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What is HDR10+?Keeping track of the latest audio and video tech can be daunting. Thankfully, High-Def Digest has you covered. Welcome to our new Home Theater 101 series, where we'll be explaining emerging technologies while also recommending the very best possible A/V gadgets n' gear you can buy at your particular budget level. And when it comes to recent high dynamic range display and content advancements, few are as buzzworthy as HDR10+. But just what exactly is HDR10+ and how does it work? And how does it compare to other competing HDR formats? Fret not! [teaser]If you don't know the difference between static metadata and dynamic metadata, this guide is here to breakdown the ins and outs of HDR10+.[/teaser] So, without further ado, let's dive right into... HOME THEATER 101WHAT IS HDR10+? THE BASICS HDR10+ is an open, royalty-free dynamic metadata platform for use with High Dynamic Range content and displays. The format builds upon the base HDR10 format and has been developed in partnership with Samsung, Panasonic, and 20th Century Fox. Like other HDR standards, the process uses 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 HDR10+ material. This increased brightness performance is measured in nits. In general terms, the more nits a display can produce, the brighter the image and greater the HDR performance will be. The UHD Alliance currently requires LCD displays to produce more than 1000 nits peak brightness and less than 0.05 nits black level, or OLED displays to produce more than 540 nits peak brightness and less than 0.0005 nits black level to receive Ultra HD Premium Certification, ensuring an optimal HDR experience. With that said, there are still many displays that offer some level of HDR performance without reaching those numbers. In addition to enhanced contrast, HDR10+ is often also bundled with support for a Wide Color Gamut (WCG) and a bit depth capability of 10-bits, offering a greater range of colors than those found in traditional HD sources and TVs using the previous Rec. 709 standard and 8-bit technology. This means that WCG content and displays can now produce more realistic colors, providing a more true-to-life representation of an image. Though current Ultra HD and HDR specs provide support for the Rec. 2020 wide color gamut, WCG content available now is typically produced in the DCI-P3 color space (aka the color space where commercial cinemas operate). Check out the chart below to see the differences between each gamut. The entire curve represents the full visible color spectrum. The smallest triangle represents the old Rec. 709 gamut; the solid triangle represents the wider DCI-P3 gamut; and the large dotted triangle represents the Rec. 2020 gamut. (Source: AVS Forum) As you can see, the Rec. 709 gamut is missing out on many of the colors covered by the larger DCI-P3 and Rec. 2020 color spaces, allowing the wider gamuts to produce hues that don't even exist in the previous standard. When content is graded in HDR10+ with WCG, the video is encoded with metadata. This metadata is then interpreted by an HDR10+ display during playback, telling the TV what colors to render and how bright or dark the HDR highlights should appear. Unlike the base HDR10 format which uses static metadata, HDR10+ uses dynamic metadata for its workflow. Static metadata does not change during playback, offering one fixed HDR picture enhancement across an entire piece of content. In practice, this can lead to inconsistent HDR quality in certain scenes, especially if a movie has an overall bright color palette mixed in with a few dimly lit sequences. HDR10+ dynamic metadata, on the other hand, can adjust brightness levels, color saturation, and contrast on a scene-by-scene or even frame-by-frame basis, producing images that are closer to the director's intent. REQUIREMENTS FOR HDR10+ In order to watch HDR10+ content, users will need an HDR10+ capable display with internal support for HDR10+ streaming apps and/or an external HDR10+ capable Ultra HD Blu-ray player or set-top box. Though HDR10+ dynamic metadata should only technically be possible over the new HDMI 2.1 spec, HDR10+ is expected to be able to work over the current HDMI 2.0 spec thanks to a process called "Infoframe," allowing for the addition of 24KB of metadata. Samsung already has the process working, but the method is still being finalized and is pending approval from the company's partners. On that note, it remains unclear if current HDMI 2.0 AV Receivers will need a specific HDR10+ firmware update to be able to pass-through the format. HDR10+ is now supported on all 2017 and 2018 4K HDR TVs from Samsung. In addition, Panasonic's FZ950 and FZ800 Series 4K OLED TVs also support the format, but these models are not currently available in the US. When it comes to Ultra HD Blu-ray players, future HDR10+ firmware updates have been confirmed for the Samsung UBD-M9500, UBD-M8500, and UBD-M7500, though a release date has not been announced yet. Likewise, the company's upcoming UBD-N8500 & UBD-N7500 Ultra HD Blu-ray players are also set to include support for the format. Meanwhile, Panasonic's new DP-UB820 and DP-UB420 Ultra HD Blu-ray players are scheduled to receive HDR10+ playback through a future firmware update as well. HDR10+ VS DOLBY VISION In addition to HDR10+, the competing Dolby Vision format also offers very similar HDR dynamic metadata capabilities -- but there are a few differences between the two, particularly when it comes to how future-proof each platform is. While both formats allow for mastering with dynamic metadata and support for WCG (up to Rec. 2020), Dolby Vision offers support for a higher bit depth of 12-bits versus the 10-bits used for HDR10+ content. In essence, this means that titles graded with Dolby Vision have the potential to offer a much larger range of colors. With that said, no 12-bit TV panels are currently available, so this distinction is a moot point for now. Meanwhile, when it comes to target brightness, HDR10+ content is typically mastered for a peak of 1,000 nits and is able to support mastering for up to 4,000 nits. In contrast, Dolby Vision content is graded for a target peak of 4,000 nits and the format can support up to 10,000 nits. As was the case with bit-depth, however, consumer TVs can't take full advantage of Dolby Vision's higher nit grading just yet, as current flagship displays max out at about 2,500 nits. Finally, HDR10+ is an open, royalty free high dynamic range platform with only a nominal administrative fee required for use. In contrast, companies have to pay a royalty for implementing Dolby Vision tech into their products. HDR10+ CONTENT Currently, the only source for HDR10+ content is Amazon Prime Video streaming. According to Amazon, the service's entire collection of Prime HDR content is now available in HDR10+ via compatible displays. This includes shows like The Grand Tour, The Tick, Bosch, and The Man in the High Castle, along with around 100 other movies and TV series. But while Amazon's website states that a specific "HDR10+" label is supposed to appear in the video details for applicable titles, this is not actually the case. After contacting customer service, the company confirmed that it's still just using a universal "HDR" badge for all high dynamic range content regardless of the format. With that said, Amazon assured me that all Prime HDR videos do indeed automatically play in HDR10+ on supported Samsung TV models. Outside of Amazon, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. have also announced their support for HDR10+. No specific titles have been announced yet, but both companies are expected to release Ultra HD Blu-ray discs and digital content with HDR10+ later this year. RECOMMENDED GEAR While Samsung is currently the only company to offer HDR10+ displays in the US, they have several worthwhile models on the market. Here's a rundown of some recommended HDR10+ gear available now... Samsung QN65Q9F 65" QLED 4K Ultra HD ($3,498, full review coming soon!) - As Samsung's top-of-line 2018 LCD display, the new Q9 QLED offers some of the industry's leading color volume and HDR brightness specs. And though blacks still aren't quite as impressive as an OLED panel, the company's return to full array local dimming results in fantastic contrast and a huge improvement over the 2017 Q9's edge-lit dimming. Quantum dot technology for wide color gamut coverage is featured as well, along with support for HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG. Smart TV functions with Bixby Voice control and a new Ambient Mode round out the premium package. A 75-inch ($5,998) model is also available. Order from Best Buy Samsung QN65Q8F 65" QLED 4K Ultra HD ($2,798) - Brightness and contrast are a little less robust compared to the Q9, and some premium design flourishes are missing, but the Q8 offers very similar performance for quite a bit less. Like its step-up sibling, the TV features full array local dimming along with quantum dot technology for wide color gamut capabilities and some of the industry's leading color volume specs. HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG are supported as well. Smart TV functions with Bixby Voice control and a new Ambient Mode round out the premium package. A 55-inch ($1,998) and 75-inch ($3,998) model are also available. Order from Best Buy Samsung UBD-M9500 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player ($298) - The M9500 features Ultra HD Blu-ray disc playback along with HDR10 support and planned support for HDR10+ via an upcoming firmware update. Likewise, the player includes Bluetooth wireless streaming connectivity and Samsung Smart Remote integration across the UHD ecosystem. In addition, the device can automatically optimize a customer's TV screen and audio levels by analyzing the content source being played -- such as HDR, Atmos or DTS-X -- enabling users to enjoy the content they want without changing their TV or audio settings. A new Private Cinema Mode is offered as well, which allows TV audio to be transferred to personal Bluetooth headphones. Finally, the M9500 also provides expanded mobile integration, letting users stream Blu-ray titles to their mobile devices, along with support for watching 360-degree mobile content through the player on the big screen. So, there you have it. Those are the basics of HDR10+. If you still have any questions about HDR10+, please let us know in the forums! MORE HOME THEATER 101 ARTICLES -Best TVs to Buy on a Budget in 2018-Best 4K TVs for 2018-What is Dolby Vision?-What is HDR?-What is Dolby Atmos?-What is DTS:X-What is LCD?-Best Sound Bars-Up-mixed: Dolby Surround vs DTS:Neural:X-Best Dolby Atmos Speakers-Best UHD Streaming Services-HDR Sucks: The Challenges & Frustrations of HDR10-4K Ultraviolet Headaches: How & Where To Redeem Digital Copies in 4K UHDPosted Thu May 31, 2018 at 02:45 PM PDT by: -
