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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.
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!"
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 $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.
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.
Panasonic follows LG with its first OLED TV
You don't have to opt for LG to get OLED now that Panasonic has announced the EZ1002. For its first OLED TV, the display is probably still the same one you'd get from LG, but Panasonic has tied this to its Studio Colour HCX2 processor, plus it has ISF calibration settings and is CALMAN compatible to help pros get the picture exactly right. Panasonic has applied for (but apparently not yet received) THX Certification and Ultra HD Premium certification and says the TV supports HDR 10 as well as Hybrid Log-Gamma HDR. Unfortunately, Dolby Vision support isn't mentioned anywhere, for the new TV or for the pair of Ultra HD Blu-ray players Panasonic announced. We'll see if a software update changes any of that, but with more Dolby Vision content on the way it could be an important line dividing these from other OLED or UHD Blu-ray options.
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.
Samsung's second-gen UHD Blu-ray player helps simplify HDR
Next week at CES Samsung will debut its second Ultra HD Blu-ray player, along with new "Ultra High Quality" (UHQ) audio hardware. The M9500 Ultra HD Blu-ray player looks like any other deck, however, Samsung says it will be able to automatically set TV and audio levels by optimizing the content playing. That goes for HDR video, as well as Atmos or DTS-X audio. It also has built-in Bluetooth for private audio streaming to headphones, which is a nice touch, but already supported by a number of new TVs, and display 360-degree photos or videos streamed from mobile devices.
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.
Oppo's first Ultra HD Blu-ray player is coming later this year
Lately we've paid more attention to Oppo's mobile devices, but it's still the home of some well-regarded audio/video equipment. The company revealed its first Ultra HD Blu-ray player at CEDIA 2016 last week, and now is taking sign-ups for more information on its website. We don't have detailed specs for the UDP-203, but Oppo told Chris Heinonen that it would sell for $499. The pictures he took show dual-HDMI ports, two USB jacks, analog 7.1 audio output, RS-232 and Ethernet. HDTVTest, meanwhile, cites UK journalist John Archer reporting that he's been told the player will be available with a step-up UDP-205 model, and both will support Dolby Vision HDR.
Sony will have an Ultra HD Blu-ray player -- next year
The PS4 Pro is launching with 4K streaming and only a standard 1080p Blu-ray disc player, but Sony is ready to announce its first Ultra HD Blu-ray device. The UBP-X1000ES will ship in the spring of 2017, however, even then it will be tough to get one since Sony says it will be exclusively available through custom installers at first. The player is ready for "virtually any optical disk format" as well as Atmos and DTS:X audio tracks. From the sounds of things, it will be similar to Panasonic's $699 DMP-UB900, although we can only guess at the price since it has not been announced yet (if you have to ask...).
Panasonic's $699 UHD Blu-ray player arrives in September
If you thought Ultra HD Blu-ray players were already pretty expensive, Panasonic would like to have a word. Whereas Samsung's player and the recently released unit from Philips aim for a mainstream crowd with $400 price tags, Panasonic is targeting audiophiles and folks with slightly deeper pockets. The DMP-UB900 costs $699 and features a few wild specs like twin HDMI outputs for separating audio and video signals; premium capacitors, circuitry and signal processors; "digital tube sound" that supposedly replicates analog warmth from a digital signal and playback for DSD and ALAC audio formats. Yep, your TV's speakers would be a waste of all this tech.
Philips will launch a $400 Ultra HD Blu-ray player next month
Even as Ultra HD Blu-ray discs continue to trickle out, in the US there's only one option to play them -- Samsung's UBD-K8500. That should change next month as Philips introduces its own Ultra HD Blu-ray player. Available in two colors the BDP7501 (brushed aluminum) and BDP7301 (piano black), will cost $400, it supports HDR and also includes a second HDMI-out for audio receivers that aren't quite 4K-ready yet. It has Dolby TrueHD Audio and DTS-HD Master Audio support included and should be able to pass through Dolby Atmos or DTS:X encoded audio tracks. Its apps will also stream 4K from YouTube and Netflix.
'Deadpool' downloads are setting sales records early
Fox's Digital HD plan to sell movies online ahead of their disc release appears to be paying off, as it just announced that CGI-heavy Deadpool is the fastest selling superhero digital HD movie. Of course, it being incredibly well-received doesn't hurt, but racking up a million sales before the Ultra HD Blu-ray / Blu-ray / DVD debut next week is pretty nice. According to Fox, it's the studio's "best performing" movie ever under the program, which saw it go on sale via the likes of iTunes and Vudu on April 25th.
'Warcraft' among Universal's first Ultra HD Blu-ray offerings
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment detailed its list of Ultra HD Blu-ray releases scheduled this summer, and it's just the tip of the iceberg for 4K home video collectors. Beginning with Warcraft, Jason Bourne, and The Huntsman: Winter's War, more than 100 titles will be available by the end of the year for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and digital formats. Each title will be mastered in Dolby Vision as well, with HDR and brighter colors across digital and physical releases.
4K Blu-rays have arrived in the UK
In what'll undoubtedly become a rarer event in the future, a brand new physical media format has arrived in the UK today: 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray. Understandably, the selection is relatively slim on day one. There are a total of 12 official launch titles -- highlights being Life of Pi, The Lego Movie, Mad Max: Fury Road and Kingsman: The Secret Service -- all available from retailers such as Zavvi and HMV for between £20 and £25. 4K Blu-rays aren't region-locked, though, so a handful of other (imported) flicks, including Chappie and Hancock, are available through third-party retailers on Amazon too.
The last two 'Star Trek' films are coming home in 4K June 14th
While you and BB-8 cuddle with a 1080p Star Wars: The Force Awakens Blu-ray, Paramount is readying its first Ultra HD Blu-ray releases with Star Trek and Star Trek: Into Darkness. We're not sure that the extra resolution, HDR or Atmos will actually make either film better than you already thought, but they will certainly be better looking and sounding than ever. According to the press release, both have been digitally remastered with new 4K UHD transfers, unlike mastered-in-2K movies like Mad Max: Fury Road. If you're curious, a list of mastered in 4K (or higher) Ultra HD Blu-ray discs is being maintained here.
What's on your HDTV: 4K Blu-ray, 'Creed,' 'Zelda' and 'Mythbusters'
Somehow, season four of House of Cards arriving this week doesn't feel like that big of a deal. Beyond Netflix's flagship series, we're looking forward to a number of big releases, including the first big slew of Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. Some of the better movies of the 4K and HDR-mastered bunch include multiple Oscar-winner Mad Max: Fury Road and Sicario. Unfortunately, for other Academy Award-caliber flicks like Creed, The Room and The Danish Girl, 1080p will have to do (for now). This is also the final week for Discovery's Mythbusters, which airs its series finale Saturday night. Last but not least, Nintendo is dropping a remastered version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess in HD on the Wii U Friday. Look after the break to check out each day's highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).
The first Ultra HD Blu-ray players are already on sale
I wasn't expecting to see Samsung's UBD-K8500 Ultra HD Blu-ray player on sale until the end of the month, but it's already available at a few stores. USA Today points out that Video and Audio Center in Santa Monica is kicking off sales today, and the store's Facebook page indicates that there are already movies available as well.
4K Blu-ray has already lost to streaming
It may seem a tad hyperbolic to say this, but 4K Blu-ray could very well be the holy grail of home theater technology. Finally, a disc that makes movies look almost as good as they do in theaters, where many films are projected digitally in 4K. It crams in four times the resolution of existing Blu-rays — over 8 million pixels, versus 2 million — and it brings along some new technologies like high-dynamic range (HDR), which dramatically increases color range, brightness and overall picture depth. When 4K Blu-ray discs start shipping in a few months, they'll be everything we've ever wanted in a home video format. And yet, it'll likely be ignored by most consumers.
