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Hands-On with Samsung's 2018 QLED Lineup & MicroLED Wall TV[teaser]Earlier this week, High-Def Digest attended Samsung's 2018 home theater lineup launch event. Held at the American Stock Exchange Building in New York City, the first-look event featured a Keynote presentation with the company's top brass and a series of hands-on demos with all the latest gear. [/teaser] From quantum dot QLED TVs and a stunning 8K display to a room-filling Dolby Atmos sound bar and a show-stopping MicroLED Wall TV, the showcase was packed with impressive products and demonstrations, offering an extensive look at the collection's exciting new performance and smart connectivity upgrades. The Wall MicroLED TV Following the TV's initial reveal to the public back at CES, Samsung once again brought out its stunning new 146-inch 4K display, appropriately dubbed The Wall. Using a modular MicroLED design based on the tech used in the company's commercial Cinema Screens, the display features self-emitting picture technology with micrometer (µm) scale LEDs that do not require a backlight or color filters. As a result, the display is capable of achieving incredible contrast, deep black levels, high color volume, and close-to-perfect viewing angles. In other words, it's everything you love about OLED, with the brightness of a QLED or LED. Also, the screen's modular, bezel-free construction allows users to make the TV larger (up to 146-inches) or smaller by adding or removing modules in any configuration with no impact on performance. Likewise, customers can also reconfigure the modules to match whatever aspect ratio they desire. After first hearing about the TV back in January, I've been dying to see this thing in action for myself. And even with all the hype building it up, the screen does not disappoint. In fact, based on what I got to sample, it just might be the most impressive display I've ever seen. The demo at the showcase featured a reel of gorgeous HDR footage filled with vibrant images of nature, swirling cosmos, cityscapes, and classic art. Throughout all of the material, the screen demonstrated perfect blacks without sacrificing incredible brightness in specular highlights. Hell, the image got so bright in a few shots that it made me squint a little. Likewise, color reproduction was breathtaking, revealing a wide and vivid palette of hues, and picture quality did not seem to degrade at all when viewing from an extreme angle. And despite being made of several individual modules (an exact number not specified), the seams between the pieces were completely invisible. One shot featuring a landscape of hot magma was particularly striking, as the highlights on the red/orange molten rock popped from the screen with lifelike intensity while the rest of the image maintained a deep and inky appearance. I've seen many impressive HDR displays over the last few years, but I've never seen a TV pull off such a convincing and intense glowing effect around such pinpoint areas on the screen before. Basically, it's the closest a TV has ever made me feel to actually being in the environment shown on screen. Samsung's The Wall is set for release this August, though pricing has not been announced yet. But based on how new and groundbreaking the tech is and how large the TV can get, we're expecting a pretty big number here. (Like maybe brand new Ferrari big?) 2018 QLED 4K TV Lineup While MircroLED is next-gen amazing, Samsung's new QLED TVs are pretty spectacular in their own right. In fact, the flagship model is shaping up to give LG's reigning OLED displays a run for their money when it comes to picture quality. During the event, Samsung had Q9F, Q8F, Q7F, and Q6F units all on hand, showing off the lineup's beautiful image performance and intriguing new Smart TV features. All of the 2018 4K QLED displays feature LCD panels with quantum dot technology for 100% color volume in the P3 wide color space, along with Bixby Voice control and playback support for standard HDR10 plus the new dynamic HDR10+ format (but sadly, not Dolby Vision). With that said, Samsung is not revealing exact brightness specs this year, though based on what I saw it looks like the displays are capable of similar if not superior Nit levels compared to last year's models. The flagship Q9F Series comes in 65-inch, 75-inch, and 88-inch screen sizes. Also, the set offers Samsung's Direct Full Array technology dubbed Q Contrast EliteMax, which features a panel of controllable backlight zones to offer superior black levels and contrast. Previously, all of the company's 2017 models only offered inferior edge-lit dimming, so the switch here to Full Array offers a major improvement in dark room performance. For detailed thoughts on the Q9F, be sure to check out our separate Q9F First Look piece (HERE). Meanwhile, the Q8F Series comes in 55-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch screen sizes. Likewise, the set offers a slightly less robust version of Samsung's Direct Full Array technology dubbed Q Contrast Elite, which also features controllable backlight zones for superior black levels and contrast. A demo of the 75-inch model was showcased at the launch event, playing a reel of colorful, detailed images including shots of nature, swirling paint, and marbles. In general, the TV looked gorgeous with a vibrant and rich image marked by bright HDR highlights (though the saturation seemed a little too high in some shots). Unfortunately, the ambient lighting in the room made it difficult to really see the benefits of the Full Array dimming in action, but if it works at all like the Q9F, the feature should be very impressive. Introducing two screen-types into the mix, the Q7 model comes in a flat-screen Q7F version with 55-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch options, or a curved-screen Q7C version with 55-inch and 65-inch options. Unlike the step-up Q8F and Q9F models, however, the Q7F and Q7C do not feature Full Array dimming. Instead, the displays offer an edge-lit backlight. Like the Q8F, a 75-inch Q7F model was on hand at the show demoing a similar reel of colorful images. Again, due to the lighting conditions in the room, it was hard to see any real discernable difference between the edge-lit backlight of the Q7F and the Full Array dimming of the Q8F. Still, though we'll have to wait to judge dark room performance, the two appear to offer similarly impressive picture in brighter environments. Finally, the entry-level Q6F Series comes in 49-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, and 82-inch screen sizes. Like the Q7F Series, this model only incorporates an edge-lit backlight. Also, its HDR performance isn't quite as advanced as the step-up QLED models. An 82-inch set was demoed at the event showcasing a soccer match. Unfortunately, though still solid overall, this appeared to be the least impressive TV of the bunch, with a slightly exaggerated color palette that made the player's red uniforms bleed a little. With that said, this is likely something that better source material or different settings could alleviate. Beyond picture quality, Samsung showed off several cool new SmartThings features for the QLED lineup like Bixby voice control. Likewise, a new Ambient Mode which can display headlines, traffic reports, and weather updates throughout the day when the TV isn't being used was demoed as well. And when the display is wall-mounted, Ambient Mode can even reproduce the appearance of a customer's wall directly on the actual screen, allowing the display to seamlessly blend into a user's room. I got to see this mode in action and it worked exactly as advertised. The TV was hung in front of a brick wall pattern. The Samsung rep simply took a picture of the TV and wall with the SmartThings app. The app then used texture synthesis and color correction to reproduce the look of the wall right on the screen itself. Also, the SmartThings app can also be used to connect the display to a user's mobile device via Bluetooth, allowing the TV to automatically receive your Wi-Fi settings and login info for compatible apps that you're already signed into on your phone. This "Effortless Login" feature means you don't then have to re-enter all your info for each app on the TV. 8K Q9S QLED TV Though pricing and availability have not been announced yet, Samsung also had a brief demo of its upcoming 85-inch 8K Q9S QLED TV. The display features 8K resolution, offering four times the number of pixels found on a standard 4K Ultra HD display. Likewise, the set incorporates new AI upscaling technology. This feature uses a proprietary machine learning algorithm to intelligently upscale the resolution of the content being displayed, allowing the TV to produce advanced upscaled 8K images from any source. With that in mind, AI Upscaling was the emphasis of the demo, pitting the Q9S side-by-side with Samsung's 2016 J7100 85-inch 4K TV. Both TVs displayed the same signal, demonstrating how they scaled 4K HDR, HD, and SD source material. When comparing a 4K reel of a spinning diamond/crystal helmet on the native 4K TV and 8K TV, the upscaled 8K image looked noticeably sharper with more fine detail and clearer separation between each little element on the item. Close-ups of a newspaper also revealed cleaner and easier to read text when upscaled to 8K. Perhaps even more impressive, was just how good upscaled standard definition material looked. An SD reel of skateboarders in San Francisco was blurry and marked by clear artifacts and aliasing on the 4K set. In contrast, the video looked like genuine HD material with no artifacts when being upscaled on the 8K display. And outside of just scaling and detail, the new Q9S offered very impressive black levels and brightness. Though full specs haven't been revealed, the panel is apparently using some kind of hybrid dimming system that mixes Full Array and MicroLED tech with over 20,000 zones. The big takeaway, for us at least, is that when pitting the 85" 8K Q9S against the 146" 4K Wall MicroLED, it's clear that 8K resolution is far from necessary (and a long way off in terms of native content). However, Samsung's AI Upscaling technology works wonders, and buying a TV with this feature won't be money wasted. Dolby Atmos Sound Bar While displays were the main highlight of the event, Samsung also had its new HW-N950 Dolby Atmos Sound Bar on hand. The system features front-firing, up-firing, and side-firing speakers in the sound bar unit itself, along with separate up-firing rear satellites and a subwoofer to complete a full 7.1.4 surround sound experience. For demo purposes, I got to sample a Dolby Atmos scene from Everest along with a Dolby demo called Leaf. Unfortunately, the area the sound bar was set up in was far from ideal, with a very low make-shift ceiling, no place to sit, and plenty of ambient noise from the rest of the show. Plus, my ears were not in the best location to really hear the up-firing effect correctly. Still, the system offered a very immersive and wide front soundstage as raging snow, and crashing ice engulfed the room. The side-firing surrounds were particularly effective, really making it seem as if there were more speakers to the left and right of the room. Likewise, the Leaf demo provided a convincing 360-degree effect as the leaf circled the area. Exact pricing and availability have not been announced yet, but the HW-N950 is expected to carry an MSRP similar to the previously released HW-K950 Sound Bar system. Final Thoughts Samsung's latest QLED displays are set to start rolling out to stores later this month. Though my time with the TVs was relatively brief, the new models appear to offer similarly impressive bright room and color performance as last year's models, while also stepping things up with impressive Full Array Local Dimming on the Q8F and Q9F Series, finally providing some worthy competition to OLED panels. Likewise, the new SmartThings features, Bixby Voice Control, and Ambient mode all offer some clever and convenient lifestyle perks that should help elevate the QLED collection above some other Smart TV platforms. Bottom Line: Based on my demo time, though great in bright rooms, the edge-lit Q6F and Q7F will likely be beat when it comes to overall picture quality by similarly, and even lower, priced models from the competition. That said, the Q8F and Q9F are both poised to be two of the top 4K displays on the market this year. Meanwhile, the 8K Q9S is showing a lot of promise with its impressive AI upscaling and contrast, even if 8K is overkill. Finally, the seemingly peerless MicroLED Wall TV is in an entirely new class of its own -- I just hope its price point won't be too.Posted Fri Mar 9, 2018 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
Jon Favreau Set to Write & Produce New 'Star Wars' Series for Disney's Streaming Service[teaser]The director behind Iron Man and The Jungle Book is heading to a galaxy far, far away.[/teaser] Disney and Lucasfilm have announced a new deal with filmmaker Jon Favreau. As part of the agreement, Favreau will executive produce and write a new live-action Star Wars show for the upcoming Disney streaming platform. "I couldn't be more excited about Jon coming on board to produce and write for the new direct-to-consumer platform," says Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. "Jon brings the perfect mix of producing and writing talent, combined with a fluency in the Star Wars universe. This series will allow Jon the chance to work with a diverse group of writers and directors and give Lucasfilm the opportunity to build a robust talent base." Plot details and a release date for the currently untitled Star Wars show have not been revealed yet. The project now joins a growing assortment of Star Wars projects in development from a variety of creative teams, including a new film trilogy from The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson and a new series of movies from Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. Jon Favreau's directing credits include films like Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Jungle Book, and the upcoming reimagining of The Lion King. Likewise, the filmmaker/actor is also set to appear on screen in Solo: A Star Wars Story in a currently unknown role. Specifics on Disney's new streaming service are still forthcoming, but the platform is expected to launch in 2019. Other shows reportedly in development include a new live-action Marvel series and a show based on Disney/Pixar's Monsters Inc. Source: Star WarsPosted Thu Mar 8, 2018 at 10:15 AM PST by: -
Coming Soon to Blu-ray: 'Doctor Who,' 'Avatar: The Last Airbender,' and More[teaser]Time Lords, Air Nomads, superheroes, and more are all heading toward Blu-ray.[/teaser] New info has been revealed for several upcoming Blu-ray releases from Warner Bros, Universal, Paramount, PBS, and the BBC. Here's a full rundown of recently revealed details and title announcements: First up, Warner Bros. is set to release Boyd Kirkland's Batman & Mr. Freeze: Sub-Zero starring Kevin Conroy, Michael Ansara, and Loren Lester on March 27. Supplements will include: - Art of Batman: Music Montage - Featurette- Get the Picture: How to Draw Batman - Featurette- Batman: The Animated Series/The New Batman Adventures/Batman Beyond "Mr. Freeze Saga" (4-Episodes)- Theatrical Trailer In addition, the studio is prepping a SteelBook Edition of Jumpei Mizusaki's Batman Ninja starring Roger Craig Smith, Tony Hale, Grey Griffin, and Tara Strong for Blu-ray on May 8. Supplements will include: - East / West Batman Featurette- Batman: Made in Japan Featurette Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray As previously reported, Universal is bringing Insidious: The Last Key to Blu-ray and now the release date has been set for April 3. Newly announced supplements will include: - Deleted Scenes- Alternate Ending- Franchise Recap: "Dive Into the Insidious Universe"- "Becoming Elise"- "Going Into the Further"- "Unlocking Keyface" In addition, the studio is set to release Norman Jewison's Send Me No Flowers starring Rock Hudson and Doris Dayon April 10. There are no supplements currently listed for the disc. Likewise, Universal is also prepping Mark Pellington's Nostalgia starring Jon Hamm, Catherine Keener, John Ortiz, Nick Offerman, James Le Gros, and Bruce Dern for Blu-ray on May 1. Supplements will include: - Alternate Ending- Deleted Scenes Meanwhile, Bruce Macdonald and Gabriel Sabloff's Samson starring Jackson Rathbone, Billy Zane, Taylor James, Rutger Hauer, and Lindsay Wagner is also in the works for Blu-ray. An exact release date and supplements have not been announced yet, but pre-orders are now live. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray PBS has announced plans to release Bill Nye: Science Guy on April 24. No other details have been revealed at this time. Likewise, the label will also bring Unforgotten: Season 1 (UK Edition) starring Sanjeev Bhaskar and Nicola Walker to Blu-ray on April 24. Supplements have not been detailed yet. In addition, PBS is prepping the documentary Nature: Sex, Lies and Butterflies for Blu-ray on May 1. Supplements have not been detailed yet. Meanwhile, Unforgotten: Season 2 (UK Edition) starring Nicola Walker, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Lorraine Ashbourne, Mark Bonnar, and Rosie Cavaliero will then follow on May 15. No other info has been revealed so far. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Paramount is bringing Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender The Complete Series starring Zach Tyler Eisen, Mae Whitman, Jack DeSena, Jessie Flower, Dante Basco, and Dee Bradley Baker to Blu-ray. The release will first arrive as a Best Buy Exclusive on May 1 before expanding to all retailers on June 5. The collection will feature all three seasons of the show, and supplements will include: Book 1 - Behind the Scenes Kung Fu Featurette- The Making of Avatar-From Real Life to Animation- Behind the Scenes: The Voices of Avatar- Ask the Creators Featurette- Original Uncut Anamatic - (25 minutes of animated raw sketches from episode #15)- Audio Commentary with Creator, Cast & Crew: Chapter 17 with Dee Bradley Baker (voices of Momo and Appa) and Ben Wynn (sound effects). Chapters 18-20 with Aaron Ehasz (Head Writer) and Co-Creators: Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino- Behind the Scenes with the Avatar Cast & Crew- Avatar Pilot Episode with Audio Commentary- The Making of Avatar - Inside the Sound Studios- The Making of Avatar - Inside the Korean Animation Studios Book 2 - Original Uncut Animatic: Episode # 21 (The Avatar State)- Audio Commentary by Creators, Cast & Crew (Eps 6 & 8)- Audio Commentary by Creators, Cast & Crew (Eps 12 & 14)- Audio Commentary by Creators, Cast & Crew (Eps 17, 18, & 20)- Interview with Creators and M. Night Shyamalan- The Essence of Bending with Bryan Konietzko and Sifu Kisu- Avatar Super Deformed Shorts:- Bending Battle- Swamp Skiin' Throwdown- School Time Shipping- Escape From the Spirit World: Animated Graphic Novel Book 3 - Audio Commentary by Creators & Crew (Eps 4, 5 & 6)- Audio Commentary by Creators & Crew (Eps 10, 11 & 12)- Bonus Audio Commentary by Creators, Cast & Crew on all 6 Chapters- The Women of Avatar: The Last Airbender- Book 3 Finale Pencil Test Animation- Into the Fire Nation at San Diego Comic-Con In addition, the studio is prepping The Shannara Chronicles: Season Two staring Austin Butler, Poppy Drayton, Ivana Baquero, Manu Bennett, Aaron Jakubenko, and Emilia Burns for a May 15 release. Supplements have not been detailed yet. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray The BBC is preparing Call the Midwife: Season Seven starring Jenny Agutter, Linda Bassett, Helen George, and Judy Parfitt for Blu-ray on May 22. No other details have been announced yet. In addition, BBC/Warner Bros. is bringing Doctor Who: Tom Baker Complete First Season to Blu-ray on June 26. The release will feature twenty episodes specially restored for Blu-ray, and supplements will include: - Existing bonus material from the original DVD's- Brand New Bonus Features- Brand new one hour candid interview - 'Tom Baker in conversation'- Behind The Sofa - classic clips from season 12 viewed by Tom Baker, Philip Hinchcliffe, Louise Jameson, Janet Fielding, Sarah Sutton and Sadie Miller- New making-of documentaries for 'The Sontaran Experiment' and 'Revenge of the Cybermen'- Optional brand new updated special effects for Revenge of the Cybermen- Genesis of the Daleks - omnibus movie version- The Tom Baker Years VHS release on disc for the first time- Production archive material and scripts from the BBC Archives- Some other archive treats to be announced 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 Wed Mar 7, 2018 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
'Fifty Shades Freed' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray[teaser]The steamy conclusion to the 'Fifty Shades' franchise is getting an unrated cut in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal says 'Fifty Shades Freed' will be available on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on May 8. Believing they have left behind shadowy figures from their past, newlyweds Christian (Jamie Dornan) and Ana (Dakota Johnson) fully embrace an inextricable connection and shared life of luxury. But just as she steps into her role as Mrs. Grey and he relaxes into an unfamiliar stability, new threats could jeopardize their happy ending before it even begins. Both releases will include the film's theatrical and unrated versions, a DTS:X soundtrack, and supplements include: Deleted Scene; The Final Climax – Fans can follow not only Ana and Christian, but also both new and familiar characters behind-the-scenes throughout their journey of Fifty Shades Freed; Christian & Ana By Jamie & Dakota – Revisit the previous films and learn how both Ana and Christian have changed… and how both actors have lived through the experience; An Intimate Conversation with EL James and Eric Johnson – A casual conversation between EL and Eric discussing the film, favorite moments, themes, etc; and Music Videos ("For You (Fifty Shades Freed)" – Liam Payne & Rita Ora; "Capital Letters" – Hailee Steinfeld & BloodPop; and "Heaven" – Julia Michaels). You can find the latest specs for Fifty Shades Freed linked from our Blu-ray and 4K Release Schedules, where it is indexed under May 8. Order the Blu-ray Order the 4K Blu-rayPosted Wed Mar 7, 2018 at 08:56 AM PST by: -
The Best 4K TV Deals for March Madness 2018[teaser]With the NCAA March Madness Tournament just around the corner, sports fans now have one more excuse to take advantage of some lingering 2017 4K Ultra HD TV deals before the more expensive 2018 models arrive later this spring.[/teaser] After all, the only thing better than snagging a fancy new 75-inch HDR display for your upcoming viewing party, is snagging one with a nice discount! But even with some solid sale prices still available, picking the right big-screen Ultra HD TV to upconvert every layup, dunk, and three-pointer is no easy task. Thankfully, we've filled out your Ultra HD TV bracket for you with a handy list of some top 4K HDR display suggestions perfect for March Madness parties at every budget level. And since you'll likely want to make your guests feel as close to courtside as possible, all of our recommended displays will come in at sizes 65-inches and above. Please note: prices are subject to change, and do not include taxes or shipping. ENTRY-LEVEL 4K HDR DISPLAYS In this budget-friendly section, we're focusing on display options that came in for prices under $2,000 without sacrificing picture quality and smart TV features. Though these models might not have the very best specs the industry has to offer, they're all hard to beat when it comes to genuine bang-for-your-buck value. 65" VIZIO E-Series SmartCast Ultra HD HDR Display ($700) - This budget 4K model from VIZIO actually offers a few advanced picture quality features usually reserved for more expensive models, including full-array local dimming with 12 active zones and HDR10 support (though not Dolby Vision). In addition, the set uses the SmartCast TV platform, allowing users to cast supported streaming apps from their mobile devices or launch select services directly from the unit's on-screen interface, offering access to several options capable of streaming the tournament. With that said, the display does not offer wide color capabilities or include a TV tuner, so you'll need a separate digital tuner if you're planning to catch OTA games on your local CBS station during the tournament. Full review here. Order from Best Buy 65" VIZIO M-Series Ultra HD HDR XLED Plus Display ($1,000) - Offering some key upgrades over the E-Series, the 2017 VIZIO M-Series remains one of the best bang-for-your-buck displays on the market. Key features include Dolby Vision and HDR10 support with about 350 nits fullscreen output and around 600 nits peak output, along with full-array local dimming with 32 zones and wide color gamut support. In addition, the set uses the SmartCast TV platform, allowing users to cast supported streaming apps from their mobile devices or launch select services directly from the unit's on-screen interface, offering access to several options capable of streaming the tournament. With that said, the display does not include an integrated TV tuner, so you will need to buy an external unit if you want to watch any OTA games. And for those who want to go even bigger, the massive 75-inch model is also on sale now for a great low price of just $1,800. Order from Best Buy 65" Sony XBR65X900E LED Ultra HD TV ($1,498) - At its current sale price, this is one of the most impressive 4K sets in its class, offering a full-array local dimming backlight, wide color gamut support with Triluminos tech, HDR10 support, and a firmware update planned for HLG playback (but sadly not Dolby Vision). Finally, the set uses the Android TV platform for smart TV apps and streaming, offering access to several options capable of streaming the tournament. Order from Best Buy ENTHUSIAST 4K HDR DISPLAYS Stepping things up a notch, this tier offers a selection of impressive 4K HDR displays that come in for around $2,000 to $2,600, providing brighter and more colorful images with advanced LCD screens or perfect, inky blacks with OLED panels. 