The tech world’s biggest presenters are showcasing their newest advancements in TV technology at CES, the Consumer Electronics Show. Sony (SNE), Samsung and Panasonic are just a few of the companies trying to improve clarity, contrast and color. Want to see for yourself? IBD TV’s Alissa Williams gives us a look.
LAS VEGAS — With ultra high-definition television on the verge of mass market adoption and expected to lead a major buying cycle, the world’s top TV makers showed off their latest flagship 4K TVs on Monday at the annual Consumer Electronics Show. Ultra HD, or 4K, TVs have twice the resolution, or picture clarity, of today’s standard HD sets. LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony (SNE) are among the companies unveiling new 4K televisions at the International CES, which officially opens Tuesday. Some are also demonstrating next-generation 8K displays under development. South Korea-based LG Electronics touted its lead in organic light-emitting diode televisions as a major differentiator in UHD TV. OLED TVs are seen as the next step beyond liquid crystal display televisions, which dominate the market today. OLED TVs boast richer colors and perfect blacks for stunningly realistic images. They also are thinner and use much less power than LCD TVs.
Sony’s controversial comedy movie “The Interview,” which has angered North Korea, is a hit online. Sony announced Sunday night that “The Interview” has been downloaded or rented online more than 2 million times through Saturday, generating more than $15 million in sales. Sony (SNE) also has taken in $2.85 million in box office receipts as of Sunday from 331 movie theaters that have been showing the movie since Christmas Day, Box Office Mojo reported. Sony opted to release the movie in independent theaters after the major theater chains balked at showing it because of threats of violence from hackers opposed to the film. Sony released “The Interview” through online channels last Wednesday, including Google’s (GOOGL) YouTube and Google Play, Microsoft’s (MSFT) Xbox Live and Sony’s website SeeTheInterview.com powered by Kernel. Apple (AAPL) joined the list of online distributors on Sunday, offering the movie for $5.99 to rent…