4K TV streaming is shaping up to be a hot topic in the programming and tech world of 2016 and set to become useful enough for mainstream consumption. Yet, many people still are not quite sure what this means, if it is right for them, and exactly what is available to them. We answer those questions here.
What is 4K?
Simply put, 4K is an enhancement on the picture quality of your television. If you are old enough to remember the jump from videocassettes to DVDs, then you will understand why there is such a buzz once again. 4K has four times the amount of pixels as full, 1080 p HD today. More pixels, generally means greater color and clarity of image, four times the amount, is what has the programming and tech industry excited.
4K also has the technology to create more depth using a technology known as “passive 3D” which, unlike the trendy tech fad, needs no glasses and is likely here to stay.
Small disclaimer, 4K has become the generally accepted term for the newest in HD technology. On home sets often the pixel count is slightly less and has been referred to as Ultra High Definition (UHD) but now is lumped in with 4K.
What is 4K Streaming?
While 4K programming and technology has been around for a few years, streaming (watching 4K content through the Internet) is relatively new. This is due to a few complicating factors that needed to be worked out, and for the most part have been as of 2016. 4K files tend to be very large, and compressing the files takes away many of the benefits of the large original file. You will need a consistent Internet connection speed of at least 15mbps although Netflix recommends at least 25mbps.
Should you be streaming in 4K now?
This will depend on many programming and technology factors. If you have a 4K TV that was made in the last year, then you are set to stream. However, if you were an early adopter in 2013 none of those devices will be able to stream in 4K and only some of the 2014 sets will have those capabilities with a special converter.
Size matters, so if you have a 4K TV that is 55inches or larger, than you may want to experiment with some shows and movies in 4K. The larger the TV the better the experience tends to be. A larger TV fills your field of vision more, and allows you to grasp the depth and detail more easily. Also, streaming in 4K flies in the face of your mother’s advice, and actually recommends that you sit closer to the TV. According to Rtings.com a 55-inch TV streaming in 1080p HD should be viewed from 8 feet away, and a same sized 4K set should be viewed from only 5 feet distance.
If you are properly set up to view 4K now and thinking if you should be streaming in 4K, then the answer is yes; the benefits are at a tipping point in the formats original limited content.
What can you watch in 4K now?
The most exciting development in 4K last year was when Netflix began to stream in 4K in earnest. Since then, other powerhouses in the streaming world like Amazon have also added their fair share of offerings. Although Netflix’s 4K list is far from robust, expect 2016 to see many new additions filling out a list that already includes shows like Breaking Bad, House of Cards, Daredevil, Narcos, Jessica Jones and Marco Polo and movies like World War Z, Star Trek: Into Darkness and Skyfall.
Amazon has pledged to make all new productions in 4K and currently offers popular Amazon shows like Mozart in the Jungle and The Man in the High Castle in 4K.
Beyond the streaming megaliths, relative no name Ultraflix is trying to make its stand as the go to 4K video on demand service. Currently, they boast the greatest number of hours of 4k video available for streaming. That is, of course not counting the myriad of user generated content now available on YouTube, which has incredibly been streaming in 4K when available as far back as 2010. With top tier mobile phones like the iPhone 6S/plus and the Samsung Galaxy S6 now able to shoot digital video in 4K, YouTube will continue to be an excellent source of 4K clips.
What to look forward too?
Perhaps, most intriguing for the future of 4K is the possibility of streaming live sports in 4K. This looks like the next battlefront for 4K viewing, and it seems DirecTV is trying to figure out the logistics of it all. The company has already dipped its toe in the 4K waters with Genie, it’s 4K DVR device that, when connected to the internet can stream many films in 4K. Already Rogers, the cable giant in Canada, has announced it will stream all Toronto Blue Jays home games and nearly twenty other events in 4K in 2016. 4K sports will be the trend to watch, as more and more video on demand becomes available in 2016.
What is 4K?
Simply put, 4K is an enhancement on the picture quality of your television. If you are old enough to remember the jump from videocassettes to DVDs, then you will understand why there is such a buzz once again. 4K has four times the amount of pixels as full, 1080 p HD today. More pixels, generally means greater color and clarity of image, four times the amount, is what has the programming and tech industry excited.
4K also has the technology to create more depth using a technology known as “passive 3D” which, unlike the trendy tech fad, needs no glasses and is likely here to stay.
Small disclaimer, 4K has become the generally accepted term for the newest in HD technology. On home sets often the pixel count is slightly less and has been referred to as Ultra High Definition (UHD) but now is lumped in with 4K.
What is 4K Streaming?
While 4K programming and technology has been around for a few years, streaming (watching 4K content through the Internet) is relatively new. This is due to a few complicating factors that needed to be worked out, and for the most part have been as of 2016. 4K files tend to be very large, and compressing the files takes away many of the benefits of the large original file. You will need a consistent Internet connection speed of at least 15mbps although Netflix recommends at least 25mbps.
Should you be streaming in 4K now?
This will depend on many programming and technology factors. If you have a 4K TV that was made in the last year, then you are set to stream. However, if you were an early adopter in 2013 none of those devices will be able to stream in 4K and only some of the 2014 sets will have those capabilities with a special converter.
Size matters, so if you have a 4K TV that is 55inches or larger, than you may want to experiment with some shows and movies in 4K. The larger the TV the better the experience tends to be. A larger TV fills your field of vision more, and allows you to grasp the depth and detail more easily. Also, streaming in 4K flies in the face of your mother’s advice, and actually recommends that you sit closer to the TV. According to Rtings.com a 55-inch TV streaming in 1080p HD should be viewed from 8 feet away, and a same sized 4K set should be viewed from only 5 feet distance.
If you are properly set up to view 4K now and thinking if you should be streaming in 4K, then the answer is yes; the benefits are at a tipping point in the formats original limited content.
What can you watch in 4K now?
The most exciting development in 4K last year was when Netflix began to stream in 4K in earnest. Since then, other powerhouses in the streaming world like Amazon have also added their fair share of offerings. Although Netflix’s 4K list is far from robust, expect 2016 to see many new additions filling out a list that already includes shows like Breaking Bad, House of Cards, Daredevil, Narcos, Jessica Jones and Marco Polo and movies like World War Z, Star Trek: Into Darkness and Skyfall.
Amazon has pledged to make all new productions in 4K and currently offers popular Amazon shows like Mozart in the Jungle and The Man in the High Castle in 4K.
Beyond the streaming megaliths, relative no name Ultraflix is trying to make its stand as the go to 4K video on demand service. Currently, they boast the greatest number of hours of 4k video available for streaming. That is, of course not counting the myriad of user generated content now available on YouTube, which has incredibly been streaming in 4K when available as far back as 2010. With top tier mobile phones like the iPhone 6S/plus and the Samsung Galaxy S6 now able to shoot digital video in 4K, YouTube will continue to be an excellent source of 4K clips.
What to look forward too?
Perhaps, most intriguing for the future of 4K is the possibility of streaming live sports in 4K. This looks like the next battlefront for 4K viewing, and it seems DirecTV is trying to figure out the logistics of it all. The company has already dipped its toe in the 4K waters with Genie, it’s 4K DVR device that, when connected to the internet can stream many films in 4K. Already Rogers, the cable giant in Canada, has announced it will stream all Toronto Blue Jays home games and nearly twenty other events in 4K in 2016. 4K sports will be the trend to watch, as more and more video on demand becomes available in 2016.