65" Samsung QN65Q7 Ultra HD QLED TV ($1,983) - This 2017 Samsung Ultra HD TV features quantum dot technology to deliver some of the market's best color performance. The set offers support for 100 percent color volume and a peak luminance around 1,000 nits. Likewise, the TV includes HDR10 support and is among the first displays to include new HDR10+ support (but sadly it does not offer Dolby Vision). But while still impressive overall, the set's edge-lit local dimming panel presents more blooming and uniformity issues during dark room viewing compared to full-array LCDs and OLEDs. Order the 65-inch from Best Buy 65" Sony XBR65X930E 4K Ultra HD LED TV ($1,998) - One of Sony's top 2017 LCD displays, the XBR65X930E offers great brightness and HDR10 performance with wide color support and Android TV streaming. Likewise, Dolby Vision smart TV playback was recently added via a firmware update. In addition, the panel features local dimming, but it uses edge-lit LEDs rather than a superior full-array implementation. Order from Best Buy LG Electronics OLED65B7A 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart OLED TV ($2,597) - The B7 is the most affordable 65-inch OLED on the market right now, making it one of the top picture quality performers you can buy ... period. Thanks to its OLED panel, the TV features perfect blacks, infinite contrast, wide color gamut support, and wide viewing angles, making it an ideal choice for a viewing party where guests will be spread out around the room. Likewise, the set includes Active HDR with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) support. An HDR Effect feature is included as well, allowing the TVs to simulate HDR with SDR content. In addition, the B7 uses LG's webOS 3.5 smart TV platform and is capable of internally decoding lossless, uncompressed Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Atmos audio. Order from Best Buy Flagship 4K HDR Displays In this final section, we've cast aside all budget restrictions to focus on the best flagship Ultra HD TVs on the market. For basketball fans who want the largest and most impressive displays, you really can't go wrong with any these models. 65" Samsung QN65Q9 Ultra HD QLED TV ($3,298) - Samsung's flagship 2017 Ultra HD TV uses metal quantum dot technology to deliver some of the market's best color and brightness performance, making it an ideal display for watching the tournament in a well-lit viewing environment with windows. The set offers support for a wide color gamut, 100 percent color volume, and a peak luminance between 1,500 and 2,000 nits. Likewise, the TV includes HDR10 support and is among the first displays to include new HDR10+ support (but sadly it does not offer Dolby Vision). In addition, the panel features local dimming, but it uses edge-lit LEDs rather than a superior full-array implementation. A 75-inch model is also available at $6,998 for those with big enough living rooms and wallets Order the 65-inch from Best Buy 65" Sony XBR65A1E Bravia OLED Ultra HD TV ($3,498) - Though LG's 2017 OLED displays can get a tad brighter, Sony's 2017 OLED Ultra HD TV rivals them in almost every way while offering superior image processing. Key features include HDR10, Dolby Vision (smart TV streaming for now, HDMI hopefully soon), HLG (via future firmware update), perfect black levels, wide color gamut playback with Triluminos tech, great viewing angles, and a unique Acoustic Surface sound system that produces audio directly from the screen itself. A 77-inch model is also available for $12,998 if you really want to impress your friends. Order from Best Buy 75" Sony XBR75X940E 4K Ultra HD LED TV ($3,998) - As 2017's top-of-line LCD display from Sony, the XBR75X940E comes in at a whopping 75-inches and offers exceptional brightness and HDR10 performance with wide color support. Likewise, Dolby Vision playback for internal streaming apps was recently added, and the set uses full-array local dimming to create superior black levels. Order from Best Buy 77" LG SIGNATURE G7 OLED Ultra HD TV ($9,997) - With a few key design and audio perks not found on LG's step-down models, the 77-inch G7 is one of the fanciest displays on the market when it comes to looks and performance. Key features include Dolby Vision and HDR10 support (with an HLG firmware upgrade coming soon), industry-leading black levels, great viewing angles, wide color gamut playback, a Picture-on-Glass design, and a sound bar stand with Dolby Atmos support. Order from Best Buy Hisense 100" 4K Laser TV ($10,000) - Blending much of the simplicity of a standard smart TV set with the immersion of a projector system, the Hisense 4K Laser TV presents an enticing option for users who want a more enveloping viewing experience without sacrificing ease of installation. The "TV" system is actually comprised of an Ultra-short throw projector unit powered by a Texas Instruments DLP 4K UHD DMD chip and Hisense’s proprietary light source technology with a super-thin, lightweight, 100-inch Screen Innovations Anti-Glare Screen. The device includes support for HDR10, up to 300 nits and 3,000 lumens of brightness, Rec. 709 color gamut coverage, and Hisense's smart TV platform. Likewise, unlike most other projector units, the system also includes a TV tuner for over-the-air content. So, there you have it. Those are our top Ultra HD TV suggestions for the 2018 NCAA March Madness Tournament. We hope this guide helps out in your shopping endeavors. For now, though, what do you think about our choices? Do you have any other display suggestions? Let us know in the forums! And be sure to check out High-Def Digest for more gear deals!Posted Tue Mar 6, 2018 at 01:21 PM PST by: -
Steven Spielberg's 'The Post' Announced for Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray[teaser]The Oscar nominated drama from Steven Spielberg starring Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep arrives on home video this April. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox says 'The Post' will be available on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on April 17. OSCAR ® winners Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep, and Tom Hanks team up for the first time in this thrilling film based on a true story. Determined to uphold the nation's civil liberties, Katharine Graham (Streep), publisher of The Washinton Post, and hard-nosed editor Ben Bradlee (Hanks) join forces to expose a decades-long cover-up. But the two must risk their careers -- and their freedom -- to bring truth to light in this powerful film with a celebrated cast. The Post is "extraordinary...must-see" film according to Peter Travers of Rolling Stone and the home entertainment release features 90 minutes of bonus content, depicting the real life events behind the groundbreaking untold story and the journey to bring it to the big screen. Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed. You can find the latest specs for The Post linked from our Blu-ray and 4K Release Schedules, where it is indexed under April 17. Order the Blu-ray Order the 4K Blu-rayPosted Tue Mar 6, 2018 at 12:07 PM PST by: -
Coming Soon to Blu-ray: New Titles from Arrow Video[teaser]Several new discs are in the works from Arrow, including a Limited Edition version of Wes Craven's The Last House on the Left.[/teaser] Arrow Video has also announced new details for upcoming titles set for release throughout April and May. Here's a full rundown of the recent Blu-ray announcements: April 17 Seijun Suzuki: The Early Years, Vol. 2 - Border Crossings: The Crime and Action Movies starring Nagato Hiroyuki and Ashida Shunsuke. The collection includes Eight Hours of Terror (1957), The Sleeping Beast Within (1960), Smashing the 0-Line (1960), Tokyo Knights (1961), and The Man with a Shotgun (1961). Supplements will include: - Audio commentary by critic and author Jasper Sharp on Smashing the 0-Line- Tony Rayns on the Crime and Action Movies the critic and historian discusses the background to the films, their place within Suzuki s career and the talent involved with them- Trailers- Stills Gallery- Reversible sleeves featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys- 60-page illustrated collector's book featuring new writing by Jasper Sharp Order the Blu-ray May 15 Herschell Gordon Lewis' Two Thousand Maniacs! starring William Kerwin. Supplements will include: - Bonus Feature! 1964 s Moonshine Mountain- Introductions to the films by H.G. Lewis- Archive audio commentary on Two Thousand Maniacs! by H.G. Lewis- Two Thousand Maniacs Can't be Wrong filmmaker Tim Sullivan on H.G. Lewis gore classic- Hickspoitation: Confidential visual essay on the depiction of the American South in exploitation cinema- David Friedman: The Gentlemen's Smut Peddler a tribute to legendary producer David F. Friedman featuring interviews with H.G. Lewis, filmmakers Fred Olen Ray and Tim Sullivan and editor Bob Murawski- Herschell's Art of Advertising H.G. Lewis shares his expert opinion on the art of selling movies- Two Thousand Maniacs! Outtakes- Trailers Michio Yamamoto's The Bloodthirsty Trilogy starring Kayo Matsuo, Midori Fujita, and Toshio Kurosawa. The collection will feature The Vampire Doll, Lake of Dracula, and Evil of Dracula. Supplements will include: - Kim Newman on The Bloodthirsty Trilogy, a new video appraisal by the critic and writer- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matt Griffin- FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Japanese film expert Jasper Sharp Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray May 22 Abdellatif Kechiche's Black Venus starring Yahima Torres, Andre Jacobs, Olivier Gourmet, and Elina Lowensohn. Supplements will include: - Brand-new appreciation of Black Venus and the cinema of Abdellatif Kechiche by critic Neil Young- Theatrical trailer- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Peter Strain- FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Will Higbee, author of Post-Beur Cinema: North African Émigré and Maghrebi-French Filmmaking in France Since 2000 Wes Craven's The Last House on the Left: Limited Edition starring David Hess, Marc Sheffler, Jeramie Rain, and Fred Lincoln. The 2-Disc set will feature three cuts of the film newly restored in 2K from original film elements. Supplements will include: - Double-sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork- 6 x lobby card reproductions- Limited edition perfect-bound book featuring new writing on the film by author Stephen Thrower- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Paul Shipper- Brand new audio commentary by podcasters Bill Ackerman and Amanda Reyes- Archival audio commentary with writer/director Wes Craven and producer Sean S. Cunningham- Archival audio commentary with stars David Hess, Marc Sheffler and Fred Lincoln- Junior s Story a brand new interview with actor Marc Sheffler- Marc Sheffler in Conversation at the American Cinematheque- Brand new interview with wardrobe and make-up artist Anne Paul- Songs in the Key of Krug never-before-seen archive interview with David Hess- Celluloid Crime of the Century archival documentary featuring interviews with Wes Craven, Sean S. Cunningham, actors David Hess, Fred Lincoln, Jeramie Rain, Marc Sheffler and Martin Kove- Still Standing: The Legacy of The Last House on The Left archival interview with Wes Craven- Scoring Last House on the Left archival interview with actor/composer David Hess- It's Only a Movie: The Making of The Last House on the Left archival documentary- Forbidden Footage the cast and crew of Last House on the film s most controversial sequences- Deleted Scene- Outtakes and Dailies- Trailers, TV Spot & Radio Spots- Image Gallery- The Craven Touch brand new featurette bringing together interviews with a number of Wes Craven's collaborators, including Sean S. Cunningham, composer Charles Bernstein, producer Peter Locke, cinematographer Mark Irwin and actress Amanda Wyss- Early Days and 'Night of Vengeance' filmmaker Roy Frumkes remembers Wes Craven and Last House on the Left- Tales That'll Tear Your Heart Out excerpts from an unfinished Wes Craven short Joe D'Amato and Aristide Massaccesi's Death Smiles on a Murderer starring Ewa Aulin, Klaus Kinski, Luciano Rossi, and Giacomo Rossi Stuart. Supplements will include: - Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx- FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic Stephen - - - Thrower and film historian Roberto Curti- New audio commentary by writer and critic Tim Lucas- D Amato Smiles on Death, an archival interview in which the director discusses the film- All About Ewa, a newly-filmed, career-spanning interview with the Swedish star- Smiling on the Taboo: Sex, Death and Transgression in the horror films of Joe D Amato, new video essay by critic Kat Ellinger- Original trailers- Stills and collections gallery Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray May 29 Roger Donaldson's Smash Palace starring Bruno Lawrence, Anna Jemison, Greer Robson, and Keith Aberdein. Supplements will include: - Commentary by writer-director Roger Donaldson and stunt driver Steve Millen- The Making of Smash Palace, a 51-minute documentary on the film s production featuring interviews with Donaldson, actor Keith Aberdein, filmmaker Geoff Murphy and others- Theatrical trailer Order the Blu-ray You can find the latest specs for all of the titles listed above linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule where they are indexed throughout April and May.Posted Tue Mar 6, 2018 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
LG Announces Pricing and Availability for 2018 4K OLED & SUPER UHD TV Lineup[teaser]The company's new display collection starts rolling out to stores this month.[/teaser] LG has announced pricing and release dates for its new OLED and SUPER UHD TV lineup. The collection features models ranging in size from 49-inches to 77-inches with prices starting at $1,000. "LG OLED has consistently set the standard for picture quality and design in the premium TV market since its introduction a few short years ago," said Tim Alessi, head of home entertainment product marketing at LG Electronics USA. "The new 2018 models launching in the U.S. continue that leadership with the addition of LG ThinQ AI (Artificial Intelligence) in our premium TVs, offering consumers unmatched picture quality and state-of-the-art AI capabilities that combine to deliver an entirely new entertainment experience in the home." The new ThinQ AI tech found on 2018 LG OLED and SUPER UHD TVs allows customers to take advantage of advanced voice assistant features by speaking directly into their remote controls, enabling users to search for information, images or videos through verbal requests like "show me all of the movies this actor has starred in." Likewise, ThinQ TVs can also serve as smart home hubs with access to other smart home devices like robotic vacuum cleaners, air conditioners, air purifiers, smart lights, smart speakers and more. 2018 LG 4K OLED TV Lineup Building upon last year's OLED collection, the 2018 OLED lineup includes the B8 and C8 Cinema Screen Series, the E8 Picture-on-Glass Series, and the W8 Picture-on-Wall Series. With the exception of the entry-level B8, all of the OLED sets use the company's new α (Alpha) 9 intelligent processor for improved image and color performance over last year's models. In addition, the OLED lineup also includes support for on-board Dolby Atmos audio and LG's 4K Cinema HDR suite of high dynamic range formats, including Advanced HDR by Technicolor, Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma). Here's a full rundown of pricing and availability for LG's 2018 OLED lineup: LG SIGNATURE OLED TV AI ThinQ W8 77-inch class OLED77W8PUA - $14,999.99 (available week of April 16) 65-inch class OLED65W8PUA - $6,999.99 (available week of July 16) LG OLED TV AI ThinQ E8 65-inch class OLED65E8PUA - $4,499.99 (available week of April 2) 55-inch class OLED55E8PUA - $3,499.99 (available week of April 2) LG OLED TV AI ThinQ C8 77-inch class OLED77C8PUA - $8,999.99 (available week of April 12) 65-inch class OLED65C8PUA - $3,499.99 (available week of March 19) 55-inch class OLED55C8PUA - $2,499.99 (available week of March 19) LG OLED TV AI ThinQ B8 65-inch and 55-inch models (TBA at a later date) 2018 LG SUPER UHD TV Lineup The new 2018 SUPER UHD TV collection includes the SK9500, SK9000, and SK8000 series. All of the displays use LCD panels with LG's Nano Cell technology for wider colors and improved viewing angles. In addition, the sets incorporate the new α (Alpha) 7 processor, a step-down version of the company's advanced α (Alpha) 9, for enhanced image rendering. And as a very welcomed new feature for 2018, the SK9500 and SK9000 models also feature Full Array Local Dimming (FALD) support for improved black level performance. Finally, the SUPER UHD lineup also includes support for LG's 4K Cinema HDR suite of high dynamic range formats, including Advanced HDR by Technicolor, Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma). Here's a full rundown of pricing and availability for LG's 2018 SUPER UHD TV lineup: LG SUPER UHD TV AI ThinQ SK9500 65-inch class 65SK9500PUA - $2,699.99 (available week of March 19) LG SUPER UHD TV AI ThinQ SK9000 65-inch class 65SK9000PUA - $2,199.99 (available week of March 12) 55-inch class 55SK9000PUA - $1,599.99 (available week of March 12) LG SUPER UHD TV AI ThinQ SK8000 75-inch class 75SK8070PUA - $2,699.99 (available week of April 23) 65-inch class 65SK8000PUA - $1,999.99 (available week of April 2) 55-inch class 55SK8000PUA - $1,199.99 (available week of April 2) 49-inch class 49SK8000PUA - $999.99 (available week of May 7) Source: LG via PR NewswirePosted Tue Mar 6, 2018 at 07:30 AM PST by: -
This Week in Gear: First Gen Apple TVs Lose iTunes Support, Vizio Earns Stevie Awards, and More[teaser]We've compiled the latest gear news, including details on the end of iTunes support for some older devices, Vizio's latest honors, and more.[/teaser] From product announcements and streaming app updates to general industry news and recent gear trends, keeping up with the latest tech news can be a daunting task. With that in mind, we're here to offer you a roundup of some of the latest gear and consumer electronics news that you may have missed. For this edition, we're covering the end of iTunes Store access on older products, Vizio's latest customer service awards, new features for PlayStation Vue, and the addition of DVR support for the Plex Live TV app on Apple TV. So, without further ado, here's a rundown of some of the latest gear and tech news: Apple Set to End iTunes Support for First Generation Apple TVs Apple has announced plans to end support for the iTunes Store on several older devices. Products set to be affected by the move include First Generation Apple TV models, and Windows XP and Windows Vista PCs. The block will be implemented on May 25 via upcoming security changes that will prevent Windows XP, Windows Vista, and First Generation Apple TVs from accessing the iTunes store. With that said, XP and Vista users will still be able to continue using older versions of iTunes, but customers will not be able to make new purchases or redownload previous purchases. Meanwhile, iTunes store access via an Apple TV will now require a Second Generation model or higher. The newest Apple TV model is the Apple TV 4K. The device utilizes the A10X Fusion chip and offers 4K playback capabilities at up to 60 frames per second with support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision 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. Apple TV 4K models are now available in 32GB ($179) and 64GB ($199) versions. Source: Apple via The Verge VIZIO Receives 18 Stevie Awards for Customer Service Vizio has earned several awards for its customer service performance at the 12th Annual Stevie Awards. The company's honors include a Grand Stevie Award for placing fourth overall out of 180 companies, along with four gold, nine silver and four bronze medals. "Among VIZIO's gold medals this year is the award for Customer Service Department of the Year," stated Scott Patten, Sr. Vice President of Operations & Technical Support, VIZIO. "An enormous part of our success is the teamwork and support in place across all departments at VIZIO. Each individual and team plays a vital role in ensuring consistent and superior customer satisfaction with our customers. We are blessed to have a group of support professionals who genuinely care about providing Customer Service Excellence to our 70 million-plus customers." This year's awards evaluated more than 2,500 nominations from various organizations, and entries were considered in 89 categories for customer service and contact center honors including: Contact Center of the Year, Award for Innovation in Customer Service, and Customer Service Department of the Year. You can check out a full list of Stevie Award winners here. Source: Vizio PlayStation Vue Offers New Mobile Sign Up Option Sony has announced a few new features for its PlayStation Vue streaming TV service. As part of the update, the platform now offers mobile sign up, in-home regional sports network access, and out-of-home local broadcast station access. With mobile sign up, users can now register and watch content directly through the PS Vue website on mobile devices or PCs, rather than just connected TVs and media players. In addition, subscribers can also now tune into regional sports networks like Fox Sports or NBC Sports even when they are in another city. Likewise, traveling viewers can also now watch local channels that are available in the market that they happen to be visiting. The PlayStation Vue service provides live and on demand content from a growing collection of channels. The platform enables viewers to easily search through available programming with an intuitive interface and convenient personal recommendations. In addition, if customers tag a favorite series they will be given cloud access to episodes of that show for 28 days with no storage restrictions. Likewise, PlayStation Vue offers up to five simultaneous streams across different devices, including up to three mobile devices outside of the home. Source: Sony Plex Adds New DVR Features to Apple TV App Plex has announced two new features for its Live OTA TV streaming feature via the Apple TV. As part of the update, the Apple TV app now offers the ability to schedule DVR recordings and use closed captioning during live playback. With Plex Live TV and DVR, users with a Plex Pass subscription can watch and record high definition, over-the-air TV broadcasts from a supported digital tuner and antenna through Plex's intuitive and customizable program guide. The feature supports channels in more than 70 countries, including shows from all major US networks like ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and CW, as well as local programming, news, and sports (encrypted channels currently not supported). In addition to the Apple TV, Plex Web App, and PMP desktop client, Live TV streaming through Plex is also available via the company's Web, Xbox One, Roku, Android TV, and iOS apps. To use the feature, customers will need a digital antenna and a supported TV tuner, including models from HDHomeRun, Hauppauge, AVerMedia, DVBLogic and more (complete list here). Likewise, users will need a Plex Pass subscription which starts at $5 per month or $40 per year. Alternatively, customers can also sign up for a lifetime membership for $120. Source: Plex via EngadgetPosted Mon Mar 5, 2018 at 06:30 PM PST by: -
Steven Spielberg's 'Saving Private Ryan' Arriving on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in May[teaser]The critically-acclaimed war film is headed for the 4K format for it's 20th anniversary this spring. [/teaser] Paramount and DreamWorks are set to release Saving Private Ryan on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on May 8. Seen through the eyes of a squad of U.S. soldiers, the story begins with World War II's historic D- Day invasion, then moves beyond the beach as the men embark on a dangerous special mission. Captain John Miller must take his men behind enemy lines to find Private James Ryan, whose three brothers have been killed in combat. Faced with impossible odds, the men question their orders. Why are eight men risking their lives to save just one? Surrounded by the brutal realities of war, each man searches for his own answer - and the strength to triumph over an uncertain future with honor, decency, and courage. Saving Private Ryan won five Academy Awards®, including Best Director, and two Golden Globes®, including Best Director and Best Motion Picture—Drama, and was named by the AFI as one of its 100 greatest American films. Boasting a stellar cast headed by Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore, Ted Danson, Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Paul Giamatti and Barry Pepper, the film is widely considered one of the greatest war movies ever made. The 4K release will feature video presented in Dolby Vision High Dynamic Range, a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, and more than three hours of previously released bonus features that take viewers into the past for a look at the real-life events that inspired the film and behind-the-scenes to explore the challenges of bringing that past to life. You can find the latest specs for Saving Private Ryan linked from our 4K Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under May 8.Posted Mon Mar 5, 2018 at 12:13 PM PST by:
