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HTC Launches VIVE Pro VR Headset Pre-Orders for $799[teaser]The company's latest VR headset is now available for pre-order.[/teaser] HTC has announced the launch of its new VIVE Pro VR Head Mounted Display. Pre-orders are now available for an MSRP of $799 and shipments are set to begin on April 5. And beyond the new VIVE Pro, HTC has also announced a $100 price cut for the previously released standard VIVE VR headset bundle, bringing the cost down to $499. "With the Vive Pro we are delivering the best quality display and visual experience to the most discerning VR enthusiasts. Our goal has always been to offer the most premium VR platform available and to drive adoption for VR," said Daniel O'Brien, HTC Vive General Manager, US. "By lowering the price of the current Vive, we are making VR more accessible while expanding the potential market for developers. Whether you're a VR enthusiast or new to the platform, there's never been a better time to join the most complete VR platform available." The VIVE Pro uses dual-OLED displays with a combined image resolution of 2880 x 1600 and 615 PPI. In addition, the unit also includes integrated, high impedance headphones powered by a built-in amplifier with 3D spatial sound and dual microphones for active noise cancellation. Likewise, the headset has been designed with comfort in mind, offering a more even weight distribution and simple adjustment buttons for users who wear glasses. SteamVR Tracking 1.0 and 2.0 are supported as well, enabling 360-degree, floor to ceiling movement coverage when seated, standing, or in a space up to 20' x 20' with base stations (sold separately). Here's a full rundown of specs per HTC: - Screen: Dual AMOLED 3.5" diagonal. - Resolution: 1440 x 1600 pixels per eye (2880 x 1600 pixels combined). - Refresh Rate: 90 Hz. - Field Of View: 110 degrees. - Audio: Hi-Res certified and high impedance headphones (removable). - Input: Dual integrated microphones. - Connections: USB-C 3.0, DisplayPort 1.2, Bluetooth. - Sensors: SteamVR Tracking, G-sensor, gyroscope, proximity, IPD sensor. - Ergonomics: Lens distance adjustment, adjustable IPD, adjustable headphones, adjustable head strap. Source: HTC via PR NewswirePosted Wed Mar 21, 2018 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Samsung Details Pricing & Availability for 2018 QLED 4K Ultra HD TV Lineup (UPDATED)[teaser]The company's latest 4K QLED displays are set to start shipping later this month.[/teaser] Samsung has officially unveiled pricing and availability for its new 2018 lineup of QLED Ultra HD TVs. The collection includes the Q9F, Q8F, Q7F, Q7C, and Q6F series. And be sure to check out our full hands-on impressions of the lineup HERE. "Our 2018 lineup of televisions are truly our most innovative and sophisticated yet, designed for today’s consumer who is mindful of the aesthetics of their space," said Jong-hee Han, President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. "We are excited for consumers to experience our new TV lineup and features that offer more freedom to decide where and how the TV can be best enjoyed within the home." The 2018 QLED displays all feature quantum dot technology for enhanced color and contrast, Smart TV functions with Bixby Voice control, and playback support for standard HDR10 and the new dynamic HDR10+ format. In addition, the TVs all offer a new Ambient Mode, which can display headlines, traffic reports, and weather updates throughout the day. Likewise, when the display is wall-mounted, Ambient Mode can even reproduce the appearance of a customer's wall directly on the actual screen, allowing the display to seamlessly blend into a user's room. Finally, the step-up Q8F and flagship Q9F models also add Direct Full Array technology with a panel of controllable backlight zones to offer superior black levels and contrast. Samsung's 2018 QLED lineup will start hitting stores this month. Here's a full rundown of announced pricing for each series so far: Q9F 65-inch QN65Q9F - $3,800 75-inch QN75Q9F - $6,000 88-inch QN88Q9F - TBA Q8F 55-inch QN55Q8F - $2,200 65-inch QN65Q8F - $3,000 75-inch QN75Q8F - $4,800 Q7C 55-inch QN55Q7C - $2,000 65-inch QN65Q7C - $2,700 Q7F 55-inch QN55Q7F - $1,900 65-inch QN65Q7F - $2,600 75-inch QN75Q7F - $4,000 Q6F 49-inch QN49Q6F - TBA 55-inch QN55Q6F - $1,500 65-inch QN65Q6F - $2,200 75-inch QN75Q6F - $3,500 82-inch QN82Q6F - $4,500 Source: SamsungPosted Tue Mar 20, 2018 at 12:35 PM PDT by: -
TCL 2018 6-Series 4K Roku TV Lineup Set to Launch by May 1[teaser]A release window for the new display collection has been announced.[/teaser] TCL has revealed more launch details for the company's upcoming 6-Series 4K Roku TVs. The collection is now set to arrive by May 1, and will include 55-inch and 65-inch models. Serving as a successor to the highly rated and affordable 2017 P Series, the flagship 55-inch and 65-inch 2018 6-Series displays will feature Dolby Vision and HDR10 support, along with the Roku OS smart TV platform. In addition, the sets use Contrast Control Zone Technology with 96 dimming zones on the 55-inch model and 120 dimming zones on the 65-inch model. Likewise, the panels use NBP Photon technology with LED phosphors to provide Wide Color Gamut support. A new iPQ Engine is being implemented as well to maximize coverage of the DCI-P3 gamut and provide accurate color settings right out of the box. An HDR Pro Gamma feature is also offered to maintain details in dark and bright scenes regardless of a room's lighting conditions. Finally, the 6-Series will feature a bold, brushed metal finish. Pricing for the 65-inch model has not been confirmed yet, but the 55-inch display is expected to carry the same $650 price tag as last year's P-Series model. And outside of the 6-Series, TCL is also prepping a step-down 5-Series with 43-inch, 49-inch, 55-inch, and 65-inch models. This lineup will also incorporate Dolby Vision and HDR10 support, along with the Roku smart TV platform, wide color gamut capabilities, the new iPQ Engine, and HDR Pro Gamma feature. With that said, the 5-Series will not include Contrast Control Zone Technology. Availability and pricing have not been announced yet. Source: TCLPosted Tue Mar 20, 2018 at 11:30 AM PDT by: -
