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Following the launch of its second generation 8K TVs at IFA in Berlin last week, Sharp said today it is launching and shipping its first generation 70" monitor to the USA. Sharp sold its branding rights and TV business for the US to HiSense a number of years ago. So, unlike Asia and Europe, where it launched the 70" as a TV, this will be a monitor for commercial, and professional applications.
"We're proud to always be at the forefront of innovation in the display space and our 8K monitor continues that tradition, providing overwhelming realism for users," said Gary Bailer, Director of Product Planning and Marketing for Pro AV Products at Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America. "By upscaling from 4K to 8K, the 8M-B70AU has pixels so small that they provide a 3D-like image. It's like looking through a window."
The TV version is fitted with four HDMI 2.0 inputs to take in proper 8K as 4 4K signals, there are no specifications released that say whether this monitor is limited to upscaling 4K signal, or uses the familiar 4xHDMI input board, with an additional or replacement 4x 12G SDI set of inputs.
Sharp's 8M-B70AU delivers 10-bit color depth (1,024 shades), which Sharp says 'improves color gradation, compared with HD's 8-bit color depth (256 shades). This means 8K UHD renders gradations with smooth, natural transitions between the various color shades. For example, 8K Ultra-HD could perfectly reproduce the previously hard-to-render colors and gradations of the sky', accordng to the Sharp statement.
This monitor was previewed at both NAB and Infocomm this year. Sharp was the first to commercially offer an 8K monitor on October 30th of 2015 in Japan, after demonstrating 85" 8K LCD monitors at trade shows for many years. Showing it off in Europe at ISE in early 2016. Sharp launched its first generation 70" TV a year ago. Starting shipments soon after in China, with Europe closing the release cycle in late April.
"We're proud to always be at the forefront of innovation in the display space and our 8K monitor continues that tradition, providing overwhelming realism for users," said Gary Bailer, Director of Product Planning and Marketing for Pro AV Products at Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America. "By upscaling from 4K to 8K, the 8M-B70AU has pixels so small that they provide a 3D-like image. It's like looking through a window."
The TV version is fitted with four HDMI 2.0 inputs to take in proper 8K as 4 4K signals, there are no specifications released that say whether this monitor is limited to upscaling 4K signal, or uses the familiar 4xHDMI input board, with an additional or replacement 4x 12G SDI set of inputs.
Sharp's 8M-B70AU delivers 10-bit color depth (1,024 shades), which Sharp says 'improves color gradation, compared with HD's 8-bit color depth (256 shades). This means 8K UHD renders gradations with smooth, natural transitions between the various color shades. For example, 8K Ultra-HD could perfectly reproduce the previously hard-to-render colors and gradations of the sky', accordng to the Sharp statement.
This monitor was previewed at both NAB and Infocomm this year. Sharp was the first to commercially offer an 8K monitor on October 30th of 2015 in Japan, after demonstrating 85" 8K LCD monitors at trade shows for many years. Showing it off in Europe at ISE in early 2016. Sharp launched its first generation 70" TV a year ago. Starting shipments soon after in China, with Europe closing the release cycle in late April.