According to The Verge, the new Philips DesignLine HD LED TV is among the most striking televisions designed of late. Manufacturer TP Vision crafted the impressive, sleek set out of a single sheet of glass, meaning there’s no base stand or ‘chin’ to be seen. Available in 46- and 55-inch configurations, the DesignLine is intended to be simply leaned against a wall, with its weight enough to keep it standing securely. Continue reading Philips Unveils DesignLine HDTV with Sheet of Glass Design

Online video has yet to match television in terms of viewership numbers, but it is gaining momentum. According to the Interactive Advertising Bureau, which released its findings at this week’s Digital Content NewFronts in New York, professionally produced online video reaches approximately 45 million U.S. viewers each month (roughly 19 percent of adults). Nielsen indicates that more than 95 percent of the U.S. population watches TV. Continue reading Digital NewFronts: IAB Report Says Online Video on the Rise

At NAB in Las Vegas, Japanese broadcaster NHK demonstrated its real-time, over-the-air transmission and reception of 8K for the first time outside of Japan. 8K technology is considered Ultra High-Definition — touting resolution 16 times that of HDTV. The U.S. and U.K. are currently exploring the possibilities of 4K technology, which seems more realistically applicable within the market at this point. Continue reading NAB 2013: NHK Demos Super Hi-Vision 8K Technology

While 4K Ultra High Definition TV has yet to make it into the living room, the industry is moving forward with new cameras, evolving standards and early television production. Sony Pictures Television, for example, is producing select pilots with digital cinema cameras, while 3Net is forging ahead with its Total D strategy that includes producing versions of programs in both 2D and 3D at multiple resolutions. Initial tests for broadcasting sports in 4K are just around the corner. Continue reading NAB 2013: TV Industry Moves Toward 4K Ultra HD Format

Apple’s HDTV, which has reportedly been in development for years, is expected to finally debut later this year. While meeting with supply chain sources in China and Taiwan, Topeka Capital Markets analyst Brian White has gathered information from unnamed sources that suggest Apple will launch its iTV in the second half of 2013. White says innovative new features of the HDTV could make it a game-changer. Continue reading New Report Indicates Apple Will Launch HDTV This Year

Amazon’s X-Ray feature, which uses the company’s IMDb database of content to add real-time actor information to Amazon’s Instant Video service, will expand to include TV show viewing, the company announced on Wednesday. To start, the X-Ray feature will be available for 13 shows including popular hits like “Downton Abbey,” “The Walking Dead,” “Breaking Bad” and “Game of Thrones.” Amazon and IMDb are working to expand the service. Continue reading X-Ray: Actor ID Feature from Amazon Expands to TV Shows

The Cleveland Museum of Art is introducing new technology to enhance the visitor experience. With a special application designed for the iPad and a 40-foot interactive touchscreen, patrons can personalize and share tours, bookmark their favorite art, and access special videos and behind-the-scenes information for different exhibits. In the process, the Cleveland Gallery One program may serve as a model for museums and other venues. Continue reading Museum Bridges Art and Tech with 40-Foot Collection Wall

According to Neil Hunt, chief product officer for Netflix, the service is expecting to stream movies and television programs in 4K resolution within the next year or two. While playback of 4K, which delivers about four times the HD resolution of 1080p, requires compatible monitors (and could eat up a consumer’s monthly data cap), Netflix is preparing its proprietary Open Connect content delivery network to address issues involving larger bitrates. Continue reading Netflix Exec Says to Expect Streaming 4K in Year or Two

Canon is preparing to launch its MREAL Mixed Reality headset this month with a hefty $125,000 price tag and estimated $25,000 in annual maintenance. But the device is not intended for the typical consumer. Instead, it was designed for groups such as automotive manufacturers, research universities and museum display curators. The MREAL technology could also serve as a powerful tool for digital prototyping. Continue reading Canon to Release $125K MREAL Mixed Reality Headset

The adoption of 4K TV technology could be in the hands of console gamers, if the history of HDTV is any indication. In 2005, when few households owned HDTVs, due largely to a lack of available HD content, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 helped transform the industry. “They gave people a reason to buy an HDTV and that gave content producers reason to invest in the formats it supported,” suggests Wired UK. Continue reading Could Success of 4K TV Be in the Hands of Console Gamers?

Is 4K the future of television or is it just another CES pipe dream? A three-part debate is taking place on ZDNet between proponent Steven Vaughan-Nichols, who suggests the future of broadcasting involves 4K, and opponent Jason Perlow, who believes the technology will be gone before it really gets started. As of Wednesday morning, 39 percent of voting readers support Vaughan-Nichols, while 61 percent back Perlow. Continue reading Future of Television: Debate Looks at Both Sides of 4K Tech

According to reports coming from Japan’s Asahi newspaper, “the Japanese government is set to launch the world’s first 4K TV broadcast in July 2014, roughly two years ahead of schedule, to help stir demand for ultra high-definition televisions,” reports Reuters. The service will begin from communications satellites and then from satellite broadcasts and ground digital broadcasts to follow. Continue reading Japan To Launch 4K TV Service Two Years Ahead of Schedule

Chip manufacturer Broadcom unveiled a number of new technologies at CES, including the first Ultra HDTV home gateway chip, a decoder that will enable 4Kx2K resolution distribution to the home. The company, whose enclosed convention space at the back of South Hall was abuzz with activity, also showcased its first 5G Wi-Fi wireless IPTV set-top box platform, which enables carriers to deliver HDTV programming to more devices, reliably and with greater speed and range. Continue reading CES 2013: Broadcom Introduces UHD Home Gateway and 5G Wi-Fi

FAVI Entertainment recently announced it is shipping its plug-and-play SmartStick HDTV enhancer, which it claims is “your Smart TV, Home Theater and PC all rolled into one.”

“Like Roku’s Streaming Stick, it’s a media player that’s been squeezed into a dongle-sized form-factor, running Android 4.1 and packing apps like Netflix along with the Plex media server, a full Web browser and DNLA,” reports Engadget.

The SmartStick streams media through the television’s HDMI port and connects to additional devices wirelessly. “You can even add a $40 wireless keyboard to avoid the usual finger calisthenics,” notes the post.

According to the press release, the device offers apps such as Netflix, HBO Go, Epix, Pandora, Spotify, YouTube, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and others. The 4GB device is priced at $50, while an 8GB version costs $80.

“Included with the SmartStick is the Plex app where you can wirelessly deliver videos, documents, music, images, movies directly to your SmartStick enabled television making your TV a hub of entertainment — no subscription needed,” according to the release.