Latest tvOS 11 beta points to HDR-equipped 'J105a' model for Apple TV
Further backing the impending arrival of a new Apple TV, the seventh tvOS 11 beta -- released on Monday -- makes references to a "J105a" model with support for HDR (high dynamic range).
Both the model name and "HDR" appear in several graphics assets related to the tvOS Settings app, iOS developer Guilherme Rambo noted via Twitter. The "J105" codename first manifested in a report from February.
Earlier this month, code in Apple's HomePod firmware indicated that a future set-top will support multiple HDR standards, such as Dolby Vision. The device's key feature though should be 4K resolution, catching up with other TV streamers like the Roku Ultra, Chromecast Ultra, and Amazon Fire TV.
Apple likewise appears to be upgrading videos on the iTunes Store -- a necessity if the company doesn't want people viewing movies and TV solely through third-party services like Netflix or Vudu.
An Apple TV announcement will most likely take place at Apple's usual September press event, even if the focus is expected to be on the "iPhone 8" and "iPhone 7s." No date has been set for this year.
Both the model name and "HDR" appear in several graphics assets related to the tvOS Settings app, iOS developer Guilherme Rambo noted via Twitter. The "J105" codename first manifested in a report from February.
Earlier this month, code in Apple's HomePod firmware indicated that a future set-top will support multiple HDR standards, such as Dolby Vision. The device's key feature though should be 4K resolution, catching up with other TV streamers like the Roku Ultra, Chromecast Ultra, and Amazon Fire TV.
Apple likewise appears to be upgrading videos on the iTunes Store -- a necessity if the company doesn't want people viewing movies and TV solely through third-party services like Netflix or Vudu.
An Apple TV announcement will most likely take place at Apple's usual September press event, even if the focus is expected to be on the "iPhone 8" and "iPhone 7s." No date has been set for this year.
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Kudos to Tim for continuing platforms of excellence; he would make Steve proud.
I'm wondering if Apple waited this long for 4K so as to include HVEC hardware in the next TV?
So, are we expecting HVEC and HDR at 24P/30P video capture from iPhones/iPad's? I'm thinking that shooting 60P with every other frame at a high EV would work for that.
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It's going to be a transition over a year or two I suspect but I do expect HVEC hardware throughout Apple's line up, iPhones and iPads included probably at normal speeds and perhaps 1080p at 60 FPS initially. So making 30 FPS by taking every other frame from 60 FPS ... as I say it's more than likely any 60 FPS will be 1080p for the near future. I've put my Canon gear down for a while and been playing with a Lumix FZ2500 for 4K and the horrible thing is once you use it there is no going back to 1080p so I've not used the slow mo for that same reason as it is limited to 1080p. Now when I can shoot 4K at 60 and 120 FPS at a reasonable price it will be fun. So I hope I am wrong and we can get higher rates at 4K with HVEC hardware.
Greater than 4k may make some sense for theatrical presentations, given the enormous screen sizes they are projecting to.
But for home, 4k is of little use outside larger home theaters. The resolving capability of the eye requires you to sit at a distance about 2x the screen height to fully resolve 4k resolution. I happen to have a 60" high 2.35 ratio projection screen (11 feet wide), and can't sit 120" away - I'm more like 155." So I get about 60-70% of the benefit. But if you have a 60" flat screen and you're sitting on your couch at 12 feet away, forget it...
What's been much more valuable is HDR and wide color gamut - and from and audio perspective, immersive audio... so I wonder, will we see Atmos/DTS:X streams as well with a 4k ATV? The bandwidth needs will be very large however...
HEVC could also benefit HD 1080p content as well - almost reducing by half the bitrate (and storage if downloaded) for this content, if Apple chooses to update their iTunes content in this regard as well. Alternatively they could provide better quality 1080p with HEVC (less compression), but given the 4K push I doubt they would go that direction.
Despite all of the criticism of Apple not bringing in 4K with the ATV5, I think Apple is (as usual) getting the timing right. 4K TVs have come down in price a lot in last two years and are starting to move. 4K content is available, although still limited. The next-gen codecs are getting licensing sorted and embedded into silicon. Home broadband access speeds have continued to improve, on average. This ATV5 is hitting 4K at that bottom part of the S-curve where it moves from early adopters to be beginning of mainstream adoption.