3D television is a dud. There was plenty of hype, but Display Search found that 3D devices hold only 10 percent market penetration, and many of those consumers aren’t actually using the 3D. Now the up and coming television trend is 4K, or Ultra HD. If you’ve gotten burned by the 3D hype, you may be a bit wary of jumping on this latest bandwagon. However, Ultra HD TVs have a few more things going for them than 3D TVs.
No Extra Equipment
Many 3D TV models required the use of expensive glasses to enjoy the technology. If several friends come over and you want to watch 3D shows, you are limited by the number of glasses you have. Some later models utilize technology that doesn’t require glasses, but 3D has suffered regardless. Ultra HD, on the other hand, simply provides you with a better television resolution. According to Tech Radar, Ultra HD resolution is 3840×2160, compared to current HD’s 1920×1080. Additionally, Ultra HD televisions include passive 3D viewing, so you still get mileage out of any 3D content you have on hand. Because of the native high resolution of Ultra HD, it helps make passive 3D viewing better since this technology splits available resolution between your eyes.
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Content Availability
3D content production required 3D capable cameras, adding overhead to television studios and movie production companies. 4K, on the other hand, is the current digital filming standard. Anyone producing movie theater-quality content already has the equipment necessary, making it easier for content producers to get on board with Ultra HD quality. CBS News reports that Netflix’s streaming media service will provide Ultra HD quality for users with compatible television sets. Sony is another company dedicated to making Ultra HD content available, influenced in part by its own UHD television sets. As Ultra HD becomes more commonplace in homes, finding TV in your area that offers this type of content becomes easier.
Pricing
The Consumer Electronics Association estimates there will be 1 million Ultra HD televisions in homes by 2015. Early adopters are jumping onboard the current television models, but widespread market penetration may need additional price drops before it catches on. Ultra HD televisions under $1,000 are offered by Sony, Seiki, and Vizio, with Seiki also offering sub-$500 models. Ultra HD affordability will continue to increase as manufacturers get a few models under their belts and work out any early problems.
HEVC Compression
The HEVC compression standard helps solve the bandwidth problem that accompanies streaming Ultra HD content. If your network is struggling to keep up with Netflix HD streaming, Netflix Ultra HD streaming may have your modem hiding in the corner. HEVC solves this problem by cutting down the bandwidth requirement to 20 mbps, which is fairly close to HD’s 12 mbps requirements.