Thanks to Netflix, 2015 the year of 4k?

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myfullflavour

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#165620 15-Feb-2015 15:28

Ok so "the year of 4k" might be wishful thinking.

This weeks Noel Leeming mailer listed their flagship Samsung Curved UHD at a pretty awesome price so I decided to check it out (helps that a Noels store is on the way to work).

The model I had a play with was the HU7200WXRD.

My stand-out thoughts:

- The Smart interface was very quick, significantly faster than the last time I demo'd it
- TVNZ On Demand and 3NOW look like complete crap, even with the "high quality" setting selected
- The Youtube app doesn't seem to support 4k yet (with no apparent way to manually adjust the video setting).

Netflix NZ launches next month and according to their website, "Netflix in Ultra HD" is supported by the Samsung HU7200.

Could it be that we'll finally be able to buy a 4k TV and thanks to Netflix there will be 4k content to go with it?

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#1239412 15-Feb-2015 16:06

The TV manufactures would love for you to think so to drive new sales for 2015 but there are no main stream media using this format yet. No games on any console and no movies on common physical media forms. I would doubt New Zealand internet speeds are up to the challenge of 4K either. Maybe 2016?

richms

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#1239414 15-Feb-2015 16:08

I will probably get a 65" LG 4K for the bedroom next year when they change smart platforms. Its all about the pixel size and not the content to me.

Richard rich.ms

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#1239424 15-Feb-2015 16:16

not surprised tvnz od and 3now look crap.

most modern tv's have rubbish scalers so that any input below native resolution looks awful, 4k isn't going to change that.

can you bypass the video processing in that samsung ?

don't think netflix will have much impact on spreading the 4k gospel.

4k plans are about 50% more ?
and they require a minimum stable internet connection of 25Mbps.

myfullflavour

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#1239475 15-Feb-2015 17:34

MindstormNZ1972: I would doubt New Zealand internet speeds are up to the challenge of 4K either. Maybe 2016?

More than 70,000 New Zealanders on UFB now.

I wouldn't be flinching if our entire customer base decided to watch 4k Netflix NZ content simultaneously.

sdavisnz

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#1239478 15-Feb-2015 17:40

richms: I will probably get a 65" LG 4K for the bedroom next year when they change smart platforms. Its all about the pixel size and not the content to me.

LG are not changing platforms next year, there going webos 2.0

if your waiting for a new Platform buy a sony or a sharp and you will have android tv to play with :)

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Behodar

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#1239481 15-Feb-2015 17:40

Considering that slow fibre is 30 Mb/s, 25 Mb/s Netflix streaming shouldn't be a problem.

<mini-rant>Now to stop people from advertising UHD (3.75k) as 4k...</mini-rant>

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myfullflavour

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#1239502 15-Feb-2015 17:53

Behodar: Considering that slow fibre is 30 Mb/s, 25 Mb/s Netflix streaming shouldn't be a problem.

I was going to add before - slightly problematic for customers of ISPs congesting their regional UFB handover ports (yes, this is happening already).

Lurch

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#1239503 15-Feb-2015 17:57

Behodar: <mini-rant>Now to stop people from advertising UHD (3.75k) as 4k...</mini-rant>

UHD is 3840 x 2160, not sure what 3.75k is. However that is the resolution for home use, not sure why they chose that when the movie projection industry standard is 4096 x 2160. Hence the 4k name.

UHD is fantastic for close up viewing, pixels what pixels. I'll be waiting however as I like to buy every second generation.

Behodar

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#1239508 15-Feb-2015 18:05

myfullflavour: I was going to add before - slightly problematic for customers of ISPs congesting their regional UFB handover ports (yes, this is happening already).

Ugh. Fortunately that doesn't seem to be happening here (Whakatane) yet, although the installer told me that they're getting orders faster than they can install them so it might happen at some point :(

Lurch: UHD is 3840 x 2160, not sure what 3.75k is.

Each "k" is 1024 (as you can see with 4k cinema being 4096x2160). 3840/1024 = 3.75.

richms

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#1239512 15-Feb-2015 18:09

Lurch:
Behodar: <mini-rant>Now to stop people from advertising UHD (3.75k) as 4k...</mini-rant>

UHD is 3840 x 2160, not sure what 3.75k is. However that is the resolution for home use, not sure why they chose that when the movie projection industry standard is 4096 x 2160. Hence the 4k name.

UHD is fantastic for close up viewing, pixels what pixels. I'll be waiting however as I like to buy every second generation.

Maintaining 16:9 I guess, so we dont have to go thru all the whiners complaining about black bars, or worse still, broadcasters doing that horrid thing where they put a large blurry version of the content in the pillarboxing space.

Richard rich.ms

naggyman

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#1239515 15-Feb-2015 18:13

MindstormNZ1972: I would doubt New Zealand internet speeds are up to the challenge of 4K either. Maybe 2016?

I am taking CS50x this year and I constantly watch the lectures in 4K on my home UFB connection and my school's N4L connection. Works well with no buffering.
I select 4K, even though my laptop's screen isn't at 4K, as the picture quality is just breathtaking!

Morgan French-Stagg

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Behodar

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#1239516 15-Feb-2015 18:13

richms: Maintaining 16:9 I guess, so we dont have to go thru all the whiners complaining about black bars

Right, but then you get people like me down the other end of the scale... some of the studios are already cropping the edges off Blu-rays to make them fit a 16:9 TV even though the movies weren't 16:9 in the first place!

Can you tell that this is one of my pet peeves? :)

richms

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#1239523 15-Feb-2015 18:31

Behodar:
richms: Maintaining 16:9 I guess, so we dont have to go thru all the whiners complaining about black bars

Right, but then you get people like me down the other end of the scale... some of the studios are already cropping the edges off Blu-rays to make them fit a 16:9 TV even though the movies weren't 16:9 in the first place!

Can you tell that this is one of my pet peeves? :)

You are a minority.

I would like to see the next change be to 21:9 panels like LG are already doing for PC use. 4k cinema is some weird inbetween size like 14:9 was. That was aweful for everyone.

Richard rich.ms

Behodar

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#1239526 15-Feb-2015 18:40

richms: 4k cinema is some weird inbetween size like 14:9 was. That was aweful for everyone.

4k cinema uses the same aspect ratios (1.85:1 and 2.39:1) as the majority of movies produced in the last 50 years. It's the TVs that are a weird size.

richms: You are a minority.

It's a sad state of affairs when I'm a minority for wanting a home cinema format to present movies as shown at a cinema.

Talkiet

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#1239563 15-Feb-2015 19:40

myfullflavour:
MindstormNZ1972: I would doubt New Zealand internet speeds are up to the challenge of 4K either. Maybe 2016?

More than 70,000 New Zealanders on UFB now.

I wouldn't be flinching if our entire customer base decided to watch 4k Netflix NZ content simultaneously.

Heh, yes you would.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

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