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LG OLED 4K Ultra HD TV Wins 2017 CE Week TV Shootout[teaser]The new "King of TV" has been crowned.[/teaser] LG's 65-inch E7 OLED 4K Ultra HD TV has been awarded top honors at the 2017 CE Week TV Shootout held in NYC. The competition placed six flagship Ultra HD TV models side-by-side in a head-to-head contest to determine the year's best display. This is the fourth consecutive year that an LG OLED has come away with the top prize. High-Def Digest was in attendance at the Shootout, so check back soon for full impressions on the event and all the TVs featured! "The honor of being awarded the overall top performer at the CE Week TV Shootout for the 4th consecutive year underscores LG's commitment to delivering the absolute best TV technology in the industry, period," said Tim Alessi, Senior Director, Product Marketing for home entertainment at LG Electronics USA. "Our 2017 OLED TVs are the ultimate expression of a cinema-quality experience in the home, being the first TVs in the market to offer stunning image reproduction and add Dolby Atmos sound quality to complete the home theater experience." Here's a rundown of all the sets featured in the Shootout: -LG 65E7P OLED Ultra HD TV -Sony XBR65A1E Bravia OLED Ulrta HD TV -Sony XBR65Z9D 4K Ultra HD LED TV, -Samsung QN65Q9 Ultra HD QLED TV -VIZIO P-Series Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Display -Westinghouse WA65UFA1001 LED 4K Ultra HD TV. All six displays were rated for perceived contrast ratio, color saturation and color volume, colorimetry, motion artifacts, and other performance criteria across three categories: Studio Lighting/Home Theater, Brightroom HDR, and Streaming. The LG 65E7P OLED swept the top prize in all three categories. We'll have full impressions from the Shootout posted soon, so be sure to check back for more coverage! Source: LGPosted Thu Jul 13, 2017 at 04:45 PM PDT by: -
LP Review: Baby Driver SoundtrackINTRO Soundtracks are an integral part of any movie. They add an extra layer of entertainment and can even become a central character to the film, such as with Edgar Wright's Baby Driver. Whether it be John Williams' score to Star Wars or the rock and funk classics of Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, we can all agree that music really takes the visuals of our favorite movies and adds a big emotional tone to every scene. As long as Edgar Wright has been on the scene, his films have been full of amazing music that cover most genres and decades. With Shaun of the Dead, he made me look at Queen's Don't Stop Me Now differently, as everyone was beating zombies with pool cues to the rhythm of the song and the pub lights would flash on and off to the beat of the music. In Hot Fuzz, we were delighted with Goody Two Shoes by Adam Ant and Solid Gold Easy Action by T.Rex. Then along came Scott Pilgrim, which gave Beck and Nigel Godrich an outlet to be creative with their impressive indie rock creations such as Garbage Truck. Of course, how can you forget The Doors' Alabama Song in The World's End where everyone is pub-crawling the golden mile, drunk off of beer and the past? Needless to say, Edgar Wright knows his music and uses it as an important part in every film, which brings us to Baby Driver, which I believe is Wright's first musical film. THE PACKAGING The Baby Driver LP comes with an amazing Gatefold fully illustrated LP cardboard sleeve with artwork by Rory Kurtz. There are two black colored records in the album with illustrated sleeves. The record also includes a digital download of the soundtrack, including Run the Jewels' Chase Me. There are liner notes, track information, and a note from Edgar Wright on the sleeves. THE MUSIC (I used the Technics SL-1200MK2 Turntable for listening purposes.) There are a whopping 30 tracks included in this soundtrack on vinyl, spanning both records that play perfectly with the film or without it. It all begins with The John Spencer Blues Explosion's Bellbottoms that hits those two rock notes hard and fast, along with a funky guitar medley and a groovy bass line. When listening to this song, you immediately want to hop in the car, roll down the windows, hit the pedal, and row through the gears as it amps you way up. Spanning a few decades of music, you can expect to hear Queen's Brighton Rock, Beck's Debra as well as T.Rex's Debora. There's even The Beach Boys singing Let's Go Away For A While, Blur's Intermission, Sam and Dave's When Something Is Wrong With My Baby, and Nowhere to Run by Martha and the Vandellas, which was a big hit on the Good Morning Vietnam soundtrack as well. Lastly, there is a funked up version of Tequila by Button Down Brass that makes you want to dance like John Travolta in Mia Wallace's house in Pulp Fiction. With each song, Wright has incorporated the beats, instruments, music, and lyrics in the actual film's story, where the characters do or say something to every aspect of the music. It's a musical opus in a very Edgar Wright sort of way. Being on vinyl, there is no compression here, but rather a full sound of the highs and lows of every bass note and guitar chord. There is no digital sound here like you would find on an MP3, but rather an analog sound on 180g vinyl that just takes your breath away. Listen to the way Nowhere to Run sounds on vinyl, with every bass note providing a pounding low end, along with The Commodores' Easy track. Each song is perfectly mixed and provides a full sound as if you were listening to it live in person. THE SETLIST DISC 1, SIDE A 1. Bellbottoms – Jon Spencer Blues Explosion 2. Harlem Shuffle – Bob & Earl 3. Egyptian Reggae – Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers 4. Smokey Joe’s La La – Googie Rene 5. Let’s Go Away For Awhile – The Beach Boys 6. B-A-B-Y – Carla Thomas 7. Kashmere – Kashmere Stage Band 8. Unsquare Dance – Dave Brubeck DISC 1, SIDE B 1. Neat Neat Neat – The Damned 2. Easy (Single Version) – The Commodores 3. Debora – T. Rex 4. Debra – Beck 5. Bongolia – Incredible Bongo Band 6. Baby Let Me Take You (in My Arms) – The Detroit Emeralds 7. Early In The Morning – Alexis Korner DISC 2, SIDE A 1. The Edge – David McCallum 2. Nowhere To Run – Martha Reeves & The Vandellas 3. Tequila – The Button Down Brass 4. When Something Is Wrong With My Baby – Sam & Dave 5. Every Little Bit Hurts – Brenda Holloway 6. Intermission – Blur 7. Hocus Pocus (Original Single Version) – Focus 8. Radar Love (1973 Single Edit) – Golden Earring DISC 2, SIDE B 1. Never, Never Gone Give Ya Up – Barry White 2. Know How – Young MC 3. Brighton Rock – Queen 4. Easy – Sky Ferreira 5. Baby Driver – Simon & Garfunkel 6. Was He Slow (Credit Roll Version) – Kid Koala FINAL THOUGHTS This Baby Driver soundtrack -- executive produced by Edgar Wright and distributed by 30th Century Records (an imprint of Columbia Records) -- just hits every perfect note that you'd want to hear in a soundtrack of this caliber. There are 30 tracks, giving you plenty to listen to over and over again, along with some great liner notes and an amazing cover art that pops on the big 12 inch LP case. You won't hear a better soundtrack this year. MUST-OWN!Posted Thu Jul 13, 2017 at 02:03 PM PDT by: -
Google Play Movies & TV Adds HDR Playback Support[teaser]Google's digital movie service now includes HDR support.[/teaser] Google has announced the launch of HDR (high dynamic range) playback for select titles in the Google Play Movies and TV store in the US and Canada. HDR support for Google Play titles is currently available through HDR compatible 4K Ultra HD TVs connected to a Chromecast Ultra dongle. Support for Android TV, Google Cast enabled TVs, and other HDR media devices could be added in the future. Google Play titles available in 4K with HDR includes movies like Pacific Rim, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Suicide Squad, Mad Max: Fury Road, Kong: Skull Island, Batman v Superman, and more. Current prices range from $25 to $30. HDR playback is only available with the 4K versions of supported titles and Google recommends a consistent download speed of at least 15 megabits per second. The Chromecast Ultra ($69) plugs into a display's HDMI port, allowing users to cast all of their favorite content from thousands of apps using a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. In addition, the device supports 4K, HDR (high dynamic range) and Dolby Vision content, offering playback support for videos with higher resolution, expanded colors, and enhanced contrast. The Ultra model loads videos 1.8 times faster than older Chromecast models, includes major Wi-Fi improvements for streaming, and offers integrated Ethernet support for wired connections. Customers can also mirror any content from an Android device or a Chrome browser tab on a laptop to their TV screen. Finally, the device includes Google Home support as well, allowing users to control their Chromecast from their voice-activated speakers. Click here to check out a full list of currently available Google Play Movie HDR titles. Source: GooglePosted Wed Jul 12, 2017 at 05:00 PM PDT by: -
Amazon Prime Day Deals: Up to 66% off HD Projector, LG OLED 4K Ultra HD TV, and More![teaser]Prime Day continues with deals on projectors, OLED TVs, and more![/teaser] As part of Amazon's third annual Prime Day event, the e-retailer has announced several deals on select electronics. Here's a rundown of some current and upcoming discounts: LG Electronics OLED65E6P 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD OLED TV (2016 Model) - $3,000 Deal of the Day (30% off). Optoma HD29Darbee 1080p 3200 Lumens 3D DLP Home Theater Projector - $549 Deal of the Day (66% off). Slingbox 500 - $190 Deal of the Day (37% off). Pigflytech Android TV Box - Deal starts at 10:40am PT/1:40pm ET TaoTronics Stereo 20W Wireless Portable Speaker - Deal starts at 2:40pm PT/5:40pm ET Acoustic Audio HD725 7.2 Home Theater Speaker System (White) - Deal starts at 2:05pm PT/5:05pm ET Pyle PDIC60 In-Wall / In-Ceiling Dual 6.5-Inch Speaker System, White (Pair) - Deal starts at 5:35pm PT/8:35pm ET These deals will only be active for a limited time while supplies last. Make sure to stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more Prime Day sales and special promotions!Posted Tue Jul 11, 2017 at 09:40 AM PDT by: -
Amazon Prime Day Deals: Onkyo Receiver with Dolby Atmos & DTS:X, 1080p Projector, and More![teaser]Prime Day continues with discounts on receivers, monitors, speakers, and more![/teaser] As part of Amazon's third annual Prime Day event, the e-retailer has announced several deals on select electronics. Here's a rundown of some upcoming discounts: Samsung CF391 Series Curved 32-Inch FHD Monitor - Deal starts at 3:45am PT/6:45am ET KEF LS50 Mini Monitor - High Gloss Piano Black (Pair) - Deal starts at 6:00am PT/9:00am ET Epson Home Cinema 2040 1080p 3D 3LCD Home Theater Projector - Deal starts at 8:40am PT/11:40am ET Onkyo TX-RZ810 7.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver - Deal starts at 9:35am PT/12:35pm ET JBL Boost TV Compact Bluetooth Soundbar - Deal starts at 10:40am PT/1:40pm ET ViewSonic VA2759-SMH 27" IPS 1080p LED Monitor - Deal starts at 12:35pm PT/3:35pm ET Samsung 35.8" 2.1 CH Sound Bar with Bluetooth (Certified Refurbished) - Deal starts at 5:05pm PT/8:05pm ET Micca MB42 Bookshelf Speakers - Deal starts at 5:45pm PT/8:45pm ET These deals will only be active for a limited time while supplies last. Make sure to stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more Prime Day sales and special promotions!Posted Tue Jul 11, 2017 at 03:15 AM PDT by: -
Amazon Prime Day Deals: Up to 40% off TCL HDTVs, Samsung 4K Ultra HD Monitor, and NVIDIA SHIELD TV[teaser]More Prime Day deals are now live![/teaser] As part of Amazon's third annual Prime Day event, the e-retailer has launched several deals on select electronics. Here's a rundown of some current discounts: TCL 28S305 28-Inch 720p Roku Smart LED TV (2017 Model) - $120 Deal of the Day (37% off). TCL 32S305 32-Inch 720p Roku Smart LED TV (2017 Model) - $125 Deal of the Day (38% off). TCL 43S305 43-Inch 1080p Roku Smart LED TV (2017 Model) - $215 Deal of the Day (40% off). TCL 49S305 49-Inch 1080p Roku Smart LED TV (2017 Model) - $270 Deal of the Day (31% off). Samsung U28E590D 28-Inch UHD LED-Lit Monitor - $280 Deal of the Day (30% off). NVIDIA SHIELD TV Streaming Media Player [2017 Version] - $180 Deal of the Day. These deals will only be active for a limited time while supplies last. Make sure to stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more Prime Day sales and special promotions!Posted Tue Jul 11, 2017 at 02:45 AM PDT by: -
Amazon Prime Day Deals: Up to 50% off Amazon Echo, Fire TV Edition 4K TV, Fire Tablets, and More![teaser]Prime Day kicks off with several discounts on Amazon gear![/teaser] As part of Amazon's third annual Prime Day event, the e-retailer has launched several deals on select Amazon products, including an Ultra HD TV and Echo smart speaker. Here's a rundown of current discounts: Element 55-Inch Fire TV Edition 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV - Currently $400 (38% off). Amazon Echo - Currently $90 (50% off). Echo Dot - Currently $35 (30% off). Amazon Tap - Currently $80 ($38% off). Fire 7 Tablet with Alexa - Currently $30 (40% off). Fire HD 8 Tablet with Alexa - Currently $50 (38% 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 Prime Day sales and special promotions!Posted Mon Jul 10, 2017 at 06:10 PM PDT by: -
Streaming News Roundup: Hulu Adds HBO, Netflix Announces Series Renewals, and More[teaser]New Netflix shows and the addition of an HBO plan to Hulu are among the latest streaming announcements.[/teaser] Netflix has revealed season renewals, premiere dates, and other info for several of their upcoming shows and movies, including Fuller House, F is for Family, Dear White People, BoJack Horseman, and a new series about The Central Park Five. Meanwhile, Hulu has announced the addition of HBO and Cinemax options for its streaming platform. Hulu users can now add access to live and on-demand HBO streaming directly through their existing Hulu service for an extra $15 per month. Likewise, customers can also sign up for Cinemax for an extra $10 per month. "By combining HBO's iconic programming with our world class user experience and deep content offering, Hulu is giving viewers easy and highly personalized access to the very best of television," said Tim Connolly, Senior Vice President, Head of Distribution and Partnerships at Hulu. "With this important new partnership, fans can now watch Game of Thrones live every Sunday, binge watch all six seasons of The Sopranos or catch up on Westworld alongside our live TV, sports, classic TV shows and Hulu originals – all without ever having to leave the Hulu app." HBO and Cinemax plans for Hulu include access to live east and west coast feeds of both channels on supported devices along with on-demand access to each station's library of films, shows, and original content. In addition, HBO 2, HBO Family, HBO Latino, HBO Comedy, HBO Signature HD, HBO Zone, MoreMAX HD, ActionMAX HD, ThrillerMAX HD, MovieMAX HD, 5StarMAX HD, and OuterMAX HD live channels will also become available within the add-ons through Hulu in the coming weeks. Netflix has announced a new five episode limited dramatic series based on the historic case of The Central Park Five. The show will come from creator, writer, and director Ava DuVernay. Here's a synopsis per Netflix: Based on the true story that gripped New York and the world, the series will be a five-episode limited, scripted series that exposes the breakdown of our criminal justice system at every phase of the notorious Central Park Five case. Each part will focus on one of the five teenagers from Harlem -- Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana and Korey Wise -- wrongly convicted of raping Trisha Meili in Central Park. The series will span from the spring of 1989, when each were first questioned about the incident, to 2014 when they were exonerated and a settlement was reached with the city of New York. In addition, Netflix has announced a second season renewal for Dear White People and a third season renewal for the animated show F is for Family. Dear White People comes from creator and executive producer Justin Simien, and stars Logan Browning, Brandon P. Bell, Antoinette Robertson, DeRon Horton, John Patrick Amedori, Ashley Blaine Featherson and Marque Richardson. The ten-episode second season is set to begin production later this year. Season one is now available to stream through Netflix. F is for Family comes from creators Bill Burr and Michael Price, and stars the vocal talents of Bill Burr, Laura Dern, Justin Long, Debi Derryberry and Haley Reinhart. A release date for the third season has not been announced yet. Seasons one and two are now available to stream through Netflix. Likewise, Netflix has announced premiere dates for the third season of Fuller House and the fourth season of BoJack Horseman. Season four of BoJack Horseman will start streaming through Netflix on September 8. The animated show stars the vocal talents of Will Arnett, Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie. Seasons one, two, and three are now available on Netflix. Fuller House season three will hit Netflix on September 22, marking the 30th anniversary of the original Full House which first premiered on September 22, 1987. The season will be broken into two parts with nine episodes in each. The second part of the season is set to arrive in December. Finally, Motor Trend On-Demand has announced a July 20 premiere date for its latest exclusive series, Put Up or Shut Up. "We're thrilled to bring a head-to-head racing series to Motor Trend OnDemand, as there is such a huge interest in this genre," says TEN's Senior Vice President and General Manager of Original Programming Bobby Akin. "We chose Brian Lohnes to host for his very unique style of announcing and deep knowledge of the sport that will add to the drama and excitement of Put Up or Shut Up as he provides in-depth play-by-plays." Here's a synopsis per Motor Trend On-Demand: Each month, Put Up or Shut Up's show host, NHRA and HOT ROD Drag Week announcer Brian Lohnes, will pit bitter rivals and outspoken trash-talkers against each other in a tense battle for $10,000 cash and ultimate bragging rights. From high-octane drag racing to white-knuckle hillclimbs, engines and egos will battle it out to win it all. Motor Trend On Demand provides access to more than 2,000 hours of content with live streaming, archive material, original shows, and a schedule of racing events. Available real-time motorsport racing and enthusiast events include Pirelli World Challenge, Blancpain GT Series, DTM, and Lamborghini Super Trofeo, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and Goodwood Festival of Speed. Likewise, Motor Trend OnDemand provides exclusive first-look access, bonus episodes, and behind-the-scenes footage from its popular lineup of original programming like 'Roadkill,' 'Head 2 Head,' 'Dirt Every Day,' 'Ignition,' 'Hot Rod Garage,' and more. - A current Netflix subscription starts at $10 for HD streaming and $12 for Ultra HD streaming. - A current Hulu subscription starts at $8 per month with commercials. In addition, ad-free playback is available for $12 per month. Sources: Netflix, Hulu, Motor Trend OnDemandPosted Mon Jul 10, 2017 at 05:00 PM PDT by: -
Amazon Prime Day Deals: Projectors, Speakers, and More![teaser]Several upcoming deals have been revealed![/teaser] Though Amazon Prime Day doesn't officially start until 6pm PT/9pm ET tonight, the online retailer has unveiled a schedule for some of its upcoming tech deals, including exclusive Prime member sales on projectors, speakers, headphones, and digital antennas. Here's a rundown of some of the upcoming discounted items: Epson EX5240 XGA 3LCD Projector - Deal starts at 6:00pm PT/9:00pm ET Micca MB42X Bookshelf Speakers - Deal starts at 6:00pm PT/9:00pm ET Edifier R1700BT Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers - Deal starts at 6:00pm PT/9:00pm ET MEGACRA 2.0 Channel Bluetooth Home Theater Soundbar - Deal starts at 6:00pm PT/9:00pm ET ViewSonic PJD6352 3500 Lumens XGA HDMI Projector - Deal starts at 6:00pm PT/9:00pm ET Optoma W416 WXGA 3D DLP Business Projector - Deal starts at 12:55am PT/3:55am ET AOMAIS Sport II Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker - Deal starts at 1:15am PT/4:15am ET Meyoung Portable Projector - Deal starts at 4:05am PT/7:05am ET iDGLAX iDG-787B LCD LED Mini Portable Projector - Deal starts at 4:15am PT/7:15am ET Ecandy Bluetooth Headphones - Deal starts at 4:30am PT/7:30am ET Pyle PDIC51RD In-Wall / In-Ceiling Dual 5.25-inch Speaker System - Deal starts at 5:10am PT/8:10am ET Abdtech LCD Portable Projector - Deal starts at 5:15am PT/8:15am ET Optoma W303ST Full 3D WXGA DLP Short Throw Projector - Deal starts at 5:45am PT/8:45am ET Swans M20-5.1 Powered 5.1 Bookshelf Speakers - Deal starts at 5:45am PT/8:45am ET Bic Acoustech PL-200 Subwoofer - Deal starts at 5:55am PT/8:55am ET Amplified TV Digital Antenna Indoor - Deal starts at 6:00am PT/9:00am ET VIZIO SB4551-D5 Smartcast 45” 5.1 Slim Sound Bar System (Certified Refurbished) - Deal starts at 6:00am PT/9:00am ET iRulu BL20 Video Home Cinema Projector - Deal starts at 6:20am PT/9:20am ET Paww WaveSound 3 Bluetooth Headphones - Deal starts at 7:30am PT/10:30am ET WEILIANTE Portable LED Home Theater Projector - Deal starts at 7:35am PT/10:35am ET ohderii LED Mini Home Projector - Deal starts at 7:45am PT/10:45am ET Wsky 1080P Digital HDTV Antenna - Deal starts at 7:50am PT/10:50am ET DBPOWER T20 LCD Mini Projector - Deal starts at 8:00am PT/11:00am ET NHT C Series C-1 2-Way Bookshelf Speaker - Deal starts at 8:15am PT/11:15am ET These deals will only be active for a limited time while supplies last. Make sure to stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more Countdown to Prime Day sales and special promotions!Posted Mon Jul 10, 2017 at 09:45 AM PDT by: -
HD Gear News Roundup: Ironman Headphones, Chromecast Ultra Update, and More[teaser]We've compiled the latest gear news, including Ironman headphones, a Chromecast update, and a standalone VR headset from Samsung.[/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 Ironman branded headphones from Pioneer, Samsung's standalone VR headset, a new Chromecast Ultra feature, and revised subscription plans for PlayStation Vue. So, without further ado, here's a rundown of some of the latest gear and tech news: Pioneer & Onkyo Announce Licensing Deal with Ironman Pioneer and Onkyo have announced a new multi-year licensing agreement with Ironman, a Wanda Sports Holdings company. As part of the deal, Pioneer will have the right to produce Ironman-branded sport and fitness headphones. Likewise, the company will also participate in Ironman Village events. The SE-E3M IRONMAN Sports Earphones are the first Ironman-branded product from Pioneer. The earphones use ultra-lightweight materials and feature full-range, 10mm dynamic drivers, along with a gold-plated 3.5mm stereo mini-plug and three different sized ear tips. In addition, the device is sweat and water resistant and the ear hooks use flexible material to conform to a user's ear. The SE-E3M Ironman Sports Earphones are now on sale for an MSRP of $20. Models are available in five color options: Black, Red/Black, Blue/Black, Aqua, and White (SE-E3M-W). Source: Pioneer Samsung Standalone VR Headset Features Eye-Tracking Tech Visual Camp has announced that its VR eye-tracking technology is featured on Samsung's new standalone Exynos Virtual Reality head mounted display. The standalone headset was apparently shown behind closed doors back in March during the Mobile World Congress. Visual Camp CEO Suk Yunchan said, "By collaborating with Samsung Electronics, our technology was internationally recognized at MWCS 2017, enabling us to secure a bridgehead for future global marketing efforts. Now, we will continue promoting the high quality of Korean startup technologies and products overseas." According to a report from The Verge, the Exynos VR III uses a 10nm SoC with Mali G71 graphics, and is capable of supporting dual WQHD+ displays (around 2560 x 1440) at 90Hz or one 4K display at 75Hz. The headset's eye-tracking tech allows for a process called foveated rendering. This enables the resolution of the VR display to be sharpened in the area being viewed by a user's eyes at any given time while the rest of the display's resolution is reduced. And in addition to eye-tracking, the Exynos II, is also set to feature hand tracking, voice recognition, and facial expression recognition. Chief Executive Director Kim Jong-kap of the Born2Global Centre said, "The recent buyouts by Apple, Google, and Facebook of companies that possess eye-tracking technology show that this technology is receiving a great deal of interest within the VR industry. We therefore have high expectations for the future of Visual Camp, which has demonstrated its highly promising VR-related technology." Beyond Visual Camp's announcement, Samsung has not revealed any official details about the Exynos III VR headset, and the device is currently thought to be only a prototype helping the company work its way toward a standalone VR headset viable for the consumer market. Sources: Visual Camp via PR Newswire, The Verge Chromecast Ultra Adds New Video Smoothness Option As reported by Android Police, a firmware update has been released for the Chromecast Ultra. The version 90308 upgrade includes a new "Video Smoothness" feature. Once updated, Video Smoothness is applied to the Chromecast Ultra by default. The feature "prioritizes framerate over resolution for smoother playback." This means that during situations where the device determines that it can't cast stutter-free 4K60 video, the Chromecast will then instead switch to 1080p playback to maintain the 60fps. Users can also opt to toggle the feature off in the Google Home app, but that could lead to jerky playback. The Chromecast Ultra ($69) plugs into a display's HDMI port, allowing users to cast all of their favorite content from thousands of apps using a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. In addition, the device supports 4K, HDR (high dynamic range) and Dolby Vision content, offering playback support for videos with higher resolution, expanded colors, and enhanced contrast. Source: Android Police Sony Removes Slim Channel Packages for PlayStation Vue Sony has pulled its Slim package option for its PlayStation Vue internet TV service. The Slim option previously allowed customers in select markets to sign up for a more limited version of the platform without access to local channels. Slim plans cost $10 less than the regular packages and started at $30 per month for the "Access Slim" option. As of July 6, new customers can no longer sign up for the Slim option, but current Slim package subscribers will be able to retain their plan for three billing cycles. After that, users will be switched to the expanded version of their package at the higher rate. The decision to remove the Slim option likely comes as a result of Sony's expanded support for local networks across more markets. The PlayStation Vue service offers live and on demand content from a growing collection of channels. The platform enables viewers to easily search through available programming with an intuitive interface and convenient personal recommendations. In addition, if customers tag a favorite series they will be given cloud access to episodes of that show for 28 days with no storage restrictions. Likewise, PlayStation Vue offers up to five simultaneous streams across different devices, including up to three mobile devices outside of the home. Here's a rundown of current plans: - Access: 45+ channels, including live cable TV, movies, and sports channels for $39.99 per month. - Core: 60+ channels, including all the channels from Access with the addition of live national and regional sports networks for $44.99 per month. - Elite: 90 channels, featuring all the channels from Core with the addition of top movie and entertainment channels for $54.99 per month. - Ultra: HBO and SHOWTIME, plus all 90 channels from Elite for $74.99 per month. Source: Sony via EngadgetPosted Sun Jul 9, 2017 at 08:00 PM PDT by:
