Qualcomm demos 4K Android gaming tablet at MWC 2014

The first Android tablet equipped with Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 805 processor was on-hand at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

The Verge got to try it out, and the tech site said that "it's good, it's very good." They played existing games including Asphalt 8: Airborne and Injustice: Gods Among Us and seemed impressed. Since the games' textures and graphics were designed for lower resolutions, "they don't look as awesome as they could, but the sheer fact that they can be run at 4K with a perfectly playable frame rate is impressive," the site said.

The Qualcomm tablet on display at the tech show appears to be merely for demonstration purposes, though. Qualcomm announced the new Snapdragon chip last November, but it's not due to show up in any retail devices this summer. When it does, though, 4K resolution tablet gaming may well become the new standard.

There's debate as to whether jamming so many pixels onto the relatively small screens of tablets and smartphones will actually provide much benefit to the human eye, but that seems to be the direction the industry is headed regardless.

More Related:

• Upcoming 4K Android tablet games could blow away anything you see on the iPad
• 4K gaming is coming to an Android tablet near you

 

News: 4K House Of Cards Won't Be Gentle On Usage Caps

We've already noted how bandwidth caps likely won't fare very well with the arrival of 4K video, even with the help of next-generation compression codecs. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings is already on record stating their upcoming 4K streams will need at least 15 Mbps and would be most optimal with 50 Mbps. Sony's upcoming 4K film service will similarly plow through gigabytes like a hot knife through butter. 

With everybody currently binge watching Netflix's "House of Cards," Gizmodo quite correctly points out that binge-watching the series in 4K will be anything but gentle on your bandwidth cap:

quote:

Streaming in 1080p on Netflix takes up 4.7GB/hour. So a regular one-hour episode of something debiting less than 5GB from your allotment is no big deal. However, with 4K, you've got quadruple the pixel count, so you're burning through 18.8GB/hour. Even if you're streaming with the new h.265 codec—which cuts the bit rate by about half, but still hasn't found its way into many consumer products—you're still looking at 7GB/hour. 

But you're not watching just one episode, are you? Of course not! You're binging on House of Cards, watching the whole series if not in one weekend then certainly in one month. That's 639 minutes of top-quality TV, which in 4K tallies up to 75GB if you're using the latest and greatest codec, and nearly 200GB if not. That means, best case scenario, a quarter of your cap—a third, if you're a U-Verse customer with a 250GB cap—spent on one television show. Throw in a normal month's internet usage, and you're toast.

It's even worse for many DSL users, whose caps are as low as 150 GB. And a few scattered ISPs (not even mentioning satellite broadband) take the cap limbo lower than that. Broadband ISPs have always insisted that their usage-caps would scale with necessity (instead of being tightened like a noose to hamper video competitors), and 4K video appears to be something that could test that claim.

Avatar trilogy of sequels to be shot in 4K, 48 fps high frame rate

James Cameron will shoot the three upcoming Avatar films in 4K resolution, and partially using the 48fps high frame rate format.



James Cameron has made a career out of pushing the boundaries of technology in his movies, and once again the director is planning on using the most cutting edge tech to film the three upcoming Avatar sequels. The trilogy of sequels will be shot back-to-back-to-back in 4K, and will at least partially use the 48fps high frame rate format recently seen in The Hobbit films, the director told the French outlet RTL.fr (which was then translated by TechRadar).

Films are typically shot in 2048 x 1080, but Cameron is proposing moving to 4096 x 2160. The director's move to Ultra HD isn't really that surprising given his love for using new technology. Cameron's choice to shoot the original Avatar in 3D led to a major windfall, as the film went on to earn close to $2.8 billion worldwide. Avatar certainly wasn't the first 3D film, but it remains the most successful. That helped to spur the current 3D film trend, where for a while it seemed like Hollywood's new passion would help to usher in the age of the 3D TV. That hasn't quite been the case, but with 4K TVs hitting the market, Cameron could once again help to push the new tech into the public consciousness.

"You know we'll be shooting at a native resolution probably of 4K and so there should be a lot of true 4K theaters by then as well," the director said.

The frame rate may be a bit of a tougher sell though. When The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey debuted its 48fps HFR version, it was divisive. Some loved the realistic look, while others derided it as "too-realistic," criticizing it for supplanting the textured cinematography audiences expect. It also highlighted what some saw as other technical failings that were unique to HFR, including lighting made for 24fps that was almost fluorescent in the new format. That didn't seem to hurt the box office though, as the first two films of the trilogy have earned nearly $2 billion worldwide.

