Skip to main content

Philips debuts its first foray into curved monitors at IFA 2015

Curved monitors have yet to really catch on with mainstream buyers, but the number of manufacturers launching their own displays in this niche suggests that the enthusiast market alone is well worth targeting. Now, Philips and its brand license partner MMD have unveiled an attention-grabbing 34-inch curved display at IFA 2015.

This marks the first time that Philips has ventured into curved monitors, but the results are very impressive indeed. Edge-to-edge glass and an ultra-narrow border emphasise the effect, but really it’s the 3440 x 1440 display itself that’s doing all the heavy lifting.

AH-IPS technology ensures that the UltraWide Quad HD resolution monitor delivers razor-sharp images, and DTS sound offers audio quality to rival its visuals.

MMD is also bringing the Philips 27-inch LCD monitor to the show, a display that boasts an UltraClear 5K resolution of 5,120 x 2,880. This device uses PerfectKolor technology for unparalleled color accuracy, while also featuring a webcam and speakers built into the unit.

Philips 24-inch display  with SoftBlue technology
Philips 24-inch display with SoftBlue technology

Several major manufacturers are currently engaging in research into Quantum Dots, a new semiconductor technology that has the potential to revolutionize the field of computer displays. While much of this work is still in its early stages, some companies are beginning to release products using the tech, and one such Philips monitor is being showcased at IFA 2015.

Philips’ 27-inch IPS-ADS Adobe RGB display features Quantum Dot Color IQ, which allows it to deliver 50% more color than a traditional LED screen. Moreover, it offers a significant reduction in energy usage compared to similar devices, and is a more affordable manufacturing process — which should make for a price reduction for the consumer.

MMD is also set to exhibit a 24-inch display that uses its SoftBlue technology, which looks to counteract the effects of blue-light exposure. Recent studies have found that the blue light emitted by electronics can lead to serious health issues, so SoftBlue attempts to cut down on the potentially harmful wavelengths while still delivering accurate color and optimal picture quality.

IFA 2015 is also the setting for the European debut of the Ambiglow Plus Base. This technology allows the base of a monitor to light up in colors that are synced to the images on-screen, offering enhanced immersion and a more pleasant viewing experience.

Editors' Recommendations

How to know if you’re actually getting Dolby Atmos sound
pioneer elite dolby atmos enabled speaker system review insitutoplogo

With its object-based sound system, Dolby Atmos is the most immersive version of surround sound you can get at home. Though it took some time to catch on, the format is now supported by Ultra HD Blu-ray discs and streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Disney+. So, if you’ve got Dolby Atmos speakers, a Dolby Atmos-compatible AV receiver or soundbar, and access to Dolby Atmos content, you should be hearing Dolby Atmos sound, right?

Well, as it turns out, no, not necessarily. To understand if your Atmos system is delivering true Atmos sound -- and not just really good surround sound -- you need to understand how Dolby Atmos works with all of your media sources and components. It’s a bit technical, but we’re going to make it as simple as possible.
What exactly is Dolby Atmos?

Read more
The first Roku-made televisions are now available at Best Buy
Roku Select Series television.

Roku today announced that its first slate of Roku Select and Roku Plus Series televisions — the first sets to actually be made by Roku — are now available exclusively at Best Buy. The first 11 models are meant to be affordable options not unlike the Roku TVs made by the company's manufacturing partners. (Those partners, so far as we know, will still make their own Roku TVs.)

The Plus Series is the more advanced of the two options, with QLED screens at 55, 65, and 75 inches. Those prices hit $649, $749, and $1,199, respectively.

Read more
What is screen door effect in VR?
A man stands outside wearing a VR headset holds a mesh screen.

If you're researching VR headsets, you'll probably come across a mention of the screen door effect. Since the display of a VR headset is so close to your eye, it's sometimes possible to see the gaps between pixels, similar to looking through a screen door or the mesh that covers a window to the world beyond.

This visual phenomenon shows up on VR headsets, from the cheapest to the most expensive, and although there's not a clear solution to completely eliminate screen door effect, there are several headsets trying to tackle the problem in different ways.
Packing pixels tighter

Read more