4K is a standard display technology developed for Televisions, monitors, tablets, and smartphones. Like HD, 4K termed as UHD (Ultra High Definition) by many companies. It comes with a resolution of 3840×2160 and an aspect ratio of 16:9 or 16:10.
Before 4K technology, we usually have seen FHD resolution in televisions and other devices. It contains a 1920×1080 resolution with 16:9 or 16:10 aspect ratio. The 4K picture quality is four times sharper than the traditional FHD resolution.
History of 4K
The 4K camera for cinematic use launched in the year 2003. Following the technology, all leading brands started the development of 4K cameras and developed commercial versions in the year 2007 by RED. In the year 2010 YouTube started supporting the 4K videos. In the year 2013, mass production of 4K Televisions started, and it is available to public price starting from $1k-$36k depending on the features.
4K Broadcasting
Officially, 4k Broadcasting is initiated by the Netflix in 2014. In 2014 November, DirectTV became the first DTH provider to transmit the 4K content to the televisions. The service is limited to video-on-demand. Slowly, the 4K begins to reach the public with British Channel BT Sports a dedicated 4K channel.
4K Television Companies
At CES, 2016 almost all companies showcased their upcoming 4K Televisions with great technologies like quantum display, curved and HDR enabled screens. Few companies like LG exhibited the next 8K technology Televisions at the CES which is under development and soon available for masses.
- Vizio
- Sony
- Samsung
- LG
- Micromax
- Panasonic
- Vu
- Videocon
How to watch 4K Videos Online?
To watch a 4K video online, you need a good internet connection with at least 20MBPS speed. Since the 4K content is heavy in size and 4 minutes of 4K video will use minimum 300MB bandwidth.
Companies like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Sony Play Station Video, Comcast, M-Go, DirectTV, Vudu, and UltraFlix are offering Video-on-demand and direct streaming services.