Kaleidescape, the company behind movie downloads that "match or surpass" UHD Blu-ray quality, has joined the 8K Association.
With media players starting at around $4000, Kaleidescape is aimed squarely at the high-end home cinema market.
The company recently made waves by announcing its new 4K player to rival UHD Blu-ray, featuring Dolby Vision and lossless audio.
8K ambitions
In a joint press release, Kaleidescape announced that it has joined the 8K Association (8KA). which already counts brands such as Samsung, Panasonic, Hisense and TCL.
- "Joining the 8KA positions Kaleidescape alongside other industry leaders, committed to fostering a collaborative environment, and dedicated to the advancement and standardization of 8K technology," said Tayloe Stansbury, chairman and CEO, Kaleidescape.
- "As consumers demand larger screens, higher-fidelity and increasingly immersive experiences, Kaleidescape’s involvement in the 8KA will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of premium home cinema."
Kaleidescape's Strato V media player downloads movies in UHD Blu-ray quality. Photo: Company
The move signals Kaleidescape’s ambitions in the 8K space, although no timeline or product roadmap has been shared.
The company said it is committed to "pushing the boundaries of home entertainment and ensuring its platform remains at the forefront of technological innovation".
Chicken and egg
8K TVs have so far struggled to gain traction due to high prices and the lack of native 8K content – a classic chicken-and-egg dilemma.
Disappointing sales have prompted many TV makers to scale back their 8K plans, with Sony recently stepping away from 8K TVs. Even if Kaleidescape moves forward with 8K support, the addressable market of 8K TVs and projectors will remain limited for the foreseeable future.
While 8K content is beginning to emerge in the consumer space, much of it is being produced for VR headsets as immersive 180-degree 3D video.