Sony Releases Dolby Vision Firmware Update for A8F & X900F 4K Ultra HD TVs[teaser]Dolby Vision support is rolling out to the company's 2018 displays.[/teaser] According to a report from Forbes, Sony has released the Dolby Vision firmware update for its A8F OLED 4K HDR TV and X900F LCD 4K HDR TV models. The upgrade is currently rolling out to units in the US and Canada, following an initial launch on European models last week. The Dolby Vision firmware update supports Dolby Vision playback through the A8F and X900F's internal streaming apps. Likewise, the update also supports Dolby Vision playback from external devices like an Ultra HD Blu-ray player or Apple TV 4K via HDMI -- but the connected device must have a separate firmware update of its own specifically enabling Sony's implementation of Dolby Vision. The A8F Series 4K Ultra HD OLED TV is available in 55-inch and 65-inch screen sizes. The display uses a 4K OLED panel with a one slate design, and features Sony's TRILUMINOS tech and X1 Extreme processor, along with support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision playback. In addition, the set uses Acoustic Surface technology to create audio from the screen itself. Android TV with Google Assistant is integrated as well. Sony XBR-55XA8F 55” class (54.6” diag) 4K HDR Ultra HD TV - $2,799.99Sony XBR-65XA8F 65” class (64.5” diag) 4K HDR Ultra HD TV - $3,799.99 The new X900F LCD 4K Ultra HD TV series is available in 49-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch screen sizes. The display uses Sony's TRILUMINOS wide color tech and the X1 Extreme 4K HDR processor which incorporates Object-based HDR remaster, Super Bit Mapping 4K HDR, and Dual database processing technology. In addition, HDR10 and Dolby Vision are supported as well. Likewise, the TV features direct LED panel local dimming and new X-Motion Clarity tech to help keep fast motion smooth. Android TV with Google Assistant is integrated as well. Sony XBR-49X900F 49" class (48.5" diag) 4K HDR Ultra HD TV - $1,099.99 MSRPSony XBR-55X900F 55" class (54.6" diag) 4K HDR Ultra HD TV - $1,499.99 MSRPSony XBR-65X900F 65" class (64.5" diag) 4K HDR Ultra HD TV - $2,199.99 MSRPSony XBR-75X900F 75" class (74.5" diag) 4K HDR Ultra HD TV - $3,799.99 MSRPSony XBR-85X900F 85" class (84.6" diag) 4K HDR Ultra HD TV - $5,299.99 MSRP Source: ForbesPosted Thu May 31, 2018 at 02:15 PM PDT by: -
Grading the Major Hollywood Studios in the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Era[Teaser]Can you judge a 4K Blu-ray by its distributor? Let's find out.[/Teaser] We're a long, long way from the days of Leonard Nemoy talking to his beeping pet crystal about laserdiscs! Two full years into the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format, it's time to score the major studios on their efforts to bring the very best possible video and audio experience to home video enthusiasts. As with any new format, growing pains are inevitable -- it takes time to adjust home entertainment distribution pipelines. However, by the end of 2018, there will be over 400 titles available and that feels like a pretty good litmus sample group to determine the success rate of each studio. Worth noting: 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray is still too new (too niche?) to judge smaller independent studios. While the BBC has made quite a splash with their nature documentaries and Shout! Factory was quick to upgrade their IMAX documentaries to the format, outfits like Criterion, Arrow, and Kino Lorber have yet to make an appearance. Hopefully, time will be on fan's sides as there are a number of great titles we'd be overjoyed to see get beautiful 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and/or streaming releases. To determine each studio's success rate as objectively as possible, we're applying a simple point system per category: Selection -- Total number of discs availableDeep Catalog -- Films made before the year 2000Video Quality -- HDR10-only vs Dolby Vision/HDR10+ & 2K DI vs 4K DIAudio Quality -- Dolby Atmos/DTS:X availability vs legacy formats4K Digital Copies & Streaming -- Do Digital Copies unlock 4K streaming or HD? And, are the studios' movies available to rent or buy in 4K? 5 points per category -- with 5 representing perfection and 0 indicating abject failure -- for a total score out of 25. Here's what we found, ranking the studios from worst to first: Disney -- 12.5/25 Selection: 1/5 (14 titles available or slated for 2018)Deep Catalogue: 0/5Video Quality: 4/5Audio Quality: 3.5/54K Digital Copies & Streaming: 4/5 Disney has never been an "early adopter." Since the days of VHS, the Mouse House has been slow to the home video show, but that's largely by design. Nothing quite builds anticipation and demand like withholding it from the public. By the same token, that also fosters high expectations that may not be met. And expectations are high for the studio that owns one of the most in-demand catalogs of kids' films as well as Marvel Studios, Pixar, Lucasfilm, and (very likely) 20th Century Fox's expansive library. To Disney's credit, after a slow start, they're committed to 4K and are bringing out the big recent theatrical releases with beautiful transfers with full support for Dolby Vision HDR (in addition to HDR10). However, there have been a few bumps in the road. While Disney includes immersive Dolby Atmos audio on their 4K releases, when you listen to movies like Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Thor: Ragnarok, and Black Panther, they sound softer and less dynamic that tracks from other studios' tentpole movies. [EDITOR'S NOTE: HDD has officially reached out to Disney three weeks ago to see if there is a specific intent behind their audio-design methodology, and have yet to hear back.] Ultimately, you can crank your audio up to and past reference-level volumes to enjoy these tracks, but many of our readers remain dissatisfied. Disney DVDs and Blu-rays were once go-to demo discs and we'd love to see them return to those days. We'd also love to see more Disney deep catalog titles. To say there are a few fan favorites (animated or otherwise) deserving the 4K treatment is a bit of a dramatic understatement. That said, Disney has started dipping into newer catalog movies, slating The Incredibles for 4K UHD Blu-ray this June, and The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron rumored for later this summer. Hopefully, we'll be seeing more of their animated and live action movies in 4K. On the streaming front, their initial run with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 started out rough with only some fans being able to redeem the digital copy in full 4K, but that problem largely ironed itself out when Disney launched Movies Anywhere in collaboration with other major studios. All of the more recent Digital Copies we've unlocked have included access to 4K streaming. That said, Disney films are still not available in 4K on iTunes. Lionsgate -- 13/25 Selection: 4/5 (58 titles available or slated for 2018 release)Deep Catalogue: 0/5Video Quality 3.5/5Audio Quality 4.5/54K Digital Copies: 1/5 Lionsgate was another early supporter of 4K UHD Blu-ray and launched an aggressive volley of fan-favorite releases. They were quick to upgrade their titles with fresh new Dolby Atmos audio tracks and have become a major supporter of Dolby Vision in addition to the HDR10 base WCG. From titles like John Wick to Power Rangers, Lionsgate's selection have been terrific highlights for what the format is capable of. While Lionsgate is pretty good about bringing out their heavy hitters to 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray, they're not perfect. A number of releases they could easily showcase here in the U.S. end up being handled by Studio Canal in European markets. Thankfully 4K UHD is a region free format and titles like Early Man can be imported, but that's an extra (and potentially expensive) hassle fans shouldn't have to endure. But, at least they are available and that's what's important. Like for Hell or High Water, late is better than never, but a day and date release would be beneficial for all involved. (BTW, where the heck is the 4K UHD Blu-ray for Wind River?) Unfortunately, as of right now, their deep catalog is a nonstarter. With the Miramax archive under their control, among other titles, there is a huge selection of great films deserving of a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray upgrade. Rumor has it they're currently prepping the Rambo films for later this year, so it looks like this drought is almost over. On the streaming front, Lionsgate has been hit and miss. Early titles redeemed in 4K via Vudu, but then those titles were no longer available to stream in 4K and folks who purchased those discs later couldn't redeem them in 4K, so their policy has been a confusing mess. However, in the last couple weeks, fans have noticed that a few titles that would previously redeem only in HDX on providers like Vudu are now opening up in 4K. Hopefully, this trend continues and fans will be able to enjoy their 4K flicks on the go as more and more portable devices start to support HDR and Dolby Vision playback. It would also help matters if they would join Movies Anywhere and allow their streaming copies to be redeemed across all platforms - and in 4K. 20th Century Fox -- 13.5/25 Selection: 4/5 (57 titles available or slated for 2018 release)Deep Catalogue: 1/5Video Quality: 3/5Audio Quality: 4/54K Digital Copies & Streaming: 1.5/5 20th Century Fox was an early 4K supporter and has offered up an impressive lineup of new releases and films from the last decade or so. There are more than a few fan favorites in the bunch that showcase the benefits of 2160p, HDR10 with wide color gamut, and Dolby Atmos & DTS:X audio tracks. However, there are a few knocks we have to grade. Fist, the deep catalog is a little lackluster with only two titles -- Independence Day and most recently, Die Hard. While these are great releases and we love having them on 4K UHD Blu-ray, we'd love to see some more deep catalog titles like X-Men, Speed, or any of the original Alien films, not to mention big grand spectacle films like The Sound of Music. At least Predator is speculated to arrive around the forthcoming release of The Predator. Further, while Fox has started producing some native 4K content, many Fox movies are still finished in 2K and then upscaled for 4K theatrical and home video releases. To be clear, native resolution isn't the end-all-be-all when one is dealing with professional-grade masters -- we would argue that color, brightness, & contrast are more important -- but every little bit helps by the time we experience the consumer-grade final product. We also think it's a shame that Fox has limited itself to HDR10 thus far. 4K with HDR10 is definitely a step up over SDR Blu-rays, but HDR10 can be less consistent across various TVs than Dolby Vision or HDR10+. The good news is that Fox has announced support for HDR10+, although no specific movies have been released with this capability. The bad news is that Fox only releases Dolby Vision movies theatrically. Lastly, we'd love to see Fox update their Digital Copy policy for the 4K era. While you can buy & rent Fox movies in 4K with HDR in places like iTunes and FandangoNOW, Fox has, thus far, only included HD Digital Copies in its 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray sets. In this regard, they are the worst studio for 4K enthusiasts who enjoy having both 4K physical media and streaming rights. Paramount -- 19.5/25 Selection 3.5/5 (48 titles available or slated for 2018)Deep Catalogue: 4/5Video Quality: 4/5Audio Quality: 4/54K Digital Copies: 4/5 Paramount was slow to jump into 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, but in the last few months, they've ramped up support and are quickly becoming one of our favorite studios (especially impressive after the Saphire Series Blu-ray QC problems from a decade ago). With 48 titles either available or expected for release in 2018, most of their releases include Dolby Vision (in addition to HDR10) as well as Dolby Atmos & DTS:X. If they had as many titles available as Warners or Universal, Paramount could have taken top spot on this list. In addition to day-and-date new releases, Paramount's deep catalog is shining brightest here. Gladiator, Braveheart, Forrest Gump, Tomb Raider, Grease, all of the Mission: Impossible films coming in June and with all of the Jack Ryan films due this fall on 4K Ultra HD, Paramount is playing an aggressive and impressive game of catchup with some fan favorites that are turning into must-own releases. In the video department, in addition to Dolby Vision, the studio has done a terrific job scanning original film elements for true 4K masters (and the results are terrific). That said, and although we see definite improvements over the previous Blu-rays, their newer releases and catalog titles likely come from 2K DIs. Similarly, while some releases -- the impending Mission: Impossible releases -- will retain their original audio mixes, most Paramount movies include new Dolby Atmos and DTS:X offerings that are a joy to experience. On the streaming side of things, the only thing they could do better is to jump into the Movies Anywhere fold and allow their titles to port over multiple services, but that's only a small complaint considering Paramount Digital Copies unlock 4K streaming rights on providers like Vudu and iTunes. Sony -- 20.5/25 Selection: 4.5/5 (69 titles available or slated for 2018 release)Deep Catalogue: 4/5Video Quality: 4/5Audio Quality: 4.5/54K Digital Copies: 3.5/5 With the second-largest selection of titles so far, Sony has not only brought out its big guns with major franchise features like Spider-Man and Men in Black, but they've gone to the deep well for their catalogue releases with Close Encounters of the Third Kind and The Bridge on the River Kwai in addition to a huge number of films made throughout the 1990s. While they've been comfortable with giving their deep catalog titles the basic HDR10 improvements, they're still highlights of what the format can bring to home video - especially if the title in question was mastered from a restored film negative rather than a 2K Digital Intermediate. Additionally, a movie like Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk was released in full 4K/60fps as it was shown in some limited theatrical screenings. High Frame Rate was never popular, but it's nice to see a studio attempting to showcase the film in a condition that is as close to the director's original intent as possible. On the video front, while Sony tops our list of studios mastering from true 4K sources and they've utilized Dolby Vision for releases like Spider-Man: Homecoming and The Dark Tower, they seem to be very picky-choosey about which titles get the full deployment of Dolby Vision and instead fall back on basic HDR10 as simply being "good enough." Conversely, Sony's audio department is doing a bang-up job, with everything from deep catalog to newer titles, all enjoying good-to-excellent new Dolby Atmos mixes. As far as streaming support goes, Sony at least offers a 4K streaming option through their own proprietary streaming service supported their own smart TVs, 4K UHD players, and PS4 Pro units. A few titles like the original Jumanji have trickled down to full 4K UHD streaming on Vudu, and even more of their movies are available in 4K via iTunes, but the included Digital Copy codes only unlock HD streaming rights outside the Sony ecosystem. (UPDATE) As some of our readers recently pointed out, some Sony 4K codes that were redeemed through Movies Anywhere like the classic Spider-Man films and The Amazing Spider-Man films are now redeeming with full 4K access. As of right now, we don't know if codes that had already been redeemed will automatically upgrade, but we'll be digging into this and hopefully, we will be able to clarify this point further. Warner Bros. -- 21.5/25 Selection: 4.5/5 (68 titles available or slated for 2018)Deep Catalogue: 3.5/5Video Quality: 4/5Audio Quality: 4.5/54K Digital Copies & Streaming: 5/5 Warner Bros. dove into 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray faster and with more gusto than every other studio in town. Each of their releases sports a healthy audio mix, Dolby Atmos or at the very least an improved lossless track, their video transfers are par for the course of better, and with their HBO catalogue, they're the first to bring a television show to 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision for their release of Westworld and the upcoming release for Season One of Game of Thrones. They're also big on streaming offering up a massive selection of titles that redeem 4K copies on Vudu with Dolby Vision. They're also one of the few remaining studios to also include, or at least offer through a retailer exclusive, an included 3D Blu-ray copy for releases like Kong and the upcoming release of Ready Player One. While we can't really fault them for their selection, we do have to make note of some odd omissions. Where are The Conjuring films? Or genre films in general? Granted, IT was given a terrific release but, industry-wide, it's difficult to not point out how horror films are virtually being ignored on the format NS Warner Brothers has more than a few fan favorites deserving a due upgrade. Hopefully, that changes soon. We'd also love to see Warners be more consistent with their Dolby Vision support (FYI, they've also announced support for HDR10+), but they seem to be doing a better job with dynamic metadata HDR with each passing month (and almost always include it for streaming, even of older catalog titles). Indeed, Warner Bros. is doing a fine job bringing some great deep catalog titles to the format with excellent releases of Unforgiven, Blade Runner, and The Matrix with an anticipated turn for 2001: A Space Odyssey later this fall. However, the price point is a bit sticky for these big deep catalog releases. The MSRP for these titles skews towards the $40-$45 range with retailers offering little, if any, initial discount, forcing fans who would normally preorder or purchase the title on release day instead are opting to wait for discount options or a random flash sale. Universal -- 22/25 Selection: 5/5 (75 titles available or slated for 2018)Deep Catalogue: 4/5Video Quality: 3.5/5Audio Quality: 4.5/54K Digital Copies: 5/5 If you're going to a store or browse online