* Sky Q Thread *

Cosimo · 20 Jun 2016 at 06:19

An update on 4k, HDR, VR, from Sky’s creative director of new products:

https://recombu.com/digital/article/sky-q-4k-ultra-hd-hdr#

Cosimo · 29 Jun 2016 at 07:57

woppy101 said:
How long till its released?

How long is a piece of string. Sky are at the bottom of the ladder for keeping its customers informed of software upgrades. They have a lot to learn on that front.

Cosimo · 6 Jul 2016 at 08:59

The new firmware:

Cosimo · 6 Jul 2016 at 13:28

Before everyone gets too excited about that firmware:

Just to confirm, there is no active software update rolling out at the moment.

We will let the Community know should that change.

From the official Sky forum.

Cosimo · 6 Jul 2016 at 19:51

MarkeR said:
Why would Sky publicise it's software update plans?

To keep customers happy and informed...

Cosimo · 14 Jul 2016 at 07:12

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

Cosimo · 14 Jul 2016 at 08:52

The official UHD announcement:

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

Cosimo · 15 Jul 2016 at 07:55

Jez said:
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.

Cosimo · 18 Jul 2016 at 11:53

MarkeR said:
So a few days to launch.

2160P @ 50Hz 10-bit....

I can confirm the UHD pic is blisteringly good.

Ready and waiting.

What TV have you watched it on?

Cosimo · 20 Jul 2016 at 14:21

Hurry up with the new firmware!

Cosimo · 21 Jul 2016 at 07:15

Did the software update this morning and it downloaded Q002.00056.00L (4lpnhsw).

Ultra UHD is there in Sport.

Audio Visual picture resolution option of 2160UHD is present.

Cosimo · 21 Jul 2016 at 08:51

The brand new features:

• Auto Download Next Episode: Sit back and enjoy episode after episode of box sets. When customers start watching an episode from a series they have downloaded, if the next episode is available it will automatically start to download, so it’s ready when customers want it.

• Auto Play: Watch one episode after another effortlessly. Now when customers get to the end of an episode, the next one will automatically start to play after 30 seconds. Press Select to watch immediately or Dismiss to exit.

• Top Picks: Introduces even more recommendations to the current On Demand offering, so with the best of live, future and Online Video now added, customers will find it even simpler to choose the next gripping drama, box set marathon or live sport to enjoy.

• Series Record: When watching a recording of a show, if the next episode isn’t on until later that week customers can use the Mini Guide to set a recording for the whole series.

• Sports Featured: The new Sports Homepage makes it easier for Sky Sports customers to find the best of live and On Demand sports this summer.

• Get to a specific place in a recording or download more easily by skipping forwards or backwards. Press pause and then swipe on the touch pad to move minute by minute, or swipe-and-hold to move to a specific time in the programme customers’ are watching.

• With PIN Protection for Online Video clips, customers will be prompted for a PIN throughout the day to watch 18+ rated content with the Family Friendly setting on.

Notes:

• Auto Play and Auto Download Next Episode only work if the immediate next episode is available to watch or download at the time the preceding episode is being watched.

• Should a customer want to turn off Auto Play and Auto Download they can do so in Settings > Setup > Preferences.

• Kids content will not Auto Download.

• Customers will receive a notification the first time they download or watch an On Demand show.

• Sports Featured programmes are available to watch live or download to customers with a Sky Sports subscription.

• In the Online Video section of Sky Q customers will be prompted for a PIN to watch ‘18’ rated content between 5am-9pm. For ‘18+’ graded content customers will be prompted for a mandatory PIN at any time of day. This works when the Family Friendly setting is on.

The first software release to Sky Q will also see a number of software updates, improving in-home connectivity and other bug fixes.

The press release:

https://corporate.sky.com/media-cen..._for_customers_with_more_great_features_added

Cosimo · 21 Jul 2016 at 08:58

Vertigo1 said:
Despite my earlier fears I'm actually very impressed with the HD upscaling. It's fractionally better than the TV was managing.

Still haven't decided on that one as our latest Sony does an exceptional job of upscaling. Will have a play with the input settings to see.

Cosimo · 21 Jul 2016 at 10:33

Vertigo1 said:
Which model? I'm very impressed with my Sony's HD upscaling, particularly with a clean Bluray source but, if anything, the Sky Q box is fractionally better. Not much in it though.

My fear was that the Q box would be inferior so I'd have to either suffer that or switch it between 1080 and 2160 when I wanted to watch HD or UHD content.

It's the Sony Bravia 55XD9305 (LED Premium HDR 4K Ultra HD).

I'd love to know what upscaling engine Sky use.

Cosimo · 21 Jul 2016 at 10:59

MarkeR said:
For you guys who recieved the update today, do you have any UHD content within movies or box sets on demand, just curious!

Not seen anything yet.

Cosimo · 21 Jul 2016 at 15:06

woppy101 said:
I have a OLED65E6 and my sharpness is set to 0, your right about the amount of people that have all of that crap switched on.
I read a few months ago that the actual value of the SkyQ silver box is close to £600 so it stands to reason that it has a good scaling chip in it.

Did they mention which scaling chip it had?

Cosimo · 21 Jul 2016 at 18:44

Shuddering picture on BBC One with UHD. Never had that on upscaling by the TV or from UHD bluray player feeding tv with 4k HDR films. My wife said it also happened on other channels this afternoon.

Cosimo · 22 Jul 2016 at 16:43

The flickering/shuddering has happened again today during UHD upscaling by the Q box. It appears that is happening on recordings my wife has been watching, some of which have been SD. Reverting to 1080p clears the problem.

Cosimo · 22 Jul 2016 at 17:47

MarkeR said:
What TV Cosimo?

The latest Sony Bravia 55XD9305 (LED Premium HDR 4K Ultra HD). The TV has been flawless at upscaling and also playing back UHD HDR blu ray which is coming to the TV in that format.

4K streaming is also flawless.

Some of the stuff she watches is really bad quality old SD programming. It happens after about 20-30 minutes playback.

It does look like a Q problem with recordings. I will investigate further before reporting on the Sky forum.

Cosimo · 23 Jul 2016 at 07:06

MarkeR said:
Cosimo.

I'll post on our internal forum, and see if anyone has had this issue before.

Is it the same idea when a TV doesn't support 24fps and it shudders as the picture moves from side to side?

Thanks.

It is perfect on playback.

There is movement and flicker. Not had a chance to playback one of her recordings but I will do so this weekend.

*** Sky Q Thread ***

* Sky Q Thread *