Sony 2014 4K UHDTV Prices Leaked

Sony introduced its 2014 line of 4K televisions at the CES. It consists of 3 series (up from 2 last year) with 9 models. Screen sizes are available from 49-inches all the way up to 85. There are a number of improvements over the 2013s. They include HEVC decoding (for upcoming Netflix 4K streaming) and HDCP 2.2 as well as HDMI 2.0, according to Sony spokesperson.

  

The big new picture quality features include the return to LED backlights with true local dimming on the XBR 950 series, and the extended dynamic range capabilities of the 900 and 950 series (the latter being up to 3 times the brightness range).

More information and all the prices after the break.

Sony has created a wedge shape to increase the internal volume of its 900 series 4K TVs for better bass and audio dynamic range.

In pricing, we found the 79-inch for under $9000 intriguing. This is the first 4K TV with this screen size and it represents a huge price drop when compared to the 85-inch class X950 ($25K). Could 78+ inch UHDTVs lead to a new TV segment we are calling "Luxury Televisions"? The 4K experience on this size screen really brings out the detail. It is something to experience first-hand.

The 2014 Sony 4K TV will start shipping to dealers by June.

XBR-49X850B 49-inch $2199.99

XBR-55X850B 55-inch $2999.99

XBR-65X850B 65-inch $4499.99

XBR-70X850B 70-inch $5999.99

4K Ultra HD, HD content upscaled to 4K, Triluminous for wider color gamut, Latest HDMI support for next gen 4K players & services, and stream HD entertainment wirelessly with built-in Wi-Fi, 3D

XBR-55X900B 55-inch $3999.99

XBR-65X900B 65-inch $5499.99

XBR-79X900B 79-inch $8999.99

Wedge TV design with front-facing speakers, X-tended Dynamic Range for up to 2x brightness range, Triluminous for wider color gamut, 3D, latest HDMI support for next gen 4K players and services, and stream HD entertainment wirelessly with built-in Wi-Fi

XBR-65X950B 65-inch $7999.99

XBR-95X950B 85-inch $24,999.99

Extended Dynamic Range PRO with up to 3x brightness range, Triluminous for wider color gamut, 3D, latest HDMI support for next gen 4K players and services, and stream HD entertainment wirelessly with built-in Wi-Fi.

Source: HD Guru
  

Westinghouse takes a different spin on the 4K screen revolution

Westinghouse takes a different spin on the 4K screen revolution - Westinghouse brought big, impressive 4K displays to CES 2014, but even better were its massive interactive whiteboards. Buying advice from the leading technology site.

Want a 4K TV? Try interactive whiteboards

Westinghouse may not be the biggest name in the TV biz right now, but the company did bring some eye-catching products to this year's CES.

See Also: TV trends at CES: 4K, curves and smart TVs

It's playing the 4K game like just about every other TV maker, but unlike its competitors, Westinghouse is also thinking beyond the living room.

Need an example? Try the company's 85-inch 4K "interactive whiteboard" designed for business and classroom use, one that costs a 4K TV-esque price of $13,999 (£8,542, AU$15,515).

It also comes in 55-, 65- and 70-inch varieties with 1080p displays, but the Ultra HD 85-inch version was the star of the show.

Westinghouse envisions the giant touchscreens being used in business settings, for presentations and meetings, as well as in classrooms. Interestingly, they can come with an optional "PC module" that mounts on the back and runs Windows 8; alternately users can plug in their own Windows 7 or Windows 8 computers.

You can use your fingers to draw and tap on the interactive whiteboards, but they also come with a fat "touch pen" stylus.

Class in session

The whiteboards come with special software, called WScribe, that provides handwriting recognition, drawing tools, special interface features, and more that should be perfect for education and business settings.

This interface software also provides various templates, like a football diagram that can be used to map out and discuss plays.


Not for your living room

With the provided touch pen stylus, we wrote "TechRadar" on the screen over a video playing in the background. The whiteboard failed to recognize our admittedly imperfect cursive, though when we switched to normal writing it had no trouble translating it to typeface.

Westinghouse Marketing Communications Manager Brett Hunt said it will learn users' handwriting over time, so your chicken scratch should be legible after some quality sessions with the boards.


The interactive whiteboards can come with an optional computer module on the back

Aside from failing to pick up our script, these whiteboards looked gorgeous and felt great and responsive to use, whether with fingers or with the stylus (Westinghouse likes to brag about its (6-point Touch system with Intuitive Rapid Response").

The 55-, 65- and 70-inch whiteboards go for $2,999 (£1,830, AU$3,324), $4,999 (£3,050, AU$5,541) and $5,999 (£3,660, AU$6,650), respectively, and all come in 1080p. They're available now. The 85-inch 4K version, on the other hand, will cost $13,999 when it launches in the first quarter of 2014.

'Like The Jetsons and The Flintstones combined'

Westinghouse also had numerous TVs on display, including full HD and Ultra HD sets ranging in size from 39- to 85-inches. But its two other televisions, a Smart TV and an adorable retro-style unit, were more interesting by far.

Unfortunately, both are just prototypes for now. Westinghouse doesn't currently offer any Smart TVs because the company believes most consumers already have game consoles, set-top boxes, and other devices capable of running apps like Netflix, Hunt told TechRadar.


Westinghouse's 4K TVs look impressive

And the company has no plans to develop a Smart TV for market on its own, though "we might partner with somebody else to develop [a Smart TV] with us," Hunt said. "We don't have a set date for that yet."

More interesting was the 22-inch 1080p "retro" TV also present in the company's suite. The set looks like what people in the 60s thought the future would be like - it's anachronistic, both old and futuristic at the same time.


But not as impressive as this little fella

"If you had an extra room that's a retro room that would be kind of cool," Hunt said of the set. "It's like The Jetsons and The Flintstones combined."

The picture looked great - despite all the 4K hoopla, full HD is far from outdated - and the design was utterly charming. All it needs is some fake bunny ears, and it could easily sit on the shelves in Urban Outfitters next to coffee table books about marijuana, novelty camera lenses, and slinkies.

Unfortunately that may never occur, as Hunt said the company brought the retro TV to CES simply to gauge people's response to it. The ironic thing is that it was easily the most striking thing Westinghouse has produced in some time - so here's hoping they follow through.

This article originally published at TechRadar here.

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