Official state of 4K thread

I'll add to this as we go but now that I have a 4K tv being delivered on Saturday I'm anxious to try out some samples. Here are the inputs I know of:

Streaming
- Netflix (YES)
- Vudu
- Amazon (YES)
- watch ESPN (NO)
- HBO app (NO)
- YouTube...required DV9 chip, many sets do not have this built-in but you can hook up a roku 4 or laptop and stream 4K to the TV that way
- direct tv 4K channels
- dish?
- comcast x1 as usual still delaying release of 4K box (now 2017 they're saying)

Durect Input/non streaming
- Roku 4 (box only, stick supports HD and not UHD)
- Amazon fire (box only, stick supports HD and not UHD)
- DLNA - Run stuff from your local NAS..see steps below.



First - UHD (TV 4K format) is not equal to cinema 4K

quote:

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cinema = 4096 x 2160 4K resolution, the new Ultra HD consumer format has a slightly lower resolution of 3840 X 2160. This is one reason why some brands prefer not to use the 4K label at all, sticking with Ultra HD or UHD instead.

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awesome. let's release a new standard without even getting the number of pixels straight.

this means the infamous black bars if the content is say 3840 x 1660 or some nonsense but *WORSE* it means you literally cannot view a cinema 4K at native resolution without it being stretched or part of the image will be cut off.

again, awesome.

well done guys.

Second - UHD has new audio & video compression (and non compression) standards. What used to make up most torrents was H.264. The new hotness in UHD is H.265 (why? because its better by 1). This standard when used to compress UHD content will likely play on more TVs that are out there.

The competing standard to this is Google's VP9. Youtube UHD uses VP9 and some sets don't support this hardware standard so be aware these 2 standards are fighting for world domination.

Third - This brings me to the meat of the discussion. How do you show off that glorious new panel? Streaming Netflix? Streaming YouTube? Nah. You want the best, source it with the best.

Currently I've found using the *FREE* Vidcoder utility (for UNIX, PC and Mac) is the best and easiest way to take free UHD torrents and tranmogrify them to play natively, locally on your TV. Download the tool (google it) and then you can be confident all the showy UHD stuff (and torrents) can be converted to work well on your TV.

Fourth - I highly recommend skipping WiFi for UHD playback and just hardwire your TV to save yourself the hassle. I run into enough hiccups with 6 people at my house using the WiFi to risk the annoyance of even a 1/2 second hiccup for UHD. Just go to monoprice and get you a nice 50ft cat5e cable for $4 and get off your lazy arse and run that thing into the wall, through your attic (if necessary) and out the wall behind the TV.

Even better, buy a $15 switch and then hardwire your Xbox, BD player, AVR, Amazon Fire or Roku while you're at it since they're probably all sitting next to the TV anyway. Just head off the problems before they start.