Since the beginning of time, we all have wanted to do things faster, better, and with greater power.
In the world of entertainment and video, the race has been on for clearer, sharper and brighter images.
Even though consumers watch video content on their mobile phones, there is still a demand for big screen television sets – for special home viewing of sports, movies and well-produced entertainment.
The latest Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas featured the introduction of 8K resolution television sets by companies like Sony, LG and Samsung.
What is 8K?
According to the 8K Association, an 8K television set has 7,680 x 4,320 pixel resolution; input frame rates of 24p, 30p, 60p; more than 600 nits peak brightness; HEVC support; and HDMI 2.1.
The television is going to try to immerse you further.
But 8K Fell Flat. Why?
Lack of content – The social media video network Vimeo has said it will support 8K and Japan has said that they will film the next Olympics in 8K but besides these two, there is a lack of stuff to watch on 8K. So there’s no need.
Not much of a difference to the human eye – As we’ve discussed on previous blogs, there are only subtle differences between 4K and its predecessors – and the same is true for the 8K. The real difference of 8K kicks in when you choose larger sized screens from 55 inches and above. For smaller TVs, Ultra HD or 4K videos will deliver just as great of an image.
High pricing – Since 8K is just being introduced, it still has an uncertain position in the marketplace. There is no cheap version of 8K that you can feel comfortable buying right now. As time goes on, 8K sets will definitely get cheaper. Right now, most 8K sets are priced around $6,000.
Virtual Reality Videos & Augmented Reality Experiences – If you’ve noticed marketing trends and content changes, there is a great demand currently for 360-degree view videos and immersive virtual reality and augmented reality universes. While televisions can get to 100 inches, they’ll still be a piece of furniture. With newer technology, content creators are innovating with holographic videos and VR. If those trends catch on faster due to an increase in content, it would render the entire screen based entertainment useless.
