TV "Ultra-HD" era

In the upcoming 2012, a super-sized TV let consumers enjoy the shock of ultra high-definition picture quality. With the rapid development of science and technology, new technologies will prompt the television industry to achieve more in the new year. "Ultra-high-definition television" has become a new trend in the development of television in the future. Even industry insiders believe that TV is about to enter the era of "ultra-high definition".

After experiencing a series of booming developments in system applications such as Internet TV, smart TV, and cloud television, major TV companies in the world have finally reached a consensus to return to the essence of TV content. Although there are still challenges in the research and development of 4K ultra-high-definition display technology, no company is willing to stop. Because who is closer to this trend, whoever will occupy the leading position.

CES ultra high definition or become king

In May of this year, the International Telecommunication Union announced the UHDTV recommendation for ultra-high-definition televisions, which calls HDTVs with a physical resolution of 3840×2160 and above. Subsequently, LG, Samsung, VESTEL, Toshiba, Hisense, Sony, Sharp, Konka, Skyworth and others all exhibited the latest ultra-high-definition LCD TVs. Ultra-high-definition video has entered the fast lane for a time. This product will surely become the The focus of the discussion on the 8th Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show.

Samsung will release a 110-inch ultra-high resolution TV at CES 2013. This will be Samsung's second ultra-high definition television. Samsung’s first ultra-high-definition television just won the CES Innovation Award last month, and its size is only 85 inches, which is similar to that of Sony, Sharp, and LG.

LG has announced that it will exhibit several ultra-high-definition television panels and the world's highest resolution 4K 2K monitor at CES in Las Vegas this month, as well as a series of small and full HD resolutions for smart devices. Size panel.

Coincidentally, not long ago, the old electrician equipment manufacturer Westinghouse Electric Corporation also announced that it will launch a giant screen 4K TV at the CES show this year, while Westinghouse also revealed that the product will use LED backlight technology, although in 2013 CES exhibition has not yet opened, but the focus of attention of various manufacturers is already faint.

High price or short board

Ultra HDTVs have more than 8 million pixels, compared to only 2 million pixels for full HD TVs. However, one of the major factors that currently hinders consumers from buying clearer televisions is price.

For example, Sony and LG have introduced 84-inch (64-inch) ultra-high definition televisions with prices of 25,000 and 20,000 dollars, respectively. Toshiba announced that it will launch a 55-inch Ultra HDTV in Japan at a price of 750,000 yen (US$8,700). The reason why Ultra HDTVs are expensive is that they use a new type of liquid crystal display panel, which requires component manufacturers to provide higher-precision products. So far, the productivity of such panels has remained low, but product quality is expected to increase gradually over time.

Some industry observers are not worried about the high-end price of ultra high-definition televisions, because the prices of new technologies are often high. These observers believe that the initial prices of high-definition televisions, mobile phones, and other products have deterred most consumers, but as prices have fallen, these products have become very popular. They also said that consumers have been able to recognize the advantages of televisions, tablets, and smart phones with higher image clarity.

Paul Gagnon, head of North American TV market research at NPD DisplaySearch, a research firm, says consumers are willing to pay more for what they understand. It is easy to understand how the higher definition of the TV picture is.

Despite this, people still have reason to doubt the technology. Since the sales of high-definition televisions reached their highest level in the past decade, TV manufacturers have been trying to slow down the pricelessness and profitability of the decline. They have launched high-end models with 3D display or network interface. These technologies have already become the necessary performance of mainstream televisions, but they have not reversed the trend of falling TV prices.

HD channels too little market to be developed

The listing of UHD ultra high-definition television has triggered a great market expectation for a time. However, some people in the industry believe that at the beginning of the listing, there would be a situation where there would be “being apprehensive”. The main reason is that there are currently fewer HD channels. In the existing radio and television program system, the number of high-definition channels is only a dozen stations, and the viewing cost is higher than the price of ordinary set-top boxes. Even if consumers buy back 4K 2K ultra-high-definition televisions, I am afraid it is difficult to find rice pots. "Ultra-high-definition televisions are hard to fully display their space for a time."

At the same time, consumers who purchase ultra-high definition televisions too early need to regard them as ordinary TV programs that are "high-definition" to match the launch of such TV sets. However, those who support the purchase of ultra-high-definition televisions now claim that they are. After the "HD" TV program, the picture quality on the Ultra HDTV is better than on the HDTV.

"Ultra HD" becomes a trend

At the same time, consumers are calling for larger TVs. When high-definition televisions were introduced to the market just this century, most televisions had screens of about 30 inches.

A few years ago, most televisions on the market had screens that were more than 40 inches or even 50 inches. TV manufacturers also introduced full-HD displays at this time, and their pixels were twice that of ordinary TVs. Today, TV screens are unknowingly over 60, 70 inches, and manufacturers are trying to launch TVs with larger screens.

Another feature of ultra-high definition televisions is the "4K" display, which has approximately 4,000 pixels across the screen, which is about twice that of high-definition televisions.

The higher pixel density allows the user to see less of the "pixelation" often seen on low resolution televisions when sitting close together. In addition, high pixel density also allows users to use televisions for new uses such as reading news.

A person in charge of a well-known home appliance manufacturer said that as the screen size continues to expand, it is a valuable capability to make the screen look more realistic from any distance. He said that this is a natural transition.

According to NPD DisplaySearch estimates, by 2017, ultra high-definition TVs will only account for 2% of all LCD TV sales, but will account for 22% of TVs above 50 inches.

At present, Hollywood has begun to accept 4K cameras and 4K projectors. Recently, about 60 televisions have provided Ultra HD versions, and Skyfall is one of them. But if the theater does not have a 4K projector, then the movie is just like an ordinary high-definition movie.

Sony introduced a 4K digital camera last year, and it took up about 10% of the 4K digital projector market. Sony said that through cooperation with Hollywood and early research on the technology, it has accumulated the largest 4K video database in the industry.

Sony CEO Hirai Hirai stated at a press conference discussing company strategy in April that in the future we will continue to expand 4K technologies from professional applications to consumer applications by expanding and introducing new products.

An important issue is how quickly TV makers can lower prices. The process of launching high-definition television sets in the middle of the first decade of the 21st century provides a model for predicting the speed of price declines. According to NPD DisplaySearch, the price of a 40-inch high-definition TV in 2005 was around US$4,800, and by 2012 it had dropped to around US$560.

The number of competing 4K TV makers should be small, which helps to lower prices, at least judging from the expected level of activity at the CES show. Westinghouse is planning to exhibit a 110-inch ultra high-definition TV in addition to conventional-size televisions. This TV will be ordered in the first quarter, the price has not been announced.

Samsung, Sharp, and four home appliance makers including Haier and Hisense are also expected to introduce ultra high-definition televisions this year.

Although the expectations are high, manufacturers have not treated ultra-high definition television as a panacea for the treatment industry. Atsushi Murasawa, general manager of Toshiba’s strategic planning department, said that 4K, like its predecessor 3D, may not bring much help to TV makers without changing consumer perceptions of televisions and their value.