14 DAY TRIAL // Mobile High-Definition link technology might not be such a big deal, but being able to direct things on a big screen and play a video stored on a tablet or phone in 4K resolution can definitely come in handy from time to time. ViewSonic has just unveiled a TV with this capability.
Called VX2880ml 4K2K multimedia display, the newcomer has a native resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, 4K as it were, or UHD (ultra-high definition).
Despite the description as multimedia screen, however, the ViewSonic display is actually intended for CAD experts and digital 4K content development.
Thus, while it will play films and games just fine, it has certain assets that allow it to neatly serve those in the business of designing 3D environments, games, and movies.
Specs-wise, the ViewSonic VX2880ml measures 28 inches in diagonal and boasts not only HDMI (with MHL support) but also DisplayPort and mini DisplayPort connectors.
A second DisplayPort output is included, allowing you to daisy-chain screens. Good for multi-panel configurations when viewing close-ups of the virtual environments you are putting together.
You would think that the daisy-chaining would be useful for multi-panel NVIDIA SLI or AMD CrossFire configurations, but those setups are created differently, through technology inherent in the video cards themselves.
Thus, the possibility to daisy-chain devices might be called the one asset that sets the VX2880ml apart from other TVs and monitors. All that is missing is the software and processing hardware to make it a smart LCD.
Nevertheless, you can still connect the item as a secondary monitor for your laptop, or to a game console.
Not that there are many games that can run in 4K resolution at the moment, since consoles aren't, for the most part, capable of smoothly running titles in that quality. It helps to be prepared for the future though. It's only a matter of time before Xbox and PlayStation consoles become strong enough for that.
Sales of the VX2880ml will begin at the end of the month (July 2014), for the price of $831 / €610.
"As 4K content continues to emerge and entertainment and other demanding visual applications become more progressive, there is a compelling need for premium UHD resolution displays," said Kenneth Mau, senior product marketing manager at ViewSonic Corp.
"To satisfy 4K content developers, graphic designers, CAD, and other advanced applications requiring an extreme high resolution, the VX2880ml 4K resolution display delivers the highest level of details in an affordable yet stunning form factor."