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Apple TV 4K update will fix its video output problem
Apple TV 4K saw the set-top box leap into the same league as its rivals. But, despite getting so much right, the device still had a handful of flaws -- among them its one video output fits all functionality. AV enthusiasts cried foul, and it seems Apple heard their wails. According to the latest tvOS developer beta, Apple TV 4K will soon automatically switch its display settings to match the native frame rate and dynamic range of a video.
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.
Sony’s updated PlayStation VR won’t block HDR
It's been almost a year since Sony formally entered the virtual reality arena with the launch of the PlayStation VR (PSVR) headset. In that time, the unit has remained unchanged, but its pricing has slipped slightly, allowing gamers to enjoy popular titles like Superhot VR, Robinson: The Journey and Farpoint. Seemingly out of nowhere, Sony announced today that it's working on an updated version of the headset and that it will come with integrated headphones and HDR passthrough support.
Apple TV 4K review: Almost perfect
The Apple TV 4K is the streaming box we've been waiting for. It brings together the excellent interface from the 2015 model and the long-awaited ability to watch movies and TV shows in 4K and HDR. And perhaps most important, it seriously drives down the cost of digital 4K releases. Sure, competitors like Roku and Amazon's Fire TV have had 4K/HDR capabilities for years, but Apple's pricing model makes the format more accessible to consumers. While it's not quite perfect, the Apple TV 4K is a solid step beyond HD video.
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.
Engadget giveaway: Win an Optoma UHD60 4K projector!
If you're planning a new home theater setup, 4K resolution and HDR color processing are definitely where you should be heading. You'll also want to maximize your screen real estate to enjoy it all, but many people don't have room in their layout for big sets or prefer less hardware clutter. That's where projectors like Optoma's high-performing UHD60 really fit the bill. It was the first 4K projector under $2,000 when it arrived a few months ago and uses an improved method over much of the competition to achieve that resolution. The unit can be ceiling mounted and offers a display size of up to 300 inches. Ports include USB (convenient for charging streaming dongles) HDMI, HDCP 2.2, S/PDIF and more. The output is 3,000 lumens of brightness and even standard dynamic range content can be upscaled to HDR here. This week, Optoma has provided us with one of its UHD60 projections for one lucky reader, so they can sample the company's image processing for deep blacks and crisp details. If you'd like the freedom and immersion that this type of 4K display provides, head down to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning an Optoma UHD60 projector! Winner: Congratulations to Will G. of Washington D.C.!
Apple TV 4K hands-on: Finally, no compromises
Apple's long-awaited fourth-generation Apple TV was almost a slam dunk. The only problem? It didn't have 4K. That was a notable omission since both Amazon and Roku released streaming players supporting the new format in 2015. Now, Apple is finally ready to enter the ultra-high-definition fray with the Apple TV 4K. But, as usual with 4K hardware, the real star of the show isn't the resolution bump over 1080p -- it's support for high-dynamic range (HDR) video. And in typical Apple fashion, they've also figured out a few ways to make all of this new technology more accessible than the competition.
Apple TV's 4K movie pricing is exactly what the 4K world needs
The Apple TV 4K's announcement was pretty much everything we expected -- after all, it was only a matter of time before Apple moved on from 1080p video with a more powerful set-top box. But there were a few big surprises in tow: Apple says it will upgrade 1080p films that you've purchased with 4K/HDR versions at no extra cost. And, moving forward, it won't be charging a premium for 4K movies, either. Together, these announcements are a big deal.
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 won't charge extra for 4K movies, upgrades 1080p flicks for free
Now that there's a 4K, HDR-ready Apple TV, the company is pushing content that takes advantage of those capabilities (remember the updates to 720p or 1080p?). Eddy Cue just announced on stage that not only will 4K movies cost the same amount as 1080p flicks on iTunes, the company is also upgrading existing HD purchases to 4K for free (Update: Unless they're from Disney, as it's the only major studio the company doesn't have a deal with yet). So far, buying 4K movies on disc or digital service like Vudu has included a price premium of $10 or more but it appears Apple won that battle, and anyone tapped out after buying a new TV and $179 box will appreciate it.
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.
YouTube HDR is available for a bunch of new phones
The Galaxy S8 will already play Netflix in high-dynamic range video, and now the handset (and its cousin, the Note 8) is the home for YouTube HDR. Reddit users have had access to the update since yesterday at resolutions up to 1140p60, while SamMobile reports that the publication can only access 1080p60. On our office S8, we've seen 1440p60. Google tells us that the Pixel, LG V30, Sony Xperia XZ Premium have gotten the update as well. More than that, the search juggernaut is working to bring it to even more devices.
Sony unveils its 'true 4K' projector that costs just $5,000
Buying a "4K" projector can be tricky since many companies have displays have lower resolutions and use technology like pixel shifting (JVC and Epson) or special processing (Optoma) to make up for the missing dots. Sony's SXRD technology brings every one of the promised 4K (4,096 x 2,160) pixels but until now have been incredibly pricey. That changes with the VPL-VW285ES just unveiled at CEDIA 2017 in San Diego, a true 4K and HDR projector that has a sticker price of just about $5,000.
Galaxy Note 8 and Xperia XZ1 are the latest to support Netflix HDR
The incredibly short list of mobile devices that can play Netflix in HDR has grown just a bit longer. If you tend to watch shows on the service while on the go and want to see the best possible pictures on screen, you can now add Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 and Sony's Xperia XZ1 to your choices. Android Police has spotted the two newly launched phones' names in the company's FAQs, along with the first three devices that got the capability: the LG G6, the LG V30 and the Sony Xperia XZ Premium.
Google Pixel camera trick comes to other phones through a mod
Much of the Google Pixel's photographic prowess comes from its software -- it's particularly good at high dynamic range photos thanks to its HDR+ mode, which fills in gobs of detail while reducing the blur you sometimes see in HDR shots. But do you have to buy a Pixel phone to see the benefit? Not necessarily, if you're willing to live life on the edge. Developer B-S-G has modified the Google Camera app to enable HDR+ on any Android phone with a Snapdragon 820, 821 or 835 processor. Your Galaxy S8 or OnePlus 3 won't perfectly mirror the Pixel's photo quality, but this could lead to improvements when taking photos in situations with bright highlights or dark shadows -- especially if your phone's default image processing is mediocre. XDA has verified that the software works, so it's not just a bold claim.
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.
Sony’s Xperia XZ Premium will play Netflix in HDR
In May, Netflix began opening up its HDR streaming feature to smartphones with HDR-capable screens. At the time, only LG G6 users could make use of it, but now those with a Sony Xperia XZ Premium can too. Netflix supports two different standards of HDR for each of the phones -- Dolby Vision for the G6 and UltraHD Premium for the Xperia XZ Premium -- but, regardless, it means both have access to vivid, high-resolution viewing. For those wondering why the feature hasn't rolled out to the popular Samsung Galaxy S8, which also has an HDR-capable screen, it could be that it supports a third HDR format -- Mobile HDR Premium.
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)
'Terminator 2' UHD Blu-ray comes with a life-size robot arm
Terminator 2: Judgment Day is one of the best action movies of all time. It's also consistently been a great piece of reference material for home theater geeks who like showing off just what their fancy audio and video gear is capable of. Well, this fall writer-director James Cameron's classic will be released on UHD Blu-ray. With it comes HDR video, a new 4K restoration and, if you feel like dropping $175, a life-size T-800 endoskeleton arm replete with Cameron's signature. Yep, like the one John and Sarah Connor tossed into a vat of molten steel at the movie's end.
Google Play adds HDR playback for select movies and TV shows
Next time you fire up the Google Play Movies & TV app, pay attention to every title -- it could sport a tag you've been waiting for. The service has finally introduced HDR or High Dynamic Range playback, and it's now available for select movies and TV shows. HDR makes what you're watching more life-like by displaying a wider range of colors, so that you can see more details in the darkest and brightest parts of an image despite displaying greater contrast. You'll need an HDR-compatible monitor or TV to fully enjoy the upgrade, though... and the feature is only live in the US and Canada.
