YouTube is TV and radio: YouTube CEO Neal Mohan says the TV has overtaken mobile as the “primary device for YouTube viewing in the US”, indicating YouTube is “the new TV”. YouTube AI updates include auto dubbing expansion, age ID tech, and more. YouTube is also big in podcasting. More than 1 billion people are now watching podcasts on YouTube every month, so YouTube is forcing podcasters to become YouTubers, whether they like it or not.
TV market: Chinese makers have now pretty much taken over the global LCD TV market, as Chinese manufacturers of LCD TV panels, such as BOE, TCL CSOT and HKC, now control over 70% of global production capacity, up from 65% last year. LG Display officially sells off last LCD TV panel factory. Following Samsung Display, LG Display has officially sold its last remaining LCD TV panel factory to China’s TCL, marking the end of an era for LCD TV panel production in South Korea.
Projectors: Advancements in laser and LED projection are set to enhance brightness and color accuracy. While 4K is already a standard for premium projectors, 2025 could see 8K projectors enter the mainstream. By 2025, expect to see more ultra-portable projectors featuring foldable designs, integrated stands, and improved battery life. The rise of smart projectors equipped with built-in operating systems like Android TV and compatibility with popular streaming apps is expected. Time-of-Flight (ToF) technology and AI are set to revolutionize projector usability. Features like real-time autofocus, automatic keystone correction, and obstacle avoidance will start to become standard. LG’s latest projector is also a lamp and a Bluetooth speaker – and there’s a tiny new 4K projector too.
Camera sensors: Canon pushes the limits of 35mm with record 410-megapixel sensor 24,592 x 16,704 pixels. Canon develops CMOS sensor with 410 megapixels, the largest number of pixels ever achieved in a 35 mm full-frame sensor. Omnivision’s latest OV50X image sensor wot 50MP resolution is of the largest (~1 inch) type that can currently be integrated into a smartphone.
HDMI: HDMI 2.2 officially revealed at CES 2025. HDMI 2.2 can support up to 96Gbps bandwidth and 16K resolution. HDMI 2.2 is said to support a multitude of resolutions including 4K, 8K, 10K, 12K and even 16K, the latter two of which are new for HDMI 2.2. It will also have improved bandwidth, reaching 96gbps compared with HDMI 2.1′s 48gbps and DisplayPort’s 80gbps. HDMI 2.2 will also support 4K at 480Hz. HDMI also confirmed that the Ultra96 HDMI cable, which supports 96gbps and HDMI 2.2 features, will be available later in 2025. The first product supporting HDMI 2.2 are expected in first half of 2025.
GPMI: China launches HDMI and DisplayPort alternative called GPMI. China’s tech industry is pushing a new cable format called GPMI. It is to handle video, power, and data at once. New 480W and 192Gbps GPMI format signals China’s broader move beyond USB-C and western cable standards. There is a group of over 50 Chinese tech companies – including major TV makers like TCL, Hisense, and Skyworth – have come together to launch a new connector standard called GPMI (General Purpose Media Interface), so there is a possibility that it catches support in at least Chinese market. There are two versions: GPMI Type-C and GPMI Type-B. The Type-C version looks and works a lot like USB-C and already supports up to 96Gbps of data and 240W charging. The Type-C version of GPMI has already been licensed for use under the USB-IF (USB Implementers Forum), so it should be compatible with existing USB-C ports. The larger Type-B port can push up to 192Gbps and 480W. Existing competing standards are HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps with no power delivery) and DisplayPort 2.1 (80Gbps with up to 240W power). I don’t expect HDMI to go away any time soon in the light of GPMI.
Beyond RGB: A new compression format called Spectral JPEG XL might finally solve this growing problem in scientific visualization and computer graphics when working with special cameras that capture light your eyes can’t even see. Spectral imaging is imaging that uses multiple bands across the electromagnetic spectrum. Spectral JPEG XL compression is a new image file format that efficiently stores invisible light data. JPEG XL Image Coding System is a royalty-free open standard for a compressed raster image format that compresses extremely well (lossless, if you want) and, unlike JPEG, also allows storage of 16 bit (even up to 32 bit) image files. Major operating systems, web browsers, and image editing software are increasingly adopting support for this efficient compression technology.