While Cameron has embraced the Ultra HD wholeheartedly, he is still studying the HRF format. It will be used in the coming Avatar films to some degree, the question is how much.

"Well we're looking at high frame rate: I'm studying that," said Cameron. "I haven't made a final decision yet, whether the entire film will be made at a high frame rate or only parts of it."

Filming on the planned trilogy is set to begin in 2015, with all three films combined expected to cost upwards of $1 billion. Filming them together will help to speed up the process though, and the films are tentatively set for December releases in 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Do you really need a 4K smartphone screen?

 
See those two screens up there? Pretty soon the smartphone will have the same resolution as the much bigger panel (a 27-inch Dell U2711 monitor with 2,560 x 1,440 pixels). While the snappiest CPUs, more RAM, better cameras and other frills are a must for the latest handsets, the current marketing pièce de résistance is a higher-resolution screen. In four years, we've passed from a norm of 800 x 480 to 960 x 540 and up to 720p, 1080p and soon -- likely on Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S5 -- 2,560 x 1,440 Quad HD (QHD). That works out to a borderline-insane 500-plus pixels per inch (depending on screen size) and manufacturers aren't stopping there. But is more resolution worth the extra expense if you can't even see the difference? Well, it's complicated.



The first smartphone with Quad HD, the 6-inch Vivo Xplay 3S (pictured above), has already been announced. Others that could have that pixel count, like Samsung's Galaxy S5 and the Oppo Find 7 are rumored to be launching at Mobile World Congress next week. As a reality check, that's the maximum supported by most 27-inch and larger pro monitors, apart from several recently announced 4K models. While such screens pack a pixel density of about 110 ppi, the Vivo Xplay 3S handset clocks in at a whopping 490 ppi, more than four times as much. Most people (according to Apple) hold their phones about 10 inches from their eyes, but sit only a touch more than twice that distance from their monitor -- around 24 inches on average.

Are higher pixel counts worth the manufacturing cost and effort? In justifying the Retina display on the original iPhone 4, Apple famously said that the human eye could only resolve about 300 ppi from 10 inches. That seems to have merit considering that most glossy magazines are (effectively) printed at 300 ppi, and no one complains about the resolution of magazines. Others have said that it's possible to distinguish pixels up to about 480 ppi or even more, but that requires closer viewing distances and perfect, youthful eyesight. Most of us fall somewhere between those extremes, depending on our age and the state of our orbs.

If you're willing to allow that 480 ppi or so is the maximum resolution the best of us can see, then guess what? We're already there, pretty much. LG's Nexus 5 (above) for example, has 1,920 x 1,080 pixels jammed into its relatively petite 4.95-inch screen. That works out to 445 ppi, far in excess of Apple's first Retina display and, for this editor, completely artifact-free at eight to 10 inches, even on fine fonts. You could make the case that Vivo's much larger 6-inch phone is deserving of its 490-ppi Quad HD screen. But then again, six inches is pushing into tablet territory, and you'd probably hold such a phone farther from your eyes -- Apple figures on 15 inches for an 8-inch iPad mini with Retina, for example. From that distance your eyes will resolve less (again, assuming you can even see that close), negating the need for more pixels.

At about 3.7 megapixels, a Quad HD screen has nearly twice the resolution of a 1080p model (2.1 megapixels). Those extra pixels aren't going to push themselves around, meaning you'll need beefier graphics if you want to keep the whole "butter" thing going. Of course, Samsung's upcoming flagship will likely be powered by a state-of-the-art Snapdragon 805 or Exynos 6 CPU if the rumors pan out. However, with the extra resolution, you may not get a corresponding performance boost. On top of that, unless the Korean company's pulled off some coup, battery life may be the same or worse than the current Galaxy S4. All that means you might be sacrificing a lot of your smartphone's other capabilities in exchange for pixels that are (arguably) imperceptible.



Despite our reservations, pixel progress marches on. Japan Display announced 5.4- and 6.2-inch Quad HD panels; LG has at least a 5.5-inch screen incoming (above); and Qualcomm showed off a 5.1-inch 2,560 x 1,440 model. Along with Vivo's 6-inch display, that covers a wide gamut of screen sizes, most of which are bound to show up in new models this year. And if the rumors are true about Samsung's Galaxy S5, it'll be QHD with a 5.2-inch screen size -- that's 560 ppi, if you're keeping score at home.

