Update: The original headline for this article was “Report: Sky to launch advanced 4K box within weeks“. However, a source close to Sky has revealed to TrustedReviews that Sky has no plans to announce any new products “within weeks”. The headline has been updated to reflect this new information.
Original article:
The launch of Sky’s much-rumoured 4K box could be a matter of mere weeks away.
We first heard solid reports surrounding Sky’s 4K box plans back in April of last year under the internal code-name of “Project Ethan”. Now those plans appear to be coming to fruition.
Over the weekend, The Telegraph reported that Sky was almost ready to launch its 4K box, is apparently dubbed ‘SkyQ’.
With BT having recently launched its own YouView-powered 4K box, it was imperative that its biggest UK rival responded. And respond it will, with a significantly more advanced service.
According to the report, the SkyQ will offer an ““Apple and Netflix-style” experience. This means that content will be presented in a slick carousel style as opposed to the brutally functional Sky HD+ box approach.
The SkyQ box will allow subscribers to watch and record at least four programmes simultaneously, and on multiple devices including smartphones and tablets. Indeed, Sky has apparently renegotiated with broadcasters to enable subscribers to side-load content onto their mobile devices.
It’s also claimed that the SkyQ will “blur the lines between live broadcast, recorded content, and on-demand over the internet,” suggesting a cohesive UI that brings all of those strands together.
Related: What is 4K TV and Ultra HD?
As befits a modern media box, the SkyQ will apparently learn from your viewing habits and make appropriate content recommendations.
Whether Sky is ready to provide sufficient 4K content is another matter entirely of course, but presumably we’ll hear more on that over the coming weeks.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