This Week in Gear: McIntosh Reveals New Turntable, Verizon Fios Adds Alexa Support, and More[teaser]We've compiled the latest gear news, including details on McIntosh's latest turntable, the addition of Alexa voice control to the Fios TV platform, 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 McIntosh's new MT2 Precision Turntable, upcoming updates for the Xbox One platform, the launch of Alexa voice control on Fios TV, and the arrival of the CNNVR app on Oculus Rift headsets. So, without further ado, here's a rundown of some of the latest gear and tech news: McIntosh Reveals MT2 Precision Turntable McIntosh has detailed its latest audio device, the MT2 Precision Turntable. The premium player is set to start shipping in April for a suggested retail price of $4,000. The MT2 supports playback for both 33-1/3 and 45 rpm records, and features an advanced electronic and mechanical design with a subtle green glow under the platter and the outside edges of the plinth to elegantly evoke McIntosh's trademark visual style. Tracking force, anti-skate force, cartridge overhang, and arm height are all preset from the factory for the best performance, enabling a simplified setup process right out of the box. The player's moving coil cartridge is compatible with moving coil phono inputs and moving magnet inputs. Likewise, the cartridge offers high impedance and high output voltage for noise free music playback and features a unique design with an alloy cantilever and an elliptical diamond stylus. Meanwhile, the lightweight tonearm is constructed from dural-aluminum with special damping materials; the vertical bearings use two precision ceramic surfaces with damping fluid; the horizontal bearing features a gimballed sapphire design; the belt driven, solid black outer platter is made from a special dynamically balanced polyoxymethylene (POM); and the inner platter is made of CNC-precision milled aluminum. Finally, the unit's DC motor is fueled by an external voltage-stabilized power supply and is decoupled from the chassis. The MT2 Precision Turntable now joins the company's previously released MT5 and MT10 models. Source: McIntosh New Xbox One Feature Automatically Enables a Display's Game Mode Microsoft has announced several upcoming updates for its Xbox One platform. Highlights include an Auto Low Latency Mode, variable refresh rate support for AMD Radeon FreeSync displays, and an upgraded web browser. With the new Auto Low Latency Mode, the Xbox One will be able to recognize when a game is being played and then automatically activate a compatible display's low-latency Game Mode. When Game Mode is turned on, a TV disables most of its post-processing to reduce lag during gameplay. Meanwhile, when a user stops playing a game, the system will then be able to automatically switch off the display's Game Mode, reactivating the TVs video processing options for video playback. This means users won't have to keep manually switching the setting on and off in their TV's menu when transitioning from games to movies. The Auto Low Latency Mode is set to arrive on Xbox One systems later this year. A complete list of compatible displays has not been revealed yet, but select models from Samsung will be among the TVs supported. In addition, Microsoft is also prepping variable refresh rate support for the Xbox One S and Xbox One X on AMD Radeon FreeSync displays. Freesync tech allows a display to synchronize its refresh rate with an Xbox system to help create a smoother gameplay experience with reduced screen tearing and stuttering. Finally, Xbox One users will also get an updated Microsoft Edge web browser with a look and feel more in line with the Windows 10 version. Likewise, customers will be able to download and upload files within the browser directly to the Xbox One system or an attached storage device. These updates (and several more detailed here), are all set to launch on the Xbox One platform later this spring. Source: Microsoft Verizon Fios TV Adds Amazon Alexa Voice Control Verizon has announced the addition of Alexa voice control support for its Fios TV platform. The feature requires an internet-connected Fios Multi-Room DVR Enhanced or Premium service with a VMS1100 or IPC1100 set-top box and a compatible Alexa device. With Alexa voice control, Fios TV users can pair their system with a supported Echo device like an Echo Plus, Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Spot, or Echo Show. Once connected, customers can then use hands-free Alexa voice commands to enable a variety of Fios TV functions, including: - Change channels (by number of name)- Search for TV shows, movies, and actors from the guide and Video On Demand catalog- Control playback with pause, fast-forward, rewind, and play functions Amazon's current Echo lineup is led by the 2nd-Generation Echo. The smart speaker features an updated, compact design with an upgraded speaker architecture, a dedicated tweeter, a 2.5" down-firing woofer, and Dolby processing to deliver 360 degree