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Vizio's 4K TV lineup adds OLED and a new voice remote for 2020
For CES 2020 Vizio is showing off a refreshed TV lineup that's upgraded across the board. Beyond picture quality improvements, the SmartCast UI that Vizio's TVs rely upon is moving to version 4.0 with easier input switching, personalization and a new remote with push-to-talk voice control that should help it fight back against competitors like TCL. This new version of SmartCast will bring performance and personalization updates to TVs going back to the company's 2016 models. While it already works with Siri, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, the new version is supposed to allow with easier pairing for Assistant and Alexa-compatible devices n the SmartCast Mobile app. Its voice remote is also capable for more than just TV operation, with support for Wikipedia searches, weather updates and more.
Engadget readers can get DJI's Osmo Action 4K for just $249
We called DJI's Osmo Action 4K camera "a worthy rival" to GoPro's Hero 7 Black, missing only a few options like a GPS, editing and social features. The action cam is available today exclusively for Engadget readers on Cyber Monday at Wellbots at its cheapest price yet.
Analysis suggests Disney+ doesn't stream 'The Mandalorian' in true HDR
The Mandalorian has given us Baby Yoda and, by some accounts, made Disney+ worth it. The first live-action Star Wars show, The Mandalorian packs the kind of action and visual splendor that will remind you why you love Star Wars in the first place, and it stands out as truly original content on Disney's new streaming platform. But it may not be living up to its HDR promises.
Roku’s best streaming player is $30 off today
Roku really wants you to buy its streaming devices. Last week, the 4K Streaming Stick+ got a permanent price drop to $50, and today, the Roku Ultra is down from $100 to $70 on Amazon. While the device is a bit larger than Roku's other options -- the Ultra is a small set-top box rather than Roku's typical HDMI stick format -- streamers with 4K- or HDR-capable TVs may want to take advantage of the low price.
TCL's 2018 6-Series 4K TV is on sale this weekend for $400
TCL only recently introduced its new 6-Series and 8-Series 4K TVs for 2019, but their predecessors were among the most well-reviewed and highly rated TVs last year. The new 6-Series TVs add quantum dots to the mix, and start at $599 for a 55-inch version. However, there's still some of the 2018-era TVs to clear out, and TCL has announced that Best Buy will sell the 55-inch version for just $400. The sale starts at 2 AM ET on Friday morning and will run through Sunday night, or as long as supplies last. These 4K TVs bring excellent picture quality, Dolby Vision HDR and the Roku smart TV platform, however as The Wirecutter noted in a recent updates, there have been some complaints about color uniformity and lip sync issues when using HDMI-ARC. Still, it's hard to find a TV this good at that price, so think hard -- the sale starts in just a few hours. Buy TCL 6-Series 4K TV on Best Buy - $400
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.
How and why to buy a projector in 2019
A 100-inch 4K screen? To get that the usual way you might be looking at paying close to six figures. Luckily, there's another option that can get you even more, up to a 150-inch screen for a fraction of that price. Yes, film aficionados are increasingly turning their attention toward home theater projectors. You may think of projectors as either expensive, dim or janky, but with the latest technology, that's all changed. It's possible nowadays to find reasonably bright 4K HDR projectors with near theater-quality images for $1,500 or less. Before you start running to the store for popcorn, it's important to learn a few things and beware of the pitfalls, so we're here to help.
Sony's Crystal cinema display supports 16K, but could cost millions
Sony recently unveiled its Crystal LED screen for cinema exhibitors, but it has now announced that the tech will be available to consumers, as well. It will be selling the screens through specially trained and certified dealers in sizes up to 63 feet wide at 16K resolution, but unless you're a one-percenter, you probably won't be able to afford it.
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.
8K Association lays out 'key performance attributes' for 8K TVs
More manufacturers are selling 8K TVs or have models going on sale soon, and ahead of the IFA 2019 tradeshow an industry group has released its "performance specification" for consumer TVs. The 8K Association includes members like Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Panasonic, Intel, Hisense and TCL.
Adobe speeds up Lightroom Classic editing with GPU acceleration
Adobe has done a good job of using your computer's GPU to speed products like Premiere Pro and Photoshop. However, it hasn't given Lightroom the same love, and with the enormous 60-megapixel-plus files coming out of cameras (and smartphones) these days, you need all the speed you can get. Luckily, Adobe has announced that the latest version of Lightroom Classic will now take better advantage of your GPU where it's most needed -- editing photos.
Sony unveils its cinematic flagship, the Xperia 1
Sony is playing to its movie studio and mirrorless camera strengths with the launch of the Xperia 1, its new flagship phone. The 6.5-inch, 21:9 aspect ratio smartphone is the world's first with a 4K OLED HDR display (3,840 x 1,664), making it ideal for both watching movies and creating them. It also packs a triple-lens camera and is the first smartphone with eye autofocus tracking borrowed from its A7 III mirrorless camera.
