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UHD 4k Trials

Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 2:11 pm
by Pixelz
Here's an item to add to the "When Hell freezes over" pile.

The BBC are trialling UHD 4k transmissions during the FIFA World Cup. They appear to be using DVB-T2 modulation and HEVC encoding on a dedicated multiplex from three UK transmitters. Now, DVB-T2 is not an issue for Media Centre, but HEVC is not supported natively.

I read on another forum that people have had some success decoding these tests with the latest build of ffmpeg, and thought how nice it would be if Media Centre could be configured for HEVC decoding to a UHD 4K TV. What are the chances?

Re: UHD 4k Trials

Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 7:00 pm
by oakley516
Are there already HDMI 2.0 video cards available?

I don't think too many UHDTV''s are going to come with DisplayPort connections.

Re: UHD 4k Trials

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 12:42 pm
by Pixelz
I'm not sure about the availability of HDMI 2.0 cards, but doesn't HDMI 1.4 already support UHD display resolutions up to 3840 x 2160 pixels?

Re: UHD 4k Trials

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 6:33 pm
by oakley516
From what I read, HDMI 1.4 has a maximum resolution of 2160i, but the only resolutions that the UHDTV format will use are either 2160p or 4320p. Both the HDMI version 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.2 connections can carry those formats.

Re: UHD 4k Trials

Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 12:33 am
by barnabas1969
Who cares? You won't be able to see that resolution on a 60-70" TV unless you're sitting 3 feet from the screen!

Re: UHD 4k Trials

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 11:30 am
by Pixelz
oakley516 wrote:From what I read, HDMI 1.4 has a maximum resolution of 2160i, but the only resolutions that the UHDTV format will use are either 2160p or 4320p. Both the HDMI version 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.2 connections can carry those formats.
Thanks for this -- I hadn't realized UHD didn't include support for interlaced format.

Re: UHD 4k Trials

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 11:18 pm
by barnabas1969
Again... why do you care? Do you plan to sit 3 feet (1 meter) from your 65" TV? Really?

4K is just a marketing gimmick to get you to buy yet another TV that you don't need.

Re: UHD 4k Trials

Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2014 12:32 pm
by bob_p
I also thought 4K was a gimmick - but after comparing UHD to HD sets, the picture does look considerably better even when the source is only 1080p - and when viewing the few programs that are in 4K now, the video is noticeably better.

I set about 8 feet from my 65" 4K set - and it's pretty close to the movie theater experience (which often show 4K video).

But... Prices are still high on the 4K sets, there isn't (yet) much recorded programming available - and no live programming.

4K is more likely to be successful than the push for 3D several years ago - but, like HDTV adoption, early adopters will pay higher prices and have less selection of programs, for a while...

Since I was planning to purchase a new 65" set anyway - spending the extra $$$ today to get the higher quality was worth it, rather than planning to replace the set in a few years. Plus, the Samsung set has all of the electronics in a "One Connect" box, so that even if the video technology improves, I can upgrade the TV to the latest technologies by buying a new One Connect box to go with the 65" display (which is almost all of the expense of the TV).

Re: UHD 4k Trials

Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2014 9:34 pm
by barnabas1969
The "One Connect" box itself is a gimmick. Other TV manufacturers have done similar things in the past. The hardware/firmware upgrade which was supposed to "future proof" those TV's never materialized. I wouldn't hold my breath for Samsung to ever update that One Connect box when the next new thing comes along.

I went to Best Buy and watched a UHD set for about an hour with UHD content. Then, I watched the same film in 1080p on a high-end 1080p set. I couldn't tell the difference.

Re: UHD 4k Trials

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 12:28 pm
by bob_p
Samsung is offering an One Connect Evolution Kit with including the 2014 One Connect box for 2013 model year 4K TVs - so they've already followed through on their commitment for owners who purchased the 2013 models.

What's different with the One Connect box strategy is that they've moved all of the processing outside of the TV - essentially converting the UHD into a combination of electronics and a monitor - making it a component strategy.

Re: UHD 4k Trials

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 1:30 pm
by barnabas1969
That strategy has been attempted before. So color me impressed that they released an update. So... for $399.99, you can get HEVC decoding and an updated Smart Hub (which probably could have been done in a firmware update to the older box).

I've gotta wonder why the hardware capable of HEVC wasn't in the 2013 model though. I realize that HEVC wasn't finalized until Jan 2013, but they should have at least known what hardware would be required when they designed the TV.

Re: UHD 4k Trials

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 9:56 pm
by oakley516
The Samsung One Connect Evolution Kit also includes hardware for HDMI 2.0, and that spec wasn't ready until the end of the summer in 2013. So it couldn't have been included in the 2013 models. And the HDCP spec has been updated for UHD, and that may use new hardware as well.

Re: UHD 4k Trials

Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 1:29 am
by barnabas1969
Ah, that makes sense. So, a person with forethought would have waited to buy a 4K TV until those specs were... spec'd.

Re: UHD 4k Trials

Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 2:23 am
by STC
^ People buy the first gen of many things. If they didn't, development would be slower and prices higher for generations down the line.

Re: UHD 4k Trials

Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 12:54 pm
by barnabas1969
I never buy the first generation of anything, especially cars.

Well, with the notable exceptions being the InfiniTV and HD HomeRun Prime tuners.

Re: UHD 4k Trials

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 8:08 am
by wally007
I love it when shops try to push 4k TV's... they run uncompressed HD material on UHD TV's and use some crappy splitter on 1080p TV's making them look like crap in the process.

Yes I agree that you might be able to tell difference in detail if you have 20/20 vision and sit very close to the TV (given you have same quality material on UHD and HD) but common..... bring on OLED or go home. Will not replace my Plasma with 3D or this UHD thing until they come to senses and release OLED. ( or anything with perfect black )

Re: UHD 4k Trials

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 10:09 am
by rantanamo
I totally disagree. 4k content on a 4k tv is quite noticeable. I think people talk themselves into not believing it because they don't want to buy another set.