omnidirectional audio. In addition, the device uses the company's second generation far-field technology, offering improved wake word processing, beamforming technology, and enhanced noise cancellation. Supported music services include Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and more. Amazon's 2nd Generation Echo is now available for $100. Source: Verizon CNNVR App Arrives on Oculus Rift CNN and Magnopus have announced the launch of the CNNVR app on the Oculus Rift headset. The app offers access to a virtual reality experience with news videos and original 360-degree stories. With the CNNVR app for Oculus Rift, users can choose to watch the latest breaking news from CNN or more than 100 virtual reality stories from around the world in 4K resolution with encoding by Pixvana. In addition, the app features a special tutorial voiced by CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, explaining how the interactive experience works. Likewise, a CNN ticker scroll and CNN Twitter integration are included as well for up-to-the-minute breaking news alerts. The Oculus Rift + Touch Virtual Reality System is currently available for $399. The headset is designed for use with Windows PCs and laptops, and features a 2160 x 1200 OLED display (1080×1200 per eye) with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 110-degree FOV (Field of View). Likewise, the headset offers built-in audio and an integrated mic. In addition, the package also includes Touch controllers and two sensors. Source: CNNPosted Mon Mar 19, 2018 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
Logitech Details G560 LIGHTSYNC PC Gaming Speakers with DTS:X Ultra Tech[teaser]The new desktop 2.1 speaker system offers synchronized lighting effects and positional audio.[/teaser] Logitech has revealed its latest PC speaker system. The G560 PC Gaming Speakers feature LIGHTSYNC technology to create an added sense of immersion during gameplay. The 2.1 audio system is rated for 240 Watts Peak (120 Watts RMS) and incudes a down-firing subwoofer and two satellite speakers with lightweight, high-strength metallic drivers. In addition, the speakers incorporate LIGHTSYNC technology with RGB lighting effects that can automatically sync with the action in supported games to match explosions, damage, locations, and more. Likewise, the effects can be customized across four zones with both front and rear light projection and around 16.8 million colors. And outside of gaming, the G560 offers an Audio Visualizer for lighting effects during music as well, including a soft breathing effect for low volume playback and pulsing lights for high volume playback. Meanwhile, the G560 also features DTS:X Ultra 1.0 technology to render a 3D soundscape with in-game positional audio and multi-dimensional surround sound playback. Connectivity options include USB, 3.5mm, and Bluetooth. Here's a full rundown of key specs per Logitech: - Total watts (peak): 240W - Total watts (RMS): 120W - Frequency response: 40Hz – 18KHz - Max SPL: 97dB@426B - Sensitivity: 84dB@1m/1w - Input impedance: >10K ohm - Connection Type: USB, 3.5mm, Bluetooth - Indicator Lights (LED): back and front lighting zones - Wireless Range: 25 meter line of sight - Driver Size: satellite: 2.5 in (63.5 mm), subwoofer: 6.5 in (165 mm) Logitech's G560 PC Gaming Speaker is now available for pre-order at an MSRP of $200. Units are expected to start shipping in April. Source: LogitechPosted Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 07:25 PM PDT by: -
Onkyo Announces New TX-SR383 7.2-Channel AV Receiver[teaser]A new entry-level surround sound receiver has been detailed.[/teaser] Onkyo has announced the launch of its first new AV receiver for 2018. The TX-SR383 7.2-Channel AV Receiver is set to start shipping later this month for a manufacturer suggested retail price of $399. The receiver is rated for 55W/ch (6 ohms, 1 kHz, 10% THD, 1 channel driven) and supports native 7.2-channel speaker configurations or a 5.2-channel surround sound setup with powered audio to a pair of Zone 2 stereo speakers. DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD audio formats are both supported, but the receiver does not include Dolby Atmos or DTS:X compatibility. Meanwhile, the unit features four HDMI inputs and one HDCP 2.2 compliant output with support for 4K/60p, HDR10, HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma), 4:4:4 color space, and BT.2020 color gamut video pass-through. Likewise, the HDMI output is also CEC-compliant and has an ARC (Audio Return Channel). In addition, the receiver offers AccuEQ Room Acoustic Calibration with a setup microphone to automatically adjust speaker distance, output level, crossover, and EQ to suit a customer's specific listening environment. Bluetooth 3.0 with AAC codec playback and Qualcomm aptX audio support is also integrated, enabling wireless connectivity to compatible smartphones, tablets, personal computers, and other devices. A front-panel USB input, a rear 5V/1A USB outlet, a selection of composite video inputs, optical/coaxial digital audio inputs, and analog audio inputs are included as well. Here's a full rundown of key specs and features per Onkyo: - 155 W/Ch per channel - Dolby® TrueHD & DTS-HD Master Audio™ decoding - HDMI® 4 In / 1 Out (HDR10 / HLG / BT.2020 / HDCP 2.2) - High-current power and discrete amp circuits - Powered Zone 2 audio / 7.2-channel surround sound - AccuEQ Room Acoustic Calibration - Bluetooth® wireless technology and Qualcomm® aptX™ audio - Easy-Setup Rear Panel Source: OnkyoPosted Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 06:05 PM PDT by: -