I tried, failed and finally managed to set up HDR on Windows 10
You've been hearing a lot lately about high dynamic range (HDR) arriving to Windows 10 for gaming, movies and graphics. You may have also heard the rumors that there's not a lot you can do with it, it's underwhelming and can be incredibly difficult to set up. As someone who edits video and photos and enjoys both Netflix and gaming in HDR, I decided to see how much of that was actually true. After many weeks of setup and trying, I'm here to tell you that the rumors are accurate: HDR on Windows 10 still isn't ready for prime time, and if you want to give it a try, prepare for some pain and disappointment in exchange for minimal benefits.
Hisense's new ULED XD has two panels, instead of one
Hisense is clearly a fan of that Xzibit meme in which the Pimp My Ride star announces that he's put a thing inside a thing. That must be the explanation for how it came to its latest TV technology, dubbed ULED XD, which crams not one, but two panels inside its case. The company says that ULED XD's proprietary technologies include better chipsets and image processing algorithms that offer "incredibly deep blacks and dazzling brightness."
Vizio works on making its 4K TVs even better in 2019
While many other manufacturers chase new technology with 8K and HDMI 2.1, Vizio is enhancing its 4K TV lineup, starting from the lower-priced V series all the way up to its top-of-the-line P-Series Quantum X. The V series steps in where Vizio's E line of TVs used to reside, with smart TV features, Dolby Vision HDR and up to 16 zones of local dimming, with models ranging from 40- to 75-inches.
NVIDIA rebrands G-SYNC HDR as 'G-SYNC Ultimate'
At its CES 2019 keynote, NVIDIA revealed that it's essentially rebranding G-SYNC HDR displays as G-SYNC Ultimate. It launched the HDR program last year at CES, promising very high standards like G-SYNC variable frame-rate refresh rates at 144 Hz and higher, 1000 nits of brightness and a 95 percent DCI-P3 color gamut. Only a couple of monitors have been certified, including the ASUS ROG Swift PG27UQ and Acer Predator X27.
'Mass Effect: Andromeda' looks to the future with an Xbox One X upgrade
After a launch troubled enough that it caused Bioware to rethink how it makes games, there's some new news for Mass Effect: Andromeda. No, it's not a single-player story addition addressing the fate of the Quarians, but for this year's N7 day (a reference to the military rank held by the player's in-game character) a 1.68GB patch on Xbox One has arrived. It adds support for higher resolution and HDR on the Xbox One X for anyone ready to try playing through again, or for the first time. Clearly Bioware and EA are reminding fans that the franchise isn't gone for good, and have a "What does N7 mean to you?" campaign going on social media, plus new merch from a partnership with J!NX. Even as the developer prepares to launch its multiplayer-focused game Anthem, general manager Casey Hudson recently wrote that teams are working on "secret stuff" for fans of ME and Dragon Age. Has enough time passed to wash the taste of a glitch-ridden and uneven release from gamer's mouths and get them ready to try again? We'll see.
'Red Dead Redemption 2' might not be delivering true HDR
Critics are gushing and it's already breaking records, but now it seems Red Dead Redemption 2 has hit a slight road bump. The problem lies with its high dynamic range (HDR) implementation, which some claim is essentially derived from an upscaled standard dynamic range image, and as a result isn't rendered in HDR. YouTube channel HDTV Test is even recommending switching to SDR for "the best picture quality."
Google will fix its Camera bug that fails to save photos
Now that Google's Pixel 3 phones have arrived people are finding the good and bad of the various software-enhanced features. One issue some have noticed -- across a range of devices including some non-Pixel or Nexus phones -- is a tendency to skip the important step of actually saving a photo after it's taken. Tonight Google responded, with a statement to Engadget that said simply "We will be rolling out a software update in the coming weeks to address the rare case of a photo not properly saving." The company did not address where the issue lies, but based on user reports it seems like there may be problem with waiting for HDR to finish processing before switching to another app, so an update to the company's Google Camera software could fix it. If we get more specific information about what the fix is and where it will reach, we will update this post.
Pixel 3 and 3 XL review: Google’s hardware takes a backseat to software
Even if they hadn't been leaked to death before their official announcement, the Pixel 3 and 3 XL probably wouldn't surprise anyone. The hardware has barely changed (at least on the outside). And there's no difference between the two handsets apart from size -- you no longer have to spring for a bigger, more expensive phone for the best features. From more powerful camera algorithms to a smarter Assistant, the standout features on this year's models are almost all in the software. The question, then, is this: If all the best stuff about these phones is basically software updates that even older devices will ultimately get, is there a point in shelling out for the new hardware? The answer, surprisingly, is yes, but only if you can live with a giant notch.