It seems that's not enough, because Samsung has already said that it'll have 3,840 x 2,160 (4K) screens out by 2015 with 700 to 800 ppi, depending on screen size. Even the most ardent pixel-lovers would have to agree that's crazy, passing the limits of human acuity and matching 110-inch 4K home theater panels pixel-for-pixel. Naturally, we want our tech dripping from the bleeding edge and we love us some 4K. But after Quad HD becomes the gold standard later this year, manufacturers should focus on more important things like battery life, user experience and design. Don't hold your breath, though, because smartphone marketers love bigger numbers -- even if, like the emperor's clothes, you can't actually see the extra pixels.

This article originally published at Engadget

4 Things to Know About 4K

 

The term "4K" has become a big trend in display technology, with product announcements and demonstrations from the world’s leading suppliers.  What do these resolutions actually mean? In this eBook, learn the benefits and challenges surrounding the latest trend in video: 4K or Ultra HD resolution. This eBook also covers the stunning realism of 4K, the 4K content ecosystem, what's needed to drive 4K and how interactivity and 3D extend the 4K experience.





Proven High Resolution Experience

Planar has been operating in very high resolution environments for years. From desktop monitors to tiled video walls to LCD displays, Planar delivers displays options to suit applications requiring the highest resolutions and pixel density including:


QHD Monitors
The Planar PXL2790MW is a 27" QHD monitor that delivers breathtaking 2560 x 1440 resolution, four times the resolution of a 720p desktop monitor and 77% more resolution than a full HD desktop monitor. The Planar PXL2790MW is ideal for applications including video or photo editing, CAD/CAM and other mechanical design, and big data visualization.

Large Format 4K LCD Displays
Planar® UltraRes™ Series is a family of 84" Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) professional LCD displays that produce resolution and picture quality not before seen in large format LCD displays. With a native 4K resolution, Planar UltraRes Series has four times the resolution and pixel density of comparably-sized full HD displays. When displaying ultra HD content, Planar UltraRes Series delivers clarity and detail that appears sharp even at close viewing distances - no detail is missed. 

Video Walls
Planar offers LCD and rear projection video wall displays at full HD resolution that when tiled into 2x2 arrays can deliver stunning 4k resolution. Planar video wall solutions include Planar's award-winning Clarity™ Matrix LCD video walls and Clarity™ LED3 Series rear projection video walls.

This article originally published at PLANAR

Is Apple's Alleged iPad Pro Really a Good Idea? Some Suggest There's Just No Call

Apple is expected to launch a 12-inch iPad Pro hybrid later this year, but not everybody is convinced it's a good idea…or even that it will happen.

Apple's fabled iPad Pro has been the talk of the town for quite some time, but there are some industry insiders out that that aren't convinced we'll ever see the device brought to life.

And if we do, they don't think it will work out nearly as successful or lucratively as Apple and the rest of us seem to think.

It's pretty obvious and undeniably interesting idea on the whole. Apple's iPad Pro is said to be a gigantic 12-inch tablet PC that's built alongside a special docking station that transforms it into a fully-functional laptop. As such, buyers are in essence able to take home the best of all worlds – iPad plus MacBook – for one mid-range price.

Market-wise, the iPad Pro is tipped to be aimed at educational institutions and corporate buyers, while the standard consumer public will of course beat a path to its door…as always.

But here's the thing – does the iPad Pro really have any legs, or is it a case of pure hype and curiosity clouding better judgment?

Well, as far as the folks over at Motley Fool are concerned, it's more a case of the latter.

We know that Apple secured a patent to the kind of technology the iPad Pro demands and we also know that hybrid devices of a similar nature or nothing new. The thing is though, while tablet PC sales are once again expected to blow the roof off the tech industry throughout 2014, Gartner belies that the market for hybrid devices will climb at a much slower pace, improving just 5% on last year's sales.

And compared to standard tablet PCs, last year's hybrid sales were pretty paltry to say the least.

Which is where the theory begins to take shape – it's suggested that Apple really doesn't have enough justification or call for a device like the iPad Pro to push it out just yet. Educational and corporate markets haven't taken to hybrid devices nearly as quickly or unanimously as expected, so there's no guarantee the iPad Pro would be the device to make.

Of course, it's all pure speculation for the moment as Apple hasn't said a word on the subject either way. Food for thought though if nothing else – in the absence of an iPad Pro, where exactly will Apple take the iPad next time around?

Over to you…

This article originally published at HIGHLIGHTPRESS

4K TV, tablet PCs, sound bar ... High-tech products winners in 2014

The research firm GfK Wednesday released its 2013 report technical goods market in France. Connectivity will be the watchword of the sector in 2014.

What are the flagship products in 2014? The research firm GfK Wednesday released its 2013 assessment of the technology market in France, which suffered a further decline of 2% to 15.4 billion. But its forecasts for 2014 are good in most areas, and the key word is connectivity. Flat screens, cameras, audio equipment and video ... purchase two technical goods in 2013 is a product connected. Each household has an average of nearly 6. 

TV in high definition or nothing

                                Sony 85 "BRAVIA XBR-X950B 4K au CES 2014

Thus, it has sold one million televisions within the past year in 2012 to 5.7 million units, for an average price of 429 euros. But GfK noted that the decline is shrinking and expected stabilization of the market this year. The most promising sector seems to be 4K, very high definition, in which the firm expects 200,000 sales in 2014. Above all, smart TV, capable of connecting to the Internet, represented a quarter of all sales, and growing steadily. 

The sound gets rid of son

Listen to music wirelessly this year. Despite the audio market down 6 % last year , it's the excitement , as stated by GfK . The number of wireless devices sold doubled to one third of the total volume, with 1.4 million units sold. This growth is due to the enthusiasm of the public for listening stations and network channels ( respectively 940,000 and 124,000 units over the year) . These are still connected products that sell well . The research firm sees this as a "renaissance of the nomadic audio", and the democratization of the "multi- room" , that is to say the ability to listen to his music at home everywhere . The audio- video is also part of the dynamism of the offer, the soundbar confirming its commercial success ( 270,000 units sold in 2013 , double last year ) and now declining as a new genre: sound support. Intended to fill the gaps in the acoustic TV, the tour de force of this simplified version of the sound bar is having conquered 14% of the turnover in the market in its first year of activity.

Photo and Internet, a history story

Photo is the latest technology market to see his bubble collapse. Volume fell 18% in 2013 to 3.7 million units. The main cause is the sharp decline of the sector compact cameras, which accounts for three quarters of the market. The salvation is in the smart camera, a device that allows you to publish photos directly to the Internet, which has conquered a third of the market last year, a share that is expected to grow this year. Segment interchangeable lens cameras it is less likely that competition and then connects more than gently (-8%). This type of housing is still attracting many fans with more than 600 000 units sold, including 500,000 SLR. 

Smartphones: the vagus of bare phones

A phone sold 4 has been purchased without subsidy and therefore no subscription operator. On the other hand, offers the subsidized allows sustained installed 4G park which is already on sale this five year growth. These two trends have allowed the French mobile market to resume growth to 23.6 million units sold in 2013, including 15.8 million smartphones. One in five has been sold below 150 euros. Side technology, like television inch race continues on the phone. The phenomenon phablette this year allows the smartphone to display an average size of 4 inches, a screen 10% larger than in 2012.

The notebook resists, confirms tablet and Tablet PC off

With 11 million sales in 2013, the computer hardware market has a new record. Sector particularly tablets, with 6.2 million sales, and this is not going to stop because only 26% of households are equipped. GfK expects sales of 7.5 million this year. This increase is mainly driven by the significant decline in prices, 26% last year to 240 euros on average. The notebook market also finds the path to volume growth (+1%), thanks to the development of tactile (7.5% of sales in 2013) and with the arrival of tablet PC (147 000 units ). They should also grow strongly in 2014 with 450,000 units expected. Finally, only a few markets seem structurally down as desktop PC, Netbook, PC webcams and mice.

NTT, NEC Launch Real-time 4K/60p Video Compression Unit

First 4K HEVC video compression unit could help spread of content for Ultra-HD screens

IDG News Service (Tokyo Bureau) — NTT and NEC have launched a compression unit for 4K/60p high-resolution video that can compress video in real time using the HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) format.

Commercialization of the technology is a world first, the telecommunications and electronics titans said.

A real-time encoding unit using the technology, the VC-8150, went on sale Wednesday in Japan, with shipping to begin in April.

The unit complies with the latest international standards on HEVC, a compression format for video that is the successor to the popular AVC (Advanced Video Coding), also known as MPEG-4 part 10.

The companies said the development was based in part on an analysis of an HEVC algorithm.

"Previously, 1.5 GB of terrestrial digital broadcast data could be compressed to 15 MB, but with this newly developed technology, 12 GB can be compressed to 30 MB," an NEC spokesman said. "We realized a four-fold improvement in the compression rate."

"With this technology, stations can begin 4K broadcasts," the spokesman said, adding the unit would be priced in the range of tens of millions of yen (hundreds of thousands of US dollars).

In addition to the VC-8150, a VD-8100 companion decoder will also ship in April.
The manufacturers said the technology will contribute to the spread of video and broadcasting in 4K, a type of ultra high definition (UHD) with a minimum resolution of 2160p. 4K images have nearly 8.3 million pixels, four times as many as a 1080p image, which is the full HD resolution produced by Blu-rays.

While 4K has yet to make significant inroads into mainstream broadcasting, it has featured in Olympics coverage and other sports broadcasts.

Last October, Oregon-based Elemental Technologies and Japanese telecommunications carrier K-Opticom carried out real-time streaming of the Osaka Marathon with a 4K HEVC transmission. It was billed as the first such transmission of its kind.

This article originally published at CIO
  

Shirley Temple Death: Hollywood Mourns Child Star

UPDATED: Mia Farrow, Whoopi Goldberg and Kristin Chenoweth were among the stars remembering the "Good Ship Lollipop" performer.


Shirley Temple

Legendary singing-and-dancing child star Shirley Temple died Monday night of natural causes in her Woodside, Calif., home, surrounded by her family and caregivers.

Temple, who later spent time as a U.N. delegate and ambassador, was best-known for her early roles in movies like Bright Eyes, in which she performed her signature song, "Good Ship Lollipop," The Little Colonel and Curly Top, which featured her classic rendition of "Animal Crackers in My Soup."

PHOTOS: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2014

Temple's Bright Eyes co-star Jane Withers was shocked and distraught when she learned of Temple's death, tellingThe Hollywood Reporter she was just thinking the other day that she should call Temple.

Although Withers and Temple were rivals in the 1934 film, they later became friends and Withers told THR she would call Temple on her birthday every year since the film and after introducing herself with her Bright Eyes character name, Joy Smythe, Withers would sing "Happy Birthday," replacing the last line with "You know I love you," and the two would then laugh and talk.

Withers said she credits her big break to Temple, "If it hadn't been for Shirley Temple being the cutest most adorable little girl in the world, and they needed an opposite -- and boy I sure was it -- in Bright Eyes, I might've ended up selling hats in Atlanta, Georgia, my hometown, or something else," she toldTHR. "I have always been so grateful to her for being the most precious child in the world and having the opportunity to work with her, and we didn't get to know each other when we were children but later on, I did get to know her very well and we became friends, and I never missed a birthday calling her, wishing her a happy birthday…I can't say enough good things about her, and I was so proud of her when she was ambassador for the United States in Ghana and she did so many wonderful, wonderful things…I have prayed every day for Shirley Temple, since I worked with her in Bright Eyes to have a happy, healthy, loving life because she did so much for the world. I'll never forget her as long as I live, and she'll always be in my heart with love and appreciation."

Temple received the Screen Actors Guild's Life Achievement Award in 2006 but stayed out of public life in her later years.

PHOTOS: Shirley Temple's Career in Pictures

SAG-AFTRA president Ken Howard released the following statement about Temple's death: "Shirley was a terrific actor whose vibrancy and brilliance set audiences on fire at a crucial time in our nation's history. More important, she was a conscientious and caring citizen whose work on behalf of her union and her country exemplified true service. She'll be greatly missed by so many, but never forgotten. She was a true icon of the entertainment industry and beloved by her colleagues in the acting profession. Shirley simply epitomized the word 'star.' There are few more deserving of her accolades, and I am personally so pleased that she was a recipient of our Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award."

Temple spent most of her film career making movies for Fox. The studio's current CEO Jim Gianopulos released a statement addressing her legacy.

"Today as the world mourns the loss of 'America's Little Darling,' we remember not only one of the most prolific child stars to ever grace our screens, but also a woman whose achievements reached far beyond her Hollywood career," Gianopulos said. "Shirley Temple Black remains an integral part of Twentieth Century Fox's heritage and the bronze sculpture of her that flanks the Shirley Temple Black Child Development Center on the Fox lot serves as reminder of her enduring legacy and her ability to unite and entertain both young and old. She was an extraordinary talent and on behalf of all of us at Fox, I wish to extend our deepest sympathies to her family."

Actress June Lockhart remembered when Temple joined the Westlake School for Girls in Holmby Hills as a freshman after she parted ways with Fox. It was "her first experience with other students, as she was tutored at the studio earlier," Lockhart said. "We became friends, and she was great fun.

"It was Shirley's first time with a uniform dress code, and no lipstick was allowed. She joined the drill team, and I was the captain. While we were at Westlake, we did the film Miss Annie Rooney, and Shirley had her first screen kiss onscreen.

"She was one of a kind and will be missed."

Temple's death was a hot topic on Tuesday's The View, with Whoopi Goldberg, who previously tweeted her thoughts about Temple, revealing that she has a flipbook of Shirley Temple that she keeps on her desk at home.

Barbara Walters also recalled idolizing Temple.

"I grew up on Shirley Temple. I mean she was older than I, I'm happy to say," Walters said. "And I loved and hated her. I mean, she was my idol with the little curls, and we all had to wear little curls, and I wore little curls."

She even did a quick rendition of "The Good Ship Lollipop"

Others took to Twitter and Instagram to mourn the former child star with Mia Farrow, Kristin Chenoweth and Miley Cyrus among those who shared their remembrances.

Check out what Hollywood said about Temple on social media:

Rest in peace Shirley Temple. The world is so much brighter because you were in it...pic.twitter.com/d7eQTbuPhy

— oliviamunn (@oliviamunn) February 11, 2014

Little Shirley Temple raised the spirits of a nation during the Great Depression. RIPpic.twitter.com/yzoyw6xpML

— mia farrow (@MiaFarrow) February 11, 2014

The Good Ship Lollypop has sailed today with Shirley Temple aboard a true 1 of a kind. If you don't know her.. google or YouTube her. R.I.P.

— Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) February 11, 2014

RIP SHIRLEY TEMPLE ...a legendary child star and wonderful diplomat.

— Kristin Chenoweth (@KChenoweth) February 11, 2014

I remember my mom saying that during the Depression, "Shirley Temple helped us kids forget how hungry we were."#RIP #talent

— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) February 11, 2014

"As long as our country has #ShirleyTemple, we will be all right."~FDR Thank you for many years of entertainment!pic.twitter.com/bUrgGdS9sz

— Jim Brickman (@JimBrickman) February 11, 2014

RIP Shirley Temple Black. Thank you for the smiles, laughs, and happy memories.

— Bethenny Frankel (@Bethenny) February 11, 2014

#ShirleyTemple

— Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) February 11, 2014



RIP #ShirleyTemple. One of the last true Hollywood legends.

— Josh Gad (@joshgad) February 11, 2014

My first acting inspiration. Shirley Temple. Rest in peace.

— Emmy Rossum (@emmyrossum) February 11, 2014

This article originally published at The Hollywood Reporter

Related Articles:

• Shirley Temple: 7 Memorable Movie Roles (Video)
• Shirley Temple's Hollywood Walk of Fame Star in Storage

 

Sony Consumers aren't quite ready for 4K recording

Sony has suggested that consumers aren't quite ready for 4K capabilities when it comes to camera's video credentials.

Despite offering a selection of 4K TVs, Sony has suggested that consumers aren't quite ready for 4K video recording on their digital cameras as the company launches a range of new models.

With the Sony Alpha 6000 having been officially unveiled earlier this morning as the world's fastest auto-focusing snapper, the company has suggested that while NFC and Wi-Fi connectivity options are becoming mainstream, consumers still have reservations about 4K recording.

"I don't think consumers are quite there with 4K yet," Claire Beard, Sony's UK Product Manager for Digital Cameras said speaking with TrustedReviews.

She added: "It's just an extra spec really."

Although suggesting that consumers are not yet ready for 4K video recording on their DSLRs, bridge and compact cameras, Beard has claimed this could soon change.

"Some competitors have already introduced 4K recording models so it is a point of differentiation that we don't have at the moment but we see the need for it," she told us.

Beard's comments were echoed by Takahiro Hirata, Sony's Department Head for Digital Imaging who suggested that as 4K TVs grow in popularity, the need for 4K video recording will increase.

"There is definitely going to be a 4K trend," he said while chatting with TrustedReviews. "Once the TV side is established in 4K, the imaging side will follow."

He added: "Today our new Alpha 6000 doesn't have 4K video recording but we will see about future models."

This article originally published at Trusted Reviews

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• Sony FDR-AX100E: We go hands-on with the 4K HandyCam that could change TV forever
• Sony said to factor 4K into 'Sirius' phone
• Sony Stuns CES with "Life Space UX" Ultra Short Throw 4K Projector
• Sony 2014 4K UHDTV Prices Leaked