At the CES 2014, Samsung revealed the first ever “bendable TV.” Major TV brands such as LG, Panasonic, Toshiba, Sony, and Sharp also revealed their newest ultra high definition televisions. 4K TVs were also introduced in every major manufacturer’s lineup, as well as a few non-TV products, such as the Lenovo ThinkVision 28 monitor that runs Android KitKat. Also at CES 2014, more companies are adding smart capabilities into TVs; Roku partnered with Hisense and TCL to construct six TVs with Roku’s Smart TV platform built in, which requires no box.
The most impressible TV at CES 2014 was by far a “bendable TV” by Samsung. When you press a button on the remote control, small servos behind the screen will begin to move, causing the edges of the screen to form a curved shape. When you press another button, the process goes backwards, and the screen becomes similar to a flat-screen HDTV. At first Samsung stated that this TV was just a concept, but now it is a reality, as this “bendable TV” will begin to ship this year. The Demo TV displayed at CES was an 85-inch LED LCD with 4K resolution. When the TV is curved, it would match the radius of Samsung’s nonbendable curves sets. To see pictures of this TV, follow this link: http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/samsung-85u9b/4505-6482_7-35833930.html
LG made it’s mark at CES as well by introducing 12 models of 4K televisions for 2014; three of these models include a 105-inch LCD and two curved OLED series: EC9700 and EC9800. These two curved and the three LCD series: the UB9800, UB9500, and the UB8500, make the largest offerings of Ultra HDs ever displayed. LG said that all of their TVs will have the latest connections, as well as Smart TV advancements. The 105-inch 105UC9 is a 21:9 TV, similar to the Vizio CinemaWide XVT3D580CM from 2012. This TV will also enable side-by-side viewing on 16:9 content; this will in turn eliminate the vertical black bars. To see pictures of these amazing TVs, follow this link: http://ces.cnet.com/8301-35303_1-57616614/lg-unveils-12-4k-televisions-for-2014/
Panasonic first made a name for itself by making plasma TVs, but now has stopped the production of plasma TVs. Due to financial difficulty, Panasonic made it’s last plasma TV in December. Panasonic was not that impressive with it’s TV lineup, showing only one 4K TV, the AX800U series. Panasonic was more impressive with it’s latest Smart TV interface design. Though the “My Button” on the remote control, the TV can learn individual or family viewing preferences with the aid of a cough or a TiVo thumbs-up. The TV will then display these preferences in the “My Stream” screen; this screen shows a single channel of content from several sources personalized for a single individual. The rest of the TVs are pretty much 1080p TVs with touch pad remotes. To see more info and photos, go to this link: http://ces.cnet.com/8301-35303_1-57616638/panasonic-ces-2014-tvs-all-led-one-4k-and-little-excitement/
17 new LED LCDS, varying from a 32-inch 720p value play to an 85-inch 4K-resolution TV was displayed by Toshiba. Some of the models also included an LED backlight with full array local dimming. To see a full list of the TVs, visit this link: http://ces.cnet.com/8301-35303_1-57616634/toshiba-ces-2014-tvs-full-array-local-dimming-4k-and-clouds/ Sony did the most promoting with 4K resolution, from their TVs to their video distribution services. Mostly all of the Sony TVs featured a 4K resolution; one of the models was an entry-level series that aimed at a “broader base of consumers.” Go to this link to see the full line of TV models: http://ces.cnet.com/8301-35303_1-57616738/sony-tvs-at-ces-2014-tripling-down-on-4k/
Sharp was extremely impressive at CES 2014, unveiling their new line of Aquos TVs. Sharp President John Herrington referred to the Aquos 4K and the Aquos Q as “gamer changers.” The Aquos Quattron Plus features 10 million more pixels than full HD. Sharp further started that the Aquos Quattron Plus is meant to be a bridge between a 1080p and a 4K TV. The Plus is also the highest resolution full HD TV. Follow this link to read more on the Sharp TVs: http://ces.cnet.com/8301-35303_1-57616417/sharp-boasts-game-changer-high-res-aquos-quattron-plus-tv/
Lenovo showed off a ThinkVision 28 4K display monitor that has a 3,840×2, 160-pixel resolution, and also doubles as an Android all-in-one device. With a price tag of $1,199 and up, the monitor has a variety of ports, including DisplayPort, Ethernet, and three HDMI ports. This monitor also features two 5-watt speakers, two noise-canceling microphones, and a front facing 2-megapixel camera. The ThinkVision runs on an Android 4.4 operating system, with a NVIDIA Tegra CPU and 2 GB of RAM; it also has 32 GB of internal storage and a microSD card. You could also adjust the stand which will allow you to tilt the monitor all the way back so it’s even with a flat surface. Bluetooth 4.0, NFC capabilities and Miracast software are other features of the ThinkVision. Go to this link to see images of the ThinkVision: http://reviews.cnet.com/lcd-monitors/lenovo-thinkvision-28-smart/4505-3174_7-35833676.html
At CES 2014, Roku announced their TV platform; they will partner with Hisense and TCL to produce six models this coming fall. Three models will come from each company in sizes from 32 to 55 inches. Essentially, The Roku TV is a standard HDTV with a Roku box built in, similar to Smart TV features seen in many manufacturers; the only difference is that the Roku TV will run on Roku’s robust software. This software will gives users access to over 1,000 channels; it will also have a cross platform search for movies and TV shows, and a simple interface. Roku has the best streaming software, which made them earn the CNET’s Editors’ Choice Award over the competitors. To read about Roku features, see this link: http://ces.cnet.com/8301-35296_1-57616615/roku-tv-unveiled-television-sets-with-roku-streaming-built-in/