Physical media: Physical Media Is Dead, Long Live Physical Media. Much has been written about the demise of physical media that was long considered the measure of technological progress in audiovisual and computing fields. Not all is well in this digital-only paradise, as the problems with having no physical copy of the item which you purportedly purchased are becoming increasingly more evident – increased service costs, privacy, items being removed or altered without your consent. Our movies, series, books, games and software will be more and more locked behind what are essentially leasing services. Off-line, physical media is once again increasing in appeal to a lot of users. The death and second life of physical media. All of which points to that the physical formats of the future will likely remain CDs, Blu-rays and even vinyl records and cassette tapes as the most popular formats. Digital media-as-a-service will not go away, as it has too many advantages. Especially in terms of low distribution cost.
The early 2000s were the halcyon days of physical media, but they are still here. One of the unexpected things to happen in the music industry is how an obsolete formats have came to be the great saviour of the music industry. Vinyl records, once consigned to the rubbish dumps, have become the format of choice among audiophiles and hipsters alike. Cassette tapes are also having a resurgence among some music fans. Why Are Cassette And CD Players So Big Now?
CD: Despite the ease and accessibility of apps like Spotify and Apple Music, over the past few years we’ve seen the humble CD make something of a comeback. CD outsells vinyl. There are several Reasons Why CDs Still Rule Over Streaming. But some of the new CDs are not everywhere like they used to. Your new CDs could be lighter, weaker, and worse. Certainly in Europe there has been no noticeable drop in disc manufacture quality. Also Everyone Thought the Loudness War Was Over, but They Were Dead Wrong
Cassette: Cassette tapes are clicking and clacking their way back to the trends. It’s Not Just Vinyl and CDs; Cassette Tapes Are Also Making a Quiet Comeback
Blue-Ray: Sony is killing off its blank Blu-ray discs. This effectively could mean that Sony discontinues recordable Blu-ray media with “no successor” planned. After 18 years, Sony’s recordable Blu-ray media production draws to a close. The company already ended the production of recordable consumer Blu-ray and optical disks in mid-2024. Verbatim and I-O Data have pledged to continue to support the recordable optical media market. Verbatim pledges ‘stable supply of optical disks’ after Sony Japan’s recordable Blu-ray exit. Also the pre-recorded Blue-Ray is fading out. Sony is also stopping to include Blue-Ray drive to their newest PS5 Pro gaming console because the popularity of physical disks have dropped.
Minidisc:MiniDiscs for recording, MD data for recording, and MiniDV cassettes will also be abandoned. Sony shuttered its last Japanese facility where it manufactured these data storage media.
Piracy: If you think streaming has killed music piracy, think again. Despite having more legal options than ever, fans are increasingly turning to illegal downloads and stream-ripping sites. Music piracy surged in 2024, with over 17 billion visits to piracy sites. The most used of which are stream-ripping sites, especially those that convert YouTube videos to MP3 files, which now make up almost 40% of all music piracy. This is not just about avoiding payment. It’s more about the users’ frustrations with a system that doesn’t meet their needs. Millions of Users Are Returning to Music Piracy and the Industry Only Has Itself to Blame.
MP3: Freed At Last From Patents, Does Anyone Still Care About MP3? The MP3 format, once the gold standard for digital audio files, is now free. The licensing and patents on MP3 encoders have expired, meaning you can now include them in your applications without paying royalties. The MP3 file format was always encumbered with patents, but as of 2017, the last patent finally expired. Although the format became synonymous with the digital music revolution that started in the late 90s, as an audio compression format there is an argument to be made that it has long since been superseded by better formats and other changes. The reality is that MP3, while still relevant in certain niche areas.
