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Deep Color Encoding Process Developed for Blu-ray[teaser]A new encoding and decoding algorithm could lead to Blu-ray content with expanded colors. [/teaser] Folded Space has announced plans to license its proprietary DCE algorithm for deep color video content. If implemented into Blu-ray disc media and players, the encoding and decoding process would enable expanded colors on compatible displays. Currently, most content is encoded with 8-bits which offers a limited range of colors. With Folded Space's new algorithm, discs can be encoded with 12-bits per color, offering a wider gamut that can produce deep colors and high dynamic range images on supported displays. With DCE, 12-bit content can be encoded onto standard 8-bit Blu-ray discs, allowing those with supported displays and players to unlock the extra color information while still remaining backwards compatible with current equipment. In addition, the algorithm uses little additional bandwidth and processing power, and can also be used for future 4K disc mediums. No manufacturers or studios have announced plans to use Folded Space's DCE yet, but the company will be offering the encoding algorithm free of charge to software partners. Likewise, the decoding algorithm will be made available to manufacturers for a modest fee. Source: Folded Space via EngadgetPosted Wed Jan 22, 2014 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
Poll: Are You Holding Out for 4k?The Blu-ray Disc Association recently confirmed that it's currently looking into adding 4k Ultra High Definition to the Blu-ray spec. With that in mind, how eager are you to upgrade your home theater to 4k? Have you stopped buying regular Blu-ray discs in anticipation, or have you already written off the UHD format as irrelevant to your needs? Vote in our blog poll today.Posted Wed Jan 22, 2014 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
HDD Gear Deal Spotlight: Samsung and Sony Big Screen HDTVs[teaser]In preparation for the Super Bowl, Amazon customers can now save $1000 or more on select HDTVs! [/teaser] As part of its Super Bowl sales promotions, Amazon is discounting several HDTV models from Sony and Samsung, taking as much as 43 percent off their retail prices. The selected models currently on sale include: Samsung UN75F7100 75-Inch 1080p TV - Currently $4498 (36 percent off its retail price of $7000). Samsung UN65F7100 65-Inch 1080p TV - Currently $2098 (43 percent off its retail price of $3700). Samsung UN60F7100 60-Inch 1080p TV - Currently $1798 (42 percent off its retail price of $3099). Samsung UN55F7100 55-Inch 1080p TV - Currently $1498 (40 percent off its retail price of $2500). Sony KDL65S990A Curved 65-Inch 1080p TV - Currently $2998 (25 percent off its retail price of $4000). As always, these deals will only last for a limited time. Make sure to stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more deals and special promotions!Posted Tue Jan 21, 2014 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
LG Shows off Laser TV Projector[teaser]The company has been showcasing its short throw HD projector at the Sundance Film Festival. [/teaser] Guests at the Music Lodge VIP Lounge at the Sundance Film Festival can now catch a glimpse of LG's latest Laser TV projector. The 1080p short throw projector system was used to display this past Sunday's NFL Conference Championship games in the lounge, and will also be used as a backdrop for music videos during live performances. "With a massive 100-inch class screen and FULL HD picture quality, our Laser TV is perfect for sports and large viewing parties," said Kyle Kiang, director of home entertainment brand marketing, LG Electronics USA. The system features 1080p resolution and 150 nit brightness. In addition, the system comes with a 100-inch six-layered custom screen that is designed to deflect ambient light. The short throw projector needs only 22-inches between the light source and screen to display images, and it can be installed near the floor or ceiling. Finally, the Laser TV also comes complete with Smart TV features and steaming apps. The LG Laser TV is available now from select retailers for a suggested retail price of $9000. Source: LG via PR NewswirePosted Tue Jan 21, 2014 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
Samsung and LG Smartphone Rumors Heat Up[teaser]Possible release dates and details about the companies' upcoming mobile devices are starting to leak. [/teaser] New information about Samsung's Galaxy S5 and LG's G Pro 2 and G3 are making the rounds. According to numerous sources, Samsung's latest Galaxy smartphone is being prepped for a March or April release, and LG's new offerings will likely be available around that time as well. Though official details about the Galaxy S5 have not been announced, Samsung revealed a few tidbits to Bloomberg. According to the report, the company is considering using eye-scanner technology in the new device and will apply a "back to basics" approach for the design, hoping to distinguish the smartphone from its predecessors. Meanwhile, new rumors trickling out of Korean news sites indicate that LG's upcoming smartphones could use Quad HD screens with a resolution of 2560X1440. The company first announced that it was developing Quad HD smartphone panels back in August, but no specific models were revealed at that time. Now, it looks like the G Pro 2 could be the first mobile device from LG to sport a 1440p display. Likewise, the LG G3 smartphone is also expected to use a Quad HD screen as well. Official specs, pricing, and release dates for Samsung and LG's upcoming handsets have not been announced, but full details are expected to be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress at the end of February. Sources: Digital Trends, BloombergPosted Mon Jan 20, 2014 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
Comcast to End AnyPlay Streaming Support[teaser]The in-home cable streaming device is being discontinued in favor of new apps and features from the company. [/teaser] Comcast has announced plans to discontinue its AnyPlay streaming device. Launched in 2012, the separate streaming cable box allowed customers to watch live TV in their homes on their Android or iOS tablets and smartphones. As of January 13, sales of the AnyPlay box have already been suspended. For now, current owners will still be able to use and download the AnyPlay app, but support will end at the end of March. Customers who attempt to download the app now will be treated to this disclaimer from Comcast: "Effective March 31st, 2014 Comcast has decided to discontinue our AnyPlay service. Since launching the AnyPlay service in 2012, we have developed new, innovative technologies that provide customers with more choices and flexibility for streaming live and On Demand programming without the need for additional equipment. Please download the XFINITY TV Go app." Though this may mark the end of AnyPlay, it's far from the end of Comcast's streaming plans. The company's XFINITY TV Go app currently lets iOS and Android users stream select live TV channels and on-demand content anywhere they have an internet connection. In addition, Comcast also plans to launch a new in-home XFNITY TV streaming app that will let customers watch all channels, on-demand content, and DVR recordings on their tablets and mobile devices. The app is being tested in select markets, starting with Boston this month, and will then expand to the rest of the country. Sources: Comcast, EngadgetPosted Mon Jan 20, 2014 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
Vizio Spotlights New Home Theater Products[teaser]The company has revealed a trio of new audio devices. [/teaser] Vizio has detailed the latest additions to its home audio lineup, the 54" 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar, the 38" 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar, and the 21" 2.1 Home Theater Sound Stand. Each product is geared toward offering customers high quality audio that perfectly complements their HDTVs. "As the leader in the sound bar category, we're committed to meeting the rapid growth in HDTVs and offering the right audio solutions for families with different screen sizes," said Matt McRae, Chief Technology Officer, VIZIO. "The new flagship 54" 5.1 Sound Bar, 38" 5.1 Sound Bar and the unique 21" 2.1 Sound Stand join an award-winning audio collection that will add the best audio experience to match advanced picture quality current HDTVs now offer." The 54" 5.1 Sound Bar is designed to be paired with displays 55-inches or larger and features wide stereo separation, 104 dB of spacious sound, a wireless subwoofer, two rear satellite speakers, and a low frequency response of 35 Hz. Bluetooth connectivity is also included for streaming CD quality audio. Meanwhile, the 38" 5.1 Sound Bar uses a similar design and is aimed at complementing TVs that are 42-inches or larger and offers 100 dB of sound. Finally, the 21" 2.1 Sound Stand is perfect for resting under TVs between 23-inches and 50-inches that weight less than 50 pounds. The device delivers up to 101 dB of audio and a bass response as low as 60 Hz through two 2.5-inch drivers and an integrated 5.25-inch subwoofer. Pricing and availability have not been announced yet, but more details will be revealed later this year. Source: VizioPosted Fri Jan 17, 2014 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
LG G Flex Up for Pre-Order[teaser]LG's curved-screen smartphone is coming to Sprint later this month. [/teaser] Spring and LG have announced plans to release the G Flex smartphone on January 31. The mobile device features a unique vertically concave design that curves the screen inward to better mold to the contours of a user's face while also offering a more cinematic viewing experience. As previously reported, the mobile device uses a 6-inch 720p Real RGB OLED display with 245 ppi, and runs on a 2.26 GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU with an Adreno 330 450MHz GPU. 2GB of RAM and 32GB of memory are also included, along with a 13MP rear camera and a 2.1MP front camera. In addition, the G Flex once again features LG's Rear Key design that was first introduced on the G2, moving all the buttons to the back of the phone. Finally, the new smartphone is the first device of its kind to feature a "Self Healing" back cover that uses a special elastic coating to help reverse daily wear and tear. The G Flex is available for pre-order now via Sprint's online website for a January 31 release. The smartphone is currently selling for $300 with a two year contract, and is expected to launch in retail stores on February 7. In addition to Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T have also announced plans to support the phone, but pricing and availability have not been detailed yet. Source: Sprint via EngadgetPosted Thu Jan 16, 2014 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
Sharp Details 15.6-inch Windows Tablet[teaser]A new large-screen tablet geared toward business applications is on the way. [/teaser] Sharp has announced a new 15.6-inch tablet. The RW-16G1 features a 3,200x1,800 WQHD display with 235 ppi that uses IGZO technology to allow for thinner sizes and lower prices. Under the hood, the tablet is powered by a 1.6 GHz Core i5-4200U CPU and 4GB of RAM all running Windows 8.1 Pro. A 128GB solid state drive is integrated as well, along with an SD card slot, USB 3.0 inputs, and a Mini DisplayPort connection. The device will offer support for about nine hours of battery life and measures a half-inch thick and weighs 2.64 pounds. In addition, Sharp also recently unveiled a 10.1-inch Windows 8 tablet dubbed the Meibus Pad. This model features a 2,560×1,600 IGZO screen with about 300 ppi, and is powered by an Intel Atom Z3770 processor, 4GB of RAM, and includes 64 GB of storage. Exact pricing and availability have not been revealed yet, but the RW-16G1 tablet is expected to launch in March and the Meibus Pad is scheduled for later this month. Sources: CNET, PCWorld, Digital TrendsPosted Thu Jan 16, 2014 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
Seiki Announces U-Vision 4K HDMI Accessories[teaser]Seiki's new 4K up-conversion cable and adapter have been approved by Technicolor's 4K Image Certification program to optimize HD content for Ultra HD displays. [/teaser] Seiki has revealed two new HDMI products, the U-Vision 4K Up-conversion HDMI Cable and the U-Vision 4K Up-conversion HDMI Adapter. Both products are aimed at enhancing HD content on Ultra HD screens. The U-Vision line uses Marseille Networks' VTV-1222 video processing chip for image enhancement and upscaling to 4K resolution. Available as a standalone cable and as an up-conversion adapter, the products are capable of performing 4K up-scaling and "real-time detail enhancement, edge restoration and noise reduction" on 1080p signals at up to 30Hz. In addition, the U-Vision cable and adapter have received certification from Technicolor's 4K Image Certification Program, ensuring a "Hollywood video experience." "Together with Marseille's advanced VTV 4K video processing technology, Seiki aims to speed up the adoption of the new Ultra HD TV standard with more 4K content enabled by one of the best up-conversion technologies available today," said Frank Kendzora, executive vice president at Seiki. The U-Vision 4K Up-conversion HDMI Cable is expected to launch in Q1 2014 for $39.99. Pricing for the U-Vision 4K Up-conversion HDMI Adapter has not been revealed, but the device will be available in Q2 2014. Source: to Seiki via PR NewswirePosted Wed Jan 15, 2014 at 11:00 AM PST by:
