At the ongoing Gamescom 2024 event in the US, Samsung unveiled its new Odyssey gaming monitors: Odyssey 3D, Odyssey OLED G8, and Odyssey OLED G9. The Odyssey 3D is the company's first glasses-free 3D gaming monitor, and you can read about it here. The Odyssey OLED G8 now comes in a new size, while the Odyssey OLED G9 has a variant that doesn't have a Smart Hub.

Samsung expands Odyssey OLED G8 and Odyssey OLED G9 gaming monitor lineups

Samsung unveiled the Odyssey OLED G8 (G85SD) at Gamescom 2024. It has a 34-inch QD-OLED curved screen with an ultrawide 21:9 aspect ratio and an 1800R curvature. It has a resolution of 3,440 x 1,440 pixels, a 175Hz variable refresh rate, a 0.03s grey-to-grey response time, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro for tear-free gaming.

It also features Samsung Gaming Hub and Samsung Smart Hub. This means that the gaming monitor runs Tizen OS, so you can use it as a smart TV to stream movies, music, and TV shows using apps like Apple Music, Apple TV, Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube. You can also mirror your laptop's, PC's, smartphone's, or tablet's screen to the monitor using AirPlay 2, Miracast, or Smart View.

Using Samsung's Gaming Hub, you can stream games directly from the cloud. Samsung Gaming Hub has Amazon Luna, Microsoft Xbox Cloud, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Utomik. It comes bundled with a remote controller, so you can use its smart features without a laptop or PC.

The Odyssey OLED G9 has two variants: G93SD and G95SD. Both variants have a 49-inch QD-OLED screen with dual-QHD (5,120 x 1,440 pixels) resolution, a 32:9 ultrawide aspect ratio, and a curvature of 1,800R. They have a 240Hz variable refresh rate (with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro) and a 0.03ms response time.

The G95SD has the Gaming Hub and Smart Hub, so you can stream games, movies, music, and TV shows. You can also control smart home devices using the SmartThings app or mirror your laptop's or phone's screen wirelessly using AirPlay 2, Miracast, and Smart View, depending on the model of your device.

The G93SD lacks Samsung's Gaming Hub and Smart Hub features. All these Odyssey gaming monitors feature Samsung OLED Safeguard, an algorithm that prevents pixel burn-in, and OLED Glare Free, a coating on the screen that minimizes glare and light reflections. Samsung's flagship S95D OLED TV also has this matte finish. They also have RGB lighting on the rear and plenty of ports.

Samsung will expand the availability of these new gaming monitors to major global markets, including Australia, Europe, and North America. The G93SD and the S95SD were earlier only available in some Asian markets, including South Korea.

The post Samsung launches Odyssey OLED G8 and G9 in new sizes appeared first on SamMobile.

The Steam Deck is a handheld gaming PC that ships with a Linux-based operating system called SteamOS. And that operating system is something of a mixed blessing: on the one hand, it’s designed from the ground up for handhelds, which has led many to conclude that the SteamOS offers a better user experience than Windows […]

The post Valve releases Windows drivers for the Steam Deck OLED appeared first on Liliputing.

What Is It?

This animated sci fi series follows the survivors of a damaged interstellar cargo ship who try to find their missing crewmates on the planet where they crashed.  In their endeavors, they must deal with the odd ecosystem of this land, which can be both hostile and helpful.

Aired: Max/Netflix, 2023, 1 Season Totaling 12 Episodes

Starring: Sunita Mani, Wunmi Mosaku, Alia Shawkat, Bob Stephenson, Ted Travelstead

Created By: Joseph Bennett, Charles Huettner

Why Was It Cancelled?

This series premiered on Max in Fall 2023 but it did not chart during its first season run on that service. It did develop some notable word-of-mouth throughout the sci fi community, and regularly received recommendations on social media as a unique and original genre entry.   It has also been lauded by critics and viewers, currently holding a 100% Fresh Rating and 95% Audience Score at Rotten Tomatoes. But none of that led to notable viewership numbers and Max decided to cancel the show after one season.  And while the show did wrap up its story across its 12-episode run, executive producers Sean Buckelew and James Merrill have indicated that they mapped out two more seasons.

Despite the cancellation, Netflix must have been paying attention to the positive buzz because they picked it up for an encore run of the first season which began in Summer 2024. They did not commit to a second season of the show, but the word was that would be paying close attention to the viewership numbers.  It did not chart for that streaming service either, so at this point, the show appears to be one-and-done

Can the Show Be Saved?

The fate of Scavengers Reign looks to be very much in doubt at this point, but it is not impossible that it could return for a second season or more. Netflix definitely had an interest in continuing the show, but the viewership numbers did not appear to justify it. I am not certain if it was an expensive production, but if it was not too costly, the streamer might still consider keeping it around. They have not made an official announcement one way or the other, so my guess is that the second season is still up for consideration.

As mentioned, the show has developed quite a bit of buzz, but it does not seem to have pulled together a cohesive fanbase. I have seen people promoting it sporadically in various places, but not a unified effort that has managed to get it trending on social media. At this point, if fans can bring the show some attention and get people watching it in large numbers on Netflix, that streamer may be persuaded to keep it going for a second season or more. I’m thinking any attempt to focus on Max would be a wasted effort since that service already cancelled the show, but Netflix does appear to still be an option. That window could be closing soon, though, so fans should definitely step up their Call to Action if they want more from Scavengers Reign.

Where Can You Watch It?

The show is still streaming on Max, but as mentioned above, fans should focus their viewing on Netflix. Those views will be counted and could help propel it to a second season. It is not currently available to purchase VOD.

Stream Scavengers Reign on Netlix or Max

Did you watch Scavengers Reign and would you support fan efforts to save the show? Chime in below in the comments.

Be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site  for breaking news and updates. And for the latest news and discussions on sci fi and fantasy television, follow r/SciFiTV

Follow our Sci Fi TV Schedule for all the currently airing and upcoming sci fi and fantasy television shows, and you can see the premieres for all the upcoming genre entries at this link.

The post Why Was Scavengers Reign Cancelled and Can It Be Saved? appeared first on Cancelled Sci Fi.

Gaming monitors are turning out to be a lucrative business and Samsung is fully engaged in making the most of this opportunity. The company leads the gaming monitor market as it continues to release new models that provide superior performance and quality.

Samsung is running a new promotion in the United States, providing customers with a chance to win the 49-inch Odyssey G9 gaming monitor, one of the best products in this lineup, in addition to offering up to $1,200 off many top monitors.

Who wouldn't want a free Odyssey G9 gaming monitor?

This deal is being offered as part of Samsung's Gaming Week promotion which is available until Sunday, August 18. It's offering discounts of up to $1,200 on some of its most popular gaming monitors, including:

• 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9
• 55-inch Odyssey Ark 2nd Gen
• 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9
• 49-inch Odyssey G9
• 32/34-inch Odyssey OLED G8
• 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6
• 32-inch Odyssey Neo G8
• 32/27-inch Odyssey G5
• 32-inch Odyssey Neo G7

Further promotions will be announced for each monitor during the promotion period, which will be revealed on Monday, August 12. Aside from offering big discounts on these models, Samsung is also giving customers a gift card of up to $100 which can be used to purchase anything on Samsung.com.

Customers in the United States who buy any of these monitors from Samsung.com will automatically be entered into the Unlock Your Inner Champion sweepstakes. Samsung will announce three winners who will all have the choice to receive a free 49-inch Odyssey G9 (G95C) or Odyssey OLED G9 (G95SC) gaming monitor.

It's best to familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions of this sweepstakes offer to ensure that you're complying with the rules and have the best chance to pick up one of Samsung's best gaming monitors for free.

The post Samsung’s giving you the chance to win a 49-inch Odyssey G9 gaming monitor appeared first on SamMobile.

Samsung has announced that it will bring some exciting offers on its AI TVs in India. During the company's ‘AI-Powered Freedom‘ sale, the South Korean firm aims to democratize AI and make its latest premium TV range more accessible to consumers in the country.

Samsung India's ‘AI-Powered Freedom' sale to bring offers and discounts on its premium TVs

Samsung has announced the ‘AI-Powered Freedom' sale event for the Indian market. During this upcoming event ahead of India's 78th Independence Day, the company will offer cashback discounts of up to 20% on select TVs and easy EMIs starting at just INR 2,777 (~$33) per month for up to 36 months. This event will start on August 3, 2024, and end on August 31, 2024.

The company's AI-equipped TVs include its new Neo QLED 8K TVs, Neo QLED TVs (4K), OLED TVs, and Crystal 4K UHD TVs. These TVs are secured by Samsung Knox to protect sensitive data with multiple layers of software and hardware. Depending on the model, buyers who buy select premium AI TVs can get a free Serif TV worth INR 89,990 (~ $1,073) or a free soundbar worth INR 47,990 (~$573).

