In other topic areas we have been debating the viability of 4K. One of my top plates on adopting the format would be if the BDA would modify / change the specification to allow for a Blu-Ray 4K standard. The task force that is driving this is made up of 17 companies including Sony, Technicolor, Dolby, Fox and Disney. In talking with my friends in the standards bodies, they had told me that the BDA was mulling this around, particularly given the studios interest in providing yet another reason for us to purchase the same movie over again...
Days ago the BDA confirmed that they are going to have a specification for 4K Blu-ray discs. Victor Matsuda, Vice-president of the BDA discussed this with the Hollywood reporter on 1/10/14.
Right now the companies are debating on what codec will be used for the new format. Of course, this means a new set of BD players for those that want to enjoy 4K, 3D and regular BD --- so good news for those manufacturers. The question is how much will those players start at and how many titles will be available when it launches?
What probably the most disappointing is that actual discs are not targeted to come out until holiday of 2015! By that time there are a lot of other technologies that could upend the optical disc foothold -- namely streaming. Now there seems to be some debate about this as the Hollywood Reporter stated that BD 4K discs could be out by the end of this year. Someone got the year wrong and I will try to find the truth with my friends that are actually in the BDA.
There is also rumor that DECE would be preparing for 4K. What that actually means is beyond me as they still don't have a solution for supporting 1080P content in the same quality as what is on the disc. So, I'm failing to see how DECE "supports" 4K.
Furthermore, in another thread where we are talking about 4K, there needs to be a lot more to the standard than just resolution. An increased color gamut, greater color bit-depth and 4:4:4 are really required to make a noticeable difference from the existing 1080 Blu-ray standard. The Hollywood Reporter also stated that DECE is pushing for this, but if it doesn't go through SMPTE as a standard, it won't be a standard that UHD TV makers will abide by and then there will be various implementations that will just make a mess of all of this. Also, remember the Disney is not a member of DECE which has 85 members, so if this isn't through SMPTE, then you can already see where there would be disparities.
Let's hope that all of those are making their way into the standard and that display manufacturers also adopt the same standards for their 4K UHD TV's.
How many will go out and buy a new 4K BD player and also buy new 4K titles or replace existing 1080P titles?
Days ago the BDA confirmed that they are going to have a specification for 4K Blu-ray discs. Victor Matsuda, Vice-president of the BDA discussed this with the Hollywood reporter on 1/10/14.
Right now the companies are debating on what codec will be used for the new format. Of course, this means a new set of BD players for those that want to enjoy 4K, 3D and regular BD --- so good news for those manufacturers. The question is how much will those players start at and how many titles will be available when it launches?
What probably the most disappointing is that actual discs are not targeted to come out until holiday of 2015! By that time there are a lot of other technologies that could upend the optical disc foothold -- namely streaming. Now there seems to be some debate about this as the Hollywood Reporter stated that BD 4K discs could be out by the end of this year. Someone got the year wrong and I will try to find the truth with my friends that are actually in the BDA.
There is also rumor that DECE would be preparing for 4K. What that actually means is beyond me as they still don't have a solution for supporting 1080P content in the same quality as what is on the disc. So, I'm failing to see how DECE "supports" 4K.
Furthermore, in another thread where we are talking about 4K, there needs to be a lot more to the standard than just resolution. An increased color gamut, greater color bit-depth and 4:4:4 are really required to make a noticeable difference from the existing 1080 Blu-ray standard. The Hollywood Reporter also stated that DECE is pushing for this, but if it doesn't go through SMPTE as a standard, it won't be a standard that UHD TV makers will abide by and then there will be various implementations that will just make a mess of all of this. Also, remember the Disney is not a member of DECE which has 85 members, so if this isn't through SMPTE, then you can already see where there would be disparities.
Let's hope that all of those are making their way into the standard and that display manufacturers also adopt the same standards for their 4K UHD TV's.
How many will go out and buy a new 4K BD player and also buy new 4K titles or replace existing 1080P titles?