FandangoNOW Joins Movies Anywhere Digital Ecosystem[teaser]Another retailer has joined the growing digital locker system.[/teaser] Movies Anywhere has announced the addition of FandangoNOW to its lineup of supported digital retailers. The service now joins previously compatible stores like VUDU, iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon Prime Video. "We are thrilled to welcome FandangoNOW, a go-to online destination for movie fans, as our newest digital retailer. Movies Anywhere is rapidly revolutionizing the way that consumers access and enjoy their digital movie collections. The app has been used to store over 100 million movies to date. The popularity of Movies Anywhere is largely due to the extraordinary content, including exclusives and promotions, and the support provided through our growing list of online digital retailers," said Karin Gilford, General Manager, Movies Anywhere. Movies Anywhere allows users to buy, redeem, and store digital films from five major studios and then sync those titles across multiple retailer apps and playback devices. The platform supports a growing collection of over 7,500 digital titles from Disney, 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros., Universal, and Sony. And beyond the new addition of FandangoNOW, customers can also link to their VUDU, Amazon Video, iTunes, and Google Play accounts -- letting users access all their supported content on the service and device of their choosing. "At Fandango, we aim to deliver the best movie experience anytime and anywhere, throughout a movie's entire life cycle — from theatrical to home entertainment and beyond," said Fandango CMO, Adam Rockmore. "Since FandangoNOW's launch in 2016, we've been hyper-focused on innovation, including building one of the industry's largest collections of 4K Ultra HD movies and broadening our distribution on a wide variety of connected devices. Now, through our new relationship with Movies Anywhere, FandangoNOW customers will gain simple, streamlined access to their digital movies from Hollywood's major film studios." Source: Movies Anywhere via PR NewswirePosted Tue Mar 13, 2018 at 08:05 AM PDT by: -
Netflix Hack Reveals Hidden Categories with Secret Codes[teaser]Check out these codes to unlock hidden Netflix categories.[/teaser] While Netflix offers a steady stream of recommended content specially curated based on a specific user's interests, the streaming service doesn't always make it easy to access more specific categories outside of its algorithm. I mean, it's all good and well that Netflix thinks I want to start watching The Punisher, but what if all I really want to do is cozy up on the couch and find a great tearjerker? Well, users have now discovered a simple hack to bypass the algorithm with secret URL codes in order to browse a complete list of titles in a variety of specific sub-genres. From Comic Book and Superhero Movies to Military Documentaries, just about every category is accounted for. To unlock the new categories, subscribers simply need to input http://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/INSERTNUMBER into their web browser, and then replace INSERTNUMBER with one of the corresponding codes below for their desired genre. Here's a full rundown of secret codes as compiled by Cosmopolitan: Action & Adventure (1365) Asian Action Movies (77232) Classic Action & Adventure (46576) Action Comedies (43040) Action Thrillers (43048) Adventures (7442) Comic Book And Superhero Movies (10118) Westerns (7700) Spy Action & Adventure (10702) Crime Action & Adventure (9584) Foreign Action & Adventure (11828) Martial Arts Movies (8985) Military Action & Adventure (2125) Anime (7424) Adult Animation (11881) Anime Action (2653) Anime Comedies (9302) Anime Dramas (452) Anime Features (3063) Anime Sci-Fi (2729) Anime Horror (10695) Anime Fantasy (11146) Anime Series (6721) Children & Family Movies (783) Movies For Ages 0 To 2 (6796) Movies For Ages 2 To 4 (6218) Movies For Ages 5 To 7 (5455) Movies For Ages 8 To 10 (561) Movies For Ages 11 To 12 (6962) Education For Kids (10659) Disney (67673) Movies Based On Children's Books (10056) Family Features (51056) TV Cartoons (11177) Kids' TV (27346) Kids Music (52843) Animal Tales (5507) Classic Movies (31574) Classic Comedies (31694) Classic Dramas (29809) Classic Sci-Fi & Fantasy (47147) Classic Thrillers (46588) Film Noir (7687) Classic War Movies (48744) Epics (52858) Classic Foreign Movies (32473) Silent Movies (53310) Classic Westerns (47465) Comedies (6548) Dark Comedies (869) Foreign Comedies (4426) Late Night Comedies (1402) Mockumentaries (26) Political Comedies (2700) Screwball Comedies (9702) Sports Comedies (5286) Stand-Up Comedy (11559) Teen Comedies (3519) Satires (4922) Romantic Comedies (5475) Slapstick Comedies (10256) Cult Movies (7627) B-Horror Movies (8195) Campy Movies (1252) Cult Horror Movies (10944) Cult Sci-Fi & Fantasy (4734) Cult Comedies (9434) Documentaries (6839) Biographical Documentaries (3652) Crime Documentaries (9875) Foreign Documentaries (5161) Historical Documentaries (5349) Military Documentaries (4006) Sports Documentaries (180) Music & Concert Documentaries (90361) Travel & Adventure Documentaries (1159) Political Documentaries (7018) Religious Documentaries (10005) Science & Nature Documentaries (2595) Social & Cultural Documentaries (3675) Dramas (5763) Biographical Dramas (3179) Classic Dramas (29809) Courtroom Dramas (528582748) Crime Dramas (6889) Dramas Based On Books (4961) Dramas Based On Real Life (3653) Tearjerkers (6384) Foreign Dramas (2150) Sports Dramas (7243) Gay & Lesbian Dramas (500) Independent Dramas (384) Teen Dramas (9299) Military