Samsung hasn't announced the rest of the offers and discounts yet, and they will be revealed in the coming days.

Samsung's latest Neo QLED, Neo QLED 8K, and OLED TVs feature processors that have built-in neural processing units (NPUs) for faster AI processing. This processing is used for improved audio and picture quality, depending on the scene and picture that is being displayed.

The post Samsung to bring exciting offers on its AI TVs in India appeared first on SamMobile.

A transparent television might seem like magic, but both LG and Samsung demonstrated such displays this past January in Las Vegas at CES 2024. And those large transparent TVs, which attracted countless spectators peeking through video images dancing on their screens, were showstoppers.

Although they are indeed impressive, transparent TVs are not likely to appear—or disappear—in your living room any time soon. Samsung and LG have taken two very different approaches to achieve a similar end—LG is betting on OLED displays, while Samsung is pursuing microLED screens—and neither technology is quite ready for prime time. Understanding the hurdles that still need to be overcome, though, requires a deeper dive into each of these display technologies.

How does LG’s see-through OLED work?

OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode, and that pretty much describes how it works. OLED materials are carbon-based compounds that emit light when energized with an electrical current. Different compounds produce different colors, which can be combined to create full-color images.

To construct a display from these materials, manufacturers deposit them as thin films on some sort of substrate. The most common approach arranges red-, green-, and blue-emitting (RGB) materials in patterns to create a dense array of full-color pixels. A display with what is known as 4K resolution contains a matrix of 3,840 by 2,160 pixels—8.3 million pixels in all, formed from nearly 25 million red, green, and blue subpixels.

The timing and amount of electrical current sent to each subpixel determines how much light it emits. So by controlling these currents properly, you can create the desired image on the screen. To accomplish this, each subpixel must be electrically connected to two or more transistors, which act as switches. Traditional wires wouldn’t do for this, though: They’d block the light. You need to use transparent (or largely transparent) conductive traces.

LG’s demonstration of transparent OLED displays at CES 2024 seemed almost magical. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

A display has thousands of such traces arranged in a series of rows and columns to provide the necessary electrical connections to each subpixel. The transistor switches are also fabricated on the same substrate. That all adds up to a lot of materials that must be part of each display. And those materials must be carefully chosen for the OLED display to appear transparent.

The conductive traces are the easy part. The display industry has long used indium tin oxide as a thin-film conductor. A typical layer of this material is only 135 nanometers thick but allows about 80 percent of the light impinging on it to pass through.

The transistors are more of a problem, because the materials used to fabricate them are inherently opaque. The solution is to make the transistors as small as you can, so that they block the least amount of light. The amorphous silicon layer used for transistors in most LCD displays is inexpensive, but its low electron mobility means that transistors composed of this material can only be made so small. This silicon layer can be annealed with lasers to create low-temperature polysilicon, a crystallized form of silicon, which improves electron mobility, reducing the size of each transistor. But this process works only for small sheets of glass substrate.

Faced with this challenge, designers of transparent OLED displays have turned to indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO). This material has high enough electron mobility to allow for smaller transistors than is possible with amorphous silicon, meaning that IGZO transistors block less light.

These tactics help solve the transparency problem, but OLEDs have some other challenges. For one, exposure to oxygen or water vapor destroys the light-emissive materials. So these displays need an encapsulating layer, something to cover their surfaces and edges. Because this layer creates a visible gap when two panels are placed edge to edge, you can’t tile a set of smaller displays to create a larger one. If you want a big OLED display, you need to fabricate a single large panel.

The result of even the best engineering here is a “transparent” display that still blocks some light. You won’t mistake LG’s transparent TV for window glass: People and objects behind the screen appear noticeably darker than when viewed directly. According to one informed observer, the LG prototype appears to have 45 percent transparency.

How does Samsung’s magical MicroLED work?

For its transparent displays, Samsung is using inorganic LEDs. These devices, which are very efficient at converting electricity into light, are commonplace today: in household lightbulbs, in automobile headlights and taillights, and in electronic gear, where they often show that the unit is turned on.

In LED displays, each pixel contains three LEDs, one red, one green, and one blue. This works great for the giant digital displays used in highway billboards or in sports-stadium jumbotrons, whose images are meant to be viewed from a good distance. But up close, these LED pixel arrays are noticeable.

TV displays, on the other hand, are meant to be viewed from modest distances and thus require far smaller LEDs than the chips used in, say, power-indicator lights. Two years ago, these “microLED” displays used chips that were just 30 by 50 micrometers. (A typical sheet of paper is 100 micrometers thick.) Today, such displays use chips less than half that size: 12 by 27 micrometers.

While transparent displays are stunning, they might not be practical for home use as televisions. Expect to see them adopted first as signage in retail settings. AUO

These tiny LED chips block very little light, making the display more transparent. The Taiwanese display maker AUO recently demonstrated a microLED display with more than 60 percent transparency.

Oxygen and moisture don’t affect microLEDs, so they don’t need to be encapsulated. This makes it possible to tile smaller panels to create a seamless larger display. And the silicon coating on such small panels can be annealed to create polysilicon, which performs better than IGZO, so the transistors can be even smaller and block less light.

But the microLED approach has its own problems. Indeed, the technology is still in its infancy, with costing a great deal to manufacture and requiring some contortions to get uniform brightness and color across the entire display.

For example, individual OLED materials emit a well-defined color, but that’s not the case for LEDs. Minute variations in the physical characteristics of an LED chip can alter the wavelength of light it emits by a measurable—and noticeable—amount. Manufacturers have typically addressed this challenge by using a binning process: They test thousands of chips and then group them into bins of similar wavelengths, discarding those that don’t fit the desired ranges. This explains in part why those large digital LED screens are so expensive: Many LEDs created for their construction must be discarded.

But binning doesn’t really work when dealing with microLEDs. The tiny chips are difficult to test and are so expensive that costs would be astronomical if too many had to be rejected.

Though you can see through today’s transparent displays, they do block a noticeable amount of light, making the background darker than when viewed directly. Tekla S. Perry

Instead, manufacturers test microLED displays for uniformity after they’re assembled, then calibrate them to adjust the current applied to each subpixel so that color and brightness are uniform across the display. This calibration process, which involves scanning an image on the panel and then reprogramming the control circuitry, can sometimes require thousands of iterations.

Then there’s the problem of assembling the panels. Remember those 25 million microLED chips that make up a 4K display? Each must be positioned precisely, and each must be connected to the correct electrical contacts.

The LED chips are initially fabricated on sapphire wafers, each of which contains chips of only one color. These chips must be transferred from the wafer to a carrier to hold them temporarily before applying them to the panel backplane. The Taiwanese microLED company PlayNitride has developed a process for creating large tiles with chips spaced less than 2 micrometers apart. Its process for positioning these tiny chips has better than 99.9 percent yields. But even at a 99.9 percent yield, you can expect about 25,000 defective subpixels in a 4K display. They might be positioned incorrectly so that no electrical contact is made, or the wrong color chip is placed in the pattern, or a subpixel chip might be defective. While correcting these defects is sometimes possible, doing so just adds to the already high cost.

Samsung’s microLED technology allows the image to extend right up to the edge of the glass panel, making it possible to create larger displays by tiling smaller panels together. Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

Could MicroLEDs still be the future of flat-panel displays? “Every display analyst I know believes that microLEDs should be the ‘next big thing’ because of their brightness, efficiency, color, viewing angles, response times, and lifetime, “ says Bob Raikes, editor of the 8K Monitor newsletter. “However, the practical hurdles of bringing them to market remain huge. That Apple, which has the deepest pockets of all, has abandoned microLEDs, at least for now, and after billions of dollars in investment, suggests that mass production for consumer markets is still a long way off.”

At this juncture, even though microLED technology offers some clear advantages, OLED is more cost-effective and holds the early lead for practical applications of transparent displays.

But what is a transparent display good for?

Samsung and LG aren’t the only companies to have demonstrated transparent panels recently.

AUO’s 60-inch transparent display, made of tiled panels, won the People’s Choice Award for Best MicroLED-Based Technology at the Society for Information Display’s Display Week, held in May in San Jose, Calif. And the Chinese company BOE Technology Group demonstrated a 49-inch transparent OLED display at CES 2024.

These transparent displays all have one feature in common: They will be insanely expensive. Only LG’s transparent OLED display has been announced as a commercial product. It’s without a price or a ship date at this point, but it’s not hard to guess how costly it will be, given that nontransparent versions are expensive enough. For example, LG prices its top-end 77-inch OLED TV at US $4,500.

