Issue #73 | September 27, 2022

USB4 Doubles Performance with Version 2.0

The USB Promoter Group has developed a new specification of USB4, called Version 2.0. It allows up to 80Gbps of data transmission over existing USB-C connectors and cables compared to 40Gbps for USB4 Version 1. 80Gbps should be able to support 8K video with 4:2:0 chroma sub-sampling (which all consumer video is) at 120fps without needing DSC compression. You might even be able to support 10-bit video, which comes out at 80.2 Gbps! Bob Raikes' piece is here.

Quick Take IBC 2022 Videos - Part 2

There is a clear industry need for more 8K live camera solutions, and RED used IBC 2022 to introduce their solution called RED Connect. It takes the RED RAW camera output and converts it to an IP solution that can be sent live over a CAT5 cable. They showed a broadcast and 360-degree VR demos using this solution.

PresenZ has technology that can turn 3-degrees-of-freedom VR content into 6-degrees-of-freedom content. They do this by developing a point cloud rendering of the VR environment and compressing that using LCEVC. This enables the creation of the viewbox instead of a viewport to interact with the VR content with impressive results.

V-Nova's LCEVC encoding technology can be used with any codec to create a base layer and an enhancement layer. At IBC 2022, they described the development of the ecosystem surrounding LCEVC, which can be implemented as hardware or software on the encode or decode side.

Advantech makes a PCI-based board for encoding 8K content. One of the applications they highlighted was a multi-camera volumetric video solution used for baseball, with the image created and encoded in an 8K video frame.

ZTE is using a new chip from AmLogic to power a new set-top box that will be capable of 8K playback over an HDMI 2.1 interface. There is also a USB-C port to support VR headsets.

Canon offers an 8K mirrorless camera with a stereo lens attachment. At IBC 2022, they teamed with high-end headset maker Varjo to show off the capabilities of this camera for VR content creation.

Nvidia launches next-gen GeForce RTX built on TSMC N4 node

These new graphics card increase performance, as expected, and should enable playback of games in native 8K resolution at higher frame rates and with more features turned on. As reviews come in, we will advise. Read Digitime article here.

iPhone: will 8K recording be possible with an app, or must we wait for the 15 Pro?

Apple likes to get things right, and 8K video is not a feature despite the new iPhone 14 Pro having the technical specs to record it. Discussions on why and whether any third-party app will be able to deliver 8K capture have started on the rumeor mill. If they're unfounded, we'll have to wait for the iPhone 15 pro as implied here.

Sharing Ideas Improves Content Production

Andy Marken's insightful piece about the Netflix Drive initiative shows how it will improve Cloud-based production and is relevant for all things 8K. To dig deeper, we are reaching out to Allan McLennan, CEP of media, head of M&E Americas for Atos and will report back shortly.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 8K monster is real

8k content: The race to resolution (A sony camera-centric view)

Review: Samsung QN900B

Dell's UltraSharp 8K monitor gets a double discount

The Making of Cinematic 8K (Fujitsu XH-2 - Japanese language video)