HDTV News

Sony have been a major driving force for 4K / Ultra HD over the past year or so, and one of the ways they’re drawing attention to 4K is with their latest Mastered in 4K blu-ray titles.

So just what is a “Mastered in 4K” blu-ray movie? Well, first off and importantly, it’s no a 4K movie, it doesn’t have the 4K / Ultra HD resolution, it still has the standard 1080p Full HD resolution that you will and have found on standard blu-ray discs for years.

So if it’s not 4K resolution, what is it? Well from Sony directly, they are “Created from the highest quality 4K source materials with new expanded color”.

The extended color gamut provides more vivid colors. Current blu-ray discs use a narrower color gamut (range) than the human eye can see, but with the new 4K TVs, and some of Sony’s higherend TVs supporting Triluminos a higher more vivid gamut can be used for more vibrant colors.

Reports are coming in that BBC and Sony are going to be working together at Wimbledon 2013 on 4K Ultra HD broadcasts.

Sony has clearly become the leader in 4K Ultra HD technology and it seems almost every week they’re involved in another headline involving 4K.

Of course the latest news has been their smaller 55-inch and 65-inch 4K TVs which are coming next month with a starting price of just $4,999 and their 4K media player which is coming by the end of the summer.

Sony is said to be providing all of the equipment and will be working with BBC for the actual filming of Wimbledon. While it is clear that the event will be recoded, processed, with a 4K broadcast, it is currently unclear weather this 4K broadcast will be a live broadcast to the public or not.

We have been following the 65-inch Sony XBR-65X900A, and 55-inch Sony 55X900A very closely since they were first announced at CES 2013 back in January.

Before Sony announced these 55-inch and 65-inch 4K Ultra HD models into their X900 series, the only available 4K TV was the 84-inch model, which will set you back $25,000. We have a hands on video of the 84-inch beautiful monster here.

I have to credit Sony with changing the 4K game and making it much more accessible to the average Joe. A few weeks ago, we announced the prices, and were pleased to see that they’re priced very well. Their smaller, but still very decently sized 4K Ultra TVs at just $4,999 and $6,999.

Times are changing in the world of TVs and HD, and increasingly everyday it looks like Sony are going to be leading the way to 4K.

Sony have just officially announced their 4K Media player at NAB 2013, the Sony FMP-X1, and a 4K video distribution service, both claimed to be industry firsts.

Plans for both were revealed at CES 2013 earlier in the year as seen in our Sony Booth Tour video, but Sony has now revealed more details and a price.

The Sony FMP-X1 4K Player will be available from this summer for $699, and in the fall, will give users access to a “fee-based” video distribution service offering a library of 4K movies, both from Sony Pictures, and other production houses.

The Sony FMP-X1 4K Player features a hard drive (unknown size), which comes pre-loaded with ten feature films, and shorts.

Sony is looking to take the lead when it comes to the new 4K Ultra HD TV market, and are making a real push.

Sony, along with LG released an 84-inch 4K Ultra HD TV last year, which is currently available for $25,000. Way out of the price range for the average consumer. We we’re lucky enough to get our own hands on of this impressive monster of a 4K TV, be sure to watch our video here.

At CES 2013, two months ago, Sony unveiled two new, smaller 4K Ultra HDTVs. The 55-inch Sony XBR-55X900A, and 65-inch XBR-65X900A, which we got to see in all their glory at Sony’s booth.

Of course at the time, no pricing information was released, but as seen in our 2013 Sony CES video, Daryl Eshun from Sony said that they would be priced “competitively priced”, and it seems that Sony have been true to their word.

Following shortly behind Samsung and Panasonic, Sony have announced their pricing on their latest 2013 HDTV models.

Pricing has been revealed for the whole lineup, with the exception of the new smaller 65-inch and 55-inch 4K Ultra HD X900 series models.

Sony say that we can expect to see the new models hitting the stores in the next few weeks, both in the U.S and Europe.

While Sony didn’t release the prices on the new X900 Ultra HD 4K models, which have gained a lot of interested, they did say that they will be available in June. I suspect that Sony is keeping a close eye on LG, and their pricing for their new smaller 4K Ultra HD models.

Joining our exclusive 2013 Samsung and LG comparison charts is the 2013 Sony TV comparison chart.

While Sony’s 2013 TV lineup, consisting of just nine series isn’t as hard to comprehend as, say LG’s 20 new series, it still makes it easier to understand all the new series and models at a quick glance.

As you’ll see from the chart, Sony’s X900 4K Ultra HD series has grown from the sole 84-inch (view our hands on video here) to include both a 65-inch and 55-inch models.

You’ll also see that only the X900 and W900 series feature Sony’s Triluminos technology.

Sony seems to be taking the lead when it comes to 4K / Ultra HD.

Along with LG, Sony were one of the first to release a 4K TV, the 84-Inch Sony XBR-84X900, and since then at CES 2013, they have announced two smaller models, the 65-inch Sony XBR-65X900, and 55-inchXBR-55X900.

But to sell these 4K HDTV, there needs to be a source of 4K content, and Sony knows this.

Sony have already hinted that they’re getting into the 4K movie content distribution somehow or other. Currently their Sony XBR-84X900 ships with a 4K media server, and in our Sony CES 2013 video they touch on the idea of Internet distribution of 4K content.

The Sony Playstation 4 was finally announced yesterday, and we finally have some answers when it comes to 4K.

While not highlighted in their announcement and presentation, the new Sony PS4 will very much support 4K resolutions, and playback of 4K video and photos.

I believe that this wasn’t highlighted, because the games themselves won’t be in 4K, at least not initially. With Internet connected devices, and firmware and software updates who knows about the future.

But when it comes to HDTV News, quite frankly we’re not too concerned about gaming, but rather a new mainstream device which is capable of 4K video output. More importantly the PS4 is not only capable of providing 4K / Ultra HD resolution output, but also of decoding and playing back native 4K content.

Sony recently announced that they’re hosting a “Playstation Themed” event on February 20th. Many people, including us here at HDTV News are expecting big news.

And when we say big news, we’re thinking very big, as in the Sony Playstation 4.

This is of great interest to us and the TV market as a whole due to the fact that many suspect that the upcoming Sony PS4 will be a 4K / Ultra HD device.

Being a next generation device and with 4K / Ultra HD TVs now entering the market and soon expected to become mainstream over the next few years, it simply wouldn’t make sense for Sony to release a device which isn’t capable of outputting a 4K resolution.