Displays using both microLED technology [above] and OLED technology have some components in each pixel that block light coming from the background. These include the red, green, and blue emissive materials along with the transistors required to switch them on and off. Smaller components mean that you can have a larger transmissive space that will provide greater transparency. Illustration: Mark Montgomery; Source: Samsung

Thanks to seamless tiling, transparent microLED displays can be larger than their OLED counterparts. But their production costs are larger as well. Much larger. And that is reflected in prices. For example, Samsung’s nontransparent 114-inch microLED TV sells for $150,000. We can reasonably expect transparent models to cost even more.

Seeing these prices, you really have to ask: What are the practical applications of transparent displays?

Don’t expect these displays to show up in many living rooms as televisions. And high price is not the only reason. After all, who wants to see their bookshelves showing through in the background while they’re watching Dune? That’s why the transparent OLED TV LG demonstrated at CES 2024 included a “contrast layer”—basically, a black cloth—that unrolls and covers the back of the display on demand.

Transparent displays could have a place on the desktop—not so you can see through them, but so that a camera can sit behind the display, capturing your image while you’re looking directly at the screen. This would help you maintain eye contact during a Zoom call. One company—Veeo—demonstrated a prototype of such a product at CES 2024, and it plans to release a 30-inch model for about $3,000 and a 55-inch model for about $8,500 later this year. Veeo’s products use LG’s transparent OLED technology.

Transparent screens are already showing up as signage and other public-information displays. LG has installed transparent 55-inch OLED panels in the windows of Seoul’s new high-speed underground rail cars, which are part of a system known as the Great Train eXpress. Riders can browse maps and other information on these displays, which can be made clear when needed for passengers to see what’s outside.

LG transparent panels have also been featured in an E35e excavator prototype by Doosan Bobcat. This touchscreen display can act as the operator’s front or side window, showing important machine data or displaying real-time images from cameras mounted on the vehicle. Such transparent displays can serve a similar function as the head-up displays in some aircraft windshields.

And so, while the large transparent displays are striking, you’ll be more likely to see them initially as displays for machinery operators, public entertainment, retail signage, and even car windshields. The early adopters might cover the costs of developing mass-production processes, which in turn could drive prices down. But even if costs eventually reach reasonable levels, whether the average consumer really want a transparent TV in their home is something that remains to be seen—unlike the device itself, whose whole point is not to be.

Honestly, I felt completely numb to it in both cases when it happened. That's because the game getting cancelled meant that the team was also getting laid off so I immediately had to go into survival mode. At the time, I shoved all of those feelings about never seeing my work into a tightly-sealed jar to process later once I had secured my own survival. Most of the things I learned from those layoffs (and subsequent layoffs) have been crystallized into my [Gamer's Primer to Practically Dealing with Job Loss]. I didn't have any time to mourn for my lost work because I was too busy trying to secure my own living situation. I did process eventually get around to processing it, but by then it was much later and the scar tissue had already grown.

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Use Bekonix’s drag-and-drop timelines for cosplay lights, motors, and audio

The post No-Code LEDs and Animation: Getting to Know Bekonix for Lights & Props appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.

One of the biggest developments in OLED displays in the last couple of years is the tandem OLED technology, which uses two layers of OLED panels to offer higher brightness and increased longevity. Honor’s Magic 6 Ultimate was the first mass-market device to offer an OLED display with this technology. However, tandem OLED was popularised by the recently launched iPad Pro, the first tablet to use a screen with this tech.

Currently, three companies are mass producing OLED displays with the tandem OLED tech, BOE, LG Display, and Samsung Display. While BOE is making this type of screen for phones, LG Display and Samsung Display are making it for tablets, namely, the iPad Pro. Well, LG Display has now started mass manufacturing OLED displays with the tandem OLED technology for laptops as well, leaving BOE and Samsung Display behind.

LG starts mass manufacturing tandem OLED displays for laptops

LG Display has announced that it has started the mass production of OLED displays with tandem OLED technology for laptops. According to the company, the first tandem OLED panel for laptops that it is mass producing is a 13-inch unit with 2,880 x 1,800 pixels resolution, touch functionality, and 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut.

LG says that it offers three times higher brightness and two times better durability than conventional single-layer OLED displays for laptops while consuming a 40% lower amount of power and being 40% thinner and 28% lighter than typical OLED screens for laptops today. Those are very impressive figures and something to look forward to.

Next Dell XPS 13 will be the first laptop with LG's tandem OLED panel

According to LG Display, Dell’s next XPS 13 model will be the first laptop to use LG’s tandem OLED panel and should be the first laptop in the world to feature a tandem OLED screen. However, the display in Dell's upcoming XPS 13 laptop will have a higher resolution than the panel that LG Display has started mass manufacturing. LG Display will supply around 100,000 units of tandem OLED panels to Dell in the initial stage.

The story continues after the video…

With the latest development, LG Display is leaving Samsung Display behind in the tandem OLED market. However, Samsung Display has the upper hand in the OLED market for monitors, as the majority of (gaming) monitors with OLED displays nowadays use Samsung Display’s QD-OLED panels. Samsung is also giving a tough fight to LG when it comes to OLED TVs with the company’s QD-OLED TVs, such as the S95D.

The post Samsung is falling behind LG in laptop OLED displays appeared first on SamMobile.

Qualcomm and Microsoft have made big claims for the new Snapdragon X Elite processors that power some of the first Copilot+ PCs that are available starting today. Now that the first reviews are starting to arrive, do they live up to the promise? In some ways yes. In others? No. Or at least not yet. […]

The post Snapdragon X Elite-powered PCs arrive today, and so do (somewhat mixed) reviews appeared first on Liliputing.

Use Bekonix’s drag-and-drop timelines for cosplay lights, motors, and audio

The post No-Code LEDs and Animation: Getting to Know Bekonix for Lights & Props appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.

At CES 2024, Samsung unveiled the company’s entire lineup of televisions for 2024. It included the 2024 OLED, Neo QLED 8K, Neo QLED 4K, QLED, The Frame, and Crystal 4K series. Since then, the brand has been rapidly launching these series in various countries around the globe.

As for India, Samsung launched the 2024 Crystal 4K series in the country on 12 April, the 2024 OLED and Neo QLED series in the region on 17 April, and the 2024 The Frame series in the Indian market on 19 April. Today, the South Korean tech giant has launched the 2024 QLED 4K series in India.

Samsung’s 2024 QLED 4K series models for India

In the press release about the latest announcement, Samsung didn’t mention which models the 2024 QLED 4K series in India offers. However, after going through the company’s official website and various online shopping websites, we learned that Samsung’s 2024 QLED 4K series in India has three models: QE1D, Q60D, and Q70D, which come as successors to 2023’s QE1C, Q60C, and Q70C series. Internationally, the series also offers Q75D and Q80D.

From what we could gather, in India, Samsung has launched the QE1D in three sizes, 55-inch and 65-inch, and 75-inch, Q60D in six sizes, 43-inch, 50-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch, and the Q70D in two sizes, 55-inch and 65-inch. The South Korean tech giant has listed some of these models and their prices on its official website for the country and some on Amazon India. We noted down the prices and listed them below for you.

• QE1D 55-inch – INR 65,990
• QE1D 65-inch – INR 115,990
• Q60D 43-inch – INR 55,990
• Q60D 50-inch – INR 63,990
• Q60D 55-inch – INR 74,990
• Q60D 65-inch – INR 117,990
• Q60D 75-inch – INR 204,990
• Q60D 85-inch – INR 449,990
• Q70D 55-inch – INR 79,990
• Q70D 55-inch – INR 125,990

What improvements do Samsung’s 2024 QLED 4K series TVs offer over 2023 models?

So far, Samsung has not revealed what exact improvements do the QE1D, Q60D, and Q70D offer over QE1C, Q60C, and Q70C. However, from what we could gather, the only difference you’ll see between 2023 QLED 4K and 2024 QLED 4K TVs is in the operating system. The new models have an updated version of Tizen OS which offers additional features, including a Daily+ section that gives you access to SmartThings, Samsung Health, and much more.

Depending upon the model, Samsung’s 2024 QLED 4K series TVs have a VA panel with 4K resolution and quantum-dot (QD) layer, 60Hz refresh rate, and support for HDR. Samsung says that these TVs feature Dual LED and Motion Xcelerator, and come with Pantone Validation. You can check out our video above to learn more about Samsung’s 2024 lineup of televisions. On a related note, Samsung also launched 2024 lineup of monitors in India recently.

The post Samsung launches 2024 QLED 4K TV lineup in India appeared first on SamMobile.

Today I tried to implement tilemaps to my game that I'm developing on Monogame. Those tilemaps were created by using Tiled map editor.

For implementing my tilemaps I used Monogame Extended. I installed Monogame.Extended.Content.Pipline of version 3.8.0 (latest).

So after those stuff I added my tilemaps (TMX) and tilesets (TSX) to my Content Pipline Project but after building I got some wierd errors.

