Smart TVs haven’t really taken off like manufacturers had originally hoped or anticipated.
Indeed, many expected TVs capable of running apps and connecting to the Internet to spur massive adoption overnight, yet so far that just hasn’t happened. Nevertheless, we are slowly starting to see a new generation of 4K TVs trickle onto the market that support a new Ultra HD resolution.
Granted, these TVs have the same problem that HD resolution TVs were afflicted with when they first hit the market, namely there is no broadcast content supporting Ultra HD resolution of 3840 x 2160.
So far, we’ve seen a number of 4K TVs, but many of them have had massive screen sizes, along with uber-high prices that normal folks really couldn’t afford. Well, Hisense recently unveiled a new Ultra HD resolution TV line that may be more appealing to mainstream consumers under the auspices of its XT880 lineup, which includes 50-inch, 58-inch, and 65-inch displays.
All screen sizes upport standard 3D technology along with smart TV functionality, courtesy of Google’s Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) operating system. The TVs are also equipped with a detachable camera boasting facial recognition, gesture control, and services like Skype video calling. The remote control that ships with the TVs is also equipped with an integrated microphone, which supports voice commands.
“The XT880 series brings together all of the latest features available on high-end televisions today,” said Hisense spoksperson JoAnne Foist. “With automatic backlight control, contrast enhancement and the XT880’s best-in-class video processing and scaling features, the XT880 represents the pinnacle of Hisense’s R&D strengths and bold design language.”
The TVs will be on display at CES this coming January. Hopefully, we’ll learn more about pricing and availability during the big show in Las Vegas. Still, I certainly wouldn’t count on these TVs being cheap by any means, as new technology is always expensive.