for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray flicks to purchase, you're going to see a lot of Universal titles. With 75 titles available or in the pipeline for 2018, they're leaving the other major studios behind. While some of their titles could use better masters or full-on restorations, Universal's combination of Dolby Vision HDR grading, Dolby Atmos & DTS:X availability, and consistent 4K Digital Copy support, make them an overall 4K trendsetter. On top of their technical achievements, Universal has also run an impressive swath of deep catalog titles featuring Apollo 13, The Mummy Trilogy, E.T. and most recently the Jurassic Park: 25th Anniversary Collection. Fan favorites, such as The Dear Hunter and The Big Lebowski, are also rumored to be on the way - they're starting to give Paramount a run for their money. Hopefully, we don't have to wait too long for Jaws to make a splash on 4K! Like the other studios who finished their films with 2K Digital Intermediates, some of their first offerings didn't immediately showcase an uptick in detail, but their recent releases have shown dramatic improvement. However, one of the common complaints with HDR10 is the simplistic "set and forget it" contrast and black levels, while color can be tweaked a bit high. Thankfully, Universal is opting for more Dolby Vision releases of late. Similarly to Lionsgate, Universal are less consistent with their day-and-date 4K offerings, releasing 4K Blu-rays after their standard Blu-ray siblings. Granted, Phantom Thread was worth the month's wait, but we're still sitting on Darkest Hour and a couple other prestige awards-season releases that deserve to be seen under the best circumstances possible. Final Thoughts When looking at the major studios, Universal is leading the pack with a powerful slate of new and deep catalog releases while Warner Brothers, Lionsgate, Sony, and Paramount have made terrific showings with their continued showcase of new releases as well as bringing out the big fan favorites. As much as we'd love to see more from Disney, at least they're on the scorecard and looking to make big strides in the coming months. Obviously, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray is a relatively new format that is still working out some growing pains. However, it's great to see studios commit to presenting their films to the home video market with the best audio and visual presentations possible. Unlike SDR Blu-ray, 4K UHD hasn't had to deal with a tiresome format war that divided early adopters, pretty much everyone was and remains on the same page with disc specs and the HDR10 standard. While some studios may not be on board with Dolby Vision and are considering the upcoming HDR10+ option as an alternative, as a whole the format is very healthy and continues to improve with each major new film to hit the market and the increasing number of deep catalog classics. Here's hoping we don't have to wait too long for some of our very favorite films to get the 4K treatment they deserve! We're chomping at the bit for Indiana Jones, the original Star Wars films, classic James Bond movies, more Kubrick titles, and many other greats that would benefit from the latest and greatest in home video technology.Posted Thu May 31, 2018 at 01:01 PM PDT by: -
What is HDR?Keeping track of the latest audio and video tech can be daunting. Thankfully, High-Def Digest has you covered. Welcome to our new Home Theater 101 series, where we'll be explaining emerging technologies while also recommending the very best possible A/V gadgets n' gear you can buy at your particular budget level. And when it comes to recent display advancements, few are as buzzworthy as HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE. But just what exactly is HDR and how does it work? And what's the deal with all of the competing formats? Fret not! [teaser]If you don't know the difference between HDR10 and Dolby Vision, this guide is here to breakdown the ins and outs of High Dynamic Range.[/teaser] So, without further ado, let's dive right into... HOME THEATER 101WHAT IS HDR? THE BASICS High Dynamic Range, or HDR for short, is an advanced display and image mastering technology used on select 4K TVs and Ultra HD content. The process uses 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. This increased brightness performance is measured in nits. In general terms, the more nits a display can produce, the brighter the image and greater the HDR performance will be. The UHD Alliance currently requires LCD displays to produce more than 1000 nits peak brightness and less than 0.05 nits black level, or OLED displays to produce more than 540 nits peak brightness and less than 0.0005 nits black level to receive Ultra HD Premium Certification, ensuring an optimal HDR experience. With that said, there are still many displays that offer some level of HDR performance without reaching those numbers. In addition to enhanced contrast, HDR is often also bundled with support for a Wide Color Gamut (WCG), offering a greater range of colors than those found in traditional HD sources and TVs using the previous Rec. 709 standard. This means that WCG content and displays can now produce more realistic colors, providing a more true-to-life representation of an image. Though current Ultra HD and HDR specs provide support for the Rec. 2020 wide color gamut, wider color gamut content available now is typically produced in the DCI-P3 color space (aka the color space where commercial cinemas operate). Check out the chart below to see the differences between each gamut. The entire curve represents the full visible color spectrum. The smallest triangle represents the old Rec. 709 gamut; the solid triangle represents the wider DCI-P3 gamut; and the large dotted triangle represents the Rec. 2020 gamut. (Source: AVS Forum) As you can see, the Rec. 709 gamut is missing out on many of the colors covered by the larger DCI-P3 and Rec. 2020 color spaces, allowing the wider gamuts to produce hues that don't even exist in the previous standard. When content is graded in HDR with WCG, the video is usually encoded with metadata. This metadata is then interpreted by an HDR display during playback, telling the TV what colors to render and how bright the HDR highlights should appear. HDR metadata is typically implemented in one of two ways: static or dynamic. Static metadata uses the same HDR-grading for the entire video, offering one expanded range for the full runtime. In practice, this type of metadata leads to some dim scenes looking darker than they were originally intended. Meanwhile, dynamic metadata is able to adjust brightness levels on a scene-by-scene or even frame-by-frame basis, offering a more accurate HDR experience. There are currently several different competing and co-existing HDR formats, with the three main options being: HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision, offering a variety of specific performance quirks, advantages, and disadvantages. HDR10 & HDR10+ The default HDR standard for most content, including Ultra HD Blu-ray discs, is HDR10, an open standard High Dynamic Range content and playback solution. The base HDR10 format uses static metadata while a new expanded version of the tech, called HDR10+, uses dynamic metadata. HDR10 and HDR10+ both support the Rec. 2020 color space, a bit depth of 10-bits, and mastering for up to 4,000 nits peak brightness with a typical target output of 1,000 nits. HDR10 playback is supported through the widest variety of displays on the market from manufacturers like Sony, Samsung, LG, VIZIO, TCL, and Hisense. HDR10 is also the required base HDR format for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. Likewise, HDR10 content is available through several streaming services like Netflix, VUDU, iTunes, and Amazon Prime Video, offering a growing collection of titles. In order to watch HDR10 content, users will need an HDR10 capable display with internal support for HDR10 streaming apps and/or an external Ultra HD Blu-ray player or HDR capable set-top box. The format requires an HDMI 2.0a connection for external sources and HDCP 2.2 compliance for copyrighted material. Likewise, AV receivers need to meet those same specs in order to pass-through HDR10 video from connected players. Meanwhile, the dynamic HDR10+ format is currently supported by all of Samsung's 2017 and 2018 HDR TVs. As of press time, the only source for HDR10+ content is Amazon Prime Video, though HDR10+ titles are expected to be released from 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. later this year. Ultra HD Blu-ray players with HDR10+ support are also in the works from Samsung and Panasonic. Though HDR10+ dynamic metadata should only technically be possible over the new HDMI 2.1 spec, HDR10+ is expected to be able to work over the current HDMI 2.0 spec thanks to a process called "Infoframe," allowing for the addition of 24KB of metadata. Samsung already has the process working, but the method is still being finalized and is pending approval from the company's partners. On that note, it remains unclear if current HDMI 2.0 AV Receivers will need a specific HDR10+ firmware update to be able to pass-through the format. DOLBY VISION Serving as the main competitor to HDR10 and HDR10+, Dolby Vision is a proprietary end-to-end HDR format that covers content creation and playback. Versions of the format are available in cinemas and home theaters, with the theatrical implementation being an integral part of the Dolby Cinema process, which uses the Dolby Vision laser projection system. Currently, there are more than 100 Dolby Cinema locations around the globe (HERE is a list of Dolby Cinema at AMC locations here in the US). Meanwhile, for the home theater, Dolby Vision supports the Rec. 2020 color space, a bit depth of 