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Tech Industry Grapples with 8K Adoption, While Consumers Seek Savings on Phone Plans and Drone Deals
The tech world saw a mix of developments this week, ranging from potential shifts in display technology to consumer savings on drones and phone plans. While some companies reconsidered the push for 8K resolution, deals emerged for consumers looking to save on prepaid phone plans and drone technology.
The television industry appeared to be reassessing its commitment to 8K technology. Companies had spent the 2010s attempting to popularize 8K displays. Sharp introduced the first 8K TV prototype at CES in Las Vegas in 2012. By 2015, 8K TVs were available in Japan for approximately $133,034, and Samsung released its first 8K TVs in the US in 2018, starting at $3,500. The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) established a specification for supporting 8K (Display Port1.4) by 2016, followed by the HDMI Forum with HDMI 2.1. Dell had an 8K computer monitor by 2017, and LG released the first 8K OLED TV in 2019.
Meanwhile, consumers had opportunities to save money on mobile phone plans. Prepaid cellular service, where customers pay in advance for network access, offered an alternative to postpaid subscription plans. Unlike postpaid plans, prepaid plans do not require a contract and allow customers to leave at any time. US Mobile, ATT, Tello, and Boost Mobile were among the companies offering prepaid plans.
Drone enthusiasts could also find savings. Antigravity offered a discount on its A1 360-degree drone. The drone was 15 percent off through February 9th. The discount applied to all bundles, with the most affordable option dropping from $1,599.
In other tech news, phone manufacturers continued to focus on telephoto lenses as a key differentiator. According to Dominic Preston of The Verge, "Phone manufacturers are throwing everything they have at long-distance lenses in order to stand out." Samsung's Galaxy S20 Ultra was among the first phones to feature a periscopic telephoto lens.
Finally, research continued into alternative methods of pest control. One study explored the potential of using fungus as an insecticide.
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