Date: 11 Sep 2020 – Written By Roland Moore-Colyer –
Xbox Series X Could Hammer PS5 on Audio and HDR thanks to Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision.
(Image credit: Xbox)
Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S will be the first consoles to come with both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos tech, promising high-end high dynamic range HDR and powerful immersive audio.
Dolby posted an update on its website that noted how the upcoming next-generation Xbox console will launch with Dolby Atmos support and then get Dolby Vision in 2021. That’s pretty exciting stuff, especially when we consider how the Xbox Series X will already be bringing 4K resolution gaming at 60 frames per second as well as immersive ray-tracing capabilities.
For the uninitiated, Dolby Vision is one of the more exacting HDR standards, in that it demands a certain level of brightness and color reproduction. And Dolby Atmos is an audio format that delivers immersive sound, with physical or virtual systems building upon surround sound by having overhead audio channels. Modern cinemas have Dolby Atmos seeker systems, so you can consider the audio format as one of the best around for immersive sound.
Bringing all that to the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series means games that support HDR will have “10x deeper black levels” and “40x brighter highlights.” Combined with a touted 12-bit color depth, future Xbox games, as well as those that have basic HDR support, are set to look very impressive.
Image credit: Dolby
And Dolby Atmos will ensure that gaming on the Xbox Series X and Series S isn’t just a visual treat but an aural one as well thanks to high-end immersive sound.
But there’s a rather large caveat in that you’ll need to ensure you have a TV and sound system that are rated for Dolby Vision and Atmos. Such hardware can be rather expensive. But it’s good to know that if you have such Dolby-grade tech available that the upcoming Xbox consoles will be able to tap into it when they arrive November 10.
As far as we know, the PS5 won’t have Dolby Vision, which could be a big blow for the console in appealing to gamers with high-end TVs or monitors. But on the audio front, Sony is delivering its own take on 3D audio in the form of the Tempest 3D AudioTech.
Sony’s audio tech will aim to deliver 3D sound not only through the optimized Pulse 3D wireless headset, but also existing TV and speaker setups. As such, the PS5 could deliver high-end audio without relying on expensive sound-and-vision kit.
All in all, the next-gen consoles look set to deliver the most immersive gaming experiences yet. The leap in graphics fidelity might not be as significant as it once was, but games are promising to be more detailed and realistic in sight and sound.
With Xbox Series X and S, Microsoft and Dolby are for the first time bringing Dolby Vision support, in addition to Atmos, to console gaming. The first Dolby Vision games will arrive in 2021.
DOLBY VISION AND ATMOS GAMING: Current Xbox One consoles support HDR10 and Dolby Vision for apps, but gaming support is limited to basic HDR10. Xbox Series X and Series S will be the first consoles to support the Dolby Vision HDR format with dynamic metadata for gaming. “You’ll also experience the same great audio on Xbox Series S that you will on Xbox Series X”.
“With Spatial Sound, including support for Dolby Atmos. What’s more, support for Dolby Vision via streaming media apps like Disney+, Vudu and Netflix will be available across Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X at launch, and Dolby Vision support for gaming will come first to our next-gen Xbox consoles in 2021,” announced Microsoft.
Microsoft and Dolby have not provided details on the implementation but we expect it to be based on the same ‘low latency’ version of Dolby Vision that is currently supported on Xbox One for apps. With the low latency version the console/player takes over the heavy lifting (Dolby Vision processing) from the TV. The challenge with the low latency mode is that it is not universally supported by all Dolby Vision-compatible TVs; examples of excluded TVs being 2016 LG OLED models and 2016-17 Vizio models. As a result, Dolby Vision officially became a fragmented format last year.
If you own a more recent Dolby Vision-compatible TV you should be ready for the action, but the big question of course is whether there will be any benefit over standard HDR10 format that already offers expanded luminance and color range? We will not know for sure until we try it but the scene-by-scene or frame-by-frame dynamic metadata of Dolby Vision may improve the HDR presentation on TVs with less capable display hardware.
CYBERPUNK 2077′ WILL SUPPORT DOLBY ATMOS ON XBOX SERIES X AND S. PHOTO: DOLBY.
FIRST DOLBY VISION GAMES IN 2021: We will have to wait a little longer for games with Dolby Vision support to be announced. The first ones should arrive sometime in 2021.
“With support for Dolby Atmos games at launch and Dolby Vision games coming in 2021, the Xbox Series X and Series S will be the first consoles ever to enable gaming in both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos,”said Dolby.
Dolby confirmed that titles like Cyberpunk 2077, F1 2020, Gears 5, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Ori and the Will of the Wisps will support Atmos sound on Xbox Series X and Series S. Current Xbox One consoles also support Atmos for gaming.
Sony has yet to confirm if it will support Dolby’s video and audio formats for gaming although we expect it to support at least Dolby Atmos for apps and UHD Blu-ray. For immersive audio in gaming, Sony has developed its own object-based 3D audio format called ‘Tempest Audio’ that it claims to be better than Atmos in part because it supports more audio objects.
Yamaha has unveiled its first AV Receivers with HDMI 2.1 inputs for 8K60, 4K120, VRR, and more. The RX-V receivers are also the first to feature multiple HDMI 2.1 inputs.
YAMAHA HDMI 2.1 RECEIVERS: Marantz and Denon introduced the first AV receivers with HDMI 2.1 but Yamaha’s new RX-V AV receivers will be the first to feature more than one HDMI 2.1 input.
“In fact, no other AV receiver on the market offers as many 8K HDMI inputs as Yamaha, with three on the RX-V6A (7 inputs total) and all four inputs on the RX-V4A,” the company said.
This may prove useful if you are planning to invest in both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X or a next-generation game consoles plus a next-generation video player in the future. HDMI 2.1 is required for 4K120 (4K at 120fps) and 8K signals. Having HDMI 2.1 in your receiver ensures that it does not become a bottleneck (for pass-through to a TV) in a HiFi setup.
Yamaha RX-V6A. Photo: Yamaha
The receivers also support optional HDMI 2.1 features such as Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Variable Refresh Rates (VRR), Quick Frame Transport (QFT), and Quick Media Switching (QMS), said Yamaha. All HDMI 2.1 features will require a firmware update.
Furthermore, the company has included support for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby Vision pass through all inputs, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, multi-room audio, and voice control.
The Yamaha RX-V6A. Photo: Yamaha
The alternative to upgrading to an HDMI 2.1 receiver is to connect next-gen game consoles and players directly to an TV with HDMI 2.1 plus support for HDMI eARC, which can then return full-quality audio back to an HDMI 2.0 receiver with eARC support.
Yamaha’s new RX-V4A and RX-V6A will be available in August and September 2020 for $440 and $600, respectively.
YAMAHA RX-V RECEIVERS – SPECIFICATIONS:
RX-V6A AT A GLANCE: – 7.2-ch., 100 Watt AV Receiver with Zone 2. – 8K/60Hz & 4K/120Hz*, HDMI 2.1 with HDCP 2.3 and eARC 7-in and 1-out. – Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization*. – YPAO Multi-Point automatic room calibration. – Voice control with Amazon Alexa, Siri via AirPlay 2 and Google Assistant. – MusicCast multi-room app control with optional wireless surrounds. – $599.95 MSRP, available Sept. 2020.
RX-V4A AT A GLANCE: – 5.1-ch., 80-Watt AV receiver. – 8K/60Hz & 4K/120Hz*, HDMI 2.1 with HDCP 2.3 and eARC 4-in and 1-out. – YPAO automatic room calibration. – Voice Control with Amazon Alexa, Siri via AirPlay 2 and Google Assistant. – MusicCast multi-room app control with optional wireless surrounds. – $439.95 MSRP, available Aug. 2020.
Google’s Movie Service, Google Play Movies, Now Offers Movies in 4K and HDR10+ in 117 countries. Samsung is a launch partner but additional platforms will follow.
Google Play Movies now offers movies in HDR, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision..
HDR10+ MOVIES: As promised at CES 2020, Google now offers movies in HDR10+, the dynamic metadata HDR format developed mainly by Samsung. Google also recently added support for Dolby Vision, meaning that some of its movies are available in a total of three HDR flavors.
Some of Google’s first titles in HDR10+ include The Joker, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Shazam, and Crazy Rich Asians. Additional titles will be added over time.
Samsung is a launch partner and it was confirmed that Google’s HDR10+ titles will be made available on “other additional platforms in the future as well”
“The HDR10+ service is now available on Samsung Smart TV in 117 countries including North America, Europe and Korea,” said Samsung. “Users can now enjoy high-resolution HDR10+ 4K HDR content on the Google Play Movies.”
The Joker is now available in HDR10, HDR10+ & Dolby Vision on Google Play Movies.
HDR10+ STILL STRUGGLING: In 2017, Samsung, Panasonic and 20th Century Fox formed the HDR10+ alliance but HDR10+ has been struggling to build momentum against Dolby’s HDR format, Dolby Vision, which is more widely adopted.
Panasonic now supports Dolby Vision in addition to HDR10+ in its TVs while 20th Century Fox has been swallowed by Disney who has seemingly abandoned HDR10+ for Fox titles. Samsung is the sole holdout.
Google’s launch cannot be seen as a win for HDR10+ either as the company is also offering content in Dolby’s HDR. Samsung said that there are now 108 HDR10+ partners worldwide, although only a handful of these are consumer-facing companies. The company added that it remains committed to the format.
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Date: January 10, 2020 – Written by: Henry St Leger –
Dolby Vision HDR Could Change The Way You Watch Everything.
Dolby Vision HDR could change the way you watch everything.
Dolby Vision is everywhere these days. On games consoles like the Xbox One S and Xbox One X, 4K Blu-Ray Players, Smartphones the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, and of course across huge swathes of Premium Televisions from the likes of Panasonic, LG, Sony, and more.
But what exactly is Dolby Vision HDR, what content is usually found in the format, and what difference does it make to your viewing experience? The world of HDR can be confusing, which is why we’ve put together this in depth guide to Dolby Vision’s roots, availability, and advantages over competing formats.
Dolby Vision is the game changing advancement to TVs that we’ve needed for the past decade. Yes, 4K has given us additional pixels, but it’s HDR that has made those pixels really shine in a way they never have before.
Not all HDR TVs come with this dynamic HDR format the minimum required is the more basic HDR10 but those that do offer a rocket boosted viewing experience above and beyond usual SDR images, that is, if the screen you’re watching on is able to do it justice.
Dolby Vision is the format that more studios are turning to and harnessing its potential to deliver colorful, dynamic and calculated images on a scene-by-scene basis. All of which will show up on your TV at home.
WITH THE LATEST DOLBY VISION IQ: technology enhancing the way that Dolby Vision is shown onscreen, too by using brightness sensors in high end televisions to auto calibrate picture settings depending on the level of light in the room it’s a format that continues to give more the longer its on the market.
Dolby Vision is still a relatively new format, but from what we’ve experienced, it’s exactly what home cinema needs to match the silver screen. Best of all? It’s available for you to bring home right now.
Image Credits: Dolby
WHAT IS DOLBY VISION: Dolby Vision is a type of HDR probably the second most popular after the ubiquitous HDR10 standard that’s included on all HDR TVs and players.
And while it bases a lot of its technology on the basic HDR standard Dolby played a key role in the development on it after all, it’s a better solution.
The main improvement from an end-user’s perspective is that it places an additional layer of information on top of a core HDR10 video signal which contains scene-by-scene information which Dolby Vision capable TVs can use to improve the way they present their pictures. This means better brights and darker blacks, and this enables TVs to display the full range of colors in the Rec. 2020 standard.
If HDR Blows You Away Now, Wait Until You See Dolby Vision.
Image Credits: Dolby
We’ve seen Dolby Vision already in the UK on a handful of Netflix and Amazon video streams, and it’s also available via VUDU and iTunes in the US.
The big one for many AV fans, though, has been Ultra HD Blu-Ray. Dolby Vision is included as an option on the UHD BD specification sheet, and AV fans have been desperate to see how much of a difference Dolby’s system might make to the picture quality of the AV world’s best quality source.
The latest crop of Dolby Vision Blu-Rays, which include the Despicable Me films, West World from HBO and Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, look nothing short of amazing provided you’ve got the hardware to watch them.
Image Credits: Lucasfilm
WHAT IS DOLBY VISION IQ: Dolby Vision is going to get even better this year, thanks to a new feature in some high-end TVs Dolby Vision IQ that will make shows and movies look great in any room at any time of the day.
The new feature was announced at CES 2020 alongside the new Panasonic HZ2000 OLED and LG Gallery Series OLED, two of the first TVs to use the new technology.
The way Dolby Vision IQ works is by using the dynamic metadata encoded in Dolby Vision content in conjunction with an embedded light sensor in the TV, using the information to change the picture settings and display a more accurate picture.
Basically, Dolby Vision IQ can tell that you’re watching TV in a brightly lit room, where lots of dark details are getting lost. The TV will therefore be able to boost the brightness automatically without you having to go into the picture settings and do it yourself. Dolby Vision IQ also helps to change picture settings to suit the kind of content being watched movies, sports, etc. Dolby Vision IQ is about to make HDR TVs even better to look at.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO WATCH IN DOLBY VISION: For the avoidance of doubt, Dolby Vision is a licensed video platform that requires all the links in the video chain to support it. So buying the Despicable Me 4K Blu-ray discs won’t be enough in itself – you’ll also need a TV capable of receiving Dolby Vision, and a 4K Blu-ray player capable of playing Dolby Vision.
All LG’s OLED TVs are DV-capable, as are its high-end Super UHD LCD TVs. Sony TVs with X1 Extreme chips the ZD9, A1 OLED, XE93 and XE94, plus the 2018 X900F handle Dolby Vision too after a firmware update, as can some VIZIO and TCL TVs in the US. Much of Panasonic’s 2019 TV range GX800, GX920, GZ1000, GZ1500 and GZ2000 also packs in Dolby Vision support.
Panasonic’s OLED TV Models All Support Dolby Vision, As Do Several Of Its Mid-Range LED Sets. Image Credits: Panasonic.
The newest additions to the Dolby Vision family are consoles including the Xbox One S and Xbox One X and Mobile Phones, albeit on the premium end. The format can be displayed on the all-new iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone X and LG G6 handsets, bringing truly vivid visuals and color to the screens you’re likely to use the most.
Of course, if you want Dolby Vision from a physical disc, there are only a few 4K Blu-ray players currently supporting Dolby Vision like the now-discontinued Oppo UDP-203 and Oppo 205, but more models from LG and Sony should help fill the void.
If you’re lucky enough to already own a suitable combination of kit, though, trust us: you’ll want to buy as many Dolby Vision Blu-rays as you can. The impact of Dolby Vision on the visuals of both movies has to be seen to be believed.
DOLBY VISION – A NEW WORLD OF COLORS:
Take color, for instance. With our Oppo 203 and LG OLED55C7 combination, the Dolby Vision Despicable Me movies display an unprecedented array of tones and tonal subtleties. Everything from the animated skin tones to background walls and locations contains subtle variations and accuracies of color you just don’t get in HDR10 – a comparison verified by playing the discs’ HDR10 ‘core’ video through the Panasonic UB900 Ultra HD Blu-ray player onto the OLED55C7.
This helps pictures instantly look more detailed and refined, despite the fact that Dolby Vision isn’t capable of actually adding more pixels to the 4K source pictures.
The Dolby Vision transfer doesn’t just portray more subtle colors than the HDR10 transfer either. Some colors also look slightly different in hue and tone; and invariably our impression was that the DV versions were the definitive, accurate ones.
Panasonic’s Latest 4K Blu-Ray Players Have Thrown in Their Support for Dolby Vision.
Startling in its brilliance, too, is Dolby Vision’s mastery of light. Somehow the technology seems to deliver purer, brighter highlights than we’ve ever seen from the LG OLED before, while simultaneously delivering dark scenes with more richness and subtle light detailing.
Actually there seems to be more definition between subtle light differences in every part of the Dolby Vision image, giving it a more stable, rich, deep, solid appearance that looks almost three-dimensional versus the flatter, less precise HDR10 picture.
As if this wasn’t all stunning enough, the settings Dolby has designed for the OLED55C7 seem to handle motion more cleanly and effectively than LG’s own processing with HDR10 does.
Add all the Dolby Vision Despicable Me benefits together and you’ve got an image the likes of which we haven’t seen before on a domestic television, despite the fact that we’re only talking about a pair of ageing animated titles. Having seen the cinematic version of Dolby Vision at work on Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 recently, we can only imagine how spectacular Dolby Vision at home could look with more visually sophisticated titles than Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2.
Guardian Of The Galaxy 2 Deserves To Be Enjoyed in Full Dolby Vision. Image Credits: Marvel.
RIVAL TECHNOLOGIES TO DOLBY VISION: It’s worth remembering at this point that AV brands not signed up with Dolby for Dolby Vision notably Samsung tend to suggest they can deliver equivalent results to Dolby Vision by just applying their own processing power to HDR10.
Having played the Despicable Me discs in HDR10 into a reference Samsung UE65KS9500, though, while that set delivered brighter light peaks than the Dolby Vision picture on the LG OLED, it couldn’t match Dolby Vision for light and color subtleties.
Samsung announced back in 2017 it was partnering with Amazon Prime Video to develop a new HDR format called HDR10+, which also applies a layer of so-called dynamic metadata scene by scene instructions to an HDR10 stream. It’s essentially a royalty free alternative to Dolby Vision, which is built into Samsung’s line of high-end QLED televisions.
Both Panasonic and 21st Century Fox had thrown their weight behind HDR10+, selling it as a more democratic, open-source HDR format. Panasonic recently changed its tune on this, however, and you can now get Dolby Vision on a host of Panasonic 4K Blu Ray players and Panasonic TVs.
All Recent LG OLED TVs, Including The LG E8 OLED, Are Dolby Vision Capable.
We’re not necessarily saying here that your next TV and 4K Blu-Ray Player absolutely definitely must have Dolby Vision support. The format still, after all, has to work within the brightness and color limitations of any TV it’s applied to.
There are non Dolby Vision TVs out there which are either in Samsung’s case in particular capable of delivering color and brightness levels beyond those possible from any current Dolby Vision TV. But there still aren’t many Dolby Vision Ultra HD Blu-Rays available, despite the format’s official launch.
What certainly does no longer seem in doubt from having seen Dolby Vision in action from a 4K Blu-ray, though, is that it does an incredible job of getting the absolute best out of any screen it comes into contact with. And with a technology as confusing and frankly error strewn as HDR is right now, that’s a pretty big deal.
Sony’s first 48-inch OLED TV will be available in Europe starting from August for €1900 and £1800. It is a new high-end A9 model.
48″ HIGH-END TV FROM SONY: Over the last decade, we have seen TV makers push their best picture quality and most advanced features up into larger screen sizes. First 46 inches, then 55 inches, and now even 65 inches for some TV brands.
That changes in 2020 with the launch of the first 48-inch OLED TVs. The smaller panel is, besides higher pixel density, identical to the larger 55 to 77 inch panels, so you will get the same great picture quality. This includes 4K resolution, 100Hz, pixel-level luminance and color control for HDR as well as accurate colors in up to DCI-P3.
LG was the first manufacturer to launch a 48 inch OLED model and starting next month, August, Sony will also offer a 48 inch OLED TV in Europe, with availability in other regions including North America to follow later. It is a new high-end A9 model with Android TV, Acoustic Surface sound, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, AirPlay 2, and more.
Sony’s first 48-inch OLED TV will be available in Europe.
Sony UK and Sony Germany have today announced that the 48-inch model will cost £1800 and €1900 at launch. It will start shipping in Europe in late August. This puts it approximately 200 to 300 Euro or pounds higher than LG’s 48 inch model, which unlike Sony’s model features HDMI 2.1 ports and features.
Sony has confirmed only a 48-inch A9 model for 2020 but it may have more to share in early September during IFA. We expect to see 48 inch OLED TVs from other TV makers announced at the same time.
At launch, a 48 inch OLED TV will be significantly more expensive than a 46 to 50 inch LCD TV but in terms of picture quality it is night and day.
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Panasonic has taken the wraps of yet another range of 4K OLED TVs that will be part of its 2020 line-up for Europe. HZ980 features HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Atmos.
FOUR OLED TV RANGES: In addition to the flagship HZ2000 and the more affordable HZ1500 and HZ1000 ranges, Panasonic will this year offer HZ980 OLED TVs in 55 and 65 inches. HZ980 will be Panasonic’s most affordable OLED TVs in 2020 but the TVs still come with 4K resolution, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HDMI eARC, and Dolby Atmos support. New features for 2020 such as Filmmaker Mode and Dolby Vision IQ are also included.
Panasonic HZ980 4K OLED TV 2020 Line-Up for Europe.
In the other hand you are not getting the swivel stand of HZ1000 and the ‘Smooth Motion Drive Pro’ system gets a downgrade to non-Pro. Further specifications are available by following the link below.
Like LG and Philips, Panasonic now has a wide line-up of OLED TVs. Sony, Toshiba, Grundig, Bang & Olufsen and other brands are also selling OLED TVs in Europe. Panasonic HZ980 will be available in Europe from July starting at €1800 / £1700 for a 55-inch model.
Joker and A Simple Favor are the first two movies available in Dolby Vision HDR through Google Play Movies. The company is also planning to add support for HDR10+.
DOLBY VISION AND GOOGLE:
Earlier this year, Google announced that it would start offering movies in HDR10+ format later in 2020. The company made no mention of the other dynamic HDR format Dolby Vision so it is surprising to see Dolby Vision titles arrive first.
Joker and A Simple Favor are the first movies available in Dolby Vision through Google Play Movies. FlatpanelsHD first spotted them yesterday on the Nvidia Shield 2019 device. Joker is available in Dolby Vision in the US and Europe.
If you search for ‘Dolby’ in the app you also see ‘Top Dolby Vision movies’, which suggests that Google is in the process of rolling out support.
Joker is Available in Dolby Vision in Google Play Movies.
The company is rumored to be planning a new Android TV device in a stick form factor similar to Chromecast Ultra. Support for Dolby Vision (and Dolby Atmos?) could be announced officially at the same time.
Google Play Movies is not the first online storefront to offer movies in Dolby Vision. Apple TV (iTunes) and Vudu have been offering movies in the premium HDR format for some time, and Apple currently offers a total of 616 Dolby Vision titles so Google has some catching up to do.
A Simple Favor is Available in Dolby Vision in Google Play Movies.Joker and A Simple Favor are Available in Dolby Vision in Google Play Movies.
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LG is rolling out its new Gallery TV and a refreshed version of the Wallpaper model. The OLED TVs are available in 55 to 77 inches with HDMI 2.1, webOS, Apple features, and more.
GALLERY AND WALLPAPER OLED TVs:
LG has phased out its E series of picture-in-glass OLED TVs and introduced GX, a new line of TVs designed to hang flush on the wall. The company has also refreshed the design of its Wallpaper OLED TV WX.
The Gallery GX screen not as slim as the Wallpaper WX screen, which has a separate electronics speaker box that has been redesigned for the 2020 version. On the other hand all ports, speakers, and electronics are built-in. GX comes bundled with a slim wall bracket solution. An optional soundbar SNX7 for GX will also be available, said LG.
LG GALLERY GX OLED
With self-emitting OLED technology, LG is promising excellent picture quality including pixel-level control for HDR. GX and WX support three HDR formats (HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision). The TVs also feature 4K resolution, HDMI 2.1 ports, Filmmaker Mode, and the Alpha 9-3 video processor.
LG GALLERY GX OLED
Both new TV models feature HDMI 2.1 ports with support for up to 4K120 inputs from next-generation game consoles and video players. In addition, GX supports three variable refresh rate systems: HDMI VRR, AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync.
The company’s webOS platform offers access to streaming apps, including the Apple TV app and Disney+, but not HBO Max that launched earlier this week. New streaming services are increasingly prioritizing platforms like Apple’s tvOS over Smart TV platforms.
LG WALLPAPER WX OLED
Like Samsung with its Serif TV and ‘The Frame’, LG has aspired to create unique TVs that can set it apart from the competition. GX is a step up from CX, while WX is a unique TV that no other manufacturer can offer at this time. Later this year, the South Korean company will introduce the world’s first rollable TV (RX).
LG GX and WX are available now in the US and Europe, with broader availability expected next month. Further details about pricing and availability can be found in the table below.
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The Philips Hue Sync box that lets you sync Philips Hue lights to the action on-screen now works with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ content. The update also adds support for voice assistants.
Philips Hue Sync Box updated
The ‘Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box’ was launched in February 2019 but at the time it lacked support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+, meaning that it could not produce any light effects from a HDMI signal with Dolby Vision or HDR10+ passed through it.
The latest update adds just that.
From now onwards you can enjoy synchronized surround lighting effects from your Philips Hue lights when watching Dolby Vision or HDR10+ content with compatible TVs, the company announced.
Not all devices are compatible:
However, be aware that not all TVs and playback devices are supported, seemingly due to variances in Dolby Vision profiles. A list of compatible devices is included in the table at the bottom. The software update also adds support for popular voice assistants, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Siri. This lets you power on/off, start or stop light sync, switch HDMI, and switch between sync modes via voice commands to an external compatible device. Lastly, the box can now be configured to work with infrared commands from your TV remote control or Harmony universal remote. The software update is free and can be installed via the Hue Sync mobile app. The Philips Hue HDMI Sync is available for 230 dollars in the US and 250 Euro in Europe from meethue.com.
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Of all the new TV technologies to emerge over the last few years, it’s arguable that none has had as big an impact on overall picture quality as High Dynamic Range, or HDR. When properly implemented, HDR can make a huge difference in perceived picture quality. We think it has been more impactful than the move from Full HD (1080p) to 4K Ultra HD or even 8K resolution.
But not all HDR is created equal; in fact, HDR is a catch-all term that refers to several distinct and competitive technologies. The one with the biggest brand recognition is Dolby Vision. Dolby Labs has done such a good job of marketing Dolby Vision as its own platform, many consumers aren’t even aware that it’s an HDR format. That shouldn’t be a surprise: TVs that have Dolby Vision technology, are often labeled as “4K HDR TV with Dolby Vision” making it seem as though the two terms aren’t related.
But what is Dolby Vision? How is it different than other HDR formats? And more importantly, how can you get it at home? We have all the answers right here.
What is HDR?
Before we get into Dolby Vision specifically, let’s quickly recap HDR in general. High Dynamic Range is a technology that lets filmmakers and content creators produce videos with increased brightness, greater color accuracy, and better contrast than what was previously possible. While HDR is often utilized in high-quality theaters, it has also become increasingly popular for home viewing. When HDR content is viewed on a quality HDR-compatible TV, you can tell right away — the increase in overall picture quality is dramatic, offering a touch of cinematic quality on the small screen.
There are five major HDR formats to discuss for home use: Two static formats and three dynamic ones. The two static formats are HDR10, the version that every HDR-capable TV supports, and HLG, a version designed for broadcast applications. Static in this case means that the data required to show HDR content is determined once based on the entire movie or TV show. Once the video starts to play, that information doesn’t change.
The three dynamic formats include Advanced HDR by Technicolor, and two much more commonly known formats for the home: HDR10+, a license-free format developed in part by Samsung, and Dolby Vision. Unlike static formats, dynamic formats can adapt as you watch, boosting or reducing HDR elements based on each scene, down to a frame-by-frame level of detail. It takes way more data to do HDR this way, but experts agree: Being able to fine-tune color, contrast, and brightness for each scene can have a big impact on HDR quality.
So What’s so Special About Dolby Vision?
As touched on above, Dolby Vision is a proprietary, dynamic HDR format developed by Dolby Labs. By adjusting the picture on a scene-by-scene (and even frame-by-frame) basis, it lets you see more detail with better color accuracy. It is constantly making adjustments so that each image on the screen is optimized. But there’s more to it than that.
In addition to the ability for content creators to tweak picture settings at a highly granular level, Dolby Vision supports a much wider range of possible settings than the more conventional (and static) HDR10. For instance, HDR10 supports a maximum picture brightness of 1,000 nits for TVs. Dolby Vision can go much brighter — up to 10,000 nits.
The same is true for color accuracy. HDR10 lets content creators specify color using 10 bits of data, whereas Dolby Vision supports up to 12 bits. That spec might not seem like a big deal — after all, that’s only a difference of 2 bits — but it makes a huge difference. With 10 bits, you can pick from amongst 1,024 shades of each primary color, which gives you over a billion total possible colors. Again, that sounds huge until you realize that 12 bits give you 4,096 shades and a total of over 68 billion colors.
If that sounds like overkill, when it comes to your TV, it is. For the moment, there are no TVs you can buy that are capable of displaying 10,000 nits of brightness or the 68 billion colors that Dolby Vision provides. Even the brightest TVs on the market tend to max out at 2,000 nits of brightness, and not even LG’s newest 8K OLED TV offers better than 10-bit color support. That said, TV technology is advancing very rapidly so Dolby Vision’s current above-and-beyond specs may seem perfectly reasonable in another five years.
What about HDR10+?
The Samsung-backed HDR10+ format is similar to Dolby Vision in that it’s also a dynamic format that can optimize on-screen images on a scene-by-scene basis. It has support for higher brightness and color-depth than the HDR10, but it doesn’t quite go as far as Dolby Vision in its specifications. In theory, this means that you’ll get better results with Dolby Vision, but for now, the biggest difference between the two standards is availability.
Few devices currently support HDR10+ and even fewer sources of content are available in HDR10+, though this is beginning to change. In time, thanks to the free licensing of the HDR10+ standard, we could see the tables turn. If you’re wondering about future support for these competing formats, here’s something to keep in mind: Any device that currently supports Dolby Vision ought to be able to support HDR10+ too, via a firmware upgrade. Moreover, there would be little cost to manufacturers that chose to do this. The same is not true for Dolby Vision, which adds a licensing cost in addition to the cost of developing the firmware itself.
Which TVs support Dolby Vision?
While Dolby Vision is more prominent than HDR10+, not all new TVs are Dolby Vision-compatible. One prominent brand that does not support it is Samsung, which is all in on HDR10+.
Major brands that offer Dolby Vision include LG, TCL, Vizio, andSony, but Dolby Vision support can vary from model to model. Before you buy, make sure to read the full specs for the model you’re considering. If it works with Dolby Vision it will likely say so and usually quite prominently.
What else do I need for Dolby Vision?
A Source of Dolby Vision Video:
In addition to having a Dolby Vision-compatible TV (or other devices — some smartphones and tablets are now Dolby Vision-compatible), you’ll need a source of Dolby Vision video. Lots of 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays support Dolby Vision, and video streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video offer a good selection of both Hollywood movies and original series in the format. Disney+ and Apple TV+ both have deep support for Dolby Vision as well as Dolby Atmos — the company’s popular surround-sound audio format. Where you won’t find Dolby Vision is broadcast TV. For the moment, HDR content from over-the-air channels is rare, and when it’s available it uses either HDR10 or HLG due to the lower bandwidth requirements of these HDR formats.
Dan Baker/Digital Trends
A Dolby Vision Capable Device:
If you use a set-top box, game console, or Blu-ray player for your streaming video content, it also needs to be Dolby Vision-compatible — not all of them are. Roku streaming devices like the Roku Streaming Stick+, for instance, only support HDR10. By contrast, some Roku TVs, like those made by TCL, do support Dolby Vision. The Apple TV 4K supports Dolby Vision, but the Apple TV HD doesn’t. Amazon’s 4K Fire TV Stick is one of the few devices that supports all four of the top HDR formats: HDR10, HLG, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision.
Nvidia’s older Shield TV streamers don’t support it, but the 2019 Nvidia Shield TV and Shield TV Pro do. Microsoft’s Xbox One S and One X have supported Dolby Vision since 2018, but you won’t find it on the basic Xbox One. Sony’s PlayStations do not support Dolby Vision. Again, it pays to do your research.
Finally, if your chosen Dolby Vision device requires an HDMI cable (instead of the dongle-style that plugs directly into a TV) make sure you buy an HDMI cable that is guaranteed to be compatible with Dolby Vision. Any cable that bears the “HDMI Premium Certified” label is ideal. Cables that are rated for lesser speeds may work, but be prepared in the event that they don’t. The good news is that you can buy Premium Certified HDMI cables for less than the price of an IMAX movie ticket.
A FEW GOTCHAS:
Sometimes, even when you do everything right, things still don’t work as planned. We have found instances where even if you have a Dolby Vision source, playback device, and TV, you still don’t get Dolby Vision. One recent example comes from Disney+ where some viewers were surprised to learn that despite having a fully compatible setup, they still weren’t getting Dolby Vision on their Xbox consoles. The reason? The Xbox Disney+ app doesn’t yet support Dolby Vision even though many titles on the service are labeled Dolby Vision.
Another issue you may have heard about also relates to Dolby Vision and Disney+. Some experts have taken issue with how The Mandalorian — an exclusive Disney+ streaming show presented in Dolby Vision — looks. They say it looks too dark, and that even the brightest on-screen moments aren’t as bright as they expect from a Dolby Vision title. Are they right?
As it turns out, yes and no. Yes, The Mandalorian looks dark. But it’s not the fault of Dolby Vision or Disney+’s handling of Dolby Vision. Instead, the show’s creators made a choice during the production process to scale back on the brightness that Dolby Vision allows, in order to infuse the scenes with a more somber tone. The key here is this: Just because a movie or show is available in Dolby Vision, it doesn’t mean you’ll experience every possible color from the Dolby Vision palette, or have your eyeballs seared by the format’s huge brightness capabilities.
Creators will still choose to use Dolby Vision to express their creative intent, and sometimes that might mean a more subdued approach.
What about Dolby Vision IQ?
At CES 2020, Dolby Labs debuted a new video technology called Dolby Vision IQ. You can think of it as an enhancement to Dolby Vision: Using light sensors built into new Dolby Vision IQ-enabled TVs, the software can optimize Dolby Vision content based on the ambient light in your room. In this way, Dolby Vision becomes even more dynamic: It changes the additional color and contrast info on a scene by scene basis and then changes it again based on your viewing conditions. At the moment, only LG and Panasonic support Dolby Vision IQ, but more manufacturers are expected soon.
So there you have it — Dolby Vision fully explained. As the HDR landscape shifts over time, we’ll be updating this article to reflect the latest changes, equipment, and support.
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Disney+ will now launch in the UK and other markets in Western Europe on March 24th, one week earlier than the March 31st release date that was originally announced. Pricing has also been officially confirmed as £5.99/€6.99 a month or £59.99/€69.99 a year. The service’s initial European roll out will cover the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, and Switzerland.
The news means that March 24th will be the first time much of Europe will be able to legally watch the original content that has debuted on Disney’s streaming service following its official launch in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and The Netherlands last year. These originals include the hit Star Wars TV show The Mandalorian, as well as High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, a live action version of Lady and the Tramp, and The World According to Jeff Goldblum. The service launched in de US and Canada last year.
The service’s UK pricing is the same as Netflix’s standard definition tier, however Disney+ is only offered at a single price with no additional features locked behind more expensive subscription plans. Variety notes that Disney’s service launched with almost 500 movies and 7,500 TV episodes across the company’s Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic brands.
After its initial March 24th launch, Disney says the streaming service will come to Belgium, the Nordics, and Portugal later in summer 2020.
Nokia is no stranger to licensing its name to third parties, and the latest example comes in the form of a smart TV – a first for the Nokia brand.
Gadgets 360 recently noticed Flipkart, a massive e-commerce retailer in India, is using the Nokia brand on a TV. Described as a “global first for the brand in the TV category” by Flipkart, the new “Nokia Ultra HD 4K LED Smart Android TV” is a 55-inch set with two 24-watt speakers and a sound system from JBL by Harman. To be clear, the TV runs an Android-based operating system, but it might not be Android TV, specifically.
Other features include a 16:9 display with a 60Hz refresh rate, support for Dolby Vision and HDR10, three HDMI ports, two USB ports, a quad-core processor, 2.25GB of RAM, 16GB of ROM, and support for Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi. So, it’s decently specc’d for a budget television.
Nokia Ultra HD 4K LED Smart Android TV
Flipkart is quoted saying it wants to help make Nokia-branded smart TVs accessible and affordable. As a result, its Nokia-branded TV will launch on 10 December for 41,999 Indian rupees about $589 in the US or £448 in the UK. There’s no indication it will launch internationally, however.
LG 4K Demo – Dolby Vision in True Theater Surround is a Promotional 4K Demo Video made by LG for the LG 4K UHD TV.
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