Current

Current http://www.current.com.au/ en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss info@current.com.au (The Editor) Recycling Success: DHL hits its TV and PC recycling target http://www.current.com.au/2013/06/19/article/Recycling-Success-DHL-hits-its-TV-and-PC-recycling-target/ASRLLZCGJS.html http://www.current.com.au/2013/06/19/article/Recycling-Success-DHL-hits-its-TV-and-PC-recycling-target/ASRLLZCGJS.html Current.com.au Correspondent By Patrick Avenell DHL Supply Chain, one of the co-regulators charged with facilitating the recycling of TVs and computers, has today announced that it will meet its 2012-13 target of 18,500 tonnes of e-waste. This target was set based on the weight of products imported by <a href="http://www.current.com.au/2013/03/27/article/Partners-in-Product-Stewardship-list-of-co-regulator-agreements/WZMNTXXIXB.html" target="_blank">DHL’s clients</a>, including Sony, Samsung, LG Electronics and Kogan. DHL is the first co-regulator to publicly announce that it will meet its target. “DHL Supply Chain is delighted to be leading the way in e-waste recycling in Australia,” said senior director of EnviroSolutions Peter Bruce. “We’re proud to provide many Australians an alternative to landfill disposal and plan to make the service even more accessible to a greater number of people across Australia over the coming months with even more sites to go live. “This significant amount of e-waste will play a fundamental role to help lift the recycling rate of televisions and computers in Australia from the current low 17 per cent, to the Government’s target of 30 per cent by the end of this financial year. DHL has collection points for end-of-life TVs and computers at many Harvey Norman and Officeworks stores nationwide. It also conducts one-off collection events at pre-arranged times. Collection is brand-agnostic, meaning a DHL ‘Drop Zone’ can be used to offload old products from any brand. “The Drop Zone service is free to residents and small businesses and helps support a number of social enterprises through employment opportunities across Australia ranging from Endeavour Foundation in Townsville, Queensland, to City Mission located in Launceston, Tasmania.” Current.com.au's feature on this topic: <a href="http://www.current.com.au/2013/03/27/article/Expensive-and-under-performing-Teething-problems-hamper-TV--PC-Recycling-Scheme/NHJXOYAQDQ.html" target="_blank">Expensive and underperforming: Teething problems hamper TV & PC Recycling Scheme </a> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:47:51 +1000 Sony announces pricing and availability for new Ultra HD 4K TVs http://www.current.com.au/2013/06/11/article/Sony-announces-pricing-and-availability-for-new-Ultra-HD-4K-TVs/PHCWHHZFDV.html http://www.current.com.au/2013/06/11/article/Sony-announces-pricing-and-availability-for-new-Ultra-HD-4K-TVs/PHCWHHZFDV.html Current.com.au Correspondent By Claire Reilly Sony Australia has announced local pricing and availability of its two new Ultra High Definition TVs today, billing itself as “the first TV manufacturer to bring 55-inch and 65-inch 4K Ultra HD TVs to Australia”. The brand was also the first to launch an 84-inch Ultra HD TV for the local market, though pricing on the two smaller models is a significant step down from the <a href="http://www.current.com.au/2012/11/05/article/Sonys-4K-TV-costs-a-cool-25K-only-available-at-Sony-Centres/BBPIHAJTKC.html" target="_blank">$24,999 price tag on that flagship model</a>. Both new models will be available from July, according to Sony Australia, with the 55-inch model retailing for RRP $5,999 and the 65-inch available for RRP $8,999. <a data-bitly-type="bitly_hover_card" href="http://www.current.com.au/subscribe/index.php" style="padding-bottom: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-color: invert; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; color: rgb(127,196,35); font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; border-left-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline; padding-top: 0px" target="_blank">Click here to sign up for our FREE daily newsletter</a> <a data-bitly-type="bitly_hover_card" href="http://twitter.com/#!