With tilemap

Processor 'TiledMapProcessor' had unexpected failure!

System.MissingMethodException: Method not found: 'Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Color Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Color.get_TransparentBlack()'.
  at MonoGame.Extended.Tiled.Serialization.TiledMapImageContent.get_TransparentColor()
  at MonoGame.Extended.Content.Pipeline.TiledMapProcessor.Process(TiledMapContentItem contentItem, ContentProcessorContext context)
  at Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Content.Pipeline.ContentProcessor`2.Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Content.Pipeline.IContentProcessor.Process(Object input, ContentProcessorContext context) in /home/runner/work/MonoGame/MonoGame/MonoGame.Framework.Content.Pipeline/ContentProcessor.cs:line 60
  at MonoGame.Framework.Content.Pipeline.Builder.PipelineManager.ProcessContent(PipelineBuildEvent pipelineEvent) in /home/runner/work/MonoGame/MonoGame/MonoGame.Framework.Content.Pipeline/Builder/PipelineManager.cs:line 717

Also with tilesets

Processor 'TiledMapTilesetProcessor' had unexpected failure!

System.MissingMethodException: Method not found: 'Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Color Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Color.get_TransparentBlack()'.
  at MonoGame.Extended.Content.Pipeline.TiledMapTilesetProcessor.Process(TiledMapTilesetContentItem contentItem, ContentProcessorContext context)
  at Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Content.Pipeline.ContentProcessor`2.Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Content.Pipeline.IContentProcessor.Process(Object input, ContentProcessorContext context) in /home/runner/work/MonoGame/MonoGame/MonoGame.Framework.Content.Pipeline/ContentProcessor.cs:line 60
  at MonoGame.Framework.Content.Pipeline.Builder.PipelineManager.ProcessContent(PipelineBuildEvent pipelineEvent) in /home/runner/work/MonoGame/MonoGame/MonoGame.Framework.Content.Pipeline/Builder/PipelineManager.cs:line 717

I tried to search this bug on Internet and even using ChatGPT but nothing gave me result.

I would be greatful for any help!

Enlarge / Yes, there are bigger monitors, but is there a better way to have a tri-monitor setup? (credit: Getty)

In a technical disclosure published this month, HP explored a Micro LED monitor concept that would enable consumers to easily use various multi-monitor configurations through the use of "Lego-like building blocks." HP has no immediate plans to make what it has called "composable Micro LED monitors," but its discussion explores a potential way to simplify multitasking with numerous displays.

HP's paper [PDF], written by HP scientists and technical architects, discusses a theoretical monitor that supports the easy addition of more flat or curved screens on its left, right, or bottom sides (the authors noted that top extensions could also be possible but they were "trying to keep the number of configurations manageable"). The setup would use one 12×12-inch "core" monitor that has a cable to the connected system. The computer's operating system (OS) would be able to view the display setup as one, two, or multiple monitors, and physical switches would let users quickly disable displays.

• 

  The illustration shows a monitor made of a core unit and two extension panels viewed as three monitors (left), two monitors (middle), and two monitors with different orientations (right). [credit: HP/Technical Disclosure Commons ]

Not a real product

HP's paper is only a technical disclosure, which companies often publish in order to support potential patent filings. So it's possible that we'll never see HP release "composable Micro LED monitors" as described. An HP spokesperson told me:

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2014’s Forever offered a Prime Time friendly procedural with a twist and did very well in delayed viewing, but its network was unwilling to support the show.

What Is It?

This series followed Dr. Henry Morgan–a man who has lived two hundred years and can’t die–who has taken a job as a medical examiner to study death and to see if he can find the answer to his own immortality. He is also being stalked by another immortal who goes by the name of Adam and who claims to have lived over two thousand years.

Aired: ABC, 2014-15, 1 Season Totaling 22 Episodes

Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Judd Hirsch, Lorraine Toussaint, Alana De La Garza, Joel David Moore

Created By: Matt Miller

Why Was It Cancelled?

This show combined elements of Sherlock Holmes, The Highlander, New Amsterdam, and more and delivered yet another procedural with a twist to Prime Time television.  But it did manage to stand out in a large part because of the excellent cast led by Ioan Gruffudd in the main role as well as the supporting players which included Judd Hirsch, Alana De La Garza, Joel David Moore, and more.

Forever debuted in the Tuesday 10 PM EST timeslot, an hour which ABC had struggled with for several seasons, and it produced decent premiere ratings.  Its numbers slipped to marginal at best levels shortly after that, but it did score well in delayed viewing, and ABC did give it a full-season pickup suggesting at first that network execs had some confidence in the show.  But as it turned out, they apparently just wanted to use it as schedule spackle, plugging up the Tuesday 10 PM EST timeslot until the season ended.  After November, it never aired more than two new episodes in a row which stifled any chance for it to build up momentum.

Its numbers remained low, and despite the lip service the networks were giving to the delayed viewing stats at that time, ABC cancelled it at the end of the season.  Forever received high marks from critics and topped most season-end polls as the show least deserving cancellation.  And a very vocal fanbase lobbied hard to convince the network to bring it back for a second season or to move it to another venue.  But it remained cancelled as would NBC’s Constantine that season and Limitless on CBS the next year, both of which were genre shows that also performed well in delayed viewing.  The networks were still far too focused on the same-day numbers (despite what they would say in press conferences), and cancelled the show far too soon despite the fact that it showed plenty of promise.

Can It Be Revived?

It has been nearly ten years since Forever first debuted, and the fact that the show is about an immortal who does not age would make it difficult to bring it back with the same actor after so much time has passed. But perhaps with sufficient application of makeup or some sort of some sort of explanation that Henry had started to show signs of aging, the show could make a return. The clock is definitely ticking on this one, though, and any sort of revival would have to happen soon lest they go the complete reboot route. Fans showed a strong outpouring of support after it was cancelled by ABC, so perhaps they could pull back together and target one of the streaming services as the landing place for a revival.

One or two seasons of eight to ten episodes each could bring Henry back and give the show the opportunity to wrap up its storylines, leaving it with a binge-worthy run. But if much more time passes, it seems unlikely that Ioan Gruffudd could return to the role unless they did CGI de-aging. With the streaming services looking for properties that are less expensive than the mega-dollar productions they have been putting out, Forever might draw some attention because it would have a reasonable budget and it comes with a built in audience. And Max would be a good service for fans to target since the show was originally produced by Warner Bros. But they would need to organize something soon otherwise time will expire on this immortal.

Where Can You Watch It?

This show has been released on DVD, and it is also available to purchase VOD.  It was streaming for free on the CWSeed site that was part of The CW, but new ownership has done away with that.  It is not on any of the other major streamers at this point, but it could show up on Max at some point.

Did you watch Forever and would you support fan efforts to bring it back? Chime in below in the comments.

Be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site  for breaking news and updates. And for the latest news and discussions on sci fi and fantasy television, follow r/SciFiTV

Follow our Sci Fi TV Schedule for all the currently airing and upcoming sci fi and fantasy television shows, and you can see the premieres for all the upcoming genre entries at this link.

The post Why Was Forever Cancelled and Can It Be Revived? appeared first on Cancelled Sci Fi.

Whether you want to buy a new smartphone, smartwatch, laptop, TV, tablet, or monitor, learning the display configuration plays a crucial role in your purchase decision. However, checking the display specs sheet may be confusing. Terms like OLED, AMOLED, Super AMOLED, Dynamic AMOLED, POLED, QLED, Neo LED, QD-OLED, and more don't tell the whole story. But, when it comes to the top displays, OLED displays are popular. Surprisingly, they're not limited to high-end devices. Most budget Android smartphones have OLED screens.

The /e/OS Foundation has been offering a de-Googled version of Android since 2018, with an emphasis on privacy and security. Now developers have introduced the biggest update in years. Among other things, /e/OS 2.0 brings support for Android Auto, an updated launcher app with support for live wallpapers and app notifications on icons, and other […]

The post De-Googled Android operating system /e/OS V2 brings Android Auto support, UI and privacy enhancements appeared first on Liliputing.

There are certain things that studios and companies can ask us not to do but have a real hard time preventing, especially if the company is going through a death spiral process. Keeping a personal copy of stuff I worked on, especially in an age of remote work, is one of those really hard-to-prevent things. If the company or studio is going under, almost everyone is losing their jobs and the motivation to maintain operational security is very low. Nobody in security cares when their main priority suddenly shifts to finding a new job. In these situations, leaked stuff happens a lot more often since there's little motivation for enforcement.

It's much harder for workers who are let go from a company that remains alive, since breaking NDA would result in being liable for a bunch of damages. However, if I don't disclose anything and just keep stuff private, the studio cares a lot less about whether I have those files. They don't really do much forensic analysis of the workstations of former employees, they mostly just wipe them clean in order to protect the company from potential liabilities from accidentally finding left-behind personal files of the former workers.

The thing about old game projects (especially for cancelled games) is that there's really only so long that the old stuff is even viable. The inevitable passing of time will decay any knowledge of the project and its workflow. If we release information and development stuff about games that were cancelled, say, two console generations ago, it is unlikely that the current IP holders and leadership would be super angry about it because so much time has passed. This is considerably different from releasing information about a game that was cancelled this year, where things are still raw and legal action is still a very legitimate threat.

The main benefit to holding on to old projects is primarily for personal education. There's a lot to be learned if one can go back and study the way things worked on an old project. How did they set things up and why? How can I learn what decisions my seniors and leads made, and why did they make those decisions? How did they solve these problems? Can I use those same techniques? There might be some element of internet influencer points if old stuff gets released to the public, but that typically gets glossed over the way trivia is treated. In my opinion, the real value in old project assets is in the educational content it can provide.

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On Tuesday, Apple unveiled its latest generation of iPads at its “Let Loose” event. Showcasing upgrades to both the iPad Air and iPad Pro alongside ...

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The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself (aka Half Bad) was cancelled by Netflix after one season, but there is still a chance that fans could lobby for a revival.

What Is It?

Based on the Half Bad books by Sally Green, this show follows a young man who is the bastard son of a notorious witch who was responsible for a terrible massacre. He tries to find his place in the world and deal with his powers while caught between two warring clans.

Aired: Netflix, 2022, 1 Season Totaling 8 Episodes

Starring: Jay Lycurgo, Nadia Parkes, Emilien Vekemans, Isobel Jesper Jones, Karen Connell, and Paul Ready

Created By: Joe Barton

Why Was It Cancelled?

The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself is one of several YA-leaning supernatural dramas that Netflix has put out over the last few years like Lockwood & Co., Fate: The Winx Saga, and Warrior Nun which had a short run and was cancelled too soon. Also known as Half Bad after the book series, it arrived with little in the way of promotion in Fall 2022, though it did manage to creep into the Netflix Top 10 for two weeks (it did not make it into the Nielsen Streaming Rankings). It also received very good marks from critics and viewers, currently holding a 93% Fresh Rating and 91% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes. But it did not have the “completion rate” that Netflix execs were looking for (which tracks the number of people that watch all of the episodes of the current season within a set amount of time), and the show was cut short after its eight-episode run. The show’s studio The Imaginarium announced the cancellation on Twitter, and showrunner Joe Barton confirmed it.

Sadly, yes, Netflix have cancelled this. Very proud of it and really liked the people I got to make it with. Sorry not to be able to finish the story… https://t.co/HUGi13R6Ow

— Joe Barton (@JoeBarton_) December 9, 2022

Fans made an effort to save the series after the cancellation, hoping to convince Netflix execs to change their minds or to interest another venue in picking it up. And they proved that the show has a notable following by getting it trending on social media. But despite their efforts, the show remains cancelled.

Can It Be Revived?

At this point, it may seem like The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself is dead in the water, but an important milestone is coming up which may present an opportunity to revive the series. Netflix generally owns the streaming rights to a property for a minimum of two years. So unless it has an extended hold on the show, the rights should revert back to The Imaginarium by the end of 2024. If fans were to get this one trending on social media again, perhaps that could interest another venue in picking it up for a second season. This show is likely not one of the more expensive streaming productions, so it may be attractive as an affordable scripted property that already has a built-in audience.

The Roku Channel recently enjoyed some success after picking up the cancelled Spiderwick Chronicles from Disney+. And AMC’s horror-focused streaming service Shudder might also be a good landing spot for the show. I don’t know if they have the budget for a property like this, but it is worth trying or possibly targeting some of the bigger services as a budget addition to their scripted lineup. It has been less than two years since the show was cancelled, so picking up where the first season left off is still a very real possibility. And if the rights do indeed go back to The Imaginarium by the end of the year, now is a good time for fans to start building some momentum to interest another streamer in taking a flyer on the show when it is available.

Did you watch The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself and would you support fan efforts to bring it back? Chime in below in the comments.

Be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site  for breaking news and updates. And for the latest news and discussions on sci fi and fantasy television, follow r/SciFiTV

Follow our Sci Fi TV Schedule for all the currently airing and upcoming sci fi and fantasy television shows, and you can see the premieres for all the upcoming genre entries at this link.

The post Why Was The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself Cancelled and Can It Be Revived? appeared first on Cancelled Sci Fi.

We're in the middle of a bit of a monitor revolution that comes around once every few years, as new panel types take hold and wow the crowds. That's certainly the case in 2024 with a slew of new monitors based around Samsung's third-gen QD-OLED panels.

We've been focusing on the 32-inch 4K 240Hz offerings, which include the sublime Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDM, which we lauded as the best gaming monitor we've ever tested, while the Alienware AW3225QF is the best value option for UK buyers.

Since then, I've been testing MSI's competitor to both of these, the catchily-named MPG 321URX, and it's also a fantastic gaming monitor - and one that looks like the best option for those in the US, given a lower introductory price on the opposite side of the Atlantic. But how does it compare to the Dell and Asus models we've tested already?

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The new Samsung TV lineup for 2024 brought with it massive discounts for the 2023 series. Prospective buyers who don't mind saving a couple of thousand dollars by buying a 2023 model are in for a treat, as they can now buy the Neo QLED 4K QN90C model and save up to a whopping 54%.

Thanks to a new limited-time discount on the QN90C 4K, the bigger the TV you buy, the more money you save:

• Buy the 55-inch Neo QLED QN90C for $1,199 and save $800.
• Buy the 65-inch Neo QLED QN90C for $1,599 and save $1,200.
• Buy the 75-inch Neo QLED QN90C for $1,999 and save $1,300.
• Buy the 85-inch Neo QLED QN90C for $2,199 and save $2,600.

Samsung's Neo QKED QN90C TV boasts advanced features such as a Mini LED backlight with thousands of dimming zones, a very bright 4K QLED panel with Neo Quantum HDR+, a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, and low latency for gaming.

The QN90C also sports a SolarCell Remote and supports Gaming Hub and Samsung TV Plus. And in terms of audio, it features a 4.2.2-channel speaker setup, Adaptive Sound+, Q-Symphony support, and Dolby Atmos. The QN90C supports the latest Tizen OS version, which has a more modern UI layout and a refreshed Settings menu.

As for the 2023 vs 2024 lineup, what you're missing out on by buying an earlier 2023 model consists mostly of AI-driven image processing and upscaling. The 2024 Neo QLED TVs supposedly offer better image processing through AI, but make no mistake: the 2023 versions still look fantastic a year after their release.

Hit the buy button below and buy the QN90C at a massive discount while the deal lasts.

The post Save up to 54% on Neo QLED 4K TVs appeared first on SamMobile.

NBC announced that its revival of Quantum Leap will not continue to a third season, leaving the series and the franchise ending on a cliffhanger. The show arrived in the Fall of 2021 and saw the revival of Project Quantum Leap in an attempt to find Sam Beckett who disappeared after five years of leaping. But Dr. Ben Song enters the Accelerator early and loses his memories, requiring the others in the project to guide him in his leaps while trying to figure out why he made his unauthorized decision. The show received an early renewal for a second season after performing well in the ratings, but NBC then decided not to keep it going for a third year.

Quantum Leap had decent ratings in its first season, averaging a 0.33 score based on same-day viewing by the 18-49 demographic according to Nielsen. It was below the network average and its numbers trended down through the season, but it performed well enough early on to get a renewal nod that got production started ahead of the impending strikes. It was one of the few scripted shows to hit the schedule in Fall due to the production stoppage from the strikes, and it performed well even though its average rating was down to a 0.29 score. But that was still enough to rank at Number 36 among all broadcast network shows for the Fall, and it was performing pretty much on par with other dramas on the network at that time.

When the show returned in January 2024, it was moved to the Tuesday 10 PM EST timeslot and its numbers dropped notably. It slipped to an average of 0.18 in that hour, and its season average dropped to a 0.25 score. NBC did not do a good job of promoting the timeslot change, and it certainly appeared like they were trying to justify killing off the show. Its numbers were down, but word is that it was doing well in digital viewing over on Peacock, and that was in part what helped the show get its second-season renewal in the first place.

I took note of the show’s declining numbers in our Cancellation Watch column, but I did not move the show to Bubble Status because I figured that NBC would go the same route as La Brea and at least give Quantum Leap a final season. Or perhaps it could have shifted to Peacock like the network just did with Law & Order: Organized Crime. But for whatever reason, the network decided to outright cancel the show, leaving two entries in the franchise (going back to the ’90s series) ending with the leaper never returning.

The fact is that NBC executives should have an incentive to give this show a proper resolution. The original series had five seasons and 97 episodes while the revival has produced two seasons and 31 episodes so far. That makes for a nice syndication package (where shows really turn a profit) and/or an extended binge run on streaming. But it ultimately proves unsatisfying at this point because it does not offer a conclusion. One final season of six episodes or so would not set NBC back that much (especially considering the fact that networks throw away millions of dollars on shows all the time), and it would give the property a much better resolution. That makes it much more saleable in the syndication and/or streaming market and could help it to live on for many years in encore runs. And since NBCUniversal has at least partial ownership of the property, the company will continue to profit from it.

So it is basically up to the fans at this point. Within just the past few years, we saw NBC’s Timeless saved by fan action, both for a second season and a final movie. If fans of Quantum Leap can get the show trending, it is very possible that it will get a final season or at least a movie to wrap up its storylines (and we can certainly hope that Scott Bakula will return as Sam Beckett). And the network has much more of an incentive to provide a resolution for this franchise as opposed to Timeless seeing as it has over one hundred episodes under its wing already when you combine the original series and the revival.

Quantum Leap is leading our season-end Save My Show Poll as of this writing, and there is also an online petition out there garnering some attention. Fans should certainly stage watch parties on Peacock and do everything they can to get the show trending on the social networks (and there are more ideas on how to help the show at our Call to Action page). I believe a strong show of support can certainly help this one, and possibly get it to at least one more season. It will take some effort from the fans, but it is certainly within reach.

Did you watch Quantum Leap and will you help with fan efforts to save the show? Chime in with your thoughts below.

Be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site  for breaking news and updates. And for the latest news and discussions on sci fi and fantasy television, follow r/SciFiTV

Follow our Sci Fi TV Schedule for all the currently airing and upcoming sci fi and fantasy television shows, and you can see the premieres for all the upcoming genre entries at this link.

The post Why Was Quantum Leap Cancelled and Can It Be Saved? appeared first on Cancelled Sci Fi.

Enlarge / Streaming Fallout 4 from GeForce Now might seem unnecessary, unless you know how running it natively has been going. (credit: Kevin Purdy)

The Steam Deck is a Linux computer. There is, technically, very little you cannot get running on it, given enough knowledge, time, and patience. That said, it's never a bad thing when someone has done all the work for you, leaving you to focus on what matters: sneaking game time on the couch.

GeForce Now, Nvidia's game-streaming service that uses your own PC gaming libraries, has made it easier for Steam Deck owners to get its service set up on their Deck. On the service's Download page, there is now a section for Gaming Handheld Devices. Most of the device links provide the service's Windows installer, since devices like the ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go run Windows. Some note that GeForce Now is already installed on devices like the Razer Edge and Logitech G Cloud.

But Steam Deck types are special. We get a Unix-style executable script, a folder with all the necessary Steam icon image assets, and a README.md file.

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Over the past couple of years, Sony has been using Samsung Display's QD-OLED panels in its flagship TV models. However, that isn't the case this year, and Sony has switched to a Mini LED panel for its flagship TV mode for 2024. While it still uses LG's WRGB OLED panel in this year's model, it isn't pegged as the Japanese firm's top-of-the-line TV.

Sony's flagship TV for 2024 uses Mini LED panel instead of a Samsung QD-OLED

Sony's new TV lineup for 2024 includes just four TV models: BRAVIA 3, BRAVIA 7, BRAVIA 8, and BRAVIA 9. These model names are much simpler to remember and understand than Sony's previous naming scheme. The BRAVIA 3 is a regular LED-backlit (Direct LIT) LCD TV with no full array local dimming. The step-up is BRAVIA 7, which is a Mini LED TV, and it will be available in 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch sizes.

The next step up is the BRAVIA 8, which comes in 55-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch sizes and uses LG Display's WRGB OLED panel. Compared to its predecessor (last year's A80L), it has thinner bezels, and that's about it. The BRAVIA 9 is Sony's top-of-the-line TV for 2024, and it uses a higher-end Mini LED panel with a lot more local dimming zones, higher brightness, and better colors. It comes in 65-inch ($3,299), 75-inch ($3,999), and 85-inch ($5,499) sizes.

You can watch our hands-on video of Samsung's QD-OLED TV lineup for 2024 below. It will compete with Sony's BRAVIA 8 and BRAVIA 9 TVs this year.

Sony will continue selling last year's A95L, which uses Samsung Display's QD-OLED panel, but it isn't clear if its stocks will last the entire year. So, if you want to get the Sony A95L, you should consider buying it sooner rather than later. As an alternative, you can buy Samsung's S95C or the new S95D QD-OLED TV. The S95C is a lot cheaper than Sony's A95L, while the S95D is cheaper and has a Glare-Free coating to prevent reflections.

The Japanese firm also launched two new soundbars, a five-speaker home theater unit, and a neckband “portable theater” called BRAVIA Theater U. Sony is using the term BRAVIA for its home theater and soundbar names for the first time. Its new soundbars have copied a few features from Samsung's soundbars, including Active Voice Amplifier, SpaceFit Sound, and Q-Symphony.

The post Samsung’s QD-OLED panel is no longer used in Sony’s new flagship TV appeared first on SamMobile.

Enlarge (credit: Getty)

What comes after OLED?

With OLED-equipped TVs, monitors, and other gadgets slowly becoming more readily available at lower prices, attention is turning to what the next landmark consumer display tech will be.

Micro LED often features in such discussions, but the tech is not expected to start hitting consumer devices until the 2030s. Display makers are also playing with other futuristic ideas, like transparent and foldable screens. But when it comes to technology that could seriously address top user concerns—like image quality, price, and longevity—quantum dots seem the most pertinent at the moment.

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Dark Matter was cancelled too soon by Syfy, but with the support of its creator and the fans it could be revived.

[Updated]

What Is It?

This series follows six people who wake up in stasis pods on the starship Raza with no memory of who they are or why they are on that ship.  They take up the names of One through Six based on the order in which they left their pods while also discovering that an android is onboard who understands the functioning of the ship (but does not know why these six humans are there). As they seek answers to their situation, they start to discover that each has lived a troubled past, and that quickly catches up with them as they find themselves on the run in a hostile galaxy.

Aired: Syfy, 2015-17, 3 Seasons Totaling 39 Episodes

Starring: Marc Bendavid, Melissa O’Neil, Anthony Lemke, Alex Mallari Jr., Jodelle Ferland, Roger Cross

Created By: Joseph Mallozzi, Paul Mullie

Why Was It Cancelled?

Dark Matter debuted on Syfy with decent but not spectacular ratings, but the fact that this was a co-production with the Space channel helped to keep the show going its first few years. Its numbers slipped each season, though, and after its third year Syfy decided to pull the plug on the show.  Co-creator Joseph Mallozzi elaborated on the situation in a blog post claiming that the cancellation came due to the declining numbers and the fact that the series was an acquisition.  Since it was not owned by Syfy, the network would see little or nothing on future gains. The only money Syfy made on the show was based on advertising during the live broadcasts (as well as the digital viewing, though to a lesser extent) and the ratings did not bring in high enough ad revenue.  Mallozzi offered to pitch the fourth season of the show to the network executives, but they were not interested.  He had an overall five-season arc planned but indicated that he could do a wrap-up of the show with a six-episode mini-series.

How Did Fans Respond?

Despite the low Nielsen viewership numbers–which did not necessarily represent the full audience–Dark Matter had developed a notable and vocal fanbase. They immediately responded to the cancellation by taking to the social networks and staging multiple “tweetstorms” to get the show trending. They also put up an online petition which eventually reached over 77K signatures.  The hope was that if Syfy would not reverse its cancellation then Netflix or one of the other streaming services would pick the show up.  But despite a raucous campaign and plenty of publicity, the show remained cancelled at the three-season mark.  Netflix did acquire the show for encore runs and it allegedly performed quite well on that service while it was available, but the story arc remains unfinished.

Can It Be Revived?

Dark Matter was cancelled in 2017, but there is still hope for a revival, especially since Joseph Mallozzi has remained closely involved with the property. In a blog post from August 2021, he indicated that he has worked out a six-part mini-series that could wrap up the show’s storylines and that he would pitch that to various venues. He gives the following description of how it would proceed:

Set three years after the events of Episode 313, a missing player returns with the key to thwarting a massive alien invasion. In order to defeat this formidable enemy, unlikely alliances will be forged, long-held secrets will be revealed, and the seeds of an even greater threat will be sown.

Nothing has come of that yet, but in a recent post on this site, I indicated that a revival of Dark Matter could draw some interest in the current television landscape as the networks look for safer properties to add to their scripted programming lineups.  The show had a relatively moderate budget, especially compared to some of the big-dollar productions put out by the streaming services these days.  And it brings a built-in audience that would certainly tune in for a new season that could wrap up the storylines and/or continue the adventures of the Raza.

That post sparked some interest among the fanbase, and it suggests that perhaps now is the time to get Dark Matter trending on the social networks again. In addition, the fans could stage watch parties (it is streaming for free on The CW’s website and app) to prove that this show does indeed have a notable audience that would tune in for new seasons.  If those efforts were to get some traction, Mallozzi could use that to help with a pitch to one of the streaming services or maybe one of the linear networks (FX is still in the scripted game and may have an interest).

I believe this show has a decent chance of getting revived because of the involvement from its creator, the fan support, and the fact that it should count as an affordable scripted entry. It does not require a huge commitment money-wise and it should draw enough viewership that it could prove a good fit for a more cautious entertainment industry. If fans were to come together once again to help bring the show some attention, perhaps the story of the crew of the Raza could continue for another season or more.

Did you watch Dark Matter and would you support fan efforts to bring it back? Chime in below in the comments.

Be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site  for breaking news and updates. And for the latest news and discussions on sci fi and fantasy television, follow r/SciFiTV

Follow our Sci Fi TV Schedule for all the currently airing and upcoming sci fi and fantasy television shows, and you can see the premieres for all the upcoming genre entries at this link.

The post Why Was Dark Matter Cancelled and Can It Be Revived? appeared first on Cancelled Sci Fi.

NBC’s Quantum Leap reboot wrapped up its second season last week, and there is no word yet on whether that one will be returning for a third year. Its ratings in Fall were decent, tracking pretty close to other dramas on the network airing at that time. But when it returned from the Winter hiatus in January and changed timeslots, it took a notable drop. The showrunners claim that if the second season is the show’s last, they left it on what they believed would be a satisfying ending. But it still leaves plenty of storylines unresolved and they do have plans for where the show would go in a third year. So at this point, what are the chances that this series will continue to leap through time for another season or more?

In its first season, Quantum Leap averaged a 0.33 rating based on same-day viewing for the 18-49 demographic, which was below the network’s overall average and its average for dramas. But the show performed well in delayed and digital viewing and ended up getting an early renewal for a second season. That was in part so that it could get a jump on production as both the writers’ and actors’ strikes loomed, and that allowed it to return in Fall 2023 when there were few scripted shows on the schedule due to those strikes. During the Fall months, the show averaged a 0.29 rating in the demo which was about on par with the few other dramas NBC had airing during that time. But in January it got switched to the Tuesday 10 PM EST timeslot and its numbers took a hit, averaging only a 0.18 score over its final five eps.

The network execs had to know that the numbers would drop with the shift to the lower-viewership hour on the schedule, so hopefully, they are taking that into account. But if they have soured on the show for some reason, they could have made that move to justify killing it off. I have seen nothing to suggest the network has lost faith in the show, but the fact is that two Fall dramas–Found and The Irrational–have received renewals while Quantum Leap is still waiting for word on its fate. That doesn’t necessarily suggest the show is doomed, but the network brass does not appear to be confident enough to renew it just yet.

Quantum Leap has always been a better performer in delayed and digital viewing, and that could be what keeps it going into a third season. But I would not be surprised if they followed the same path as La Brea and renewed it for a final year. NBC Universal has an ownership stake in the series and it will likely continue to stream on Peacock once it has wrapped up. So a final season will give it a binge-worthy run and the chance to wrap up its storylines which will make it a more satisfying show to watch. It’s also possible that this one could continue into a fourth year or more because despite the recent drop in ratings it has performed relatively well overall. And it is likely not as expensive to produce as some sci fi entries because it does not rely heavily on special effects, but its period settings do bump up the costs some.

At this point, my guess is that the network wants to bring it back for at least one more season, even if that is a shortened six-episode affair like we saw with La Brea. But they haven’t committed to that yet, so the fans should step up and give the NBC execs a nudge in that direction. A social media campaign can certainly bring the show more attention, and watch parties on Peacock could help as well. I don’t believe that Quantum Leap is in dire straits at the moment, but a Call to Action from fans certainly could give it a boost and help it get at least one more season.

Are you watching Quantum Leap and will you help with efforts to keep it going? Chime in with your comments below.

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Follow our Sci Fi TV Schedule for all the currently airing and upcoming sci fi and fantasy television shows, and you can see the premieres for all the upcoming genre entries at this link.

The post Will Quantum Leap Be Cancelled or Will It Jump Into a Third Season? appeared first on Cancelled Sci Fi.

Last month, Samsung unveiled its new lineup of smart TVs that includes QLED TVs, Neo QLED TVs, OLED TVs, and Micro LED TVs. All these new TVs run a new version of Tizen (7.0) that brings new content, connectivity options, and features. They also feature Samsung Daily+, which is a central hub where users can find non-content apps, including live shopping, remote PC, telehealth, and video calling. To improve its telehealth services, Samsung has partnered with FlexIt.

Health, fitness, and wellness training content from FlexIt will be available on Samsung TVs with Samsung Daily+

Samsung announced today that it has partnered with FlexIt, a health and wellness solutions provider, to make exercise more accessible and convenient. The company will bring personal trainer-based fitness content to Samsung TVs that feature Samsung Daily+. Users can register, book, and pay for one-on-one workout sessions with personal trainers from FlexIt. The TVs can be paired with a compatible webcam or a Galaxy smartphone, and FlexIt trainers can offer users real-time feedback. Since the form is of utmost importance during workouts, personal trainers can offer form corrections and modifications.

In addition to workouts, FlexIt also offers information about diet and nutrition. Low-impact workouts like meditation and yoga are also offered in FlexIt's app. With Samsung Daily+, the South Korean TV maker wants to offer more than just content to users. The company's new TVs can control smart home devices and offer cloud-based work solutions, video meeting options, and even cloud-based gaming. Data from a Galaxy Watch, including heart rate and calories burned, is also displayed on a compatible Samsung TV. Last month, the company offered visitors an early look at Samsung Daily+ and FlexIt content at the CES 2024 expo in Las Vegas, USA.

Demian Hyun, VP and Head of the Experience Planning Group at Samsung Visual Display, said, “Wellness should be central to our routines, so building healthy habits through Samsung Daily+ makes it convenient to incorporate health and wellness into all different aspects of daily life. This new partnership underscores Samsung’s commitment as the leader in the global display industry to promoting thoughtful, interconnected health experiences aimed at bettering the lives of consumers.”

The post Samsung partners with FlexIt to bring health and wellness training to its TVs appeared first on SamMobile.

2011’s Alphas turned out to be a sleeper of a sci fi series that was sadly overlooked, and its network gave up on it too soon.

What Is It?

This series follows a group of people with superhuman abilities known as Alphas who are brought together by the Department of Defense to form a team to seek out others of their kind and also to defend against threats from malicious Alphas. Neurologist and psychiatrist Lee Rosen works closely with the group believing that they can co-exist with normal humans.

Aired: Syfy, 2011-12, 2 Seasons Totaling 24 Episodes

Created By: Zak Penn, Michael Karow

Starring: David Strathairn, Ryan Cartwright, Warren Christie, Azita Ghanizada, Laura Mennell, Malik Yoba, Erin Way

Why Was It Cancelled?

Back in 2010-11, when word first broke about this show joining the Syfy’s lineup, a collective groan went out through the sci fi community as it seemed rather derivative and yet another retread of themes already explored by the X-Men movies and the Heroes TV series. And that latter entry had just been cancelled after a three-season downward spiral that followed a promising first-season start. But while Alphas did borrow from those other properties (as well as offering a bit of a superhero spin on Syfy’s own Sanctuary), it managed to maneuver past many of the expected pitfalls and prove itself a unique twist on an established concept. That came largely on the part of good writing, that avoided too much in the way of copy-and-paste, and an excellent cast that was headed up by the likes of David Strathairn, Ryan Cartwright, Azita Ghanizada, Malik Yoba, and more. The characters quickly established themselves in the series and the stories didn’t just rehash plots previously covered in other shows (or comics or movies). Basically, this show delivered “Heroes done right”, and early on it was developing into an excellent genre entry with some well-done sci fi stories.

However, the ratings for its freshman year were not great even though it was sandwiched between two of Syfy’s better-performing shows (Eureka and Warehouse 13) in a three-hour Monday night block. The network did renew it for a second season, but they tinkered with it to an extent and its sophomore year did not deliver as satisfying of a run (though still much better than the much-maligned Season 2 of Heroes). The ratings continued to slip and Alphas was cancelled at the end of its second season, leaving it on a pretty major cliffhanger. Ultimately, it had the misfortune of being the wrong show at the wrong time. Syfy had just rebranded from the Sci Fi Channel in 2009 and had started to focus on “sci fi lite” entries like Warehouse 13, Being Human, and Haven. The network also amped up its reality programming and renewed its commitment to wrestling, all designed to appeal to a broader audience than just sci fi fans. That worked for a while with some of the network’s new offerings bringing in decent ratings, but the backlash from the former audience was already evident by 2011.

Alphas was seen by many as another of Syfy’s not-really-sci-fi shows and its concept seemed all too familiar, so it never succeeded in building much of an audience. Then the tone shift in its second year apparently led to a shrinking of its fanbase and ultimately it got kicked to the curb in favor of other Syfy projects (mostly more reality programming). Those of us who were onboard from the beginning still lament the loss of this show and the wonderful set of characters it introduced in its short run.

Can It Be Revived?

It has now been nearly twelve years since the show aired its final episode, and a revival certainly seems unlikely. There was an effort by fans to save the show after the cancellation, but the show did not develop much of a following in its initial run and nothing came of that. There were also some rumblings about a Kickstarter revival of the series (that was right about the time that Rob Thomas’ Veronica Mars revival blew away its funding goal), but co-creator Zak Penn said that it was not feasible.  Since then, more people have discovered this sleeper sci fi entry and have realized that it was not given a fair shake in its initial run. Perhaps a movie could be produced picking up sometime after the events of the finale and providing some sort of resolution. And if that were to prove successful, maybe it could lead into an ongoing series. The show’s creators Zack Penn and Michael Karnow do not appear to be too busy these days, so if they were to spearhead efforts for a revival, maybe it could get some momentum. And if no network or streaming service is interested, perhaps they could at least do a continuation in comics. The premise lends itself well to that format, and they could pick up right where Season 2 left off if they went that route. If fans of the show were to start making some noise, perhaps something could happen with this one, and at least give has a better resolution.

Where Can You Watch It?

The entire series has been released on DVD, though it has not received the Blu-ray treatment yet. You can purchase it VOD and it is available for streaming free (with ads) on The Roku Channel.

Did you watch Alphas when it first aired and would you support fan efforts to revive the show?

More from CancelledSciFi.com: Keep up with the ratings developments and the status of all the currently airing sci fi and fantasy shows with our Weekly Roundup posts. And be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site  for breaking news and updates.

Follow our Sci Fi TV Schedule for all the currently airing and upcoming sci fi and fantasy television shows, and keep up with what is airing/streaming each week with our Weekly Listings.

The post Why Was Alphas Cancelled and Can It Be Revived? appeared first on Cancelled Sci Fi.

One very unexpected side effect of using the Galaxy S24+ for the past few weeks is that I'm no longer interested in Samsung's vivid display mode. I know! The vivid mode is iconic among Galaxy phone users, and like many others, I have used it exclusively for years. It was my default setting for Samsung's AMOLED panels, even if it made them unrealistically colorful.

At some point, using Vivid mode was a way to show off the uniqueness of AMOLED and remind yourself that you're using a Galaxy phone rather than an iPhone or a boring Android device. Vivid wasn't necessarily better than the natural screen mode but stood out in a world of Android phones whose LCD panels were neither vivid nor natural but only dull.

However, many things have changed over the past half a decade, and that time's long gone. I must admit I feel like I've been stuck in an obsolete mindset for the past few years without even realizing it, and I am just now, ahem, recalibrating my perception, all because Samsung's Galaxy S24 series does things differently.

Natural is more beautiful

Samsung calibrated the vivid mode differently on the Galaxy S24 series, making it look less vibrant. And after weeks of using the Plus model, I feel like I've seen the light and snapped out of a colorful fever dream.

Whether willingly or by mistake, Samsung converted me to using more natural colors on my Galaxy phone after years of staring into oversaturated tones. And even though the company has been working on recalibrating the S24 series' vivid mode for customers who miss those accentuated colors, I'm no longer among those interested.

I'm not suggesting Samsung should not update the vivid mode for Galaxy S24 users who want their displays to have an extra splash of color, but I am saying that Samsung (willingly or not) tricked me into not caring about vivid mode any longer. And I think it's for the better.

Within my sphere of natural colors rendered by my Neo QLED TV, PC monitor, laptop screen, and even smartwatch, it's hard to understand why I thought the vivid color mode on my Galaxy phone was the only reasonable option. I now realize that it was probably out of force of habit more than anything else. And, let's face it, Samsung's marketing magic from many years ago may have also lingered in my subconscious and played a role.

Nevertheless, it feels as though the Galaxy S24+ dispelled that magic for me. And now that I have used the latest flagship with a more natural color profile, I am not looking forward to reusing bright and vivid tones. I won't. I have already switched to the natural color mode on the Galaxy S24+. And once the vivid color mode firmware update reaches my phone, it won't make a lick of difference to my user experience.

The post Samsung tricked me out of vivid display mode and I am thankful for it appeared first on SamMobile.

Samsung is getting ready for springtime and has announced a new Discover sales event for the season. The company says spring is “the perfect time to gear up and get moving on your goals,” and wants to help its customers on that task with new deals, starting the week after next.

For the first time, this year's Discover Spring Sale event will offer “Mystery Deals” across four categories — mobile, monitors, home entertainment, and monitors. But today, the company also offered a sneak preview of some of the deals you can expect during the week starting March 4.

Regarding Mystery Deals, Samsung will host four hidden images on its official website every day, starting at 9 am ET. Visitors will be able to click these images to discover that day's Mystery Deals before they expire the following morning at 8:59 am ET.

Discover Spring Sale — what discounts can you expect?

Samsung is offering a glimpse of some of the deals it has prepared for the upcoming Discover Spring Sale event, including discounts on Bespoke home appliances, smart TVs, and even the Galaxy S24+.

• Throughout the entire week, starting March 4, Samsung will cut $500 off Bespoke Ultra Capacity Electric Dryer and Ultra Capacity Front Load Washer.
• On March 4, the Bespoke 4-door French Door Refrigerator in Charcoal Glass and Matte Black Steel will cost $1,500 less.
• March 4-10: 50-inch The Frame TV gets $200 cheaper.
• On March 9, the 49-inch Odyssey G9 Curved Gaming Monitor will be $500 cheaper.
• The 65-inch S90C OLED TV gets a $900 discount for the entire week starting March 4.
• March 4-10 the Q900C 7.1.2 Wireless Dolby Atmos soundbar gets a $400 discount.
• On March 6, you'll be able to save up to 73% on the 512GB Galaxy S24+ through an enhanced trade-in offer, $50 Samsung Credit, and a free memory upgrade.

If you're planning on gearing up this spring and want to save some cash while you're at it, stick around. We'll keep our eyes peeled on Samsung's online store for more Discover Spring Sale 2024 offers and bring you extra details as soon as they become available.

The post Samsung is getting ready for Discover Spring Sale 2024 appeared first on SamMobile.

Samsung and LG are both major Korean conglomerates that also compete against each other in various industries, such as component manufacturing, electronics, and home appliances. LG used to make phones back in the day as well but has since given up on that business.

Samsung Display and LG Display are the leading South Korean display makers. As you'd expect, they're tough competitors, but there's recently been an improvement in their relationship. This has likely come from a realization that China's relentless pursuit of OLED dominance is a threat to the Korean OLED industry.

China's OLED onslaught is concerning for the Koreans

Samsung recently confirmed that it would source OLED panels from LG Display. As many as 5 million panels may be sourced in the coming years, with the number expected to grow if there's consistent demand.

Since Samsung has also shut down its last LCD panel production facility in China, it's also sourcing LCD panels from LG. Reports suggest that LG is also looking to shut down its remaining LCD factory in China. It's no secret that Chinese display manufacturers have flooded the market with cheaper LCD panels and now have their sights firmly on the last bastion of Korean display technology superiority: OLED.

BOE, China's state-owned display manufacturer, is building a $9 billion OLED manufacturing plant that will produce OLED substrates on the latest 8.6-generation technology, putting it squarely against Samsung Display in the race to supply panels for Apple's upcoming OLED MacBooks and iPads.

Even though the quality of Korean OLED panels may be better, China's will be much cheaper, and it will aggressively price them to gain market share, even if it loses money in the process. It will effectively force competitors to exit the market due to loss pressures, like it has already done in the LCD segment. China is poised to overtake Korea in the OLED market if the likes of Samsung and LG Display don't take steps to hold on to their dominance.

Industry watchers feel that both Samsung and LG need each other to counter the onslaught from China's in the lucrative OLED business. The Chinese manufacturers will not stop until they achieve their goal, so it's up to these Korean conglomerates to compete more effectively and retain their leading position.

The post Fear of China’s OLED gains sparked Samsung and LG’s budding romance appeared first on SamMobile.

The best OLED monitors will change the way you view your digital world for the better, whether it involves gaming, creativity, development, or other professional work. Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) screens offer truly deep contrast thanks to their ability to turn off individual LEDs, as well as plenty of brightness without the need for a separate backlight. They have the low response time and high refresh rate that PC gamers crave, and they can produce accurate color across gamuts for professional purposes.