Television technology is developing rapidly. Consumers are just gaining access to the 3D TVs when the next disaster is already on the way. Maybe the next revolution is Super Resolution HD-TV. It seem stat we are entering post-fullHDTV resolution (1920×1080) era. Just few years ago full HD was considered the ultimate resolution that everybody were aiming to and was considered “enough”. No the trend seems to be that resolutions beyond full HD are becoming widely used. We are on the cusp of an era that offers better-than-ever display technologies for an excitingly immersive viewer experience.
4K is a number you will want to remember. 4K resolution is an emerging standard for resolution in digital cinematography and computer graphics. The name is derived from the horizontal resolution, which is approximately 4000 pixels. This designation is different from those used in the digital television industry, which are represented by the vertical pixel count (for example 480p, 576p, 720p, and 1080p). 4K represents the horizontal resolution because there are numerous aspect ratios used in cinema — so while the horizontal resolution stays constant, the vertical resolution depends on the video source (a.k.a. letterboxing). There are several different resolutions that qualify as 4K.
It is expected that a number of the major TV makers will begin to offer large-screen TVs with resolutions four times that of HDTV: 3840 x 2160, otherwise known as 4K. Standard and high definition will be internally up-converted to 4K resolution. Sony has already revealed a 4k projector. Panasonic has released 152in 4k by 2k 3D plasma in 2010. New movies filmed in automatically with a new 4K technology, because 4K Digital Cinema is a commonly used digital cinema projection resolution.
Xilinx Hits NAB with 4K Developments, New BBC Design tells that Xilinx wants to see the world move to decentralized high-definition video production and editing, combined with very high-definition video carried over IP protocols on standard broadband networks. Xilinx Making Immersive 3D and 4K2K Displays Possible with 7 Series FPGA System Integration press release tells that Xilinx just introduced new 28nm Kintex™-7 Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-based targeted reference designs and a new development baseboard for accelerating the development of next-generation, 3D and 4K2K display technologies at 2012 International CES.
Higher than HDTV resolutions are also coming fast to computer screens.
Apple calls the displays on its iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad “retina” displays because they have so many pixels packed so tightly that it’s impossible for the human eye to tell one pixel from another while holding the device a comfortable distance away from your face. Apple iPad 3 Retina display (2048×1536) started this trend to include very high resolution screen to consumer device. New iPad Display Technology Shoot-Out article points out that Apple’s definition of a “Retina Display” is actually for 20/20 Vision (defined as 1 arc-minute visual acuity). 20/20 Vision (just the legal definition of “Normal Vision,” which is at the lower end of true normal vision). The new iPad display is incredibly sharp with 264 ppi and 3.1 million pixels on a 9.7 inch screen. Marketing considerations aside, the real reason for doubling the iPad’s resolution to 2048×1536 is for the convenience and ease in up-scaling the older 1024×768 Apps from the iPad 1 and iPad 2. Marketing considerations aside, do you really need all of that “Retina Display” resolution and sharpness in such small screen?
It seems that other computer manufacturers are following. Intel braces for very high resolution computers. Intel: super-dense notebook, desktop displays common by 2013 article points out that these wouldn’t just exist in smartphones or tablets, Intel said, but would extend even from the smallest ultrabooks through to at least smaller all-in-one desktops. These would include 11-inch ultrabooks at 2560×1440 through to 21-inch desktops with 3840×2160 screens.
Intel: Retina laptop, desktop displays coming in 2013 article has this nice picture that describes what this Retina Display means:
Intel’s Ivy Bridge chips launch using ’3D transistors’ article tells that Intel is launching its Ivy Bridge family of processors targeted at desktop computers (ultrabook processors later). Ivy Bridge family has integrated GPU (graphics processing unit) on the chips that is capable of handling high-definition video conferences and the 4K resolution offered by top-end video cameras.
Windows 8 Is Retina-Ready article tells that Microsoft is well aware of the high resolution trend and has plans in place for dealing with displays with pixel-dense displays (or “Retina”). Developers have identified a sort of “Goldilocks Zone” for the three general classes of resolutions: standard, HD, and quad-XGA (2560×1440). Inside this zone, text and UI elements aren’t blown up too cartoonish proportions or shrunk down to a size that’s frustrating to touch. Scaling to different screens
Support for higher than HDTV resolutions seems to come also to gaming devices. The Next PlayStation is Called Orbis, Sources Say. Here are the Details. article tells that the new console being planned for release in time for the 2013 holiday season will be capable of displaying Orbis games at a resolution of up to 4096×2160. It’ll also be capable of playing 3D games in 1080p (the PS3 could only safely manage 3D at 720p). The hardware is said to be based on AMD x64 CPU and AMD Southern Islands GPU.
Some developers are aiming even higher resolutions, but they are not expected to come to living rooms anytime soon. UHDTV resolutions are to be tested in 2012 London Olympics. BBC plans to use ’super hi-vision’ for London Olympics. The BBC will be recording the 2012 London Olympics in UHDTV (8K x 4K resolution), streaming the footage to 15m display screens for public viewing. At the same time Panasonic touts monster 8k by 4k ‘flickerless’ plasma article tells that Panasonic has revealed it will produce a 145in plasma screen with a resolution of 7680 x 4320, the world’s first 8k display not to require a backlight. While images of the display have yet to materialise, the company is no stranger to supersize screens, launching a 152in 4k by 2k 3D plasma in 2010.
95 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
Hold me closer, tiny display*
http://www.edn.com/blog/Brian_s_Brain/41758-Hold_me_closer_tiny_display_.php?cid=EDNToday_20120502
why have computer displays and televisions remained at fairly conservative ppi (pixels-per-inch) metrics, while tablets and (especially) smartphones have pushed the envelope quite quickly (a la Apple’s Retina Display)
It’s a multi-variant response, actually, comprising a) the size of the screen, b) your distance from the screen, and c) the amount of discrete information you’re trying to squeeze onto that screen.
It’s a 37″ widescreen LCD, a Syntax Olevia 237T to be exact, with a 1366×768 pixel native resolution translating to an approximate 42 ppi metric. Given a) its size, b) my distance from it and c) the fact that I’m best-case watching Blu-ray or ATSC content (and often far lower-resolution material than that), I could make a pretty credible case that a higher-ppi counterpart would have largely been a waste of money.
