesn't include any 4K streaming apps like Netflix, Amazon or Vudu, it's all about high-end disc playback. It's also able to play Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD, DVD Audio, Super Audio CD and CD, if you just can't let physical media go. There are two HDMI outputs (in case your receiver isn't able to pass through 4K/HDR video) and one input.
Dolby's wide color range technology comes to Amazon Video
Amazon has already dipped its toes into the waters of high dynamic range video, but it's now ready to get its feet wet. The internet giant has started integrating Dolby Vision HDR into its video subscription and purchase services. Watch the right shows (currently Amazon's Bosch and a handful of Sony movies, like Fury) and you'll get a wider color range as well as more details in highlights and shadows. The big catch? Right now, you'll need one of LG's HDR-capable 4K or OLED TVs to notice the difference -- until there's more content and hardware support, this is more of a technology showcase than anything else.
Vizio's cheaper tablet-controlled 4K TVs start rolling out
If you want Vizio's 4K TV with SmartCast 6-inch Android remote, Ultra HD with Dolby Vision HDR and Google Cast receiving but you're not ready to pony up for a high-end P-Series set, a cheaper version is now available. Vizio announced the refreshed-for-2016 M-Series line in April and now they're going on sale, first via Vizio.com and eventually through other retailers. CTO and head of marketing Matthew McRae says that larger 70- and 80-inch versions are still on the way, but currently the $850 50-inch is the easiest one to get.
Netflix details its HDR streaming lineup for the year
Netflix recently revealed it had rolled out support for high dynamic range video, starting with the first season of Marco Polo. This was the initial step in the company's plan to go all in on that technology, which it believes is the perfect complement to 4K -- something it's been pushing since 2014. By the end of 2016, the service will have more than 150 hours of original programming in HDR, a Netflix spokesperson told Engadget. Of those, over 100 hours are expected to hit the platform in August, a figure that won't be easy for competitors such as Amazon to match.
MGM and Universal commit to Dolby's HDR imaging tech
Over the past year, Dolby's worked hard to convince many of the major movie studios and streaming services that its HDR imaging technology is the one worth backing. Netflix, Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures are already on board, but today they've been joined by MGM Studios and Universal Pictures, after the studios confirmed they'll deliver "new release and catalog titles" that have been mastered in Dolby Vision.
Dolby Vision imaging technology comes to TCL's X1 4K UHD TV.
If you're looking for a TV with bright colors, an excellent backlight and a fantastic range of contrast, you're probably on the prowl for a set with Dolby Vision imaging technology baked in. Fortunately, the feature is becoming pretty pervasive -- showing up not only in sets from commonly known brands, but from up and coming manufacturers as well. Case in point? Chinese electronics company TCL just announced its first 4K UHD TV to include the technology: the 65-inch TCL X1.