/Current_AR" style="padding-bottom: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-color: invert; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; color: rgb(127,196,35); font-size: 13px; border-left-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline; padding-top: 0px" target="_blank">Follow Current.com.au on Twitter</a> Speaking about the new models was Sony Australia’s marketing manager for home entertainment, Hass Mahdi. “Sony has long been a pioneer in premium quality TVs,” said Mahdi. “Today, we continue that tradition by launching our 55-inch and 65-inch Bravia X-Series models — the first 4K Ultra HD TVs available in Australia at that size. “These amazing TVs are about making 4K resolution a reality for everyday consumers. Sony’s new 4K Ultra HD TVs will make everything you watch look and sound better, regardless of content source — broadcast TV, DVD, Blu-ray, internet, whatever.” <a href="http://www.current.com.au/2013/05/29/article/1cm-2-models-3-killer-features-4K-Sony-launches-X9000-Ultra-HD-series/TNDBFKMIYV.html" target="_blank">Read Current.com.au's full wrap-up of the new Sony TV range here. </a> Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:12:37 +1000 LG gains regulatory approval to become Australia's third OLED TV supplier http://www.current.com.au/2013/06/07/article/LG-gains-regulatory-approval-to-become-Australias-third-OLED-TV-supplier/PCNPSCFLIO.html http://www.current.com.au/2013/06/07/article/LG-gains-regulatory-approval-to-become-Australias-third-OLED-TV-supplier/PCNPSCFLIO.html Current.com.au Correspondent By Patrick Avenell LG Electronics Australia has received regulatory approval to release its first Curved OLED TV in Australia. It is only fourth time the federal energy ratings body has approved an OLED panel for sale. Approval is provided by E3: Equipment Energy Efficiency, a joint initiative of Australian, state and territory Governments, and the New Zealand Government. <a data-bitly-type="bitly_hover_card" href="http://www.current.com.au/subscribe/index.php" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(127,196,35); padding-top: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-right-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline; outline: invert none 0px" target="_blank">Click here to sign up for our FREE daily newsletter</a> <a data-bitly-type="bitly_hover_card" href="http://twitter.com/#!/Current_AR" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(127,196,35); padding-top: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-right-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline; outline: invert none 0px" target="_blank">Follow Current.com.au on Twitter</a> The 55-inch 55EA9800-TA model, manufactured in Indonesia, is expected to go on sale locally for around $14,000 during the second half of the year. Receiving regulatory approval is mandatory for all TVs sold in Australia. LG’s Curved OLED TV has a 4.5-star rating and a comparative energy consumption of 373 kilowatt hours per annum. Here is how LG describes its Curved OLED TV in marketing materials: “Only 4.3 millimetres at its thinnest point and weighing just 17 kilograms, LG’s Curved OLED TV produces astoundingly vivid and realistic images thanks to its proprietary WRGB technology. The unique Four-Colour Pixel system features a white sub-pixel, which works in conjunction with the conventional red, blue, green setup to perfect the colour output. What’s more, LG’s exclusive Colour Refiner maintains the colour accuracy of the image, resulting in images that are extremely vibrant, natural and enjoyable to view. As in the original flat screen OLED TV, the Curved OLED TV also offers an infinite contrast ratio for optimal contrast levels.” With this approval, LG joins Sony Australia and Daijitsu as the only suppliers with a regulatory nod to supply OLED TVs. The 11-inch XEL-1 from Sony was the first OLED TV approved in Australia, in 2009. Sold only through Sony Centres for RRP $6,999, the XEL-1 did a great job creating buzz for the Japanese supplier though it is unknown if Sony actually sold any units. “The XEL-1 features an astonishing 3 millimetre organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel that delivers contrast ratios of 1,000,000:1, high peak brightness, enhanced colour reproduction and rapid response times,” <a href="http://www.current.com.au/2009/04/07/article/Sony-Australia-launches-worlds-first-OLED-TV/CAUTQSMVFN.html" target="_blank">reported Current.com.au at the time</a>. The Daijitsu TV is more mysterious. Current.com.au has discovered this was a 42-inch TV manufactured in China, though there is no evidence to suggest it was ever sold locally. Daijitsu is primarily an air conditioner brand, though it has been used to market televisions in the past. UPDATE: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the energy consumption of a Panasonic TV. The TH-L55WT50A has a Comparative Energy Consumption of 393 kilowatt hours per annum, not 138 as originally stated. <img alt="" height="300" src="/image/LG OLED TV with Curved Screen(3).bmp" width="343" /> Between Daijitsu gaining regulatory OLED approval in 2010 and LG this month, there have been 2,984 TVs approved for sale in Australia and New Zealand. Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:30:56 +1000 Digital switchover in Brisbane sees strong TV sales for retailers http://www.current.com.au/2013/05/29/article/Digital-switchover-in-Brisbane-sees-strong-TV-sales-for-retailers/ORWIMCAWIP.html http://www.current.com.au/2013/05/29/article/Digital-switchover-in-Brisbane-sees-strong-TV-sales-for-retailers/ORWIMCAWIP.html Current.com.au Correspondent By Claire Reilly Residents in Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast have become the latest Australians to see the complete switch off of analogue free-to-air TV signals as part of the Federal Government’s switchover to digital TV. The region represented the largest switch in Australia since the rollout of digital free-to-air television began, with more than 1.19 million households in Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast now getting access to the new service. To date, almost 5 million households across Australia have switched to digital TV. <a href="http://www.current.com.au/subscribe/index.php" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-color: invert; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; color: rgb(127,196,35); font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; text-decoration: underline; padding-top: 0px" target="_blank">Click here to sign up for our FREE daily newsletter</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Current_AR" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-color: invert; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; color: rgb(127,196,35); font-size: 13px; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; text-decoration: underline; padding-top: 0px" target="_blank">Follow Current.com.au on Twitter</a> Chris Lebreton from Broadbeach Betta Electrical on Queensland’s Gold Coast said the change in technology had meant strong sales in his store’s TV department over recent months, especially as the retailer caters to a large number of property owners of strata titled units that are rented out as holiday accommodation. “We mainly deal with the accommodation industry — holiday accommodation where all the units are owned by individual owners — and a lot of managers have been in touch with us because there are still some owners out there that still have the old analogue sets. “There were a few units here and there that slipped through where the owners had the old analogue sets, and obviously they’re no longer suitable. So we have been doing a few set-top boxes and upgrades. We’ve been quite busy!” While it is possible to upgrade an analogue television with a new set-top box, Lebreton said most customers where choosing to upgrade their whole TV to a newer model. “It’s absolutely been positive in regards to TV sales, there’s certainly been a spike in that.” Now that the switchover has occurred, consumers no longer have the need to go out and upgrade their TV, but Lebreton said there was still plenty of reasons for consumers to come into his store. “Everyone wants a bigger and better TV now. People might have had a 32-inch High Definition LCD which is about 5 years old now. So customers that got those TVs when they first came out will probably say might opt for a 50-inch model because obviously the prices have changed since five years ago.”Œ Wed, 29 May 2013 14:52:35 +1000 1cm, 2 models, 3 killer features, 4K: Sony launches X9000 Ultra HD series http://www.current.com.au/2013/05/29/article/1cm-2-models-3-killer-features-4K-Sony-launches-X9000-Ultra-HD-series/TNDBFKMIYV.html http://www.current.com.au/2013/05/29/article/1cm-2-models-3-killer-features-4K-Sony-launches-X9000-Ultra-HD-series/TNDBFKMIYV.html Current.com.au Correspondent By Patrick Avenell Picture, sound and connectivity: the three pillars of Sony’s new Ultra HD range, officially launched last night in Sydney. Ultra HD has four times the clarity of Full HD, with a resolution of 3,820 x 2,160. Although <a href="http://www.current.com.au/2013/05/01/article/Launch-of-LG-Ultra-HD-and-Curved-OLED-proves-brand-is-category-captain/CKLCSTGGYO.html" target="_blank">LG has already shown off Ultra HD TVs in 55- and 65-inch models</a>, Sony claims it will be the first to market with Ultra HD in these smaller screen sizes, having previously been the all-round first to market with its <a href="http://www.current.com.au/2012/11/05/article/Sony-explains-25000-price-for-84-inch-Ultra-HD-TV-closed-distribution-and-4K/ICVWODJXCT.html" target="_blank">$25,000 84-inch model late last year</a>. Sony likes to call Ultra HD ‘4K’ because, as group manager for network services and technology Paul Colley explained, Ultra HD can also refer to 8K, especially in the professional videography market. In the consumer space, however, ‘4K’ and ‘Ultra HD’ almost always mean the same thing and are interchangeable. <a href="http://www.current.com.au/subscribe/index.php" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(127,196,35); padding-top: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-right-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline; outline: invert none 0px" target="_blank">Click here to sign up for our FREE daily