Posted Wed Dec 6, 2017 at 08:30 AM PST by Steven Cohen
The Google web browser will soon add mobile HDR playback support.
According to recent updates on the Chromium Gerrit, Google is prepping an HDR (high dynamic range) update for its Chrome browser on the Android platform. Other Android apps that already offer HDR playback through supported devices include Google Play Movies & TV, Netflix, and YouTube.
HDR is an advanced display and image mastering technology that offers expanded brightness to improve contrast between dark and light aspects of an image, bringing out deeper black levels and more realistic details in specular highlights -- like the sun reflecting off of an ocean -- in specially graded HDR material on compatible displays. In addition to enhanced contrast and brightness, HDR is also usually coupled with a Wide Color Gamut (WCG), offering a greater range of colors than those found in traditional HD sources. Per the updates on the Chromium Gerrit website, Chrome will soon be able to interpret HDR metadata and color spaces on VP9 encoded videos.
An exact launch date or list of supported mobile devices for Chrome HDR playback have not been announced yet. With that said, Android smartphones with some level of HDR support currently include models like the Samsung Galaxy S8, Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Google Pixel, LG V30, LG G6, Sony Xperia XZ1, and Sony Xperia XZ Premium. Meanwhile, current iOS devices with HDR displays include the iPhone X.
Outside of Chrome, Vimeo recently announced an update for HDR playback and upload support through the iPhone X, iPad Pro, and Apple TV 4K.
Sources: XDA, Engadget, Chromium Gerrit
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