The 2014 International CES Show in Las Vegas has brought plenty of innovation to the forefront, giving consumers a taste of what’s to come for 2014 and beyond. For home theater fans and future television buyers, CES also brought a number of advances in flat screen TV technology. The following is a brief rundown of the latest TV trends that have emerged from this year’s CES event.
The Future is Ultra HD
Think your current 1080p High Definition screen is as good as it gets? According to IEEE Spectrum, Ultra High Definition is one of the emerging trends for consumers to look out for. Ultra HD technology promises to bring higher 4K resolution to home viewers, resulting in better color depth and most importantly, a crystal clear picture with an amazing level of detail. For example, through its Xfinity on Demand service, Comcast is one of several content providers seeking to roll out 4K Ultra HD content. Even if consumers decide to sign up for Internet in a bundle with TV, they may also be able to benefit from their provider’s Ultra HD services.
With a growing number of content providers offering 4K content, it’s only a matter of time before Ultra HD sets become a common fixture in most homes. The only hurdle standing in the way is the price – IEEE Spectrum notes that the average Ultra HD set currently costs $3,000.
Look at Those Curves
The most stunning development at CES 2014 was the arrival of curved and flexible TVs. According to Immersaview, a curved screen offers a wider field of view and subsequently a greater sense of immersion for viewers. While projectors have traditionally been used for this purpose, several manufacturers including LG, Samsung and Panasonic have all debuted curved screen HD televisions.
As noted by Digital Trends, Samsung is pulling out all the stops with its Ultra HD lineup, starting with its bendable 85-inch and curved 105-inch LED TV. Available in sizes as small as 55 inches, Samsung’s U9000 series feature an optimal curve radius best for viewing distances of up to four meters. Meanwhile, LG took the wraps off of its flexible OLED television. According to the company’s site, the 77-inch unit is the world’s first OLED to feature an adjustable curvature. Viewers can adjust the screen’s curvature via remote, according to their desired preferences.
Smart TV Gets Smarter
Despite all of the hype surrounding Ultra HD and curved TVs, Smart TV technology has gotten plenty of love from manufacturers. One of the biggest announcements according to IEEE Spectrum came by way of LG, which announced that it was using technology from recently acquired WebOS as the basis of its smart TV platform. Meanwhile, Panasonic unveiled its Life+Screen user interface technology, bringing to the table unique features such as motion-sensitive activation and individual viewer profiles.
The recent spate of new and updated operating systems for smart TVs is aimed at tackling the usability issues posed by today’s smart TV tech. Manufacturers are also looking forward to integrating these smart TVs into the greater smart home environment, where nearly every piece of technology in the home is interconnected to a greater home network via wireless.
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