12-bits, and a current target peak output of 4,000 nits and a max output of 10,000 nits. Dolby Vision uses dynamic metadata and needs more specific hardware than HDR10, initially requiring displays to include a special Dolby Vision chipset (though recent developments have made software solutions a possibility). Dolby Vision for the home theater is currently available on several displays from manufacturers like VIZIO, LG, TCL, and Sony. On the content side, Dolby Vision is an optional addition for HDR playback on 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays. Lionsgate, Warner Brothers, Paramount, Universal, Disney, Sony, and BBC have all released Ultra HD Blu-rays with Dolby Vision. In addition, Dolby Vision content is also available through streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, and VUDU. In order to watch Dolby Vision content, users will need a Dolby Vision-capable display with support for internal Dolby Vision streaming apps and/or a Dolby Vision capable Ultra HD Blu-ray player or set-top box. Unlike HDR10, Dolby Vision technically only requires an HDMI 1.4 connection, but copy-protected content still needs HDCP 2.2 compliance. Likewise, AV Receivers require specific Dolby Vision firmware to pass-through the format. ADDITIONAL HDR FORMATS Outside of the main HDR10 and Dolby Vision standards there are few other emerging high dynamic range formats as well. Most notably, there is the Hybrid Log Gamma, or HLG, standard developed by the BBC and NHK. The royalty free HDR format is geared toward delivering high dynamic range content over live broadcasts. And unlike other formats, HLG's HDR process doesn't actually use any type of metadata. HLG support is now offered on many displays, including models from LG, Sony, Samsung, and VIZIO. In addition, Technicolor's Advanced HDR solution is also geared toward broadcast high dynamic range, along with SDR to HDR conversion. According to Technicolor, Advanced HDR is actually "format agnostic and can take all HDR formats, as well as SDR formats, as inputs and then normalize and deliver all of them on any HDR or SDR device, ensuring a consistent experience in both HDR and SDR worlds." The tech is a combination of Technicolor HDR ITM which up-converts SDR to HDR, and Technicolor HDR which is able to distribute HDR and SDR content through one stream. So far, LG is the only manufacturer to make mention of Technicolor Advanced HDR support for its displays. WHICH HDR FORMAT IS BEST? Taking into account the industry's growing assortment of HDR methods, is there an easy pick for best format among the group? Well, not exactly, but based on what we've seen and know about the tech, dynamic metadata platforms definitely offer a notable edge over static metadata ones. There isn't enough content on the market just yet to fairly compare HDR10+ and Dolby Vision in order to declare a definitive winner, but both are generally capable of providing a superior HDR experience over standard HDR10. RECOMMENDED GEAR There are currently several great HDR display solutions on the market, covering a wide-range of price points and panel technologies. Here's a rundown of some recommended HDR gear available now... TCL 6-Series 65R617 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD Roku TV ($1,000) - TCL's 6-Series just might the feature the best performance to price ratio of any new display for 2018. The 4K TV features Dolby Vision and HDR10 support, along with the Roku OS smart TV platform. In addition, the set uses full array local dimming with 120 zones (96 on the 55-inch model) for improved black levels and contrast. Likewise, the panel incorporates NBP Photon technology with LED phosphors to provide Wide Color Gamut support. A 55-inch model is available as well for an introductory price of just $650. Order from Best Buy LG OLED65C8PUA 65" 4K Ultra HD OLED TV ($3,198) - As one of LG's top-of-the-line 2018 OLED TVs, this display offers some of the best overall picture quality on the market, including perfect blacks and the company's new α (Alpha) 9 intelligent processor for improved image and color performance over last year's models. In addition, the panel also supports onboard Dolby Atmos audio and LG's 4K Cinema HDR suite of high dynamic range formats with wide color gamut capabilities, including Advanced HDR by Technicolor, Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma). Meanwhile, the TV's new ThinQ AI tech allows customers to take advantage of advanced voice assistant features by speaking directly into the remote, enabling users to search for information, images or videos through verbal requests. 55-inch ($2,297) and 77-inch ($8,997) C8 models are available as well. Order from Best Buy Samsung QN65Q9F 65" QLED 4K Ultra HD ($3,498, full review coming soon!) - As Samsung's top-of-line 2018 LCD display, the new Q9 QLED offers some of the industry's leading color volume and HDR brightness specs. And though blacks still aren't quite as impressive as an OLED panel, the company's return to full array local dimming results in fantastic contrast and a huge improvement over the 2017 Q9's edge-lit dimming. Quantum dot technology for wide color gamut coverage is featured as well, along with support for HDR10, HLG, and the new dynamic HDR10+ format. Smart TV functions with Bixby Voice control and a new Ambient Mode round out the premium package. A 75-inch ($5,998) model is also available. Order from Best Buy So, there you have it. Those are the basics of HDR. If you still have any questions about High Dynamic Range, please let us know in the forums! MORE HOME THEATER 101 ARTICLES -Best TVs to Buy on a Budget in 2018-Best 4K TVs for 2018-What is Dolby Vision?-What is Dolby Atmos?-What is DTS:X-What is LCD?-Best Sound Bars-Up-mixed: Dolby Surround vs DTS:Neural:X-Best Dolby Atmos Speakers-Best UHD Streaming Services-HDR Sucks: The Challenges & Frustrations of HDR10-4K Ultraviolet Headaches: How & Where To Redeem Digital Copies in 4K UHD EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was originally published in 4/28/2017. On 5/31/2018, we updated this post with additional information about HDR10+ as well as newly available HDR capable gear.Posted Thu May 31, 2018 at 09:15 AM PDT by: -
What is Dolby Vision?Keeping track of the latest audio and video tech can be daunting. Thankfully, High-Def Digest has you covered. Welcome to Home Theater 101 series, where we'll be explaining emerging technologies while also recommending the very best possible A/V gadgets n' gear you can buy at your particular budget level. When it comes to recent cinematic and display advancements, few are as buzzworthy as DOLBY VISION. But just what exactly is Dolby Vision? And how does it compare to other competing HDR formats? Fret not! [teaser]If you don't know the difference between Rec. 709 and Rec. 2020, this guide is here to breakdown the ins and outs of Dolby Vision.[/teaser] So, without further ado, let's dive right into... HOME THEATER 101WHAT IS DOLBY VISION? THE BASICS Dolby Vision is a proprietary end-to-end High Dynamic Range (HDR) format that covers content creation and playback through select cinemas, Ultra HD displays, and 4K titles. Like other HDR standards, the process uses 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 Dolby Vision material. Versions of the format are available in cinemas and home theaters, with the theatrical implementation being an integral part of the Dolby Cinema process, which uses a dual-4K laser projection system for 500-times the contrast ratio of conventional projection systems (1,000,000 to 1!), pure black levels, expanded color gamut capabilities, and twice the brightness (up to 31fL). Currently, there are more than 100 Dolby Cinema locations around the globe (HERE is a list of Dolby Cinema at AMC locations here in the US). For the home theater, Dolby Vision grading supports a typical target peak output of 4,000 nits -- though the format can support up to 10,000 nits. In general terms, the more nits a display can produce, the brighter the image and greater the HDR performance will be. And since flagship Ultra HD Premium displays on the market now max out at about 2,500 nits, the Dolby Vision format has been designed with support for both current and future hardware in mind -- a notable advantage over the base HDR10 and dynamic HDR10+ format. In addition to enhanced contrast, Dolby Vision is also bundled with support for a Wide Color Gamut (WCG) and a bit depth capability of 12-bits (at the present time, content is graded in 10-bit), offering a greater range of colors than those found in traditional HD sources and TVs using the previous Rec. 709 standard and 8-bit tech. This means that Dolby Vision content and displays can now produce more realistic colors, providing a more true-to-life representation of an image. Check out the chart below to see the differences between each gamut. The entire curve represents the full visible color spectrum. The smallest triangle represents the old Rec. 709 gamut; the solid triangle represents the wider DCI-P3 gamut; and the large dotted triangle represents the Rec. 2020 gamut. (Source: AVS Forum) As you can see, Rec. 709 is missing out on many of the colors covered by the larger DCI-P3 and Rec. 2020 color spaces, allowing the wider gamuts to produce hues that don't even exist in the previous standard. Though the Dolby Vision spec provides support for Rec. 2020, only three-to-four productions have used it (Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur, The LEGO Batman Movie, and possibly Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2), and there are no consumer display technologies currently capable of reproducing the full gamut. As such, current gen Dolby Vision movies and enabled-displays reproduce a color space closer to DCI-P3 (aka the color space where commercial cinemas operate). When content is graded in Dolby Vision, the video is encoded with metadata. This metadata is then interpreted by a Dolby Vision display during playback, telling the TV what colors to render and how bright or dark the HDR highlights should appear. Unlike like the standard HDR10 format which uses static metadata, Dolby Vision uses dynamic metadata for its workflow. Static metadata does not change during playback, offering one fixed HDR picture enhancement across an entire piece of content. In practice, this can lead to inconsistent HDR quality in certain scenes, especially if a movie has an overall bright color palette mixed in with a few dimly lit sequences. Dolby Vision dynamic metadata, on the other hand, can adjust brightness levels, color saturation, and contrast on a scene-by-scene or even frame-by-frame basis, producing images that are closer to the director's intent. REQUIREMENTS FOR DOLBY VISION In order to watch Dolby Vision content, users will need a Dolby Vision-capable display with internal Dolby Vision supported media apps. And for external playback, customers will also need a Dolby Vision capable Ultra HD Blu-ray player or set-top box. Unlike HDR10, Dolby Vision technically only requires HDMI 1.4 connections, but copy-protected content still needs HDCP 2.2 compliancy and AV receivers need specific Dolby Vision firmware. Though the format initially required gear to include special Dolby Vision chipsets, recent developments have made software solutions a possibility. Dolby Vision for the home theater is currently supported on several displays from manufacturers like VIZIO, LG, TCL, Sony, and Hisense -- making Samsung the only major manufacturer to not include the tech in its display models. Meanwhile, Ultra HD Blu-ray players with integrated Dolby Vision playback (or future support via upcoming firmware updates) are available from brands like LG, Sony, Oppo, and Philips. In addition, select media players like the Apple TV 4K also support Dolby Vision. DOLBY VISION VS HDR10+ In addition to Dolby Vision, the competing HDR10+ format also offers very similar HDR dynamic metadata capabilities -- but there are a few differences between the two, particularly when it comes to how future-proof each platform is. While both formats allow for mastering with dynamic metadata and support for WCG (up to Rec. 2020), Dolby Vision offers support for a higher bit depth of 12-bits versus the 10-bits used for HDR10+ content. In essence, this means that titles graded with Dolby Vision have the potential to offer a much larger range of colors. With that said, no 12-bit TV panels are currently available, so this distinction is a moot point for now. Meanwhile, when it comes to target brightness, HDR10+ content is typically mastered for a peak of 1,000 nits and is able to support mastering for up to 4,000 nits. In contrast, Dolby Vision content is graded for a target peak of 4,000 nits and the format can support up to 10,000 nits. As was the case with bit-depth, however, consumer TVs can't take full advantage of Dolby Vision's higher nit grading just yet, as current flagship displays max out at about 2,500 nits. Finally, HDR10+ is an open, royalty free high dynamic range platform with only a nominal administrative fee required for use. In contrast, companies have to pay a royalty for implementing Dolby Vision tech into their products. DOLBY VISION CONTENT On the content side, Dolby Vision is an optional addition for HDR playback on Ultra HD Blu-rays (the default standard is HDR10). Lionsgate, Warner Brothers, Paramount, Universal, Disney, Sony, and BBC have all released Ultra HD Blu-rays with Dolby Vision, including many recent titles and popular catalogue films like Black Panther, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, The Matrix, Gladiator, Saving Private Ryan, and more. In addition, Dolby Vision content is also available through streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, and VUDU, offering a growing collection of titles, including original shows like Stranger Things, Daredevil, and Marco Polo, and popular films like Pacific Rim, Suicide Squad, Star Trek Beyond, Mad Max: Fury Road, Lucy, The Lego Movie, Edge of Tomorrow, Batman v. Superman, The Great Gatsby, and more. RECOMMENDED GEAR There are several great Dolby Vision display and media player solutions on the market right now, covering a wide-range of price points and technologies. Here's a rundown of some recommended Dolby Vision gear... TCL 6-Series 65R617 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD Roku TV ($1,000) - Offering several advanced features normally reserved for more expensive sets, TCL's 6-Series just might offer the best performance to price ratio of any new display for 2018, cementing itself as one of, if not the, top 65-inch 4K TV in the $1,000 price range. The display includes Dolby Vision and HDR10 support, along with the Roku OS smart TV platform. In addition, the set uses full array local dimming with 120 zones (96 on the 55-inch model) for improved black levels and contrast. Likewise, the panel incorporates NBP Photon technology with LED phosphors to provide Wide Color Gamut support. A 55-inch model is available as well for an introductory price of just $650. Order from Best Buy (Note: The Best Buy model does not include Voice Remote) VIZIO P-Series 65-inch 4K Ultra HD TV ($1,300) - Marked by some notable performance upgrades over the 2016 and 2017 models, the new 2018 P-Series once again cements itself as one of the industry's premiere bang-for-your buck TVs. The 4K display offers full array local dimming with 100 zones on the 65-inch set. Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG high dynamic range formats are all supported with UltraBright 1,000 for up to 1,000 nits of peak brightness, and Ultra Color Spectrum tech provides nearly 100% coverage of the P3 wide color gamut and about 72% coverage of the Rec. 2020 wide color gamut. The SmartCast OS is used for integrated on-screen streaming apps and the ability to cast even more from a mobile device. And unlike 2017 VIZIO displays, this TV does feature an integrated tuner for OTA broadcasts with a digital antenna. Units are also available in 55-inch and 75-inch (coming soon) sizes. Order from Best Buy LG OLED65C8PUA 65" 4K Ultra HD OLED TV ($3,198) - As one of LG's top-of-the-line 2018 OLED TVs, this display offers some of the best overall picture quality on the market, including perfect blacks and the company's new α (Alpha) 9 intelligent processor for improved image and color performance over last year's models. In addition, the panel also supports onboard Dolby Atmos audio and LG's 4K Cinema HDR suite of high dynamic range formats with wide color gamut capabilities, including Dolby Vision, Advanced HDR by Technicolor, HDR10, and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma). Meanwhile, the TV's new ThinQ AI tech allows customers to take advantage of advanced voice assistant features by speaking directly into the remote, enabling users to search for information, images or videos through verbal requests. 55-inch ($2,497) and 77-inch ($8,997) C8 models are available as well. Order from Best Buy Apple TV 4K ($179) - Utilizes the A10X Fusion chip and offers 4K playback capabilities at up to 60 frames per second with support for Dolby Vision and HDR10 content. In addition, the device includes 4K scaling for HD sources, Siri voice search, iCloud support for media sharing, standard AirPlay capabilities, and the ability to serve as a smart home hub for HomeKit accessories with remote access and automated control. Unfortunately, the unit does not currently offer Dolby Atmos playback. So, there you have it. Those are the basics of Dolby Vision. If you still have any questions about Dolby Vision, please let us know in the forums! MORE HOME THEATER 101 ARTICLES -Best TVs to Buy on a Budget in 2018-Best 4K TVs for 2018-What is HDR?-What is Dolby Atmos?-What is DTS:X-What is LCD?-Best Sound Bars-Up-mixed: Dolby Surround vs DTS:Neural:X-Best Dolby Atmos Speakers-Best UHD Streaming Services-HDR Sucks: The Challenges & Frustrations of HDR10-4K Ultraviolet Headaches: How & Where To Redeem Digital Copies in 4K UHDPosted Thu May 31, 2018 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
Everything Coming to iTunes & the Apple TV App in June 2018[teaser]Check out all the new digital titles coming to the iTunes library and Apple TV App in June.[/teaser] Apple has revealed the June lineup of movies and TV shows set to hit iTunes. The collection includes films like Pacific Rim: Uprising, Sherlock Gnomes, Blockers, A Quiet Place, and Rampage, along with series like Silicon Valley: Season 5, Barry: Season 1, Marvel's Luke Cage, and more. And beyond iTunes, Apple has also compiled a list of June streaming titles set to be available via the Apple TV App on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV devices. The Apple TV App allows users to browse through content from over 60 video services without switching from one app to the next, including titles from Amazon Prime Video, HBO Now, Showtime, CBS All Access, Hulu, and many other pay-TV subscriptions. Here's a full rundown of June iTunes titles per Apple: Movies 6/1 - Mary Shelly 6/5 - Pacific Rim Uprising 6/5 - Sherlock Gnomes 6/5 - Flower 6/5 - How to Talk to Girls at Parties 6/5 - I Can Only Imagine 6/5 - Midnight Sun 6/8 - Horses: Patti Smith and her Band 6/12 - 7 Days in Entebbe 6/12 - Paul, Apostle of Christ 6/15 - Loving Pablo 6/18 - Bernard and Huey 6/19 - Alex and Me 6/19 - Blockers 6/19 - Beirut 6/22 - Ronnie Coleman: The King 6/26 - A Quiet Place 6/26 - Rampage 6/26 - Woman Walks Ahead 6/26 - Gemini 6/29 - The Catcher Was a Spy 6/29 - Ideal Home TV *Full seasons in bold 6/11 Silicon Valley Season 5 6/15 SMILF Season 1 6/18 Barry Season 1 6/18 Farrenheit 451 6/22 Marvel’s Luke Cage And here's a rundown of June streaming titles set to arrive from various digital services through the Apple TV App: 6/3 Succession (HBO NOW) 6/3 Wrong Man (Starz) 6/4 Pose (FX) 6/4 Dietland (AMC) 6/5 Humans Season 2 (AMC) 6/7 Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger (Freeform) 6/7 Nashville, Season (CMT) 6/8 American Woman (Paramount Network) 6/8 Preacher Season 3 (AMC) 6/10 Claws Season 2 (TNT) 6/11 The Tony Awards (CBS All Access) 6/12 The Bold Type Season 2 (Freeform) 6/13 Million Dollar Listing New York Season 7 (Bravo) 6/14 Strange Angel (CBS All Access) 6/15 Goliath Season 2 (Prime Video) 6/16 12 Monkeys Season 4 (SYFY) 6/17 Shades of Blue Season 3 (NBC) 6/17 The Affair Season 3 (Showtime) 6/18 MTV Movie & TV Awards hosted by Tiffany Haddish) (MTV) 6/19 Love is ______, (OWN) 6/20 Yellowstone (Paramount Network) 6/21 Queen of the South Season 3 (USA) 6/21 Shooter Season 3 (USA) 6/24 Preacher Season 3 (AMC) Source: iTunesPosted Wed May 30, 2018 at 01:45 PM PDT by: -
'Bad Boys 1 & 2 Collection' Bound for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray[teaser]The Michael Bay double feature will hit 4K Blu-ray in September.[/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony is prepping Bad Boys 1 & 2 Collection for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on September 4. Bad Boys - From director Michael Bay (Transformers) comes a thrill ride of explosive action from beginning to end. One hundred million dollars’ worth of confiscated drugs has just been jacked from police custody. Once the career bust of Detectives Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence), the missing drugs now threaten to shut down the Narcotics Division of the Miami Police Department. When the drug investigation turns deadly, the murderers kidnap the only witness, a beautiful police informant (Téa Leoni) and close friend of the boys. The story is by George Gallo, with the screenplay by Michael Barrie & Jim Mulholland and Doug Richardson. Bad Boys II - Hang on for maximum mayhem, full-on fun and the wildest chase scenes ever put on film! The action and comedy never stop when superstars Martin Lawrence and Will Smith reunite as out-of-control trash-talking buddy cops. Bullets fly, cars crash, and laughs explode as they pursue a whacked-out drug lord from the streets of Miami to the barrios of Cuba. But the real fireworks result when Lawrence discovers that playboy Smith is secretly romancing his sexy sister, Gabrielle Union (Bring It On). Director Michael Bay (Transformers) and producer Jerry Bruckheimer (The Pirates of the Caribbean) deliver a high-speed, high-octane blockbuster that will blow you away! The story is by Marianne Wibberley & Cormac Wibberley and Ron Shelton, with the screenplay by Ron Shelton and Jerry Stahl. Both films will be presented on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in 2160p with HDR10 and Dolby Atmos audio. Blu-ray copies of each film will be part of the package as well with all previously released bonus content, including: - Commentary by Director Michael Bay - Bad Boys- "The Boom and The Bang of Bad Boys" Featurette - Bad Boys- Three Music Videos - Bad Boys- Original Theatrical Trailers - Bad Boys- Deleted Scenes - Bad Boys II- Production Diaries - Bad Boys II- Stunts and Visual Effects Featurette - Bad Boys II- Jay Z "La-la-la" Music Video - Bad Boys II- Sequence Breakdowns - Bad Boys II- Original Theatrical Trailers - Bad Boys II You can find the latest specs for Bad Boys 1 & 2 Collection linked from our 4K Release Schedule, where it is indexed under September 4.Posted Tue May 29, 2018 at 01:30 PM PDT by: -
Making Walt Disney's Peter Pan: An Interview with Wendy Darling (aka Kathryn Beaumont)"I can fly!" If you missed your chance to own Disney's Diamond Edition Blu-ray release of Peter Pan back in 2013, fear not, the Mouse House is taking the film out of the vault just in time to celebrate its 65th Anniversary. As part of the celebration, I got to talk with Wendy Darling actress and performer Kathryn Beaumont. During a delightful chat, we discussed the film's longevity, her experience changing studios, and what it was like working on Peter Pan. "I was shocked when I realized it! I mean, 65 years? These stories are also timeless and that's how they lasted through the years and from one generation to another to another. People enjoy these very special stories. Starting out as an actress in Hollywood, Kathryn actually began in small roles for several MGM productions before she was hired in 1951 to voice and be the live reference model of Alice for Walt Disney Studios' Alice In Wonderland before she would continue working with the studio portraying Wendy Darling as well as serving as one of the life references for Tinkerbell. "It was a totally different experience. I hadn't really had a lot of experience when I went to MGM and coming to Disney was quite a different world. When I went to Disney it was a much more relaxed atmosphere and people would come to meet me and get to know me and I really felt like I was part of the team and it was just a wonderful, wonderful experience from what most studios probably would be. I consider myself very fortunate to have been a part of Walt Disney Studios." As she was still a young girl during the making of Peter Pan, I asked her what her day-to-day work life was like working on the film. "When I was given the part for Peter Pan as Wendy, there was a session first for recording where you had the script and you did the recordings, and that was followed by live action. And that was where for reference you would go through the motions and act out the scenes that you just recorded earlier on. And that was for the artists to watch on a small screen and see how the movements of the characters were so that it would help them to draw more realistically of what someone was doing while speaking their roles. In a nutshell, that was what I was doing when I was working on the part of Wendy." Today, the technology behind animated films has changed so drastically that we can actually use motion capture computer programs to get life-like movements and performances for CGI animated characters. For Peter Pan, the process was very different. "You did the recording first and then a few weeks later you would do the live action because that was the reference for the artists to help them draw the figures more realistically. And so we would have a day of rehearsal and that would be to just block the scenes and know where we were moving and all that sort of thing. And then the next day was under the bright lights where they actually filmed. But there wasn't really a full set, it was a fairly empty set with just basic things that might be needed for us to work with where our actions would show so they would know what to draw with those particular actions. Those would take a couple of days to do and it was an ongoing process because you would do the voice work first and then you would go and do the other part. And when that was finished you would go to the next scene and then do the live action for that. So it was an ongoing production that went for quite awhile." The process didn't stop with just simple live action movements. The animators needed a little help to convincingly portray the weightless movements of flight. "We had devices that were attached to us, these devices were like harnesses, and they would hoist me up into the stage area and then they would move me around so that it looked like I was flying free. That's how they got what proper flight might look like because they could animate that. Of course, it was a little difficult for me because I was afraid of heights! It really wasn't that high up, it was just that I was so frightened and I was so little! As a young girl who was still in school, her days were a combination of voice recording or live film acting as well as having to put in a full day of school work. "I had a teacher who was on call from the district, the L.A. Unified District. What she had to do was to make sure there was exactly four hours of work time and three hours of school time. So we would start off our day and maybe do an hour and then we would go up to the set and start working on the production. I would be working on it maybe for an hour and then do an hour of schooling and each time she would log in the time I came in to work with her and the time I left to do some under the bright lights work. So it was back and forth, back and forth all day which would be a full day as the time went along. So it would be four of work with three hours of school with your lunchtime and all of that. So it really was a full day. She was very watchful to make sure I had my full time of school as well as my full time of work." After her time with Peter Pan, Kathryn would appear in small roles for a few Disney projects here and there. Ultimately, she left the entertainment world and became a teacher. With her distinct voice that is still crystal clear today as it was 65 years ago - some students would realize she wasn't simply just their teacher. "I would teach some of these classes and at some point, someone would realize that I had this other background. I remember this one little student coming back into the classroom one afternoon - a child who didn't use to come in for help like most who would stay back at the end of the day. And he was sort of standing there and I asked him "what's the matter, do you need something?" and he quietly walked up and asked "well… well… are you the voice of Wendy?" And I said "yes, yes!" and with that, he couldn't handle it any longer and turned around and just dashed out of the room!" As part of the new bonus feature package for this new Signature Series Collection release of Peter Pan, an absolute must-see piece is the brief, but very informative A Darling Conversation With Wendy & John: Kathryn Beaumont and Paul Collins. It's a wonderful piece that dovetails nicely into what Kathryn and I discussed over the phone. The new Anniversary Edition Signature Series Collection release of Peter Pan arrives on Blu-ray June 5th. Read my review HERE and don't forget to pre-order this one before it goes back into the vault!Posted Tue May 29, 2018 at 01:18 PM PDT by: -
'Rampage' Bound for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, & Blu-ray 3D (UPDATE: Release Date and Specs Added)[teaser]The action flick starring Dwayne Johnson will be unleashed on 4K Blu-ray later this year.[/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Bros. is prepping Rampage for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and Blu-ray 3D. All three home video releases will be available in stores on July 17, with digital downloads available on June 26. In 1993, a breakthrough new technology gave scientists a path to treat incurable diseases through genetic editing. In 2016, due to its potential for misuse, the U.S. Intelligence Community designated genetic editing a “Weapon of Mass Destruction and Proliferation.” Johnson stars as primatologist Davis Okoye, a man who keeps people at a distance but shares an unshakable bond with George, the extraordinarily intelligent, incredibly rare albino silverback gorilla who has been in his care since he rescued the young orphan from poachers. But a rogue genetic experiment gone awry mutates this gentle ape into a raging creature of enormous size. To make matters worse, it’s soon discovered there are other similarly altered animals. As these newly created super creatures tear across North America, destroying everything in their path, Okoye teams with discredited geneticist Kate Caldwell (Naomie Harris) to secure an antidote, fighting his way through an ever-changing battlefield, not only to halt a global catastrophe but to save the fearsome creature that was once his friend. The Rampage creatures were brought to life by acclaimed VFX supervisor Colin Strause, with five-time Academy Award-winning visual effects company Weta Digital. Both the 3D and 4K releases will feature a Dolby Atmos soundtrack and the 4K UHD will also feature Dolby Vision HDR. Supplements include: - Not A Game Anymore - From arcade sensation to movie monster epic, we explore how the Midway video game inspired the filmmakers to create the ultimate disaster film.- Gag Reel - Hilarious outtakes and mishaps captured during production.- Deleted Scenes - Deleted scenes that barely missed the final theatrical cut.- Rampage - Actors in Action: Strap in for a wild ride as Dwayne Johnson, Joe Manganiello and the cast prepare for the film’s demanding stunts and explosive set pieces.- Trio of Destruction - Follow the innovative design team and the artists at Weta Digital as they bring to life the biggest and baddest monsters for the film’s climactic battle royal.- Attack on Chicago - Director Brad Peyton reveals the challenges of filming on-location in Chicago and turning digital destruction into a cinematic reality. - Bringing George to Life - Discover the wonder of what it’s like to be a gorilla, as movement coordinator Terry Notary teaches actor Jason Liles how to move, behave and become “George." You can find the latest specs for Rampage linked from our Blu-ray and 4K Release Schedules, where it is indexed under July 17. Order the 4K Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray 3DPosted Tue May 29, 2018 at 12:24 PM PDT by: -
Coming Soon to Blu-ray: 'The Flash,' 'The Looming Tower,' and More[teaser]The "Scarlet Speedster" leads the pack of upcoming Blu-ray releases.[/teaser] New info has been revealed for several upcoming Blu-rays from Flicker Alley, Oscilloscope Pictures, Sony, Universal, and Warner Brothers. Here's a full rundown of recently revealed details and title announcements: First up, Flicker Alley is set to release Lewis Milestone's The Garden of Eden starring Corinne Griffith, Louise Dresser, and Lowell Sherman on June 19. Supplements have not been announced yet, but the disc will feature a transfer mastered from the best surviving elements, along with a new musical score arranged and performed by Robert Israel. Order the Blu-ray Oscilloscope Pictures is prepping Kaouther Ben Hania's Beauty and the Dogs starring Mariam Al Ferjani, Ghanem Zrelli, and Noomen Hamda for Blu-ray on June 26. No other details have been announced at this time. Order the Blu-ray Sony is bringing a 25th Anniversary Edition of Nora Ephron's Sleepless in Seattle starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan to Blu-ray on June 26. No other details have been announced so far. In addition, the studio is preparing Michael Haneke's Happy End starring Isabelle Huppert, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Mathieu Kassovitz for Blu-ray on July 24. Supplements have not been detailed yet. Meanwhile, Brian De Palma's Casualties of War starring Michael J. Fox and Sean Penn is scheduled for July 31. No other info has been revealed at this time. And rounding out Sony's upcoming Blu-ray slate will be George Schaefer Pendulum starring George Peppard, Jean Seberg, and Richard Kiley on July 31. Supplements have not been revealed. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Universal is preparing Damon Santostefano's Bring It On Again starring Kevin Cooney, Faune Chambers Watkins, and Bryce Johnson for Blu-ray on July 10. Supplements have not been announced. In addition, the studio is also set to release Steve Rash's Bring It On: All or Nothing starring Hayden Panettiere, Jake McDorman, and JoJo Wright on July 10. No other info has been revealed. Likewise, Steve Rash's Bring It On: In It to Win It starring Ashley Benson, Cassandra Scerbo, and Michael Copon will hit Blu-ray on July 10 as well. No supplements have been detailed at this time. Meanwhile, Jonathan A. Rosenbaum's Cop and a Half: New Recruit starring Lou Diamond Phillips, Lulu Wilson, and Janet Kidder is also coming to Blu-ray on July 10. And capping off Universal's slate for July 10 will be Ron Oliver's Bigger Fatter Liar starring Jodelle Ferland, Barry Bostwick, and Andrew Herr. Supplements have not been detailed yet. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Warner Bros. is prepping Matt Peters' LEGO DC Super Heroes: Aquaman: Rage of Atlantis starring Dee Bradley Baker and Jonathan Adams for Blu-ray on July 31. No other info has been revealed at this time. Meanwhile, the studio will bring Riverdale: The Complete Second Season starring J. Apa, Cole Sprouse, Camila Mendes, Lili Reinhart, and Madelaine Petsch to Blu-ray on August 7. Supplements will include: - Caught Between Two Worlds: The Darkness Inside- Making the Musical: Riverdale- Riverdale: 2017 Comic-Con Panel- Riverdale Pop Quiz!- Deleted Scenes- Gag Reel In addition, Arrow: The Complete Sixth Season starring Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, David Ramsey, and Willa Holland will hit Blu-ray on August 14. Supplements will include: - Featurette: The Best of DC TV's Comic-Con Panels San Diego 2017- Featurette: The Split of a Man: Deathstroke- Featurette: Inside the Crossover: Crisis on Earth-X- Featurette: Revenge in Ones and Zeros: The Story of Cayden James NBC's Blindspot: The Complete Third Season starring Jaimie Alexander, Sullivan Stapleton, and Rob Brown will then follow on August 21. Supplements will include: - Surveillance On Set: Agent Zapata- Deleted Scenes- Gag Reel Likewise, The Flash: The Complete Fourth Season starring Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, and Danielle Panabaker is coming to Blu-ray on August 28. Supplements will include - Featurette: The Best of DC TV's Comic-Con Panels San Diego 2017- Featurette: Inside the Crossover: Crisis on Earth-X- Featurette: The Elongated Man- Featurette: Flash Time on Amunet Black with Katee, Eric and Sterling- Featurette: The Fastest Mind Alive: The Thinker The CW's Supernatural: The Complete Thirteenth Season starring Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, and Misha Collins will then hit Blu-ray on September 4. Supplements will include: - Mystery Mash-Up: The Making of Scoobynatural- Into The Apocalypse: A World Without The Winchesters- The Winchester Mythology: Rise of the Nephilim- Kansas – Carry On Wayward Son: Performance at 2017 San Diego Comic-Con- Supernatural: 2017 Comic-Con Panel- Audio Commentaries- Deleted Scenes- Gag Reel Finally, Warner Bros. is prepping Hulu's The Looming Tower starring Jeff Daniels, Peter Sarsgaard, and Tahar Rahim for Blu-ray on September 18. Supplements will include: - Across Three Continents: Creating The Looming Tower (new featurette)- From New York to Morocco to Johannesburg, THE LOOMING TOWER production team went to great lengths to recreate and film the series as accurately as possible.- The Looming Tower: Divided We Fail (new featurette) - THE LOOMING TOWER author Lawrence Wright, Former FBI Special Agent Ali Soufan, Executive Producers Dan Futterman and Alex Gibney, and the cast explore the complicated relationship between the FBI and CIA in the years leading up to 9/11.- Ali Soufan: In His Own Words (new featurette) - Former FBI Special Agent Ali Soufan reveals his personal American story and shares memories of his mentor John O'Neill.- The Complexities of Character (new featurette) - The cast of THE LOOMING TOWER reveal their motivations and approach to playing their complicated roles.- Audio Commentaries - The Creators take the audience inside the creative process of creating the Pilot and Finale episodes. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray You can find the latest specs for all of the titles listed above linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule.Posted Tue May 29, 2018 at 12:20 PM PDT by:
