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VIZIO Launches 2018 4K HDR Smart TV Lineup[teaser]The company's newest home theater products have been detailed.[/teaser] VIZIO has announced the launch of its 2018 4K HDR Smart TV lineup. The collection includes new D-Series, E-Series, M-Series, P-Series, and P-Series Quantum models. Units are now available on VIZIO.com and will be expanding soon to additional retailers. The 2018 4K HDR displays all use the SmartCast OS with integrated access to popular apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Vudu, iHeartRadio, Crackle and Xumo directly through the TV screen using the included remote. In addition, customers can download the free SmartCast Mobile app to use their smartphone as a touchscreen remote, and Google Chromecast built-in allows users to cast thousands of Chromecast-enabled apps to the display from their supported mobile device. Meanwhile, voice-control support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant is offered as well. And unlike the company's 2017 display lineup, VIZIO's 2018 models do include TV tuners. You can find initial details on each new model below, and be sure to check back with High-Def Digest later this week for hands-on impressions of VIZIO's 2018 home theater displays. D-Series & E-Series 4K HDR Smart TVs The entry-level D-Series displays feature 4K Ultra HD resolution and direct-lit LED panels. In addition, the units include support for HDR10 and HLG high dynamic range formats. Models are available in sizes ranging from 43-inches to 70-inches. Here's a full roundup of pricing for each size: VIZIO D-Series™ 43” 4K HDR Smart TV (D43-F1) MSRP $349.99 VIZIO D-Series™ 50” 4K HDR Smart TV (D50-F1) MSRP $429.99 VIZIO D-Series™ 55” 4K HDR Smart TV (D55-F2) MSRP $499.99 VIZIO D-Series™ 60” 4K HDR Smart TV (D60-F3) MSRP $649.99 VIZIO D-Series™ 65” 4K HDR Smart TV (D65-F1) MSRP $779.99 VIZIO D-Series™ 70” 4K HDR Smart TV (D70-F3) MSRP $999.99 Meanwhile, the new E-Series offers a few key performance upgrades with 4K Ultra HD resolution and full array local dimming powered by up to 16 zones for better black levels. Likewise, Dolby Vision support is also included along with HDR10 and HLG high dynamic range playback. Models are available in sizes ranging from 43-inches to 75-inches. "VIZIO believes all consumers – including those on a budget – should be able to enjoy the growing library of 4K and HDR movies and shows available to them," said Bill Baxter, Chief Technology Officer, VIZIO. "Packed with picture quality benefits that are oftentimes reserved for pricey, high-end TVs, our all-new 2018 D-Series and E-Series 4K HDR models were engineered to bring the benefits of 4K HDR to the masses. The entertainment experience is rounded out by our easy-to-use, on-screen smart TV experience that grants access to thousands of popular streaming apps." Here's a full roundup of pricing for each E-Series display: VIZIO E-Series™ 43” 4K HDR Smart TV (E43-F1) MSRP $349.99 VIZIO E-Series™ 50” 4K HDR Smart TV (E50-F2) MSRP $439.99 VIZIO E-Series™ 55” 4K HDR Smart TV (E55-F0/E55-F1) MSRP $499.99 VIZIO E-Series™ 65” 4K HDR Smart TV (E65-F0/E65-F1) MSRP $799.99 VIZIO E-Series™ 70” 4K HDR Smart TV (E70-F3) MSRP $1,049.99 VIZIO E-Series™ 75” 4K HDR Smart TV (E75-F1/E75-F2) MSRP $1,549.99 M-Series 4K HDR Smart TVs The mid-range M-Series displays feature a bezel-less design with 4K Ultra HD resolution and Active Full Array Plus technology powered by up to 48 local dimming zones. In addition, the units include support for Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG high dynamic range formats with UltraBright 600 for up to 600 nits of peak brightness. Models are available in sizes ranging from 55-inches to 70-inches. "This year’s M-Series collection fulfills a consumer demand for a robust smart TV with the best balance of step-up picture quality technologies and enhanced smart TV features," said Bill Baxter, Chief Technology Officer, VIZIO. "The 2018 SmartCast OS has been packed with a wider selection of on-screen apps, faster performance and voice-control support from Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa-enabled devices, allowing users to easily stream the content that matters most to them." Here's a full roundup of pricing for each size: VIZIO M-Series™ 55” 4K HDR Smart TV (M55-F0) MSRP $699.99 VIZIO M-Series™ 65” 4K HDR Smart TV (M65-F0) MSRP $999.99 VIZIO M-Series™ 70” 4K HDR Smart TV (M70-F3) MSRP $1,499.99 P-Series 4K HDR Smart TVs The premium P-Series displays feature a bezel-less industrial design with 4K Ultra HD resolution and Active Full Array Pro tech powered by up to 120 local dimming zones. In addition, the units include support for Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG high dynamic range formats with UltraBright 1,000 for up to 1,000 nits of peak brightness and Ultra Color Spectrum for over one billion colors. Models are available in sizes ranging from 55-inches to 75-inches. "Picture quality technologies like Ultra Color Spectrum, Dolby Vision HDR and UltraBright 1000 enable the P-Series to take 4K HDR performance to the next level," said Bill Baxter, Chief Technology Officer, VIZIO. "Incredibly realistic on-screen imagery is complemented by cutting-edge smart TV features to round out the collection’s entertainment experience. VIZIO SmartCast OS not only expands discovery and streaming options so consumers can watch content they love from their favorite apps, but also serves as an ideal centerpiece to any smart home with easy-to-use voice-control support through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant." Here's a full roundup of pricing for each size: VIZIO P-Series® 55” 4K HDR Smart TV (P55-F1) MSRP $899.99 VIZIO P-Series® 65” 4K HDR Smart TV (P65-F1) MSRP $1,299.99 VIZIO P-Series® 75” 4K HDR Smart TV (P75-F1) MSRP $2,499.99 P-Series Quantum 4K HDR Smart TV The flagship P-Series Quantum display features a bezel-less design with 4K Ultra HD resolution and Active Full Array Max powered by 192 zones of local dimming. In addition, the set includes support for Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG high dynamic range formats with UltraBright 2,000 for up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness and advanced Quantum Color Spectrum technology for more than one billion colors. The series is currently available as a 65-inch model. "The P-Series Quantum combines the best VIZIO picture quality technologies and wraps them in a beautifully modern aesthetic," said Bill Baxter, Chief Technology Officer, VIZIO. "With up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness, 192 zones of local dimming and advanced quantum dot technology, viewers enjoy the ideal blend of brightness, contrast and color for a home-theater experience that rivals the cinema. Our 2018 SmartCast OS opens the door to an expansive collection of streaming options while also allowing the P-Series Quantum to fit seamlessly into Amazon and Google smart home ecosystems thanks to voice-control support." Here's a full roundup of pricing for each size: VIZIO P-Series® Quantum 65” 4K HDR Smart TV MSRP $2,199.99 Source: VIZIOPosted Tue Apr 10, 2018 at 07:10 AM PDT by: -
Ultra HD Forum Reveals Guidelines for Next Phase of 4K HDR Broadcast Tech[teaser]New guidelines for future UHD broadcasts with HDR, high frame rate, and next-gen audio tech have been detailed.[/teaser] To coincide with the 2018 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) 2018 Show in Las Vegas, the Ultra HD Forum has revealed its Phase B Guidelines for UHD broadcast tech. The Forum's initial Phase A Guidelines covered parameters for tech that was implemented in 2015 and 2016, and this new document addresses next-gen advancements in the realm of 4K content production and delivery for Ultra HD TVs. "Our Guidelines are regularly updated, and further technologies will be addressed," said Madeleine Noland, Chair of the Guidelines Work group. "Also, as with the Phase A guidelines, we remain strongly focused on backwards compatibility so that the introduction of new solutions doesn't break what's already in place. Phase B Guidelines will soon include end-to-end workflows for all distribution systems including OTA, MVPD and OTT, which is a hallmark of the Forum’s work." The Phase B Guidelines are presented as an 80-page technical document with info and standards for five main areas of potential Ultra HD broadcast tech, including baselines for supporting dynamic metadata HDR formats like Dolby Vision, high frame rate playback at 100 or 120 FPS, and next-gen 3D audio formats like Dolby AC-4 and MPEG-H Audio. Likewise, the new Guidelines also address concerns over the higher bandwidth requirements for UHD video via Content Aware Encoding. This method reduces the bitrate of an on-demand or live encode during static shots without a lot of motion in order to lower bandwidth use. Here's a full rundown of the main technologies featured in the Ultra HD Forum's Phase B Guidelines: - CONTENT AWARE ENCODING- DUAL-LAYER HDR TECHNOLOGIES- DYNAMIC HDR METADATA SYSTEMS (Dolby Vision™ and SL-HDR1)- HIGH FRAME RATE (100/120 FPS)- NEXT GENERATION AUDIO (Dolby® AC-4 Audio and MPEG-H Audio) Though actual commercial implementation for many of these 4K broadcast features is still pending for the time being, the Forum is now demonstrating the tech in action at NAB 2018. Sources: Ultra HD Forum, Ultra HD Forum (BusinessWire), EngadgetPosted Mon Apr 9, 2018 at 05:10 PM PDT by: -
HDD Gear Deals: Up to 29% Off Amazon Fire TV Devices[teaser]Amazon's Fire TV products are now on sale.[/teaser] As part of a limited-time offer, Amazon is currently discounting its Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. Here's a full rundown of the models included in the sale: Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD and Alexa Voice Remote - Currently $50 (29% off) Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote - Currently $30 (25% off) Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD (2017 Edition, Pendant) + HD Antenna - Currently $75 (17% off) Amazon's latest Fire TV model offers access to a growing collection of channels, apps, and Alexa skills, including over 500,000 TV episodes and movies from services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ, Amazon Video, and more. Under the hood, the device is powered by an Amlogic Quad-core 1.5GHz processor and Mali450 MP3 GPU, along with 2GB of memory, dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and 8 GB of storage. The player also features a new compact dongle-like design that fits behind a user's TV. In addition, the unit includes support for up to 60fps 4K Ultra HD playback with HDR10 (but not Dolby Vision) and Dolby Atmos audio. An Alexa Voice Remote is included as well. These deals will only be active for a limited time while supplies last. Make sure to stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more sales and special promotions!Posted Mon Apr 9, 2018 at 08:15 AM PDT by: -
Amazon's 'Lord of the Rings' Series Set to Be Most Expensive Show Ever Made[teaser]A trip to Middle-earth isn't cheap.[/teaser] A recent story from The Hollywood Reporter has shed some new light on Amazon's upcoming Lord of the Rings prequel series for Prime Video. Though plot details remain elusive, the update does offer insights into the streaming show's massive budget and potential ties to director Peter Jackson and his previously released movies. According to the report, Amazon's $250 million agreement with the Tolkien estate, HarperCollins, and New Line Cinema covers the small screen rights to the Lord of the Rings franchise for a five-season commitment. Likewise, the deal also includes the potential for a spin-off series. With that said, in order to be in compliance with the contract, Amazon has to get production rolling on the project within two years. And it's looking like the whole endeavor could end up costing more than Smaug's treasure. All in, the budget estimate for the proposed five-season run is over $1 billion. Meanwhile, New Line's particular involvement in the deal means that Amazon may be planning to use material from Peter Jackon's hit movies, though any kind of direct connection between the upcoming show and the film series has not been confirmed. On that note, it's possible that Jackson himself might join the show as an executive producer if he chooses to become involved. A release date for the new Lord of the Rings series has not been announced yet, but the show will debut exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. A current Amazon Prime subscription costs $99 per year or $11 per month. Likewise, Prime Instant Video is available as a standalone service for $9 per month. Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, /FilmPosted Fri Apr 6, 2018 at 05:00 AM PDT by: -
Coming Soon to Streaming: George R. R. Martin's 'Nightflyers' and More[teaser]Check out the latest crop of trailers for upcoming streaming shows and movies. [/teaser] Netflix and Hulu have released new previews for several of their upcoming programs and films. In addition, Criterion has detailed its April lineup of titles set to hit the Criterion Channel on the FilmStruck streaming service. Here's a full rundown of titles scheduled to arrive on each service: Nightflyers (Netflix, Coming Soon) - Based on George R. R. Martin's novella and set in the future on the eve of Earth's destruction, a crew of explorers journey on the most advanced ship in the galaxy, The Nightflyer, to intercept an alien spacecraft. One that might just hold the key to their survival. The series will air first on Syfy in the US and Netflix globally. Seth Rogen's Hilarity for Charity | Comedy Special (Netflix, April 6) - Seth Rogen and friends combine stand-up, sketches and music into an outrageous comedy special that could only come from the mind of Seth. The all-star guest lineup includes Tiffany Haddish, Sarah Silverman, Michelle Wolf, John Mulaney, Michael Che, Michael J. Fox, David Chang, Ike Barinholtz, Chelsea Peretti, Kumail Nanjiani, Jon Lovitz, Jeff Goldblum, Sacha Baron Cohen, Nick Kroll, Post Malone, Chris Hardwick, and Craig Robinson & The Nasty Delicious all star. Troy: Fall Of A City - (Netflix, April 6) - An epic story of love and war, intrigue and betrayal. When Helen and Paris fall in love, they trigger a chain of events that threatens their families and the city of Troy. The myths surrounding the Trojan War are over 3,000 years old but have emotional depths and timeless themes of identity, love, revenge and belonging. Troy: Fall of a City grounds these primal myths in vivid psychological truth and explores the universal questions of human existence- how people battle to retain their love and humanity amidst the chaos and devastation of war. Money Heist - Part 2 (Netflix, April 6) - The biggest money heist in history is in jeopardy: hostages and thieves are growing increasingly tired and nervous, forensic scientists are tracking the house where the heist was planned, and the police are closer to finding out the identity of The Professor. Will they be able to fulfill their plan. Ram Dass, Going Home (Netflix, April 6) - Ram Dass is one of the most important cultural figures from the 1960s and 70s. A psychedelic pioneer, author of Be Here Now, beloved spiritual teacher, and outspoken advocate for death-and-dying awareness, Ram Dass is now himself approaching the end of life. Since suffering a life-changing stroke twenty years ago, he has been living at his home on Maui and deepening his spiritual practice — which is centered on love and his idea of merging with his surroundings and all living things. I Am Not An Easy Man (Netflix, April 13) - He's spent his life ogling women. Now he's at their mercy. To survive in this strange new world where gender roles are reversed, he'll have to grow up fast. A film by Eleonore Pourriat, inspired by her short film "Oppressed Majority". Come Sunday (Netflix, April 13) - From director Joshua Marston, Come Sunday stars Academy Award-nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lakeith Stanfield, Jason Segel, Condola Rashad, and Martin Sheen. It's the moving story of Bishop Carlton Pearson's personal journey from leading a religious congregation to being labeled a heretic. Kodachrome (Netflix, April 20) - From director Mark Raso, Kodachrome stars Jason Sudeikis, Ed Harris, and Elizabeth Olsen. As the era of Kodachrome film processing comes to an end, a man must reunite with his estranged father on a roadtrip to develop his final rolls of Kodachrome film. 3% - Season 2 (Netflix, April 27) - Process 105 approaches and the interest of the Offshore and the Cause in destroying each other increases. The world has never been so divided and soon you'll have to choose which side you are on. The Rain (Netflix, May 4) - The world as we know it has ended. Six years after a brutal virus carried by the rain wipes out almost all humans in Scandinavia, two Danish siblings emerge from the safety of their bunker to find all remnants of civilisation gone. Soon they join a group of young survivors and together set out on a danger-filled quest through an abandoned Scandinavia, searching for any sign of life. Set free from their collective past and societal rules, the group has the freedom to be who they want to be. In their struggle for survival, they discover that even in a post-apocalyptic world there’s still love, jealousy, and many of the coming of age dilemmas they thought they’d left behind with the disappearance of the world they once knew. Who will you be when the rain comes? The Handmaid’s Tale: Season 2 (Hulu, April 25) - Adapted from the classic novel by Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale is the story of life in the dystopia of Gilead, a totalitarian society in what was formerly the United States. Facing environmental disasters and a plunging birthrate, Gilead is ruled by a twisted fundamentalism in its militarized ‘return to traditional values'. As one of the few remaining fertile women, Offred (Elisabeth Moss) is a Handmaid in the Commander’s household, one of the caste of women forced into sexual servitude as a last desperate attempt to repopulate the world. In this terrifying society, Offred must navigate between Commanders, their cruel Wives, domestic Marthas, and her fellow Handmaids – where anyone could be a spy for Gilead – all with one goal: to survive and find the daughter that was taken from her. Finally, Criterion has revealed its April lineup of films set to hit the Criterion Channel on the FilmStruck streaming service. Here's a full rundown of titles premiering in April: In a Lonely Place (April 1), Nicholas Ray, 1950 Monkey Love Experiments (April 3), Will Anderson and Ainslie Henderson, 2014 Metropolitan (April 4), Whit Stillman, 1990 The Summer of Flying Fish (April 9), Marcela Said, 2013 Casus belli (April 17), Yorgos Zois, 2010 - A current Netflix subscription starts at $11 per month for HD streaming and $14 per month for Ultra HD streaming. - A current FilmStruck Subscription starts at $7 per month. In addition, a FilmStruck + The Criterion Channel Subscription costs $11 per month, and customers can also opt for an annual Subscription for $99 per year. - A current Hulu subscription starts at $8 per month with commercials. In addition, ad-free playback is available for $12 per month. Sources: Netflix (YouTube), Hulu (YouTube), FilmStruckPosted Thu Apr 5, 2018 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
JVC Preps New LX-UH1 DLP 4K HDR Projector for $2,500[teaser]The company's first DLP 4K projector has been detailed.[/teaser] Per a report from AVS Forum, JVC has announced its latest projector model. Serving as a more budget friendly alternative to the company's more expensive D-ILA 4K projectors, the upcoming LX-UH1 is a DLP based model. The LX-UH1 features support for 4K projection via pixel shifting tech dubbed TRP (tilt-and-roll pixels). The process begins with the 4 million pixels achieved by the unit's 0.47" DLP imager and then rapidly shifts each pixel back and forth to double the perceived amount to 8 million pixels. Meanwhile, the projector is rated for a brightness of 2,000 lumens and a dynamic contrast ratio of 100,000:1. In addition, the device uses an RGBRGB color-filter wheel to provide 100% coverage of the standard BT.709 color gamut. Likewise, wide color gamut signals (up to BT.2020) can be accepted as well, but it's not yet clear what amount of coverage the unit actually offers for the P3 color space used for most current 4K HDR content. HDR10 and HLG high dynamic range formats are also supported. Two HDMI inputs are integrated, and one is full 2.0 bandwidth compatible for 4K/60p HDR signals. Manual options for focus, lens shift, and zoom are provided as well. Lens shift range is listed at ±60% vertical and ±23% horizontal. Zoom range is rated for 1.36-2.18:1. The JVC LX-UH1 DLP 4K HDR projector is set to launch in May for an MSRP of $2,500. For comparisons sake, other budget friendly DLP 4K projectors include competing models like the BenQ HT2550 ($1,499) and the Optoma UHD50 ($1,399). Our reviewer Joshua Zyber recently checked out the UHD50 (full review here), however, and came away very underwhelmed by the unit's black levels and poor contrast. Hopefully, JVC's new 4K DLP effort will be able to succeed where other models have come up short. Source: AVS Forum, The VergePosted Thu Apr 5, 2018 at 06:55 AM PDT by: -
Amusing Infographic Ranks the Cost of Rental Apartments in Netflix Shows[teaser]A new infographic has revealed just how much you can expect to pay per month to live in the homes of Kimmy Schmidt and Pablo Escobar.[/teaser] Have you ever wondered how much it costs to live in the Bluth Family's Sudden Valley housing development? Or how about Joyce Byer's home in Hawkins, Indiana? Well, a handy infographic courtesy of ForRent.com has done all the math for you, offering an amusing look at the price of some iconic housing rentals from several popular Netflix Original Shows. The list includes real-world rental estimates for locations from The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Stranger Things, Luke Cage, Arrested Development, House of Cards, BoJack Horseman, Narcos, and Trailer Park Boys, along with fun bits of trivia about each rental and their surrounding neighborhoods. Check out a full rundown of the rental costs below, ranked from the least expensive to the most outrageous by ForRent.com: Trailer Park Boys – $463 The Trailer Park Boys characters live in the fictional Sunnyvale Trailer Park. Located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia near Halifax, the park is in disrepair due to Mr. Lahey’s and Randy's drunkenness and distraction. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – $650 Kimmy is renting a garden-level place in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighborhood. It’s a 2-bedroom if you include the closet with a window where Kimmy lives. However, it’s a bit of a dive — the shower is in the kitchen and the floors are painted dirt. Stranger Things – $767 The 3-bedroom, 1-bath is located in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana. It's a one story single-family in a wooded area on the outskirts of town. The property also has a shed and dog house. As an added amenity, the place is supernaturally charged. Luke Cage – $2,100 Luke's 1-bedroom Harlem apartment is above Genghis Connie’s Chinese restaurant. But the real-life street corner was filmed in Washington Heights at the corner of 171st Street and Broadway. Arrested Development – $2,470 It's a 3,000-square-foot model home in the fictional Sudden Valley subdivision. The 3-bedroom, 3-bath home has a hidden room to store the family secrets, plus a large attic for hiding parental fugitives. It is the same design that was used for Saddam Hussein's palaces in Iraq. The model home was poorly constructed. There was no foundation poured, and the drain pipes empty under the living room, causing it to sink. House of Cards – $2,300-$5,800 The D.C. home of Francis and Claire Underwood is located at 1609 Far St. NW, Washington, D.C.. It is a modest-sized brownstone townhouse located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. It has 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, plus a full-size basement with exposed brick as a backdrop for your rowing machine. Currently, it's outfitted with high-end decor, crown molding and other classic touches. BoJack Horseman – $27,500 BoJack's place overlooks the iconic Hollywood sign. Built on the side of a mountain, the modernist architecture includes a wraparound deck and an inground pool. With an abundance of natural light, the open floor plan has a full kitchen with mid-century-styled bar stools for entertaining. What a mess — BoJack's rental is not neat and tidy like in most TV shows. Narcos – Millions Hacienda Napoles is the luxury estate of Escobar. The Spanish-style colonial villa had many amenities, including: an airstrip, helipads, 24 artificial lakes, a swimming pool containing a marble statue of Venus, a go-kart track, a 500-seat bullfighting arena, a classic car collection, a hovercraft, one of the world's largest private zoos (with elephants, giraffes, ostriches, tigers, zebras, exotic birds and hippos), landscaping that features life-size concrete dinosaurs that Escobar built for his son, and a replica of the propeller plane that carried Escobar's first U.S.-bound shipments of cocaine. Source: ForRent.comPosted Wed Apr 4, 2018 at 06:15 PM PDT by: -
This Week in Gear: New Tablets from Apple & Samsung, Bluetooth Update for Google Home, and More[teaser]We've compiled the latest gear news, including the launch of Apple and Samsung's latest tablets, and more.[/teaser] From product announcements and streaming app updates to general industry news and recent gear trends, keeping up with the latest tech news can be a daunting task. With that in mind, we're here to offer you a roundup of some of the latest gear and consumer electronics news that you may have missed. For this edition, we're covering Apple's updated iPad, Samsung's new Galaxy Tab Active2, Bluetooth speaker pairing for Google Home devices, the new Tidal app for Fire TV, and the addition of the Roku Channel to select Samsung TVs. So, without further ado, here's a rundown of some of the latest gear and tech news: Apple Launches Updated 9.7-Inch iPad Apple has announced the release of its latest iPad model. The updated 9.7-inch iPad now offers support for Apple Pencil along with other performance improvements. "iPad is our vision for the future of computing and hundreds of millions of people around the world use it every day at work, in school and for play. This new 9.7-inch iPad takes everything people love about our most popular iPad and makes it even better for inspiring creativity and learning," said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Product Marketing. "Our most popular and affordable iPad now includes support for Apple Pencil, bringing the advanced capabilities of one of our most creative tools to even more users. This iPad also has the power of the A10 Fusion chip, combined with the big, beautiful Retina display, advanced cameras and sensors that enable incredible AR experiences simply not possible on other devices." The new iPad 9.7-inch model features a Retina LED-backlit IPS Multi-Touch display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536-pixels and 264 ppi. Under the hood, the device is powered by an A10 Fusion chip with 64-bit architecture and an Embedded M10 coprocessor running iOS 11. An 8MP rear camera and a 1.2MP FaceTime camera are integrated as well. In addition, the unit's higher resolution touch sensor now provides Apple Pencil support. The Apple Pencil (sold separately) allows users to draw and take notes on the screen with pixel-perfect accuracy and low latency through a variety of apps. Finally, the new iPad has also been designed with AR (augmented reality) applications in mind. Apple's updated 9.7-inch iPad is now available in 32GB or 128GB options in silver, space gray and gold finishes. Prices start at $329 for the base model. Meanwhile, the Apple Pencil is available for $99. Source: Apple Samsung Releases Galaxy Tab Active2 Samsung has announced the release of its Galaxy Tab Active2. The rugged tablet model is geared toward mobile users who work outdoors or in the field, industrial locations, and harsh weather. "As digital transformation of business accelerates, mobile workers across industries require a device that is purpose-built to fit their specific needs in any environment," said Eric McCarty, Vice President, Mobile B2B Product Marketing, Samsung Electronics America. "The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active2 was designed to help businesses improve productivity, while reducing complexity, and do so while empowering workers in the most challenging working conditions." The Galaxy Tab Active2 features an 8-inch WXGA TFT display with a resolution of 1280 x 800. Under the hood, the device is powered by a Samsung Exynos 7870 Octa-core 1.6GHz CPU running Android 7.1. An 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera are integrated as well. In addition, the unit is MIL-STD-810-certified for military standard durability during excessive pressure, temperatures, vibrations, and drops, and IP68-rated for water and dust resistance. Likewise, the tablet includes physical buttons for use with work gloves, and the display is functional when wet for use in rainy conditions. Samsung's Galaxy Tab Active2 is now available in the US. Source: Samsung Google Home Adds Bluetooth Speaker Pairing Google has announced a new Bluetooth speaker pairing option for its Google Home lineup. With the new feature, users can control other Bluetooth speakers with their voice through a connected Home product. To connect a Bluetooth speaker with a Google Home device, users simply need to open the Google Home App and then follow the pairing instructions to make it their default speaker. Once paired, customers can then control playback on the Bluetooth speaker via voice commands through a Home device. Likewise, users can even add multiple Bluetooth speakers to create a group for multi-room audio. The Google Home lineup currently includes the Google Home ($129), Google Home Mini ($49), and Google Home Max ($399). Source: Google Tidal App Arrives on Amazon Fire TV Tidal has announced the launch of the Tidal app for Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. Likewise, the service is also now available for Android Auto. The Tidal music streaming platform offers access to detailed, uncompressed, lossless streaming music files and HD music videos for $20 per month. In addition, a $10 per month plan with standard sound quality is also available. The Fire TV app has been specially optimized for large screen playback, offering a custom visual interface with easy access to all of the newest Tidal content, expertly curated video playlists, concerts, livestreams, music videos, albums, podcasts, and more. Meanwhile, Tidal support for Android Auto is now compatible with over 400 car models, allowing users to access Tidal through USB to play tracks directly from their car dashboard. Source: Tidal Roku Channel Heads to Samsung Smart TVs Roku has announced plans to bring its Roku Channel app to select Samsung smart TV models this summer. The free ad-supported streaming channel offers access to hundreds of Hollywood movies and TV shows. "The Roku Channel has been a tremendous success giving our customers the free content they desire," said Scott Rosenberg, GM of Platform Business at Roku. "By broadening our distribution of this app to other viewing platforms such as Samsung, the #1 TV maker in the U.S., we are able to engage millions more consumers with free ad-supported entertainment." The ad-supported platform does not require any fees, subscriptions, or logins. And though content does include commercials, the company states that the service features about half the advertising per programming hour when compared to traditional TV. Exact Samsung models set to receive the Roku Channel have not been announced yet. Source: RokuPosted Tue Apr 3, 2018 at 10:00 PM PDT by: -
Oppo Digital Set to Stop Manufacturing New Blu-ray Players & AV Products[teaser]The company will no longer make new products.[/teaser] After 14 years of business in the US, Oppo Digital has announced plans to gradually stop manufacturing new products. The company is best known for its highly rated premium Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray players, along with a lineup of Hi-Fi audio devices. An exact reason for the decision has not been revealed. Oppo made the announcement via a post on its website on April 2, stating that it will now begin phasing out manufacturing and development of new products. With that said, existing models will continue to be supported, warranties will still be valid, and both in-warranty and out-of-warranty repair services will continue to be offered. Likewise, firmware updates will still be provided for current products when necessary. Meanwhile, the company is also still honoring its 30-day Money Back Guarantee for products purchased directly from OPPO Digital within the last 30 days. Return and refund requests can be made through https://www.oppodigital.com/ContactUs.aspx. Previously released Oppo products can still be purchased through Oppo Digital's website, Oppo Digital's authorized resellers, and Oppo Digital's overseas distributors -- though availability for certain models will change as manufacturing is phased out. Oppo's current and now final lineup of Ultra HD Blu-ray players includes the UDP-203 ($549) & UDP-205 ($1,299). Both models offer 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc playback along with support for regular Blu-rays and DVDs. HDR10, Dolby Vision, and Wide Color Gamut capabilities are included as well. In addition, the step-up UDP-205 model provides an upgrade in audio performance over the UPD-203, offering dedicated stereo output, 7.1-channel analog audio output, improved clock precision of the HDMI audio output, and increased power for the built-in headphone amplifier. Source: Oppo DigitalPosted Tue Apr 3, 2018 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
HDD Gear Deals: Up to 30% Off KEF R Series Speakers[teaser]Several KEF speakers are now on sale![/teaser] As part of a special promotion, KEF is discounting several speakers and subwoofers in its R Series. Here's a rundown of models currently on sale through Amazon: R200c Center Channel Loudspeaker - $700 each (30% off) R500 Floorstanding Speakers - $1,900 per pair (27% off) R700 Floorstanding Speakers - $3,000 per pair (17% off) R900 Floorstanding Speakers - $3,600 per pair (28% off) R600c Center Channel Speaker - $1,200 each (20% off) R300 bookshelf speakers - $1,300 per pair (27% off) R400b Subwoofer - $1,300 (24% off) These deals will only be active for a limited time while supplies last. Make sure to stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more sales and special promotions!Posted Mon Apr 2, 2018 at 09:45 AM PDT by:
