*** Sky Q Thread ***

[Vertigo]

Ok, while the SkyQ box (not SkyQ Silver) does support a single Mini box, sky currently restrict the sale of Mini boxes to customers ordering SkyQ Silver only. That's why the website doesn't show that the Standard box works with a Mini box. It works, but Sky won't sell you one.

Exactly. I have no doubt the standard Q box is capable of talking to a mini, it's purely a decision by Sky not to support it.

My exact words were:

The standard (non-Silver) Q service doesn't support minis at all.

Note service, not box

Some of us can add a mini q to Q during a sale with no extra cost for the moment.

Either that's a mistake or you work for Sky? If so then no one cares what special offers or configurations employees are entitled to, we're talking about what's available generally.

 

[MarkeR]

Forget it!

 

[Cosimo]

Apparently:

The news many have waited for.

The UHD Launch Date has been confirmed as 13th Aug in time for the opening day of English Premier League.

Many sports will be shown in UHD as well as Movies including the Premier of Spectre in UHD and Documentaries and Original programming

See the link for all the details


http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnarc...hd-movies-and-sports-next-month/#17757149644b

Summer update details:

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/138...led-4k-ultra-hd-new-episode-pointers-and-more

Also (maybe):

An updated including bug fixes will start rolling out from July 21st

 

[BMox81]

Great news!!!

Roll on 13th August!

 

[Cosimo]

The official UHD announcement:

https://corporate.sky.com/media-cen...e-of-tv-they-love-in-enhanced-picture-quality

 

[BMox81]

From Nigel Walley on Twitter....

"I've seen football at 50Hz 2160P and couldn't tell the difference between it and HD? Sky must be careful not to over promise their '4K'."

"The TV market is also going to have to work hard to avoid another 'HD Ready' scandal. 2160P is definitely not '4K'"

And so it begins....

 

[ChrisD.]

Wonder how long it'll be before they reduce the bitrate on 1080i even more.

 

[varkanoid]

I think its already happened judging by some of the programmes I watch.

 

[theone8181]

From Nigel Walley on Twitter....

"I've seen football at 50Hz 2160P and couldn't tell the difference between it and HD? Sky must be careful not to over promise their '4K'."

"The TV market is also going to have to work hard to avoid another 'HD Ready' scandal. 2160P is definitely not '4K'"

And so it begins....

I thought it was generally accepted that they are one and the same?

 

[MissChief]

They're not the same and Sky has never marketed it as '4k' that I've seen anywhere, only UHD.

Technically, "Ultra High Definition" is actually a derivation of the 4K digital cinema standard. However while your local multiplex shows images in native 4096 x 2160 4K resolution, the new Ultra HD consumer format has a slightly lower resolution of 3840 X 2160.

 

[Jez]

I find it amazing that people are splitting hairs over the difference between 3840*2160 and 4096*2160

 

[Vertigo]

I find it amazing that people are splitting hairs over the difference between 3840*2160 and 4096*2160

I don't. There are a lot of very sad people around.

 

[Cosimo]

I find it amazing that people are splitting hairs over the difference between 3840*2160 and 4096*2160

There is always one and twitter makes them sound clever.

 

[Gman]

Not been keeping up with this since launch but have they updated the software yet to allow you to have multiple planners (like user accounts) so i'm not sharing the same planner as others in the house?

 

[MissChief]

Not yet, no. It's on the roadmap for future options.

 

[BMox81]

Not been keeping up with this since launch but have they updated the software yet to allow you to have multiple planners (like user accounts) so i'm not sharing the same planner as others in the house?

Doesn't that defeat the object of Sky Q?

 

[nightrider1470]

I was excited with sky cinema, I really was!.

Thing is, I realised, most peoples second room is on wifi so skys idea of super duper HD is 4GB files lol... Us who torrent download which is pretty much all of us! No that 4GB us absolutely pants regard HD...... bluray rips anyone? 25GB+!!!!

Sky is the worst picture quality of all... its about as good as DVD upscaled.... actually, thinking about it DVD uoscaled is the perfect way to evaluate or explain SKY HD!.

My guess is decent 4k for a few months then lower the bitrate after a year and it will be as good as DVD upscaled via oppo.

I rest my drunk case

 

[varkanoid]

I would remove that Jolly Roger talk pretty sharpish as if a Dom sees it ....... <thwack>

 

[Brummies]

The official UHD announcement:

https://corporate.sky.com/media-cen...e-of-tv-they-love-in-enhanced-picture-quality

Wonder if Sky will have any offers on SkyQ before the football season starts? I hope so.

 

[Vertigo]

I was excited with sky cinema, I really was!.

Thing is, I realised, most peoples second room is on wifi so skys idea of super duper HD is 4GB files lol... Us who torrent download which is pretty much all of us! No that 4GB us absolutely pants regard HD...... bluray rips anyone? 25GB+!!!!

Sky is the worst picture quality of all... its about as good as DVD upscaled.... actually, thinking about it DVD uoscaled is the perfect way to evaluate or explain SKY HD!.

My guess is decent 4k for a few months then lower the bitrate after a year and it will be as good as DVD upscaled via oppo.

I rest my drunk case

Sky's problem, as always, is bitrate. They can bleat on about resolution all they like but, with the pitiful bitrate they squeeze everything down to, the amount of artifacting you get in dark scenes and areas is truly shocking.

It'll be very interesting to see what they do with the new 4K content, both broadcast and on-demand. Netflix & Amazon both recommend around 20-25Mbps connections for streaming 4K material and I know SES's satellite tests have been around this level too. Will Sky actually step up and use this kind of bitrate for their UHD stuff?