newsletter</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Current_AR" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(127,196,35); padding-top: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-right-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline; outline: invert none 0px" target="_blank">Follow Current.com.au on Twitter</a> The grunt powering the incredibly vivid and, at times, disturbingly realistic imagery on Sony’s Bravia X9000 Series of 4K TVs is the X-Reality Pro engine. More than any other TV supplier, Sony likes to talk about and talk up its Bravia engines – a sign of its unwavering confidence in its performance. “We really are delivering cutting-edge technology that is far superior to anything else that is out there,” Colley said. “We have the best picture quality of any TV on the market; that is without question. The X-Reality Pro is the processor in our TV. For any image to get onto the screen of a TV, it has to go through a processor. It doesn’t matter what video content you’ve got or if you’ve got the best panel on the planet, all images have to go through the processor, and if you’ve got a dodgy processor, you’ll get dodgy images.” Colley said the processor was responsible for upscaling, removing MPEG ‘noise’ and decoding content. Sony’s processor is superior, Colley said, because the data it uses to transfer content to images is built from laborious research conducted by Sony Pictures engineers — information that no other manufacturer has access to. Further enhancing Sony’s picture quality is its new Triluminous Display feature, which can deliver a wider array of colours that a standard R/G/B LED TV. Already we have seen Sharp debut Quattron technology (yellow) and LG showcase TVs with a white pixel, though no supplier has managed to effectively market the advantages of extra colours to consumers. The most distinct aesthetic feature of the X9000 Series are the integrated ‘Magnetic Fluid Speakers’ on the sides of the bezel. <img alt="" height="300" src="/image/KD55X9004A Magnetic Fluid Speaker Close Up.jpg" width="450" /> A close up shot of the Magnetic Fluid Speakers. “On most TVs on the market today, the speakers point down, because that’s the only place you can put them – because they are so thin that’s the only place you can put them,” Colley said. “But we sit in front of the TV, so it makes sense to have the speakers facing forward.” While Sony’s new TVs are only 1-centimetre deep, the speakers employ NASA technology to enhance sound output, resulting in less distortion, Colley claimed. The final piece of Sony’s triple threat is connectivity. Empirically, Sony has the most comprehensive Smart TV offering, with catch up TV services from the ABC, SBS, Channel 7 and Channel 10 — the only supplier to offer four different networks. Sony also has Music Unlimited, Pandora internet radio, an app platform with 80 apps to download and video on demand services. <img alt="" height="300" src="/image/4KTV image 1.bmp" width="450" /> In 2010, shortly after Sony first started investing in Smart TV functionality, only 17 per cent of Smart Bravia owners were connecting their TVs to the internet. That figure has now risen to over 70 per cent, according to Sony’s internal research. Sony’s new X9000 Series of 4K TVs in 55- and 65-inch models will be available in July 2013.ŒWhenŒwe asked for RRPs, we received the following response from a Sony press officer: "The RRPs on the new Sony 4K TVs haven’t been announced yet.Œ We will be able to share more information closer to the availability date in July." As a special gift-with-purchase, Sony will be bundling eight Blu-ray movie titles, remastered in 4K, with the TVs. These titles are Angels & Demons, Battle: Los Angeles, Ghostbusters, The Karate Kid (Jaden Smith), The Amazing Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield), Spider-Man (Toby Maguire), The Other Guys and Total Recall (Colin Farrell). <img alt="" height="351" src="/image/4K_Ghostbusters.jpg" width="300" /> The Ghostbusters themesong by Ray Parker Jr was the subject of plagiarism accusations by Huey Lewis and the News songwriters Hayes and Lewis. One for the American Psycho fans... Wed, 29 May 2013 11:31:46 +1000 Feature: TV resolutions are Ultra High but content streams remain undefined http://www.current.com.au/2013/05/28/article/Feature-TV-resolutions-are-Ultra-High-but-content-streams-remain-undefined/VNJYSNZURQ.html http://www.current.com.au/2013/05/28/article/Feature-TV-resolutions-are-Ultra-High-but-content-streams-remain-undefined/VNJYSNZURQ.html Current.com.au Correspondent Special Report by Patrick Avenell Django Unchained, Argo, Skyfall and Lincoln — four blockbusters from 2012 filmed in Ultra High Definition (also known as Ultra HD, UHD and 4K). Although the first Ultra HD TVs were only released by LG and Sony in late 2012, the film industry was already using commercial 4K cameras to record movies at 3,840 x 2,160 — four times the resolution of Full HD — and had been for a number of years. And when you watch native 4K content on an Ultra HD TV, the vision is unmatched. The clarity of James Bond falling from a Turkish bridge, gliding across the water to a Macau casino and defending his Scottish home are vivid, immersive and addictive. The improvement from Full HD to Ultra HD is significantly better than the jump from HD to Full HD that was experienced in the 2000s. At the turn of 2013, there were only two Ultra HD TV models on the Australian market, and both were more expensive than a late model Mazda. Now at the turn of winter, there are more brands releasing Ultra HD TVs, in more screen sizes, at much more affordable prices. <a data-bitly-type="bitly_hover_card" href="http://www.current.com.au/subscribe/index.php" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 0px; font: 13px/13px arial, helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; text-transform: none; color: rgb(127,196,35); text-indent: 0px; padding-top: 0px; white-space: normal; letter-spacing: normal; background-color: transparent; text-align: center; border-right-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline; outline: invert none 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; widows: 2; orphans: 2" target="_blank">Click here to sign up for our FREE daily newsletter</a> <a data-bitly-type="bitly_hover_card" href="http://twitter.com/#!/Current_AR" style="border-top-width: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; word-spacing: 0px; font: 13px/17px arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-transform: none; color: rgb(127,196,35); text-indent: 0px; padding-top: 0px; white-space: normal; letter-spacing: normal; background-color: transparent; text-align: center; border-right-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline; outline: invert none 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; widows: 2; orphans: 2" target="_blank">Follow Current.com.au on Twitter</a> Samsung has joined LG and Sony at the premium end, while Hisense, TCL and Changhong represent the emerging Chinese powerhouses at a level, perhaps surprisingly, only slightly below the high end. Although it showcased a revolutionary 4K OLED TV at the CES, Panasonic is not expected to launch an Ultra HD model in Australia this year. Be it Full HD, 3D or Smart features, the content at launch for TV technology is sparse, a point acknowledged by the company most invested in 4K technology, Sony. “As is the case with new technology, with past examples including CD, DVD and Blu-ray, there is very little content available when these platforms launch,” home entertainment marketing manager Hass Mahdi. “It simply isn’t possible to launch a new content ecosystem and have all the content available on day one.” Phillip Anderson, head of PR at rival brand LG Electronics, used similar examples when addressing this issue. “Whilst at this stage Ultra HD is in its infancy, the amount of content available for viewing is starting to grow, as are the products to play back Ultra HD content,” he said. “As with any new technology that enters the market, new content will follow and technology will continue to advance with it. As when Blu-ray was introduced, it will only be a matter of time before content is readily available for all.” Critical mass in content and the delivery of content is vital for Ultra HD to avoid becoming as ho-hum as 3D TV. In addition to films, images captured on most modern digital cameras are 4K, and soon personal 4K video cameras will be released (Sony demonstrated a prototype model at CES). Rather than focus on dedicated 4K Players, more weight is being given to content streaming over the internet. “HEVC and XAVC codecs have recently been ratified, which makes 4K bit rate requirements much more manageable than one would think,” Mahdi said. “You could stream 4K through a home cable internet connection today and the NBN will only accelerate this ability across the nation, so distribution can be wide reaching quickly.” High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) is the more robust successor to H.264/MPEG-4, one of the most popular codecs for high definition video, having been used for YouTube, iTunes and many cable TV broadcasts. XAVC is Sony’s own codec, available to other suppliers under licence, and it can support 4K resolution at up to 60 frames per second. These codecs will form the basis of the native 4K content, which will grow in volume as the technology filters in to what Sony likes to call an ecosystem. “Sony offers an end-to-end 4K ecosystem,” Mahdi said. “We have been at the forefront of the 4K technology development, leveraging our extensive history in professional imaging to develop professional cameras, such as the F65, to produce 4K content; commercial 4K projectors for movie cinemas; as well as 4K home cinema projectors, 4K capable receivers, and now 4K TVs.” Despite these achievements, Mahdi knows retailers have to be at the forefront of communication. “In-store displays should be designed to showcase the superior picture quality 4K technology offers,” he said. “It’s important to educate customers on 4K technology and the immersive large screen home entertainment experience it provides.” This is a rare point that brings unity between Sony and Samsung, as Brad Wright, director of AV at the Korean supplier explained. “Retailers must be passionate about the UHD technology and its uses,” Wright said. “They must also be more educated than the consumer; they need to know everything about the UHD technology and everything that it brings. “Retailers must evangelise the technology, they must explain why UHD is great technology for those who want great display and design.” While a retailer should be more knowledgeable than the consumer, in order to answer the technical questions, LG’s Phillip Anderson believes a fine display area that lets the TV speak for itself and a simple message about its capabilities can be effective. “Staff should be aware that Ultra HD TV presents a whole new level of picture quality, boasting definition four times higher than Full HD, providing an incredibly vivid and crisp picture, even when viewed from close distances. “Essentially, there are four times as many pixels as Full HD TV. It will thoroughly satisfy the viewer with flawless detail, lifting the standard of visual display.” Through its various guises, Sony has invested a lot more money in 4K content than any other suppliers — understandable considering none of them own movie studios. Rather than promote Ultra HD content, Wright is enthusiastic about Samsung’s upscaling technology. “With UHD TVs, it is imperative that the product has sophisticated upscaling technology to be able to show content on the huge screens at high quality,” he said. “Samsung Australia has been working with various content providers in Australia to ensure when content is upscaled to UHD it is stunning. “This is thanks to Samsung’s proprietary upscaling engine and its algorithms.” These content partners include Foxtel, Quickflix, BigPond Movies and Yahoo!7, though upscale availability will vary. Normally when a new TV technology is released, the Chinese brands are a few months behind. With Ultra HD, that gap has closed considerably. Andre Iannuzzi, marketing manager at Hisense Australia, said it was “fantastic” to be launching new technology concurrent with the Japanese and Korean brands, especially at this juncture. “Ultra HD is expected to usher in a new era of profitability in the television category as users continue to take up larger size televisions,” he said. “From an industry perspective, It’s not a mystery that it is well needed and highly anticipated. “As an industry, it’s an opportunity to present a much higher specced new technology in that larger size segment, which is the fastest growing size segment in Australia.” When asked how he would like retailers to describe Ultra HD to inquisitive consumers, Iannuzzi flipped the question on its head. “Hopefully the customer won’t actually have to ask,” he said. “It really comes down to how the product is presented in stores. If it does have to be explained, it comes back to the basics in TVs, which is picture quality — all the research tells us that is what customers care about most.” Samsung and LG’s new Ultra HD TVs were launched locally last month. Sony is launching its range this month. We asked Iannuzzi how far behind the Chinese brands would be. “The reality is that we’ve noticed that the gap is closing,” he said. “A lot of industry players have noticed this and it presents a massive opportunity for emerging brands — the technology gap is closing but there is space for a lot of different competitors in the market.” Read about the various 2013 TV ranges through these links: <a href="http://www.current.com.au/2013/05/01/article/Launch-of-LG-Ultra-HD-and-Curved-OLED-proves-brand-is-category-captain/CKLCSTGGYO.html" target="_blank">Launch of LG Ultra HD and Curved OLED proves brand is 'category captain'</a> <a href="http://www.current.com.au/2013/04/22/article/Catering-for-everybody-Pricing-and-availability-on-Samsungs-new-TV-range/GQQTOTISFN.html" target="_blank">'Catering for everybody': Pricing and availability on Samsung's new TV range</a> <a href="http://www.current.com.au/2013/04/17/article/Hisense-launching-two-Ultra-HD-models-rolling-out-JB-Hi-Fi-displays/ZOXIGMSEZK.html" target="_blank">Hisense launching two Ultra HD models, rolling out JB Hi-Fi displays</a> A version of this article first appeared in <a href="http://www.intermedia.com.au/print/news-item/appliance-retailer-magazine" target="_blank">Appliance Retailer</a><a href="http://www.intermedia.com.au/print/news-item/appliance-retailer-magazine" target="_blank"> magazine</a>. Tue, 28 May 2013 14:55:50 +1000