Conversely, consider my iPhone 4. Its 3.5″ widescreen LCD delivers a 640×960 pixel resolution, translating to a 326 ppi metric
Why is it necessary for the pixel density of my smartphone to be nearly 10x that of my television? Two reasons: first off, while my TV is six feet away from my eyes, my smartphone display is often only six inches away. Secondly, users like me expect to be able to squeeze an entire robustly rendered web page (or, if you prefer spreadsheet) onto that smartphone LCD while … yes … still being able to clearly read the content.
Why, then, is the “new iPad” LCD (264 ppi) denser still? Part of the answer is that it’s not dramatically better as a result. And it’s clearly noticeable only on finely detailed content, such as that found in ebook fonts and photographs.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Tour Microsoft’s Home of the Future
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Wo-fRuuwoPI
Walk through Microsoft’s Home of the Future with Next blogger Steve Clayton to see what your home may soon look like.
But note this is not the home of the future, this is just a house full of projectors. I think the real home of the future should have built in displays, no projectors. you cannot integrate old technology into something called “the future”. Or can you?
Tomi Engdahl says:
PC Gaming Hardware Market to Hit $23.6 Billion in 2012
http://jonpeddie.com/press-releases/details/pc-gaming-hardware-market-to-hit-23.6-billion-in-2012/
Premium quality “Enthusiast” and “Performance” class equipment contributes $3.2 billion in growth from 2011
Jon Peddie Research estimates there are 54 million Performance and Enthusiast class PC gamers worldwide, with new entrants and console converts bolstering this to 72 million by 2015
The recession is winding down and the Enthusiast and Performance class PC gamers (those who spend over $1000 on equipment) have spoken…with their wallets. With chips from AMD, Intel, and Nvidia, new machines from Alienware, HP, Lenovo and others, components and accessories from companies like ASUS, EVGA, Corsair, Logitech, and MadCatz, and new games in the pipe like Far Cry 3, BioShock Infinite, Crysis 3, ARMA 3, rFactor 2, and Interstellar Marines, the financial engine of the world’s most elite gaming platform is fully fueled and will drive the global market to $32 billion by 2015.
This time the hardware suppliers will be ready for them with new machines, Ultra HD and 120 HZ stereo3D capable displays, new super power supplies, sound systems, cases, cooling, high performance memory, SSDs, keyboards, mice, the list goes on and on.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Check also my older funny posting on HDTV resolution at
http://www.epanorama.net/blog/2010/04/26/hdtv-resolution/
Tomi Engdahl says:
The top three rules of (display) real estate: location, location, and location
http://www.edn.com/blog/Brian_s_Brain/41781-The_top_three_rules_of_display_real_estate_location_location_and_location.php?cid=EDNToday_20120514
I remember a couple of years ago being on a Samsung campus in South Korea, getting briefed by a display division executive. He made an offhand comment that conventional video content resolutions would inevitably expand beyond their current 1920×1080 pixel-per-frame upper-end constraints, because (and I’m paraphrasing from memory) “as displays get bigger, at some point you will otherwise be able to see individual content pixels.” At the time, I thought to myself that he had it backward … that content evolutions drove display evolutions, not the other way around. And as I think about it again in retrospect, I’m even more confident that my immediate reaction to his comments was spot-on.
To wit, the enduring under-performance of the Blu-ray format, coupled with the ascendance of comparatively low quality but convenient streaming-delivery video, suggests that even with today’s HD formats the industry has largely overshot consumer needs (with the possible exceptions of niche markets such as sports enthusiasts in “man caves,” and rabid film buffs). As such, although I have no doubt that content providers and their systems partners will sooner or later attempt to upgrade consumers to some sort of “SuperHD” format (as they’re attempting to do now with the move to 3-D), I suspect the aspiration will largely fall flat on its face.
In the absence of content-evolution incentives to migrate to larger and finer-pitch displays, aesthetics concerns will be the primary remaining factor, and lately they don’t seem to be playing out in the display (and underlying panel) manufacturers’ favor.
Tomi Engdahl says:
LG Display debuts five-inch Retina Display killer with 1080p HD resolution and 440ppi pixel density
http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/27/lg-display-five-inch-1080p/
Smartphone displays are becoming larger in size, and along with that, we’re seeing a nice trend that’s bringing greater pixel density. While LG Display’s newly-announced 1080p HD mobile display isn’t the most pixel dense that we’ve seen — a distinction that belongs to Toshiba — the five-inch panel is more appropriate for consumer applications and boasts an impressive pixel density of 440ppi.
Tomi Engdahl says:
ITU adopts two ultra-high def TV specs
4K and 8K both get UHDTV moniker
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/05/28/uhdtv_specs_released/
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has “agreed a draft new Recommendation on the technical details for ‘Ultra High Definition Television’,” but has decided that both 3840×2160 tellies, and future 7680 x4320 screens, both get the name UHDTV.
You’d think the ITU would have learned from global confusion around just what constitutes a 4G network, but the respective respective resolutions will be known as 4K and 8K respectively.
“This is clearly a major achievement for ITU-R Study Group 6 of which we can be proud. The Recommendation means that organizations around the world can safely begin work to make UHDTV a reality.”
The recommendations must still be signed off by “Administrators”
Tomi Engdahl says:
TVs need to go beyond HDTV resolutions because cell phones soon have HDTV resolution in them?
LG shows off ‘first’ full HD LCD for smartphones
5in, 440dpi screen, anyone?
http://www.reghardware.com/2012/05/28/lg_demos_first_full_hd_ips_lcd_for_smartphones/
And the latest entry in the ‘how many pixels can we cram into a phone display’ stakes comes from LG which today announced a 5in in-plan switching (IPS) LCD with a 1920 x 1080 resolution.
It’s the first full HD screen for a handset, LG claimed.
This, the company pledged, “significantly advances the cloud computing experience widely considered the next major internet trend”.
You can tell it’s not the engineers that write this stuff, can’t you?
Tomi Engdahl says:
Omnivision launches 16-megapixel image sensor
http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4373905/Omnivision-launches-16-megapixel-image-sensor
Omnivision Technologies Inc. has launched the OV16820 and OV16825 images sensors, which provide 16-megapixel resolution, for use in digital still and video cameras.
The sensors support something called “burst mode” photography and can capture 4K by 2K resolution video at 60 frames per second.
The 1-inch by 2.3-inch OV16820 and OV16825 image sensors are capable of operating in full resolution 4608 by 3456 video at 30 frames per second and 1080p HD video at 60 FPS with extra pixels for electronic image stabilization.
The OV16820 and OV16825 were developed to support emerging standards in high-resolution video recording
“It was an industry-wide assumption that smartphones would cut into DSC/DVC sales; but at higher resolutions, we’re seeing a very distinct divide between the two markets and both remain strong,”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sharp to show OLED ‘retina’ display for laptops
3840 x 2160 screen, anyone?
http://www.reghardware.com/2012/06/01/sharp_to_show_oled_retina_display_for_laptops/
Fancy a 3840 x 2160 display in your next 13in laptop? Form an orderly queue outside Sharp’s offices then, and loudly demand it turns its latest prototype panel into shipping product.
The 13.5in screen contains just under 8.3 million white OLED pixels filtered for RGB colour. Its dimensions yield a pixel density of 326 pixels per inch – just what the iPhone 4S’ “retina” display currently offers.
Speaking of mobile devices, Sharp will next week be showing off a 6.1in IGZO LCD for handsets or small tablets that has a pixel density of 498ppi. The resolution is 2560 x 1600.
Tomi Engdahl says:
“TimeScapes” is the first 4K film ever sold to the public.
You can purchase it in iTunes!
TimeScapes: Rapture 4K
http://vimeo.com/42785517
“TimeScapes”
http://timescapes.org/
Tomi Engdahl says:
HD Super AMOLED versus Retina Display, and other screens (Smartphones Unlocked)
http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-57445567-85/hd-super-amoled-versus-retina-display-and-other-screens-smartphones-unlocked/
“Just about every single spec on displays is exaggerated.”
And by “exaggerated,” he suggests skewed, misleading, and sometimes utterly useless. Why? Because while a screen’s resolution and other specs can indicate a certain level of performance, there are many more factors involved in determining a display’s actual level of performance.
That’s because what makes a smartphone screen great is a combination of factors like the physical screen materials, screen technologies (LCD versus OLED), pixel layouts (RGB variations), brightness, color accuracy, contrast ratio, reflectance, screen size, and pixel resolution.
Got all that? Good, now let’s dive in.
So unless you’re a total screen snob whom only specs can satisfy, my ultimate buying advice is this: stare at the screen long and hard, and hold it up next to other rival devices in the store. If you can live with it, if you never notice overly dull or artificial colors, or a distracting reflection, and if you feel you can read small text without bluriness or eye strain, then don’t let the screen specs determine your purchasing path.
In most cases, the resolution of smartphone screens in the same class should be more or less comparable. Yet to get your best shot at the nicest picture that technology can produce, expect to bump yourself up to the pricier head of the class.
Tomi Engdahl says:
It seem that smartphones are already starting to hit the “HD ready” resolution era:
LG’s quad-core Optimus tabphone powers into Europe
http://www.reghardware.com/2012/06/11/lg_4x_hd_powers_into_europe/
The big-screen LG Optimus 4X HD has joined the growing list of quad-core party members, with the company’s Nvidia Tegra 3 powerhouse shipping across Europe this week.
Here it’s a 4.7in IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1280 x 720, an aspect ratio of 16:9 and a pixel density of 313ppi.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple announces next-generation MacBook Pro: Retina display, 0.71-inches thin, shipping today for $2,199
http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/11/apple-announces-next-generation-macbook-pro/
Apple announced some new MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros early in its WWDC keynote today, but it had another surprise in store for its big hardware announcement: the next-generation MacBook Pro. It packs a Retina display with a 2880 x 1800 resolution (or 220ppi), and a casing that measures just 0.71-inch thin and weighs 4.46 pounds.
erdani says:
erdani…
[...]Post HDTV resolution era « Tomi Engdahl’s ePanorama blog[...]…
Tomi Engdahl says:
How the Retina Display MacBook Pro Handles Scaling
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5996/how-the-retina-display-macbook-pro-handles-scaling
Earlier this morning Apple introduced its next-generation MacBook Pro equipped with a Retina Display. The 15.4-inch panel features a native resolution of 2880 x 1800, or exactly double the standard 1440 x 900 resolution of a regular 15-inch MacBook Pro.
By default, the Retina MBP ships in a pixel doubled configuration. You get the effective desktop resolution of the standard 15-inch MacBook Pro’s 1440 x 900 panel, but with four physical pixels driving every single pixel represented on the screen. This configuration is the best looking, but you don’t actually get any more desktop space. Thankfully Apple exposes a handful of predefined scaling options if you do want additional desktop space
Apple offers five scaled settings including the default pixel doubled option: 1024 x 640, 1280 x 800, 1440 x 900, 1680 x 1050 and 1920 x 1200. Selecting any of these options gives you the effective desktop resolution of the setting, but Apple actually renders the screen at a higher resolution and scales it to fit the 2880 x 1800 panel. As a result of the upscaled rendering, there can be a performance and quality impact. It’s also worth noting there’s no default option for 2880 x 1800, which is understandable given just how tiny text would be at that resolution. I suspect it won’t be long before users figure out how to manually add a zero-scale, 2880 x 1800 option.
Tomi Engdahl says:
MacBook Pro Retina Display Analysis
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5998/macbook-pro-retina-display-analysis
To recap, Retina Display MBP owners now get a slider under OS X’s Display Preferences that allow you to specify desktop resolutions other than 1440 x 900. At 1440 x 900 you don’t get any increase in desktop resolution compared to a standard 15-inch MacBook Pro, but everything is ridiculously crisp. If you’re like me however and opted for the 1680 x 1050 “high-res” upgrade last generation, this won’t do. Thankfully Apple offers 1680 x 1050 and 1920 x 1200 scaling options that trade a bit of image quality and performance for added real estate.
Even at the non-integer scaled 1680 x 1050 setting, the Retina Display looks a lot better than last year’s high-res panel. It looks like Apple actually renders the screen at twice the selected resolution before scaling it to fit the 2880 x 1800 panel (in other words, at 1920 x 1200 Apple is rendering everything at 3840 x 2400 (!) before scaling – this is likely where the perf impact is seen, but I’m trying to find a way to quantify that now).
Everything just looks better.
Mail, Safari, iPhoto, iMovie and of course, OS X have all been updated to support the new MacBook Pro Retina Display. These applications all look absolutely gorgeous on the new Pro.
Third party applications will have to be updated however
It’s usable, but it’s a significant enough difference for me to drop Chrome and use Safari until it gets worked out. And I really like Chrome.
Gaming at 2880 x 1800
You’ll notice that OS X doesn’t, by default, expose the Retina Display’s native 2880 x 1800 resolution anywhere in the standard, user-facing elements of the OS.
The good news is the Retina MBP does nothing to hide its true nature from games.
Diablo III is actually quite playable at 2880 x 1800, at least in the earlier levels
Diablo III exhibited some graphical anomalies at 1920 x 1200, but was fine at other 16:10 resolutions.
Not all games will let you do this however.
I was pleased when ASUS introduced a 1080p IPS panel in the new Zenbook Prime. I am even happier with the Retina Display in the next-generation MacBook Pro.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Developers: Retina-optimized Mac apps will take time
http://www.macworld.com/article/1167250/developers_retina_optimized_mac_apps_will_take_time.html
Go ahead and grab the new MacBook Pro with Retina display, but be warned: It might be a little while before most of your apps look as sharp as the screen showing them.
While Apple is already updating its own apps for Retina display, officials with third-party developers Adobe and Autodesk said they’ll need time to ship Retina-optimized apps to the public. Their Photoshop and AutoCAD applications, respectively, were shown in Retina form during Apple’s Monday keynote at WWDC, along with Diablo III from Blizzard Entertainment.
“What was shown at WWDC 2012 was an unreleased build of Photoshop,” Marissa Lee, a spokeswoman for Adobe
The lagtime for Retina-optimized Mac apps shouldn’t create major problems, but users of the new MacBook Pro may notice the same issues faced by iPad users when Apple upgraded the tablet to a Retina display earlier this year—namely, that pre-Retina apps looked pixelated and blurry on the higher-definition screen.
But Apple, with its home-field advantage, is leading the way
Tomi Engdahl says:
MacBook Pro with Retina Display Teardown
http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook-Pro-with-Retina-Display-Teardown/9462/1#.T9mghJjLnfg
Apple may have already spilled the beans when it comes to what the inside of this MacBook Pro looks like, but we aren’t convinced. Join us today as we set out to see what is so significant about this special MacBook Pro.
Retina MacBook Pro is the least repairable laptop ever, says iFixit
http://venturebeat.com/2012/06/13/retina-macbook-pro-teardown/
Apple’s new MacBook Pro with Retina Display is ridiculously fast and thin — but you can forget about ever taking it apart.
The repair gurus at iFixit unveiled their teardown of the Retina MacBook Pro this morning, and thanks to its plethora of non-upgradeable parts, they ended up giving Apple’s latest and greatest laptop a dismal repair score of 1 out of 10.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Windows 8 on the Retina Display MacBook Pro
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6008/windows-8-on-the-retina-display-macbook-pro
After getting both Windows 7 and Windows 8 running on the machine, here are some quick thoughts.
Windows 7 won’t expose any resolutions higher than 1600 x 1200 without an actual NVIDIA driver, while Windows 8 will let you select the full 2880 x 1800 panel resolution.
The problem is Apple doesn’t provide a Boot Camp driver set for the Retina MacBook Pro yet. I had to use the Broadcom wireless driver from my SNB MacBook Pro to get WiFi working under Windows. Unfortunately, NVIDIA doesn’t offer a downloadable GeForce GT 650M driver for either Windows 7 or Windows 8 just yet.
Even without a working NVIDIA driver, I was able to get a feel for what a 2880 x 1800 setting would look like on a traditional desktop under Windows 8. If you remember back to our scaling and display analysis articles, Apple doesn’t offer a desktop resolution equivalent higher than 1920 x 1200 under OS X. The thinking being that unscaled 2880 x 1800 would just be too small for the desktop, icon text and default UI elements. The screenshot below shows the Windows 8 desktop at default (no DPI scaling) settings at 2880 x 1800
Text is indeed very small, but I suspect those with very good eyesight could actually be ok with this. I would love to see Apple actually expose a native resolution option under OS X.
Lincoln Dun says:
I really like reading an article that can make people think. Also, many thanks for permitting me to comment!
Tomi Engdahl says:
ITU adopts two ultra-high def TV specs
4K and 8K both get UHDTV moniker
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/05/28/uhdtv_specs_released/
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has “agreed a draft new Recommendation on the technical details for ‘Ultra High Definition Television’,” but has decided that both 3840×2160 tellies, and future 7680 x4320 screens, both get the name UHDTV.
the respective respective resolutions will be known as 4K and 8K respectively.
And just to make sure there are more chances for confusion, the 4K standard packs a resolution of eight megapixels and the 8K version is 32 megapixels.
“The Recommendation means that organizations around the world can safely begin work to make UHDTV a reality.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
New MPEG format will make UHDTV possible
“HEVC” makes H.264 look bloated, no-glasses 3D standard on the way too
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/08/15/hevc_video_standard/
The Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) has outlined a new video compression standard that will enable the broadcast and digital distribution of ultra high definition TV (UHDTV).
High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) is said to offer compression around twice as high as for the current video standard of choice, H.264, and was signed off as a Draft International Standard in July.
UHDTV standard, as signed off by the ITU, will operate at either 4K or 8K, requiring eight and 32 megapixels respectively.
The ITU’s response was that it expected HEVC to make UHDTV broadcasts possible.
David Wood, chairman of the ITU-R Working Party 6C, which cooked up UHDTV, told us:
“If I had a personal guess it would be that with HEVC the 8K system with good transparency might come down to about 90Mbit/s and the 4K system to about 25 Mbit/s, but this is just an opinion. Also please don’t forget that compression technology improves in cycles, and there may be a further cycle – the successor to HEVC – before the end of the decade that we can use for 8K UHDTV.”
The MPEG says it expects HEVC to be finished in early 2013, with amendments to come in 2014.
Yet to be agreed on is Scalable Video Coding (SVC), a standard the MPEG is now working on and which looks rather important
Tomi Engdahl says:
MPEG drafts twice-as-efficient H.265 video standard, sees use in phones as soon as 2013
http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/15/mpeg-drafts-twice-as-efficient-h-265-video-standard/
All of that squabbling over H.264 may be rendered moot in the near future. The Motion Picture Experts Group (better known as MPEG) has just let us know that it was quietly drafting a new video standard while everyone was on summer vacation last month: H.265, also called High Efficiency Video Coding, promises to squeeze video sizes with double the efficiency of H.264.
Imagine fast-loading HD streaming on 4G, or cable TV without all the excess compression, and you’ve got the idea.
From press release:
MPEG issues video compression draft
The Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) has met to issue a draft international standard of a new video-compression format that is twice as efficient as current standards.
The meeting, held in Stockholm July 16-20, gathered almost 450 people from 26 countries representing the telecoms, computer, TV and consumer electronics industries to approve and issue a draft standard for High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC). This format will enable compression levels roughly twice as high as the current H.264/AVC standard.
“Video accounts for the vast majority of all data sent over networks, and that proportion is increasing: by 2015, it is predicted to account for 90 percent of all network traffic,” Fröjdh says.
Fröjdh believes that the HEVC format discussed by MPEG in Stockholm could be launched in commercial products as early as in 2013.
“It will take time before it’s launched for a TV service, but adoption is much quicker in the mobile area, and we’ll probably see the first services for mobile use cases next year,” he says.
Tomi Engdahl says:
No medals at Olympics for 3-D TV
http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4392130/London-Olympics–For-3-D-and-UHDTV–not-even-a-Bronze?Ecosystem=communications-design
London 2012 Olympics has offered an epic event – great athletes, thrilling games and the record number of viewers. Unfortunately, though, it has done nothing – absolutely nothing, when it comes to generating buzz on new broadcast technologies.
For broadcasters, the London Olympics is the first to feature extensive 3-D coverage (NBC has been broadcasting 12 hours of 3-D programming every day!), while testing-ultra HDTV (also known as 8K).
And yet, the U.S. market has seen virtually no uptick in 3-D TV sales. Similarly, UHDTV is drawing scant media attention. Thus, no consumers seem inclined to ask what on earth UHDTV is.
Some events in London Olympics have been shot in Ultra HDTV for the first time in history. Broadcast engineering teams from NHK and BBC have been working together in London to shoot the Games with 32-Megapixel images, with a 24 (or 22.2) channel sound system. According to NHK, UHDTV offers images that are 16 times current HD quality.
During London Olympics, two UHDTV cameras were used at set positions. Uncompressed signals are sent over dedicated optical fibers to the BBC Television Center, West London, which are then recorded and edited daily into short programs at BBC. These are then compressed and sent to public viewing theaters around the world at a data rate of 280 Mbit/s video coding rate using eight H.264 AVC encoders working in parallel. Once 24-channel sound is added and put into IP packets, the total bit rate becomes about 350 Mbit/s for the demonstration.
UHDTV’s public viewings are, however, rather limited.
Considering that UHDTV won’t become a commercial reality until 2020 (estimated by NHK), the almost non-existent public awareness of UHDTV is understandable.
Be it 3-D TV, 4K or 8K, the new broadcast technologies are emerging at a time when flat-panel TV sales had already stopped growing. According to NPD, overall flat-panel sales in the United States during Q2 this year declined by one percent in terms of units. Sales dropped by 9 percent in value, compared to a year ago.
Tomi Engdahl says:
HD resolutions seems to be already heading to smartphones:
Blackberry 10 handsets will come with HD 720p screens
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2199283/blackberry-10-handsets-will-come-with-hd-720p-screens
CANADIAN PHONE MAKER Research in Motion (RIM) has revealed that its next generation operating system Blackberry 10 will boast support for high definition (HD) screens.
“As everyone knows by now, the screen resolution on the Dev Alpha device is 1280×768. Let’s just go on record and confirm that this will be the screen resolution shipped with the first BlackBerry 10 full touch device,” the blog post reads.
Blackberry 10, which is expected to make its debut in the first quarter of 2013 after its release was pushed back, is widely to believed to be RIM’s final shot at success.
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Tomi Engdahl says:
Display calibration: a necessity for an accurate rendition
http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/other/4394540/Display-calibration–a-necessity-for-an-accurate-rendition?cid=EDNToday
Calibration of the display brightness was the portion of the process that prompted my surprise. The Gateway display’s setting ranges from 1 to 100; the factory brightness default is 100. This particular aspect didn’t surprise me; it’s an unfortunate reality of the display trade that consumers frequently pick the product that most ‘pops’ out on the show floor. So, as with modern “music” that’s dominated by squashed-dynamic-range content, display manufacturers strive to outdo each other with increasingly bright products, washing out image quality in the process.
In my particular case, however, I had to decrease each Gateway LCD’s backlight to a low-single-digit setting before the Datacolor software deemed it acceptable.
Still, it’s unfortunate that Gateway (and other manufacturers’) display owners who never spend the money and take the time to do a formal calibration are missing out on quality results, as a result.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sony readying super-sized 84-inch 4K TV
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_7-57499411-221/sony-readying-super-sized-84-inch-4k-tv/
As far we can tell, this would be the largest TV Sony has ever produced for the mass market.
Sony plans to introduce a super-sized 84-inch LCD television during IFA 2012, Europe’s major consumer electronics show, a source told CNET.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed to CNET that the upcoming 84-inch TV can display a massive 4,096×3,072 resolution (four times the number of pixels in a conventional 1080p set), also known in the industry as 4K.
Sony clearly wants to make a larger push toward 4K resolution next year, as it currently offers a 4K-compatible Blu-ray player (BDP-S790), projector, and professional cameras. In addition, over the last two years, the Japanese company teased 4K prototype televisions at major consumer electronics trade shows.
Tomi says:
LG has introduced a giant television, which the company calls the world’s largest ultra-definition 4K-ud-ie the use of television technology.
LG’s new TV size is 84 inches. The screen has a diameter of about 213 centimeters. It has 4K resolution.
LG, the new giant screen will be available in September in Europe. Purchase enthusiasm could, however, affect its price. Britain’s BBC tells that it is closer to 18 000 Euros.
Source: http://www.tietokone.fi/uutiset/tassa_on_maailman_suurin_ultrapiirto_televisio
Tomi Engdahl says:
13-inch Retina MacBook Pro displays in production
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57500548-37/13-inch-retina-macbook-pro-displays-in-production/
Production is under way for a Retina display targeted at a more mainstream MacBook Pro, CNET has learned.
Production has begun of a 2,560-by-1,600 pixel density display that will land on a 13.3-inch MacBook Pro, NPD DisplaySearch analyst Richard Shim told CNET.
Apple’s Retina displays cram an astounding number of pixels into a relatively small area. The current 15.4-inch MacBook Pro Retina boasts an IPS display with 2,880-by-1,800 pixel density, far more than any PC laptop maker can deliver at the screen size.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sony’s Whopping 84-Inch 4K TV Will Dominate Your Living Room
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/08/sonys-84-inch-4k-tv/
If you find your 55″ 1080p TV set is just too small and pixelated, you’ll be thrilled to know the next generation of ridiculously enormous, ultra-high-resolution smart TVs are on the way. Get ready for 4K TV.
On Wednesday, Sony introduced the 84-inch XBR-84X900, a 3840 x 2160 resolution LCD TV.
4K resolution displays boast 8 million pixels and a resolution four times that of full HD.
Previously the stuff of high-end projectors, 4K has made inroads into televisions as of late. LG introduced its own 4K television set at CES 2012. Other manufacturers like Sharp and Toshiba have released smaller 4K TV sets.
While there’s not that much 4K resolution video out there, Sony has a list of its 4K movie releases online. You can get a taste for the 4K experience with a handful of videos posted on YouTube.
Tomi Engdahl says:
ZTE plans for 11in 2560×1600 tablet
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/feature/2188262/zte-plans-for-11in-2560×1600-tablet
What do you think about beyond HD displays in tablets, such as the 2048×1536 new Ipad? Would it make sense to have larger, 11in to 12in super tablets with such resolutions and aspect ratios, since 4:3 or 16:10 are a far more productive format for a screen than 16:9?
Just like the multi-core, ultra high resolution became the trend in high end mobile devices, ultra high resolution improves user experience in image quality, games and so on. Therefore, 2048×1536 or 2560×1600, or even higher resolution will appear in our pads ultimately as well. The degree of portability is an important factor for users to choose a pad. I think 10in to 11in can be accepted by consumers, as pads with sizes larger than 11in are not easy to carry.
Regarding the OS, ZTE has developed products both in the Android and Windows platforms. We have good cooperation with Microsoft and Google. ZTE also developed OS technology with industry chain partners including operators. In the future, we feel consumers are not to be concerned about the OS, but the applications in IOS, Android and Windows.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Amazon Takes on the High-End—Introducing the New Kindle Fire HD Family
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1732546
$199 now gets you the world’s most-advanced 7” tablet, with a stunning custom HD display, the fastest Wi-Fi, exclusive Dolby audio, powerful processor and graphics engine, and 16 GB of storage—all backed by the world’s best content ecosystem, the best cross-platform interoperability, and the best customer service
$299 now gets you all the same advanced technology on a stunning 8.9” large-screen 1920×1200 HD display with 254 ppi and a powerful OMAP4 4470 processor and graphics engine
Tomi Engdahl says:
Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD joins ‘Retina’ ranks
The 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD will join a very exclusive club of which Apple’s iPad Retina is the most prominent member.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57507846-94/amazons-kindle-fire-hd-joins-retina-ranks/
The Amazon Kindle Fire HD will bump up against the iPad Retina in the very exclusive ultra-high-resolution tablet club.
That club is made up of pretty much one product right now: Apple’s third-generation iPad Retina. Its 9.7-inch display boasts a 2,048-by-1,536 pixel density, which yields 264 pixels per inch (PPI).
Amazon’s just-announced 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD almost matches that, with a 1,920×1,200 resolution, giving it a PPI of 254.
Apple describe a Retina display as a pixel density that “is so high your eye is unable to distinguish individual pixels.”
“That puts [8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD] in the same pixel density class as the iPad Retina,
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ultra-high-definition TVs: Give me a break … please …
http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/other/4395535/Ultra-high-definition-TVs–Give-me-a-break—please–?cid=EDNToday
Last week’s IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin marked the coming-out party for three manufacturers’ 84-inch “4K” resolution (3840×2160 pixel) TVs. LG Electronics’ 84LM9600 is now on sale in Korea (with U.S. availability to follow shortly), and Sony’s KD-84X9005 is set to ship by the end of this year, with Toshiba’s display (following in the footsteps of an already-unveiled 55″ version, the 55ZL2) to follow it in the first half of next year.
But wait, there’s more … Panasonic used IFA to show off a 145-inch “8K” resolution (7680×4320 pixel) plasma TV, along with some 20-inch “4K” displays.
And the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) recently approved the UHDTV (Ultra High Definition Television) standard, which “allows for programming and broadcasts at resolutions of up to 7680 by 4320, along with frame refresh rates of up to 120Hz, double that of most current HDTV broadcasts. The format also calls for a broader palette of colours that can be displayed on screen.”
All sounds good, right? So what’s behind my skepticism professed in this post’s subject line? For one thing, while these displays do deliver notably higher total pixel counts than today’s mainstream TVs, they’re also notably larger than today’s mainstream TVs, which means that their pixel density is…fairly mainstream.
there currently isn’t any widespread “4K” (not to mention “8K”) content available to showcase on these displays, aside from photographs captured by high-resolution still cameras. HDMI v1.4 added support for “4K” multimedia transfers.
The “4K” and “8K” display pioneers are wisely building robust video processing circuitry into their hardware, as a means of interpolating conventional SD and HD content sources to pseudo-Ultra HD resolutions.
If the display manufacturers think that UHDTV will translate into the long-awaited fiscal success that has eluded them with prior 3-D and OLED market stabs, I fear that they’ve got another thing coming.
Tomi Engdahl says:
4K LCD TV output to outstrip OLED production
Smart picture tech too late to market?
http://www.reghardware.com/2012/09/13/displaysearch_says_4k_lcd_tvs_to_outstrip_oled/
An interesting snippet here from market watcher NPD DisplaySearch: the momentum behind 4K x 2K TVs is rather greater than that behind large OLED sets.
At least nine television makers have demo’d – some at the IFA show earlier this month – and said they will mass-produce very large LCD tellies with a 3840 x 2160 even though the 4K format is some way being supported by broadcasters and content providers globally.
Contrast that with the OLED TV scene, home to just two vendors – LG and Samsung – who have both pitching 55in sets since January 2012 but who have yet to provide a solid timeline for their products’ availability.
The OLED sets may look stunning, and by fully compatible with current 2D and 3D full HD picture standards, but they’re going to be too darned expensive: $10,000 for a 55in set. Initially, the 4K TVs won’t be any cheaper,
Tomi Engdahl says:
Oppo Find 5 to feature 5″ 1080p display, S4 Pro processor and Jelly Bean
http://www.theandroidlinks.com/Other/oppo-find-5-to-feature-5%E2%80%B3-1080p-display-s4-pro-processor-and-jelly-bean/
You may have not heard much about Oppo, and that’s because it’s a Chinese company, nevertheless it has already released some very interesting smartphones
the Oppo Find 5, which is a 5-inch phone with a 1080p screen and 441 PPI.
Oppo Find 5 to feature 5″ 1080p display, S4 Pro processor and Jelly Bean
http://www.theandroidlinks.com/toolbar/95350
But soon it’s about to have an even more interesting device on the market – the Oppo Find 5, which will be a 5-inch phone with a 1080p screen and 441 PPI. This may very well be the first phone to ship with this resolution, and the first phone with such a crazy high pixel density.
the closer you get to 500-600 PPI, the closer you get to achieving paper-like LCD’s. The ideal pixel density may be 1200 PPI for really crisp photographic papers
Tomi Engdahl says:
ITU adopts two ultra-high def TV specs
4K and 8K both get UHDTV moniker
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/05/28/uhdtv_specs_released/
Tomi Engdahl says:
New MPEG format paves the way for UHDTV
‘HEVC’ makes H.264 look bloated, no-glasses 3D standard on the way too
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/08/15/hevc_video_standard/
The Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) has outlined a new video compression standard that will enable the broadcast and digital distribution of ultra high definition TV (UHDTV).
High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) is said to offer compression around twice as high as for the current video standard of choice, H.264, and was signed off as a Draft International Standard in July.
Tomi Engdahl says:
NBN zealotry in the ultra-high definition age
Do anti-FTTP NBN arguments stack up against the reality of UHDTV and Terabit Ethernet?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/08/27/nbn_in_terabit_age/
Australia’s Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull recently declared the IT media includes a number of “zealots” who won’t, such is their/my fanaticism, report fairly on his alternative National Broadband Network (NBN) plans.
Wood thinks there’s another compression standard coming that could halve that again. Bu that still leaves 8K UHDTV needing 45Mbit/s, which is nasty even if, as seems likely, the standard looks like being a curiosity for some time.
Let’s be charitable and imagine that in 2020, HEVC’s successor arrives just as 4K UHDTV-enabled monitors and TVs start to land in homes. Let’s also imagine, as we recently reported, that IPTV takeup surges to 27% of homes by 2016. By 2020 we could generously post that 30% (about today’s Foxtel takeup) of Australian punters would need at rock-steady 12 Mbits/s to enjoy a single IPTV 4K video stream.
ADSL2+ won’t do that job. 12Mbit/s FTTP connections may struggle (as may the NBN’s satellite connections, but that’s another story).
At this point in the argument it gets hard to wrap things up. A zealot would say that the advent of UHDTV and Terabit Ethernet point to a time when demand for bandwidth will rise to extraordinary levels and that as FTTP is the technology most likely to meet that demand it is therefore the most prudent choice.
Re-enter also UHDTV, the HEVC sucessor and Terabit Ethernet, complete with the powerful signal they send about future demands and needs.
Tomi Engdahl says:
At the moment, the most accurate monitors are 2650 × 1600 pixels
Eizo has introduced a 3840 × 2160 pixels screen.
It requires specific features from graphics card, such as two DisplayPort connectors to carry the signal to monitor.
Source: http://www.tietokone.fi/uutiset/4k_naytot_tulevat
Tomi Engdahl says:
Key requirements for ultra high-definition television
http://www2.electronicproducts.com/Key_requirements_for_ultra_high_definition_television-article-facn_Mindspeed_sep2012-html.aspx
The need for switching and signal conditioning is becoming increasingly important for next-generation networking equipment, especially as video continues to drive network bandwidth requirements ever higher. The content distributed throughout the broadcast studio will be moving beyond 3G-SDI to 4K and 8K formats such as Super Hi-Vision and Ultra-HD that operate at unprecedented higher data rates, creating the need for ever higher speed routers and crosspoint switches that feature integrated signal conditioning to ensure error-free sustained data transmission.
In order to fulfill this vision, crosspoint switches must deliver a combination of adequate switching capacity and optimized signal integrity to enable a new generation of higher-speed routers, switchers and multi-viewers that can be used to create this content and support it serially in demanding real-time broadcast networking applications. The next generation of crosspoint switches also must deliver low power consumption and backward-compatibility with lower-speed SDI interfaces, providing a seamless migration path to the higher speeds of emerging UHDTV formats.
According to the ITU’s announcement, the first level of UHDTV picture quality, also called “4K,” is defined at a horizontal and vertical pixel count of 3,840 x 2,160 (equivalent to about 8 megapixels), and the next level, called “8K,” is defined at 7,680 x 4,320 (equivalent to about 32 Mpixels).
The latest evolutionary HDTV standards, including 1080p/50 (1920×1080), are already pushing switcher requirements to their limits. For example, the 1080p/50 signal requires a 3-Gbit/s baseband bit rate, which is double that of the earlier 1080i/25 or 720p/50 formats. Next-generation systems will need to support serial uncompressed UHDTV SDI, including both Mapped Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) ST2036-3-2010 at 10.692Gb/s as well as SDI at 11.88Gb/s. They also must support increased-density HD/3G systems, and multiplexed SDI streams, including up to four 3G SDI streams or 8 HD SDI streams.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Challenge: Transport data to and from displays and image sensors in mobile devices—Part I
http://www.edn.com/design/sensors/4396908/Challenge–Transport-data-to-and-from-displays-and-image-sensors-in-tablets–handsets–and-laptops-Part-I?cid=EDNToday
The user interfaces of mobile and consumer electronics devices (CE) have undergone a remarkable transformation in just a few years.
Having 3D high-resolution displays and high-resolution image sensors come with a price, and create a new set of challenges for the system designers. This paper examines some of the difficulties involved in transporting huge amounts of data to and from displays and image sensors in tablets, handsets, and laptops. The second part of this paper is dedicated to presenting workable solutions.
One can only appreciate the magnitude of the interconnect problem, if it is compared to the data rates in existing devices. As an example, the bandwidth required for a full “Retina” display used in the latest iPhone (4S) is only 1.5 Gbps – a factor 8 less than the predicted 12 Gbps for a smartphone having a similar size.
In summary, it is safe to assume that the resolution and pixel densities in future displays will continue to go higher. This transition will undoubtedly increase the needed connectivity bandwidths by orders of magnitude. Systems designers will be forced to find new interconnect schemes capable of handling such a massive burden.
Presently most systems utilize flexible PCBs (FPCs) to connect display and camera subsystems to application processors. This method has worked well for now but will run out of steam at rates above 10 Gbps. Presently the dominant interconnect technology used in mobile devices is based on Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) standards.
As an example, transporting 50 Gbps of data utilizing even the fastest M-PHY Gear 4 technology will require 5 differential lanes or 10 physical lines each running at approximately 12 Gbps. Designing PCBs or FPCs for such a transport system is extremely challenging. Even if the design challenges are overcome, the cost and size of the solution will be prohibitive.
Presently the practical maximum speeds supported by FR-4 are in the range of 6 to 8 Gbps.
Insertion loss is not only a function of frequency but also a function of link lengths. Link lengths are still quite manageable in today’s smartphones.
To date, clever placement of cameras and displays has kept the link lengths quite manageable. Unfortunately this trend is not sustainable since all of these platforms will be supporting multiple cameras that will inevitably require longer links.
Another undesirable side effect of copper links; whether in the form of traces or Micro-Coaxial cables, is their electromagnetic emissions (EMI). Such emissions are particularly troublesome in constricted spaces such as tablet and laptops containing multiple antennas and very sensitive RF receivers. As an example, LTE’s RF front-ends contain a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), which are extremely sensitive to aggressor energies in the band of 700 MHz to 6 GHz.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Blu-ray manufacturer quietly making world’s first 1080p smartphone
http://www2.electronicproducts.com/Blu_ray_manufacturer_quietly_making_world_s_first_1080p_smartphone-article-fajb_oppo_find5_sep2012-html.aspx
While China-based Oppo is best known in the tech industry as a high-end Blu-ray player manufacturer, its CEO says that the company is getting ready to bring to market a smartphone that features an incredible 1080p screen (1,920 x 1,080) with a rather stout 441 pixels-per-inch (ppi) display.
This new high-resolution smartphone will be called the Oppo Find 5 and will feature a 5-inch screen
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sharp starts mass production of 5-inch 1080p displays for smartphones
http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/1/3436644/sharp-starts-mass-production-of-5-inch-1080p-displays-for-smartphones
Sharp is starting “full-scale” production of a new 5-inch 1080p display for smartphones that has an incredible pixel density of 443ppi.
The only 1080p phone announced so far is the Oppo Finder 5, although rumors of a 5-inch HTC superphone continue.
With Sharp cutting thousands of jobs amidst huge losses, it will be hoping that its new display, coupled with a deal to provide Apple with iPhone 5 displays, will help it to recover from its ongoing financial crisis.
Tomi Engdahl says:
4K vs OLED: and the winner is…
South Korea, Japan – fight, fight, fight
How will television makers persuade punters to buy a new set now we all – well, most of us – have 1080p sets with internet access? We’ve already seen that 3D isn’t going to do it, but now two new alternative upgrade-driving technology are emerging – OLED and 4K – and they two are re-establishing an old battle line between manufacturers.
They see 4K as a way of stealing a march on their rivals who are having a job turning OLED into a solid mass-market proposition. OLED panels are not cheap to make, but then neither are 4K LCDs, though LCD production is mature. On the other hand, there is a mass of 1080p content available but almost no 4K material. The 4K supporters counter that by saying they can do upscaling and deliver a better experience.
There’s some truth in that because the 4K set’s higher pixel density makes it harder for the eye to detect individual pixels, something that you can see on a large 1080p set if you sit too close. Ideal distance increases proportionally with the screen size: the bigger the TV, the further away you need to sit to avoid spotting the pixels.
Meanwhile, the two main OLED backers are busily accusing each other of pinching their intellectual property, and that may yet delay the technology further. Both LG and Samsung showed off 55in OLED TVs in January 2012, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas
The Japanese vendors, meanwhile, reckon they will have large 4K LCD TVs out worldwide by December. The problems is that they are focusing on incredibly expensive very large format – 84in – sets at first.
So which technology is likely to win? Ask market watcher IHS iSuppli and it will tell you 4K shipments will only amount to around 0.8 per cent of the global LCD TV market through 2017, at which point, it reckons, some 2.1m 4K TVs will ship. “Neither consumers nor television brands will have the interest required to make the 4K LCD TV market successful,” the researcher reckons.
Not that OLED is going to fare any better. Behind closed doors, South Korean companies apparently admit it’ll be two years or more before OLED panel production yields will support mass-market volumes and prices.
DisplaySearch estimates a 50in 4K panel costs just $800 to make, twice the price of a 50in 1080p panel, but still a lot less than the $5000 it costs to punch out an 84in 4K screen.
Pitch 50in 4K sets as presenting Full HD the way it was meant to be seen – “retina” tellies, anyone? – and they may just have a compelling sales proposition on their hands.
Tomi Engdahl says:
4K LCD TV output to outstrip OLED production
http://www.reghardware.com/2012/09/13/displaysearch_says_4k_lcd_tvs_to_outstrip_oled/
An interesting snippet here from market watcher NPD DisplaySearch: the momentum behind 4K x 2K TVs is rather greater than that behind large OLED sets.
At least nine television makers have demo’d – some at the IFA show earlier this month – and said they will mass-produce very large LCD tellies with a 3840 x 2160 even though the 4K format is some way being supported by broadcasters and content providers globally.
Vendors lining up being 4k include not only LG and Samsung, but also Sony, Sharp, Toshiba, Haier and HiSense.
“A 50in 4K panel is priced at $800, compared to $400 for a full HD panel with slim type LED backlight, while an 84in 4K panel will be priced over $5000,” said DisplaySearch.
Tomi says:
Google to co-brand 10-inch Nexus tablet with Samsung
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57528352-94/google-to-co-brand-10-inch-nexus-tablet-with-samsung/
Web giant will co-brand its first high-end tablet with Samsung, an analyst tells CNET.
The 10.1-inch tablet will boast a pixel density that is higher than Apple’s third-generation iPad, said Richard Shim, an analyst at NPD DisplaySearch.
The 2,560×1,600 display will have a PPI (pixels per inch) of about 299, said Shim. That tops the 264 PPI on the 9.7-inch 2,048×1,536 Retina iPad.
Tomi says:
Tietoviikko reports that Ericsson’s TV business manager Joachim Bergman presented Ericsson’s vision for the future in Helsinki in early October.
Ericsson plans to 4K HDTV format for HDTV’s replacement. The first 4K transmissions and receiving terminals are likely to be seen in 2014.
The 4K resolution has four times HDTV resolution, so it consumes four times more bandwidth with current technology. This can be prevented with new packaging techniques. With Hevc / h.265 standard transmission size could be reduced to about 50-60 per cent from the currently needed.
When Internet broadcasting quality improves it requires more from the Internet infrastructure.
Source: http://www.tietoviikko.fi/kaikki_uutiset/seuraavan+polven+teravapiirtotv+nelinkertaistaa+tarkkuuden+2014/a846261?s=r&wtm=tietoviikko/-10102012&