High Definition resolution has hijacked our gadgets and got us addicted. Nothing less than full HD satisfies us. Our TVs and phones were already streaming full HD content, Now laptops too are going beyond 1366 x 768 pixels and have full HD displays.
Understanding the HD world: In the old CRT TVs, the maximum number of lines supported was 480. Now things have changed. Flat panel TVs be they LED, LCDs or Plasma, support 1080 lines to provide sharp pictures with vibrant colours. While HD means 1080 x 720p, this resolution has been take over by full HD, which stands for 1920 x 1080p resolution.
Then what's retina display?
Many wonder if retina display is better than HD resolution. Well, they are completely different. While HD resolution is measured in lines or by multiplying height and width, 'retina display' is the name Apple gave its device displays with high pixel density to the extent that the human eye is not able to spot individual pixels from an average viewing distance.
HD TVs
The focus of TV manufacturers has shifted to flat panel TVs. Some have even stopped producing CRTs. Flat panels offer multiple options - LCD, LED, Plasma - that are further combined with HD Ready, Full HD and smart TV. Here are some of the best TVs with Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080)
LG 42LN5710
Price: Rs 52,500
What's special about this flat panel display from LG is its ability to connect to an external HDD and access the time-shift feature that lets you pause and record Live TV straight to the storage. This eliminates the need for set-top boxes with recording facility. It is NFC ready and WiDi capable. This full HD TV is one of the best in the market.
Samsung 7500 Smart TV (UA 46F7500)
Sony KLD 32W650A
HD in phones
HD resolution is available on smartphones too. Here's a list of the best smartphones with HD display.
Sony Xperia Z1
LG G2
Price: Rs 35,350
The flagship smartphone from LG not only offers full HD display but also packs in a video camera capable of capturing videos of 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second. This phone has a unique design too, where the power key and the volume key have been moved to the back.
Samsung Galaxy Note 3
HD Laptops: HD started with TVs and has since moved to phones, projectors and what not. It had to come to laptops too. And just like the other gadgets, it first started with 1280 x 720 pixel and 1024 x 768 pixel resolution. Last year, 1366 x 768 pixel resolution got fairly got standardised with a lot many laptops, irrespective of display size boasting this resolution. But there are limited choices in HD laptops at the moment.
HP Envy 15-J001TX
Sony Vaio S15125CN notebook
Toshiba Satellite P50
Hard on the pocket
Everything is available on HD now. We are able to watch HD movies and even the DTH operators are increasingly adding HD channels to their packages. There are HD Videos on YouTube too. But we still often have to pay extra for accessing HD content. For example, the channel Star World Premier HD - every DTH operator charges extra for it as it is not part of the HD package or even the annual mega plan. Also, those accessing HD services have to shell out more for their set-top boxes and access to the service.
HD Content creation: With HD content being streamed regularly on our TVs, today most cameras, both stand alone and those part of smartphones, can shoot videos with full HD resolution. The content captured by these devices can be streamed to the TV or laptop by connecting it through MHL or wirelessly through apps.
And Now for 4k…
It makes sense to wait a couple of years to buy a 4K TV as by then, this technology may well become more affordable and there will be more content in the 4K format too. Still, if you buy one today, there are some good movie titles available on 4K which you can watch. Also consider 4k upscaling. Some TV manufacturers are adding top chips in their high-end 4K TVs that dynamically address the local image database in order to interpolate the extra data needed for the 3840x2160 picture. It means that you can enjoy the benefits of increased resolution which the 4K TV provides, even if the native content is only full HD.