Samsung has wrapped up its big press conference at IFA 2013 and during the conference it unveiled some very interesting new TVs. One of those new TVs is the Samsung UHD F9000 series TV supporting ultra HD resolution. As most of you know, ultra HD has four times the resolution of standard 1080p full HD […]
At Samsung’s press conference it’s bringing some of those extra large Ultra HD TVs it promised at CES, and mentioned something even more tantalizing: a 4K OLED. Unfortunately that last one did not make an appearance on stage, however the company has promised it will be present in its booth for demos tomorrow. We expect that, like the ones shown by Sony and Panasonic at CES, this is just a prototype, but if it’s anywhere near as beautiful as those we can’t wait to see it. As far as products that are actually shipping, Samsung also showed off its 55-inch curved OLED again, as well as the 65-inch F9000 UHD TV. As far as the supersized 4K sets, Samsung is showing off 98-inch and 110-inch models that outsize the 85-inch behemoth it kicked this crazy trend off with back in January. Finally, it’s trying to address the issue of high-res content, with representatives from Eutelsat and TF1 present to talk about the projects they have in the works.
Update: We stopped by big blue’s digs here at IFA to see the sets in action, and they’re as impressive as you might think. Even at such a large size, the resolution doesn’t appear to degrade when compared to their smaller brethren. Naturally, however, you’ll want to stand a few feet away from these behemoths for the optimal viewing experience. Just like the other panels in the line, the TVs produce vibrant colors, strong contrast and crisp visuals. When it comes to overall design, Samsung’s kept the S9 series Timeless Gallery frame, complete with speakers all around its stand — for better or worse.
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Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD, Samsung
Source: Samsung Tomorrow Liveblog, Samsung
If you want an 84-inch 4K TV, you’ve really gotta be a one-percenter, but fortunately for the rest of us that’s not a very big market. That’s why it’s high time that companies started to trim those ultra high-definition panels down to a size and price point that’s suitable for the everyman. It’s Toshiba, therefore, that’s leading the charge to affordability with a concept 50-inch 4K TV. The M9/L9 Series Concept is currently just that, but it combines the usual breathtaking imagery with a more apartment-friendly size. Naturally, there aren’t currently any plans to bring this to market, but hey, the company will happily sell you a 58-inch model for £3,000.%Gallery-slideshow79649%
Dana Wollman contributed to this report.
Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Panasonic’s 4K Toughpad tablet initially debuted at CES in January, but here at IFA in Berlin, the company is finally ready to shed some light on availability. Speaking at a press conference focused on the device, GM Jan Kampfer detailed the giant slate, which includes a fiberglass housing and sports a 3,840 x 2,560 (230 ppi) power-efficient IPS display with 176-degree viewing angles. The UT-MB5 supports 10-finger touch and includes a Bluetooth-enabled optical Anoto Live Pen with a six-hour battery life and palm rejection. The Toughpad was designed with creative types in mind, such as artists and architects — though we wouldn’t mind having one around as a fantastic (albeit pricey) portable 4K movie viewer.
There will be two models: a Standard flavor that weighs in 2.3kg and includes 4GB (expandable to 8GB) of RAM and a 128GB SSD, and a 2.7kg Performance model with 8GB RAM (expandable to 16GB) and a 256GB SSD. The company is targeting design pros with that latter version, such as those working with 3D modeling tools, while the lower-powered spec would be a better fit for healthcare users, retail or sales professionals. Panasonic aimed for workstation performance here, so both devices include Intel Core i5 processors and run on Windows 8.1. There are three USB 3.0 ports, HDMI out, an SD card slot and an optional desktop cradle and mounting point adapter. They’re also quite durable, and are reinforced to survive 76 cm (2.5 ft) drops. The Standard model will ship in November, while the Performance slate is expected in early 2014.
Update: Microsoft is reporting that the device will ship in the US and Europe beginning this Saturday, September 7th, but Panasonic executives at the IFA event are confirming a November timeframe. The Toughpad on stage is being described as a “prototype,” further reinforcing that the slate is not ready to ship.
Update 2: Panasonic reps quoted pricing for the standard version at €4,508 (about $6,000), with the Performance version MSRP to be announced. The optional pen will retail for €280 (about $370).
Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Filed under: Tablets
Sony Video Unlimited 4K launched, world’s first 4K Ultra HD video download service
Posted in: Today's ChiliSony is showing its big guns, and by big we mean 4K Ultra HD video big, starting with the launch of its Video Unlimited 4K video download service today. This is the world’s first and so far only video downloading service that caters specifically to 4K content. And for dessert, Sony is also unveling a […]
LG, maker of fine displays and wonderful prankster of innocent people
Sony’s betting big on 4K, with its movie studios shooting movies and television in 4K using its pro cameras. And now, to get that content to all those Ultra HD TVs, the company is rolling out its long-awaited Video Unlimited 4K download service. As of today, there are 70 native 4K movies and shows available — Sony’s aiming to have over 100 by the end of the year — and users can rent or buy content through the service. Of course, you’ll need one of Sony’s FMP-X1 media players and an appropriately rezzed Sony screen to actually consume said video. Single show episodes are $3.99, with movie rentals starting at $7.99 for a 24-hour viewing window. Looking to buy? $29.99 gets you any film for good.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Sony
The paint is still wet on the new HDMI 2.0 specification, and already it’s getting some use. Panasonic’s rumored new Smart VIERA WT600 TV with support for the new 4K / 60fps input, as well as DisplayPort 1.2a, has just been given the official nod. The 65-inch set also offers up a built-in H.264 decoder, so you’ll be able to play all that 4K content direct from USB drives, SD cards and directly from the internet (thanks to the onboard WiFi). Other features include personalized home screens so users can pick up their favorite content quickly, and voice control via the touch pad remote. The WT600 is available to pre-order starting today, for an October ship date, costing a cent shy of $6,000.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Panasonic
Aiming to make public access to the 4K video resolution a bit more affordable (though not for lack of quality in hardware), Sony has this week announced the Sony FDR-AX1 4K Handycam. This device is able to record video at 4x the number of pixels offered with “Full HD”, bringing this camera’s video output up […]