Dramas (11) Period Pieces (12123) Political Dramas (6616) Romantic Dramas (1255) Showbiz Dramas (5012) Social Issue Dramas (3947) Faith & Spirituality (26835) Faith & Spirituality Movies (52804) Spiritual Documentaries (2760) Kids Faith & Spirituality (751423) Foreign Movies (7462) Art House Movies (29764) Foreign Action & Adventure (11828) Classic Foreign Movies (32473) Foreign Comedies (4426) Foreign Documentaries (5161) Foreign Dramas (2150) Foreign Gay & Lesbian Movies (8243) Foreign Horror Movies (8654) Foreign Sci-Fi & Fantasy (6485) Foreign Thrillers (10306) Romantic Foreign Movies (7153) African Movies (3761) Australian Movies (5230) Belgian Movies (262) Korean Movies (5685) Latin American Movies (1613) Middle Eastern Movies (5875) New Zealand Movies (63782) Russian (11567) Scandinavian Movies (9292) Southeast Asian Movies (9196) Spanish Movies (58741) Greek Movies (61115) German Movies (58886) French Movies (58807) Eastern European Movies (5254) Dutch Movies (10606) Irish Movies (58750) Japanese Movies (10398) Italian Movies (8221) Indian Movies (10463) Chinese Movies (3960) British Movies (10757) Gay & Lesbian Movies (5977) Gay & Lesbian Comedies (7120) Gay & Lesbian Dramas (500) Romantic Gay & Lesbian Movies (3329) Foreign Gay & Lesbian Movies (8243) Gay & Lesbian Documentaries (4720) Gay & Lesbian TV Shows (65263) Horror Movies (8711) B-Horror Movies (8195) Creature Features (6895) Cult Horror Movies (10944) Deep Sea Horror Movies (45028) Foreign Horror Movies (8654) Horror Comedy (89585) Monster Movies (947) Slasher And Serial Killer Movies (8646) Supernatural Horror Movies (42023) Teen Screams (52147) Vampire Horror Movies (75804) Werewolf Horror Movies (75930) Zombie Horror Movies (75405) Satanic Stories (6998) Independent Movies (7077) Experimental Movies (11079) Independent Action & Adventure (11804) Independent Thrillers (3269) Romantic Independent Movies (9916) Independent Comedies (4195) Independent Dramas (384) Music (1701) Kids Music (52843) Country & Western/Folk (1105) Jazz & Easy Listening (10271) Latin Music (10741) Urban & Dance Concerts (9472) World Music Concerts (2856) Rock & Pop Concerts (3278) Musicals (13335) Classic Musicals (32392) Disney Musicals (59433) Showbiz Musicals (13573) Stage Musicals (55774) Romantic Movies (8883) Romantic Favorites (502675) Quirky Romance (36103) Romantic Independent Movies (9916) Romantic Foreign Movies (7153) Romantic Dramas (1255) Steamy Romantic Movies (35800) Classic Romantic Movies (31273) Romantic Comedies (5475) Sci-Fi & Fantasy (1492) Action Sci-Fi & Fantasy (1568) Alien Sci-Fi (3327) Classic Sci-Fi & Fantasy (47147) Cult Sci-Fi & Fantasy (4734) Fantasy Movies (9744) Sci-Fi Adventure (6926) Sci-Fi Dramas (3916) Sci-Fi Horror Movies (1694) Sci-Fi Thrillers (11014) Foreign Sci-Fi & Fantasy (6485) Sports Movies (4370) Sports Comedies (5286) Sports Documentaries (180) Sports Dramas (7243) Baseball Movies (12339) Football Movies (12803) Boxing Movies (12443) Soccer Movies (12549) Martial Arts, Boxing & Wrestling (6695) Basketball Movies (12762) Sports & Fitness (9327) Thrillers (8933) Action Thrillers (43048) Classic Thrillers (46588) Crime Thrillers (10499) Foreign Thrillers (10306) Independent Thrillers (3269) Gangster Movies (31851) Psychological Thrillers (5505) Political Thrillers (10504) Mysteries (9994) Sci-Fi Thrillers (11014) Spy Thrillers (9147) Steamy Thrillers (972) Supernatural Thrillers (11140) TV Shows (83) British TV Shows (52117) Classic TV Shows (46553) Crime TV Shows (26146) Cult TV Shows (74652) Food & Travel TV (72436) Kids' TV (27346) Korean TV Shows (67879) Miniseries (4814) Military TV Shows (25804) Science & Nature TV (52780) TV Action & Adventure (10673) TV Comedies (10375) TV Documentaries (10105) TV Dramas (11714) TV Horror (83059) TV Mysteries (4366) TV Sci-Fi & Fantasy (1372) Reality TV (9833) Teen TV Shows (60951) Sources: Netflix, CosmopolitanPosted Mon Mar 12, 2018 at 02:20 PM PDT by: -
Coming Soon to Streaming: 'Luke Cage,' 'House of Cards,' and More[teaser]Check out the latest crop of streaming trailers and announcements. [/teaser] Netflix and Amazon have released new details for several of their upcoming shows and movies, including Take Your Pills, Santa Clarita Diet: Season Two, Alexa & Katie, Requiem, Lost in Space, Luke Cage: Season Two, House of Cards: The Final Season, and All or Nothing: The Dallas Cowboys. Likewise, Amazon has also announced a new deal with filmmaker Kenneth Lonergan to develop upcoming projects for the studio. Here's a full rundown of titles scheduled to arrive on each platform: Take Your Pills - (Netflix, March 16) - The pressure to achieve more, do more, and be more is part of being human – and in the age of Adderall and Ritalin, achieving that can be as close as the local pharmacy. No longer just “a cure for excitable kids,” prescription stimulants are in college classrooms, on Wall Street, in Silicon Valley...any place “the need to succeed” slams into “not enough hours in the day.” But there are costs. In the insightful Netflix documentary Take Your Pills, award-winning documentarian Alison Klayman (Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry) focuses on the history, the facts, and the pervasiveness of cognitive-enhancement drugs in our amped-up era of late-stage-capitalism. Executive produced by Maria Shriver and Christina Schwarzenegger, Take Your Pills examines what some view as a brave new world of limitless possibilities, and others see as a sped-up ride down a synaptic slippery slope, as these pills have become the defining drug of a generation. Santa Clarita Diet: Season 2 (Netflix, March 23) - Joel (Timothy