Hasta La Gadget!

We’d heard that the International Telecommunication Union was close to approving Super Hi-Vision as an Ultra High Definition TV standard, and the UN agency hasn’t waited long to confirm the rumors. The recommendation to use NHK’s 7,680 x 4,320 format has gone unopposed and should define the parameters for incredibly detailed 8K video worldwide. This shouldn’t lead anyone to return that 4K TV just yet — once again, it’s important to remember that NHK still won’t start any kind of wider testing until 2020. That’s also assuming that the first 8K sets are down to Earth instead of the incredibly expensive 145-inch variety.

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD

ITU approves NHK’s Super Hi-Vision as 8K standard, sets the UHDTV ball rolling very slowly originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Aug 2012 05:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix will be expanding its streaming offerings a bit next year, thanks to a content deal struck with the Weinstein Company’s Radius-TWC distribution label. The multi-year deal will be bringing films like the Sundance “sensation” The Bachelorette and the Tobey Maguire / Elizabeth Banks movie The Details to the service, along with Only God Forgives, Nicolas Winding Refn’s followup to Drive. The fruits of the deal will hit Netflix’s watch instantly early 2013. More information, meanwhile, can be found in the press release after the break.

Continue reading Netflix inks deal with Weinstein Co.-owned Radius-TWC, films coming to watch instantly next year

Netflix inks deal with Weinstein Co.-owned Radius-TWC, films coming to watch instantly next year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 13:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve seen NHK preparing its Super Hi-Vision 8K video since time immemorial. Wouldn’t it be nice if the TV broadcast technology was more than just a perpetual research project? If sources for Japan’s Nikkei aren’t dreaming, the International Telecommunication Union is now “likely” to declare the format an official standard for broadcasters and TV makers. Should it go ahead, the UN telecom body would ask the world to rely on Super Hi-Vision as an eventual successor to HDTV and reduce the balkanization of TV standards that we’ve seen in the past. Neither the ITU nor NHK is known to have commented on the claim so far, but NHK isn’t exactly in a rush to get a seal of approval from anyone — widescale test broadcasts aren’t coming until 2020, and production TVs themselves are only just entering a 4K universe.

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Nikkei: ITU near recommending NHK’s Super Hi-Vision as official TV standard originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 22:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After launching it on the PC, Mac, Android and iOS, Sky’s adding another big platform to its Now TV service: Xbox. Gamers in the UK can now stream content at 720i, including the service’s 11 movie channels. Those with a Kinect lying around can also use the peripheral to navigate around the offering. Interested parties can take advantage of a 30-day trial for free, after which they’ll have to plunk down £15 a month for access to Sky Movies Pass titles from studios like Disney, Fox, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros. and Universal. The service has promised more content in coming months, including the launch of Sky Sports. For more info on the offering, check out the press release after the break.

Continue reading Sky’s Now TV service hits Xbox, beckons you forth with 30 day free trial

Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment

Sky’s Now TV service hits Xbox, beckons you forth with 30 day free trial originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 10:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Right on time this week, we’ve got the return of Apple TV rumors (again), a look at the trend of cable cutting and a surprise of the good kind for digital copies. Second screen TV apps are also in full effect this week with updates from Syfy Network and GetGlue. One more big surprise is the arrival of Avatar on Blu-ray 3D at retail this fall, plus a peek at our back to school guide. Listen in and tell us if you agree with our picks, or just take out your frustration in our fantasy football leagues. If you’d like to join in on the fantasy action leave a comment on this post with your email address, or just joni our Pick ‘Em league on Yahoo. The league ID is 19511 and the password is EHD12, the winner will receive our respect, admiration and scorn until next season.

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00:14:40 – WSJ: Apple’s TV focus changes to putting cable TV in its set-top box
00:27:10 – Editorial: Cutting the cable cord is a young trend going in the right direction
00:36:35 – Warner quietly extends the expiration dates of digital copies, discs remain ornamental
00:38:07 – Syfy for iPad app adds Sync feature, second screen content launches Tuesday with Face Off
00:40:25 – Ceton’s Media Center Companion apps for mobiles hit RC status, add new features
00:44:26 – GetGlue for iPad hits version 3.0: adds personalized guides, show recommendations and alerts
00:49:35 – Next generation of Dolby Digital Plus coming soon to tablets and phones, we go ears-on
00:51:44 – ESPN launches ESPNFC site and apps, updates ESPN Goals with match previews, highlights
00:52:47 – Cablevision set to offer NFL Network, RedZone Channel after finally striking a deal
00:53:50 – Netflix rolls out new ‘post-play experience’ on web player, PS3
00:55:50 – Netflix Watch Instantly streaming coming to Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland this year
00:58:08 – Engadget’s back to school guide 2012: HDTV
01:00:30 – Avatar Blu-ray 3D Collectors Edition finally comes to retail in October
01:02:10 – Verizon’s Viewdini appears on iOS: works on any network, hunts video from 11 sources
01:02:30 – Must See HDTV (August 20th – 26th)

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Filed under: Podcasts

Engadget HD Podcast 312 – 08.21.2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 19:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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