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Monday, March 30th, 2015 3:28 PM

Ultra HD 4K

when will ATT begin offering the 4k Ultra HD Format.

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3.2K Messages

10 years ago

Starting a new format is always slow because they do not make equipment until there is content available & they do not make content until there is equipment available.

 

It comes in bits & pieces, fits & starts until it reaches critical mass.

 

Widescreen HD came out in a number of steps that still exist. Hard to justify costs for more bandwidth.

 

In the u-verse case it is probably further burdened by stream limitation. Probably there will not be a u-verse upgrade until there is a tech breakthrough to do it without losing a strem. Or, not until there is a major deployment of optical fiber replacing  the copper delivery system.

ACE - Professor

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8.2K Messages

10 years ago

Do other providers carry Ultra HD 4K content?

 

I would imagine that at this point, it is only a few providers offering a very few things in the format. It reminds me of how DirecTV only offers a few select movies in 1080p content.

 

I am quite sure that to be "True Ultra HD 4K", the cameras and delivery system must also be in that format...similar to how the old HDNet was when other "HD channels" still showed a lot of stuff in SD because that's how the cameras and trucks were.

Expert

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4.3K Messages

10 years ago


@golfer4life wrote:

when will ATT begin offering the 4k Ultra HD Format.


Latest test of 4K TVs at PC Mag showed they really couldn't tell the difference from an HD TV at normal viewing distances, the 4K TV looked better when viewed from 2' away.  Then they could see a difference from HD.

 

Personally think it's another much ado about nothing like 3-D was.  Just another scam to make people buy a 4K TV. Smiley LOL

 

Chris
__________________________________________________________

Please NO SD stretch-o-vision or 480 SD HD Channels
Need Help? PM ATT Uverse Care (all service problems)
ATT Customer Care(all other problems)
Your Results May Vary, In My Humble Opinion
I Call It Like I See It, Simply a U-verse user, nothing more

ACE - Professor

 • 

8.2K Messages

10 years ago


@mibrnsurg wrote:

@golfer4life wrote:

when will ATT begin offering the 4k Ultra HD Format.


Latest test of 4K TVs at PC Mag showed they really couldn't tell the difference from an HD TV at normal viewing distances, the 4K TV looked better when viewed from 2' away.  Then they could see a difference from HD.

 

Personally think it's another much ado about nothing like 3-D was.  Just another scam to make people buy a 4K TV. Smiley LOL

 

Chris
__________________________________________________________

Please NO SD stretch-o-vision or 480 SD HD Channels
Need Help? PM ATT Uverse Care (all service problems)
ATT Customer Care(all other problems)
Your Results May Vary, In My Humble Opinion
I Call It Like I See It, Simply a U-verse user, nothing more


 

 

I think 4K has a better chance than 3D does. With 4K, you just need a new TV...no need to buy expensive glasses or a special transponder at additional fees. Imagine only having four pairs of 3D glasses during a Super Bowl party...fine lot of good those'll do.

 

With that said, part of the reason why the jump to HD worked is because the US government mandated that broadcast channels shut down their analog broadcast signals, prompting a lot of people to upgrade their TVs (or buy the special receivers.)

 

With ALL THAT said...we're also forgetting that the jump to HD took several years. I believe the first HD signals were sent out in the late 90s, but it still took at least 6-7 years for a lot of people to get a HDTV as their primary TV. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people still have 4x3 SDTVs as their backup TVs, especially lower-budget homes and college students.


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