Olyphant) and Sheila (Drew Barrymore) are husband and wife realtors leading vaguely discontented lives in the L.A. suburb of Santa Clarita with their teenaged daughter Abby, until Sheila goes through a dramatic change sending their lives down a road of death and destruction...but in a good way. Santa Clarita Diet stars Drew Barrymore as Sheila Hammond, Timothy Olyphant as Joel Hammond, Liv Hewson as Abby Hammond and Skyler Gisondo as Eric Bemis. Alexa & Katie (Netflix, March 23) - A funny and heartwarming show about two best friends eagerly anticipating the start of their freshman year of high school. Despite the fact that Alexa (Paris Berelc - Mighty Med, Lab Rats: Elite Force) is undergoing cancer treatment, her outgoing personality and enthusiasm for life never falter, especially with her loyal, quirky, and awkwardly adorable best friend Katie (newcomer Isabel May) by her side. At times they’re left feeling like outsiders, during a period when what seems to matter most is fitting in. Tiffani Thiessen (White Collar, Saved By The Bell) also stars as Lori, Alexa’s determined and protective mother. Created by Heather Wordham (Hannah Montana, Reba) with comedy veteran Matthew Carlson (Malcolm In The Middle, Samantha Who?) serving as showrunner, the show’s star is Alexa and Katie’s friendship; whether it be at school, at home, or in the hospital, they are by each other’s side through thick and thin, serving as role models for modern-day female friendships. Requiem (Netflix, March 23) - Follows award-winning cellist Matilda Gray (Lydia Wilson) as she seeks to solve the mystery behind her mother’s suicide. Evidence linking her mother to the unsolved case of a missing child in Wales is just the beginning of Matilda’s dark journey to the truth. Lost in Space (Netflix, April 13) - A Netflix Original dramatic and modern reimagining of the classic 1960’s science fiction series. Set 30 years in the future, colonization in space is now a reality, and the Robinson family is among those tested and selected to make a new life for themselves in a better world. But when the new colonists find themselves abruptly torn off course en route to their new home they must forge new alliances and work together to survive in a dangerous alien environment, lightyears from their original destination. Luke Cage: Season Two (Netflix, June 22) - After clearing his name, Luke Cage has become a celebrity on the streets of Harlem with a reputation as bulletproof as his skin. But being so visible has only increased his need to protect the community and find the limits of who he can and can’t save. With the rise of a formidable new foe, Luke is forced to confront the fine line that separates a hero from a villain. House of Cards: Season Two (Netflix, Fall 2018) - Diane Lane and Greg Kinnear join Golden Globe winner and Emmy Award nominee Robin Wright, as well as Michael Kelly, Jayne Atkinson, Patricia Clarkson, Constance Zimmer, Derek Cecil, Campbell Scott and Boris McGiver in the upcoming sixth and final season. House of Cards executive producers are Melissa James Gibson, Frank Pugliese, Robin Wright, David Fincher, Joshua Donen, Dana Brunetti, Eric Roth, Michael Dobbs and Andrew Davies. All or Nothing: The Dallas Cowboys (Amazon Prime Video, April 27) - Follows the Cowboys through their tumultuous 2017 NFL season, which they enter with Super Bowl aspirations and exit with disappointment, one game short of the playoffs after a rollercoaster of controversy and emotion. In addition, Amazon has announced a new first-look deal with Oscar-winning filmmaker Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester by the Sea). The two-year agreement covers directing and writing for film and television projects. "I'm thrilled to renew my connection to Amazon Studios. They've done amazing work wherever they’ve turned their attention, they did a perfect job with Manchester by the Sea, and it’s a pleasure to be in business with them again," said Lonergan. - A current Netflix subscription starts at $11 per month for HD streaming and $14 per month for Ultra HD streaming. - 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: Netflix (YouTube), AmazonPosted Mon Mar 12, 2018 at 10:15 AM PDT by: -
Hands-On with Samsung's 2018 QLED Lineup & MicroLED Wall TV[teaser]Earlier this week, High-Def Digest attended Samsung's 2018 home theater lineup launch event. Held at the American Stock Exchange Building in New York City, the first-look event featured a Keynote presentation with the company's top brass and a series of hands-on demos with all the latest gear. [/teaser] From quantum dot QLED TVs and a stunning 8K display to a room-filling Dolby Atmos sound bar and a show-stopping MicroLED Wall TV, the showcase was packed with impressive products and demonstrations, offering an extensive look at the collection's exciting new performance and smart connectivity upgrades. The Wall MicroLED TV Following the TV's initial reveal to the public back at CES, Samsung once again brought out its stunning new 146-inch 4K display, appropriately dubbed The Wall. Using a modular MicroLED design based on the tech used in the company's commercial Cinema Screens, the display features self-emitting picture technology with micrometer (µm) scale LEDs that do not require a backlight or color filters. As a result, the display is capable of achieving incredible contrast, deep black levels, high color volume, and close-to-perfect viewing angles. In other words, it's everything you love about OLED, with the brightness of a QLED or LED. Also, the screen's modular, bezel-free construction allows users to make the TV larger (up to 146-inches) or smaller by adding or removing modules in any configuration with no impact on performance. Likewise, customers can also reconfigure the modules to match whatever aspect ratio they desire. After first hearing about the TV back in January, I've been dying to see this thing in action for myself. And even with all the hype building it up, the screen does not disappoint. In fact, based on what I got to sample, it just might be the most impressive display I've ever seen. The demo at the showcase featured a reel of gorgeous HDR footage filled with vibrant images of nature, swirling cosmos, cityscapes, and classic art. Throughout all of the material, the screen demonstrated perfect blacks without sacrificing incredible brightness in specular highlights. Hell, the image got so bright in a few shots that it made me squint a little. Likewise, color reproduction was breathtaking, revealing a wide and vivid palette of hues, and picture quality did not seem to degrade at all when viewing from an extreme angle. And despite being made of several individual modules (an exact number not specified), the seams between the pieces were completely invisible. One shot featuring a landscape of hot magma was particularly striking, as the highlights on the red/orange molten rock popped from the screen with lifelike intensity while the rest of the image maintained a deep and inky appearance. I've seen many impressive HDR displays over the last few years, but I've never seen a TV pull off such a convincing and intense glowing effect around such pinpoint areas on the screen before. Basically, it's the closest a TV has ever made me feel to actually being in the environment shown on screen. Samsung's The Wall is set for release this August, though pricing has not been announced yet. But based on how new and groundbreaking the tech is and how large the TV can get, we're expecting a pretty big number here. (Like maybe brand new Ferrari big?) 2018 QLED 4K TV Lineup While MircroLED is next-gen amazing, Samsung's new QLED TVs are pretty spectacular in their own right. In fact, the flagship model is shaping up to give LG's reigning OLED displays a run for their money when it comes to picture quality. During the event, Samsung had Q9F, Q8F, Q7F, and Q6F units all on hand, showing off the lineup's beautiful image performance and intriguing new Smart TV features. All of the 2018 4K QLED displays feature LCD panels with quantum dot technology for 100% color volume in the P3 wide color space, along with Bixby Voice control and playback support for standard HDR10 plus the new dynamic HDR10+ format (but sadly, not Dolby Vision). With that said, Samsung is not revealing exact brightness specs this year, though based on what I saw it looks like the displays are capable of similar if not superior Nit levels compared to last year's models. The flagship Q9F Series comes in 65-inch, 75-inch, and 88-inch screen sizes. Also, the set offers Samsung's Direct Full Array technology dubbed Q Contrast EliteMax, which features a panel of controllable backlight zones to offer superior black levels and contrast. Previously, all of the company's 2017 models only offered inferior edge-lit dimming, so the switch here to Full Array offers a major improvement in dark room performance. For detailed thoughts on the Q9F, be sure to check out our separate Q9F First Look piece (HERE). Meanwhile, the Q8F Series comes in 55-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch screen sizes. Likewise, the set offers a slightly less robust version of Samsung's Direct Full Array technology dubbed Q Contrast Elite, which also features controllable backlight zones for superior black levels and contrast. A demo of the 75-inch model was showcased at the launch event, playing a reel of colorful, detailed images including shots of nature, swirling paint, and marbles. In general, the TV looked gorgeous with a vibrant and rich image marked by bright HDR highlights (though the saturation seemed a little too high in some shots). Unfortunately, the ambient lighting in the room made it difficult to really see the benefits of the Full Array dimming in action, but if it works at all like the Q9F, the feature should be very impressive. Introducing two screen-types into the mix, the Q7 model comes in a flat-screen Q7F version with 55-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch options, or a curved-screen Q7C version with 55-inch and 65-inch options. Unlike the step-up Q8F and Q9F models, however, the Q7F and Q7C do not feature Full Array dimming. Instead, the displays offer an edge-lit backlight. Like the Q8F, a 75-inch Q7F model was on hand at the show demoing a similar reel of colorful images. Again, due to the lighting conditions in the room, it was hard to see any real discernable difference between the edge-lit backlight of the Q7F and the Full Array dimming of the Q8F. Still, though we'll have to wait to judge dark room performance, the two appear to offer similarly impressive picture in brighter environments. Finally, the entry-level Q6F Series comes in 49-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, and 82-inch screen sizes. Like the Q7F Series, this model only incorporates an edge-lit backlight. Also, its HDR performance isn't quite as advanced as the step-up QLED models. An 82-inch set was demoed at the event showcasing a soccer match. Unfortunately, though still solid overall, this appeared to be the least impressive TV of the bunch, with a slightly exaggerated color palette that made the player's red uniforms bleed a little. With that said, this is likely something that better source material or different settings could alleviate. Beyond picture quality, Samsung showed off several cool new SmartThings features for the QLED lineup like Bixby voice control. Likewise, a new Ambient Mode which can display headlines, traffic reports, and weather updates throughout the day when the TV isn't being used was demoed as well. And when the display is wall-mounted, Ambient Mode can even reproduce the appearance of a customer's wall directly on the actual screen, allowing the display to seamlessly blend into a user's room. I got to see this mode in action and it worked exactly as advertised. The TV was hung in front of a brick wall pattern. The Samsung rep simply took a picture of the TV and wall with the SmartThings app. The app then used texture synthesis and color correction to reproduce the look of the wall right on the screen itself. Also, the SmartThings app can also be used to connect the display to a user's mobile device via Bluetooth, allowing the TV to automatically receive your Wi-Fi settings and login info for compatible apps that you're already signed into on your phone. This "Effortless Login" feature means you don't then have to re-enter all your info for each app on the TV. 8K Q9S QLED TV Though pricing and availability have not been announced yet, Samsung also had a brief demo of its upcoming 85-inch 8K Q9S QLED TV. The display features 8K resolution, offering four times the number of pixels found on a standard 4K Ultra HD display. Likewise, the set incorporates new AI upscaling technology. This feature uses a proprietary machine learning algorithm to intelligently upscale the resolution of the content being displayed, allowing the TV to produce advanced upscaled 8K images from any source. With that in mind, AI Upscaling was the emphasis of the demo, pitting the Q9S side-by-side with Samsung's 2016 J7100 85-inch 4K TV. Both TVs displayed the same signal, demonstrating how they scaled 4K HDR, HD, and SD source material. When comparing a 4K reel of a spinning diamond/crystal helmet on the native 4K TV and 8K TV, the upscaled 8K image looked noticeably sharper with more fine detail and clearer separation between each little element on the item. Close-ups of a newspaper also revealed cleaner and easier to read text when upscaled to 8K. Perhaps even more impressive, was just how good upscaled standard definition material looked. An SD reel of skateboarders in San Francisco was blurry and marked by clear artifacts and aliasing on the 4K set. In contrast, the video looked like genuine HD material with no artifacts when being upscaled on the 8K display. And outside of just scaling and detail, the new Q9S offered very impressive black levels and brightness. Though full specs haven't been revealed, the panel is apparently using some kind of hybrid dimming system that mixes Full Array and MicroLED tech with over 20,000 zones. The big takeaway, for us at least, is that when pitting the 85" 8K Q9S against the 146" 4K Wall MicroLED, it's clear that 8K resolution is far from necessary (and a long way off in terms of native content). However, Samsung's AI Upscaling technology works wonders, and buying a TV with this feature won't be money wasted. Dolby Atmos Sound Bar While displays were the main highlight of the event, Samsung also had its new HW-N950 Dolby Atmos Sound Bar on hand. The system features front-firing, up-firing, and side-firing speakers in the sound bar unit itself, along with separate up-firing rear satellites and a subwoofer to complete a full 7.1.4 surround sound experience. For demo purposes, I got to sample a Dolby Atmos scene from Everest along with a Dolby demo called Leaf. Unfortunately, the area the sound bar was set up in was far from ideal, with a very low make-shift ceiling, no place to sit, and plenty of ambient noise from the rest of the show. Plus, my ears were not in the best location to really hear the up-firing effect correctly. Still, the system offered a very immersive and wide front soundstage as raging snow, and crashing ice engulfed the room. The side-firing surrounds were particularly effective, really making it seem as if there were more speakers to the left and right of the room. Likewise, the Leaf demo provided a convincing 360-degree effect as the leaf circled the area. Exact pricing and availability have not been announced yet, but the HW-N950 is expected to carry an MSRP similar to the previously released HW-K950 Sound Bar system. Final Thoughts Samsung's latest QLED displays are set to start rolling out to stores later this month. Though my time with the TVs was relatively brief, the new models appear to offer similarly impressive bright room and color performance as last year's models, while also stepping things up with impressive Full Array Local Dimming on the Q8F and Q9F Series, finally providing some worthy competition to OLED panels. Likewise, the new SmartThings features, Bixby Voice Control, and Ambient mode all offer some clever and convenient lifestyle perks that should help elevate the QLED collection above some other Smart TV platforms. Bottom Line: Based on my demo time, though great in bright rooms, the edge-lit Q6F and Q7F will likely be beat when it comes to overall picture quality by similarly, and even lower, priced models from the competition. That said, the Q8F and Q9F are both poised to be two of the top 4K displays on the market this year. Meanwhile, the 8K Q9S is showing a lot of promise with its impressive AI upscaling and contrast, even if 8K is overkill. Finally, the seemingly peerless MicroLED Wall TV is in an entirely new class of its own -- I just hope its price point won't be too.Posted Fri Mar 9, 2018 at 07:00 AM PST by:
