Forget 3DTV; here comes 4K HDTV

Even as the consumer electronics and video entertainment industries wrangle with how to get consumers who probably just bought their first HDTVs to buy pricey 3DTVs, another option becomes available: Quad HD/4K.

The technology does what its name suggests, providing more than four times the resolution of 1080p HD--and it doesn't get any better than that in the HD realm. Even better, you get this great picture, which includes increased viewing depth, without having to wear a pair of silly glasses.

The first technological hurdle for HD/4K has been leaped, apparently, since Marseille Networks has demonstrated that it can deliver it over HDMI. Another advantage, at least according to Marseille, is that Quad HD can be installed in current designs--the key word being designs--for HDTVs so that these new sets can hit the market faster. The drawbacks, among other things, is that consumers will still need to buy a new TV; HDMI, according to some reports, is on its last legs and, of course, there's bound to be a 3D version of Quad HD developed just as soon as you buy a new set.

There's also no word on how much bandwidth this technology will gobble, so it's not a sure thing that service providers will deliver it anyway.

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