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Connected Home, Technology

How To: ATSC 3.0 & the HDHomeRun QUATRO 4K

We’re diving into ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) — the next generation of over-the-air broadcast television. I cover everything from new video and audio capabilities to the challenges of the broadcaster transition and the hardware you’ll need to get started. I also share my hands-on experience with Silicon Dust’s HDHomeRun QUATRO 4K tuner, and look ahead at potential capabilities on the horizon, including Single Frequency Networks, targeted advertising, and ATSC 3.0 as a content delivery network. Continue reading How To: ATSC 3.0 & the HDHomeRun QUATRO 4K

Mike Connelly
Connected Home

How To: Configuring MPV for Best Video Quality Including 4K Upscaling

As of Fall 2023, the the best graphics subsystem for the MPV media player is a combination of vo_gpu_next, libplacebo and Vulkan. This includes recent Windows-based PCs, Linux-based devices, and Android-based devices. Although Apple devices running macOS, iOS, and tvOS prefer Metal 3, currently, there is not a Metal backend for MPV. Previously, that meant that MPV had to use Apple’s deprecated OpenGL subsystem. Now, it is possible to use MoltenVK for significant performance gains over OpenGL. Continue reading How To: Configuring MPV for Best Video Quality Including 4K Upscaling

Mike Connelly
Connected Home

Nvidia Shield Android TV: 2017 Hardware & Shield Experience 5.1 Review

The Shield TV continues to be an anomaly: it is by far the most powerful media streamer and a capable gaming platform though not as advanced as the Xbox One or Playstation 4, while costing nearly as much. While Google focuses on stripped down Chromecast devices and Chromecast-enabled TVs, Nvidia singularly showcases the advanced functionality of Android TV including DVR, media serving, gaming, and now smart home capabilities. Though Nvidia is touting the Shield TV and AI home, Google is the AI element and Nvidia is the hardware manufacturer.
Continue reading Nvidia Shield Android TV: 2017 Hardware & Shield Experience 5.1 Review

Mike Connelly
Connected Home

How To: Upscaling Lower Resolution Video to 4K

So you just bought an expensive new 4K (UHD) television set. The issue is that most live and recorded video distributed today is less than 4K (2160p) resolution. Blu-rays are 1080p format while DVDs are only 480i/p. TV broadcasters use either 1080i or 720p. Some cable and satellite companies are downscaling 1080i to 720p format. Although some over-the-top video service providers like Amazon and Netflix have select content in 4K, most of their content is in 1080 resolution. To solve this, UHD TVs include upscalers for lower resolution content originating from cable/satellite settop boxes, Blu-ray and DVD players and gaming consoles. Continue reading How To: Upscaling Lower Resolution Video to 4K

Mike Connelly
Connected Home

Nvidia Shield Android TV Review

Since its first release in May 2015, the Nvidia Shield Android TV has been billed as the world’s best Android TV settop box. That continues to be the case as of December 2016. The Shield Android TV is also more powerful, technology-wise, than the Apple TV Gen 4, Amazon FireTV 2, or latest Roku. That said, the Apple TV is undeniably a better solution for Apple ecosystem users like my parents. Amazon’s ecosystem is a cost-effective solution, especially for Amazon Prime members; and the FireTV is also bolstered by Amazon’s investment in exclusive content. Meanwhile, the Android gaming ecosystem isn’t advanced enough to sway hard-core gamers from their Xbox One or PS4 game consoles. Continue reading Nvidia Shield Android TV Review

Mike Connelly