Wired headphones: The Headphone Jack Is Quietly Making a Comeback Nearly a Decade After Apple Tried to Kill It. Nine years after Apple boldly declared the death of the headphone jack, an unexpected shift is taking place in the tech world. There is still development n headphone tech: Unconventional headphones: Sonic response consistency, albeit cosmetically ungainly
70 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
Artificial intelligence
Fake bands and artificial songs are taking over YouTube and Spotify
AI-generated songs have made their way onto streaming services and it’s not just ambient or electronic music: fake bands, be they rock, salsa, or jazz, are also abundant
https://english.elpais.com/culture/2025-06-15/fake-bands-and-artificial-songs-are-taking-over-youtube-and-spotify.html
AI is now used to create songs that go beyond ambient themes, which merely provide sounds that help listeners relax, or create a mood to concentrate and study. Platforms such as Suno, Boomy, or Udio allow for the generation of relatively intricate jazz or rock compositions.
A study by the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) in France estimates that revenue from AI-generated music will increase from $100 million in 2023 to around $4 billion in 2028. By then, the organization estimates that 20% of streaming platforms’ revenue will come from this type of music.
One of the major problems with this trend is the lack of transparency. María Teresa Llano, an associate professor at the University of Sussex who studies the intersection of creativity, art and AI, emphasizes this aspect: “There’s no way for people to know if something is AI or not. [It’s not as simple as searching] for an artist you’ve come across. Right now, there’s a responsibility hanging over you. It’s the responsibility to ensure [that there’s] transparency, to make it clear whether something is generated by artificial intelligence or by humans.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.barrons.com/articles/streaming-tv-netflix-youtube-apple-stock-3971ce2a?st=jhhaou&fbclid=IwQ0xDSwK-oZFjbGNrAr6hj2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeBQqB9lmc6nryBO28BlIxgGR3Ewnbx7_ozibLDpJBGwnEMpVgKOXAxMUAaUA_aem_oq1_75JeNZuh5B3pdkrq6A
Streaming Finally Outpaces Traditional TV. The Leading Platform Might Surprise You
Tomi Engdahl says:
Perustason televisiolähetykset loppuvat kesäkuun lopussa
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2025/06/18/perustason-televisiolahetykset-loppuvat-kesakuun-lopussa/
Teräpiirtoisten televisiolähetysten siirtyminen DVB-T2-tason lähetyksiin etenee juhannuksen jälkeen viimeiseen vaiheeseen. Nyt myös Suomen kaupallisten tv-kanavien perusmuotoiset tv-lähetykset poistuvat kesäkuun lopussa antenni- ja kaapeli-tv-jakelusta.
Digitalla muutostöitä tehdään maanantain 30.6. aikana, jolloin yritys katkaisee kanavien perusmuotoiset lähetykset heti kahdeksan aikaan aamulla. Digita lupaa tiedottaa kanavissaan kun muutostyöt ovat päättyneet ja kotitelevisioiden kanavahaun voi tehdä uudestaan.
Digitaan tekemien muutostöiden jälkeen Suomessa television katselu edellyttää aina HD-yhteensopivaa televisiota tai digiboksia.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The flaws that killed cassettes are exactly what’s making them cool again.
Full story: https://www.headphonesty.com/2025/06/reasons-people-buy-cassettes/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Kayla Cobb / The Wrap:
Cannes Lions: YouTube CEO Neal Mohan says YouTube Shorts now averages 200B daily views, up 186% from the 70B average daily views YouTube reported in March 2024
YouTube Shorts Now Averages 200 Billion Daily Views
https://www.thewrap.com/youtube-shorts-200-billion-daily-views/
CEO Neal Mohan also shares that AI model Veo 3 will be coming to the social media platform this summer
Tomi Engdahl says:
After 15 months and 3,800 hours of ‘worst case’ usage, one independent test finds OLED burn-in is now almost a non-issue
https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/gaming-monitors/after-15-months-and-3-800-hours-of-worst-case-usage-one-independent-test-finds-oled-burn-in-is-now-almost-a-non-issue/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/storage/new-tool-burns-images-onto-compact-discs-recording-area-using-ones-and-zeros-unlike-lightscribe-the-technique-works-on-any-disc
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.xda-developers.com/i-dont-use-hdmi-and-i-never-will/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.headphonesty.com/2025/06/industry-leaders-expose-sexist-culture/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.headphonesty.com/2024/05/why-people-hate-audiophiles/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Here are 7 reasons why more people are buying cassettes in 2025: https://www.headphonesty.com/2025/06/reasons-people-buy-cassettes/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2025/04/22/why-physical-media-deserved-to-die/
Tomi Engdahl says:
”The evolution of how people are watching their favorite shows and movies has hit a major milestone, as streaming services edged out traditional TV in total usage for the first time ever in May.
According to Nielsen data, streaming hit a record 44.8% of total TV usage last month. That overtook the combined share of broadcast and cable for the first time, which had a combined 44.2% share of TV usage in May.”
Streaming Finally Outpaces Traditional TV. The Leading Platform Might Surprise You
https://www.barrons.com/articles/streaming-tv-netflix-youtube-apple-stock-3971ce2a?st=jhhaou&fbclid=IwY2xjawLH-UFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHojqoEgCyTVmfk7ZyuaN3B4HRcFqP7KATQt2pzCrspD9UwHKlRjjSfVc4Vac_aem_WZk7jEjxCSs3lcaygHXnCw
Tomi Engdahl says:
Lorde is selling CD versions of her new album, Virgin, that are crystal clear, recyclable, and not listenable — at least for some fans. Across social media, fans have been voicing issues with the clear CD, saying that it doesn’t work on several different players.
Fans Claim Lorde’s ‘Virgin’ CDs Don’t Work in Most CD Players
People can’t get the translucent CD that Lorde has been selling on her website to play
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lorde-virgin-cd-not-working-1235376782/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR4jZC-CDN0Hea1f1BH9MFZukO6D64lKNxfac9mAbP3fHdA2nsBMWVWsj-a00g_aem_QNW6fOlVcUYYXoiao2p26w
Tomi Engdahl says:
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
Nielsen: Netflix’s share of the most-watched shows dropped from 80%+ in 2021 to ~50% now; Amazon, Apple, HBO, Hulu, and Paramount+ have shows in 2025′s Top 10 — Netflix released the most-watched series of the first half — but is losing ground to rival streaming services. — Good evening from New York City.
Eight Things We’ve Learned About Hollywood This Year
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-07-13/eight-things-we-ve-learned-about-hollywood-this-year
Netflix released the most-watched series of the first half — but is losing ground to rival streaming services.
Good evening from New York City. I just left a women’s basketball game and am now enjoying some Lebanese food with a side of ice cream.
We’ve announced the initial speakers for the third annual Screentime conference. They include the CEOs of Netflix and Warner Music Group, the head of Instagram, music mogul Irving Azoff and real estate tycoon Rick Caruso. We’ll also hear from Willow Bay, the new owner of Angel City FC, and Uday Shankar, head of the biggest media company in India. And we’ll have a live taping of The Town with Matt Belloni.
We’ll announce more speakers soon, so grab a ticket while you can. The event is in October.
Good evening from New York City. I just left a women’s basketball game and am now enjoying some Lebanese food with a side of ice cream.
We’ve announced the initial speakers for the third annual Screentime conference. They include the CEOs of Netflix and Warner Music Group, the head of Instagram, music mogul Irving Azoff and real estate tycoon Rick Caruso. We’ll also hear from Willow Bay, the new owner of Angel City FC, and Uday Shankar, head of the biggest media company in India. And we’ll have a live taping of The Town with Matt Belloni.
We’ll announce more speakers soon, so grab a ticket while you can. The event is in October.
Tomi Engdahl says:
John Koblin / New York Times:
YouTube and Netflix are increasingly locked in a battle over TV in the US; Nielsen says YouTube was 12.5% of all TV viewing time in May, above Netflix’s 7.5% — The two giant video companies have far different strategies, but the same goal: controlling your TV set.
The Streaming Wars Come Down to 2: YouTube vs. Netflix
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/12/business/media/youtube-netflix-streaming.html?unlocked_article_code=1.WE8.O7HF.bBvD2iOqVcMd&smid=url-share
The two giant video companies have far different strategies, but the same goal: controlling your TV set.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2025/07/16/blu-ray-won-but-at-what-cost/
The Last Disc
How Blu-ray Won the War but Lost the Future
https://obsoletesony.substack.com/p/the-last-disc
Sony has always believed that controlling the format means controlling the future. That belief drove the company to invent, to compete, and sometimes, to lose. But it is in those gambles, the successes and the failures, that Sony’s identity was forged.
So when the fight for the future of media began again, Sony came prepared. The mistakes of the past were still fresh. The next home video standard would not just be a Sony format. It would be a coalition. One backed by tech giants, movie studios, and hardware makers. Everything Sony had once gotten wrong, it now set out to do right.
Sony had won with the CD but lost control with DVD. That format was led by Toshiba with support from a wide group of companies. Sony was involved, but it was not calling the shots. For a company that believed in setting the standard, playing a supporting role was not enough. Blu-ray was a chance to get back in front. To own the next evolution of optical media and this time to do it on Sony’s terms.
Before Blu-ray had a name, it had a challenge: high-definition video. By the early 2000s, it was clear that 1080p content was coming fast and that DVD did not have the capacity to handle it. The underlying research for a blue-violet laser with a shorter wavelength, capable of writing smaller pits and fitting far more data onto a disc, had been evolving since the 1990s. Discs still offered the best balance of cost, durability, and scalability, and Sony was among the first to see the technology’s potential for commercial media. With Yamamoto back, the company made its decision. The future of HD would still spin.
HD DVD was Toshiba’s answer to the future of discs. Backed by Microsoft, Intel, and Universal, it promised a cleaner path forward. Like Blu-ray, it used a blue-violet laser to increase capacity, but it did not try to reinvent the medium. The structure was nearly identical to DVD, which made it faster and cheaper to produce. It held less data, but for most studios, that was enough. Authoring tools were more stable. Menus were slick thanks to Microsoft’s interactive layer. It was not bold, but it worked. And for a while, in the face of Blu-ray’s complexity, HD DVD looked like the safer bet.
Sony had learned the hard way that superior technology was not enough. This time, it would not try to win alone. Instead of going solo, Sony built alliances. It worked closely with Hollywood studios, hardware makers, and content distributors to rally support early. It helped form the Blu-ray Disc Association
Still, the road was anything but smooth. HD DVD reached the market first, with early titles that looked sharper, featured faster menus, and suffered fewer bugs. In contrast, Blu-ray’s launch was shaky. Studios were cramming movies onto single-layer 25GB discs encoded in MPEG-2, leading to inconsistent image quality. The much-hyped dual-layer Blu-ray discs with 50-gigabyte capacity were nowhere to be seen. Rumors spread that they weren’t even real. For a while, Red looked stronger than Blu.
Then came the PS3.
Bundling a Blu-ray drive into every PlayStation 3 changed the game. Suddenly, millions of households had a powerful, firmware-upgradeable Blu-ray player, and they did not even buy it for that reason. It was a Trojan horse move, and it worked. The PS3′s launch was expensive and the rollout was rough. It was mocked for its price and struggled early against the Xbox 360. But the strategy was not about selling consoles overnight. It was about scale. As production ramped up and prices dropped, Sony was quietly flooding the market with millions of Blu-ray players disguised as game systems. It took time, but it worked.
But momentum alone was not enough. Blu-ray still needed a decisive win, and it got one. In early 2008, major studios began to pick sides, choosing to abandon HD DVD and go all-in on Blu-ray. That move triggered a chain reaction. Retailers, rental services, and hardware makers quickly followed. In a matter of weeks, the tide turned. HD DVD lost its support, lost its shelf space, and lost its purpose. Even the most loyal supporters could see what was coming. Toshiba gave in. Just under two years after the war began, they held a somber press conference and announced HD DVD’s official death. For Masanobu Yamamoto, it was the second time he had helped usher in a winning format. Sony had finally won.
Blu-ray’s victory was the win Sony had spent decades chasing. After years of trying to define the future of media, Sony finally pulled it off. A global format, backed by the industry, embraced by the public, and technically ahead. This time, Sony had done everything right. It built alliances, stayed focused, and delivered a product that truly raised the bar.
But the moment didn’t last. Just as Blu-ray found its footing, the world shifted again. Streaming was rising fast. Netflix launched its digital platform in 2007. YouTube was exploding. Consumers were embracing instant, on-demand access, and Blu-ray came with baggage. Region coding, strict DRM, and constant firmware updates made it feel less like an upgrade and more like a chore. It was the best physical format ever made, but it arrived in a world already chasing something else.
Sony had finally won the war. But in doing so, it proved that the war itself no longer mattered. Today, 4K Blu-rays are still being pressed, but they feel more like collector’s items than a dominant format. Now, the sharpest picture often comes from the cloud. The clearest signal is convenience.
Blu-ray worked. It delivered. But the world had already moved on. For Yamamoto, it was a second legacy. One that defined high-definition for a generation, even as the future pulled in a different direction.
Tomi Engdahl says:
8 reasons why CDs still rule over streaming: https://www.headphonesty.com/2024/06/cds-still-rule-over-streaming/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ben Fritz / Wall Street Journal:
How YouTube became the most-watched video provider on TVs in the US, with creator content tailored for family and group viewing and app features enhanced for TV
How YouTube Won the Battle for TV Viewers
https://www.wsj.com/business/media/how-youtube-won-the-battle-for-tv-viewers-346d05b8?st=JWvBXy&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
A generation that grew up watching YouTubers on tablets and phones have migrated to TVs, and Hollywood is losing ground
SAN BRUNO, Calif.—The headquarters of the world’s No. 1 source of video entertainment has none of the trappings of a Hollywood studio. There are no posters of popular shows, no writers pitching ideas, no soundstages and no tourists.
But after pioneering video that we watch on our laptops and phones, YouTube is now the king of Hollywood’s home turf: the TV.
YouTube became the most-watched video provider on televisions in the U.S. earlier this year, and its lead has only grown, according to Nielsen data. People now watch YouTube on TV sets more than on their phones or any other device—an average of more than one billion hours each day. That is more viewing than Disney gets from its broadcast network, dozen-plus cable channels and three streaming services combined.
In response, YouTube’s influencers, producers and performers—collectively known as creators—are making longer, higher-quality videos that appeal to families and groups of friends watching in their living rooms. YouTube is also rapidly improving its TV app, adding new features to try to keep people watching its free videos longer. (Separately, it also sells YouTube TV, an $83-a-month bundle of channels akin to cable.)
In true Silicon Valley style, the Google-owned company isn’t just looking to extend its lead on TVs, but to dominate the future of entertainment.
“Our goal is for the YouTube app to be people’s way into as much of the universe of video content that exists on the internet as can be,” said Christian Oestlien, YouTube’s vice president of product management for connected TV. One way the company is considering keeping people glued to YouTube on their TVs longer, he said, is through personally customized content feeds, like highlights from players on a fantasy football team.
YouTube started as a website to watch videos on PCs. It made its way onto televisions in 2010, but the interface was clunky. By the 2020s, a generation that grew up watching internet videos alone on their phones and tablets began watching YouTube together in their living rooms and with their own children. It didn’t hurt that as prices rose for Netflix and Disney+, YouTube has remained free.
In the process, it became a media juggernaut. MoffettNathanson analysts estimate YouTube’s revenue last year was $54.2 billion, which would make it No. 2 among entertainment companies, behind only Disney.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Your TV’s USB port has hidden superpowers: 5 features you’re not using enough
The USB port may be old tech, but it’s still impressively versatile – delivering more handy features than you might expect. Here are a few worth knowing.
bayer-5-17-2024
Written by Chris Bayer, Editor
https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/home-entertainment/your-tvs-usb-port-has-hidden-superpowers-5-features-youre-not-using-enough/