[Norsak]

I have seen threads dating back years that have asked for the default confluence Skin to support 1080p.
Since this is still on the wish-list, let me make a case for a 4K confluence skin while we are at it.

It is now the end of 2014:

There is certainly a case to be made for maintaining the 720p OPTION when it comes to the configuration of XMBC/KODI
- There are plenty of non-TV displays that are just shy of supporting 1080p.
- There are plenty of non-PC playback devices which would struggle with a 1080p UI, indeed there are several that struggle with the 720p UI

But there is a difference between maintaining "Legacy support" and bringing everyone down to the lowest common denominator.
99% of all TVs sold in the past 3 years will have supported 1080p

4K:
Why design a 4K UI when there isn't any 4K content?
Precisely because there is no 4K content. 4K displays are not that expensive anymore, they are moving off the shelves. But... for all practical purposes there is no genuine 4K content these lucky bastards can use to show off their shiny new TV.
So even just playing with a 4K KODI UI while still streaming 1080p content would be a big step forward.

There is a market gap at present: No 4K devices available to plugin into new 4K TVs.


In my imaginary future:

- Kodi 14.2 comes with 4K confluence
- 6 months later the first cheap Chinese “TV boxes” with Kodi & 4K playback appear on ebay.
- Kodi doesn’t conquer the market, but definitely broadens it’s foot print.

I know this is wishful thinking. After all, nobody has managed to add native 1080p option to confluence in the last 3 years; and I doubt that many of the devs have access to 4K displays in their development environments. But a man can dream can’t he?

[Hedda]

Suggest that you post a new request in the skinning forum instead and also reference this other thread:

http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=195728

I still don't have a UltraHD/UHDTV/2160p TV yet myself but might be buying one for the holidays

There is a market gap at present: No 4K devices available to plugin into new 4K TVs.

Not true. Other than HTPCs there are now several cheap Android media players that support 4K output:

http://www.google.com/cse?q=4k&sa=&cx=pa...gsc.page=1

In the niche world of XBMC enthusiasts there are plenty of hardware options available to get 4K output.

[Norsak]

Not true. Other than HTPCs there are now several cheap Android media players that support 4K output:

http://www.google.com/cse?q=4k&sa=&cx=pa...gsc.page=1

In the niche world of XBMC enthusiasts there are plenty of hardware options available to get 4K output.

True
But my point wasn't: "There are no devices out there that can render 4K content"
My point was: "Even if you had such a device, there is no 4K content for it to play"

Right now, end of 2014, what can you show off that is true pixel-perfect 2160p content?

- Pictures
- The exact same demo videos playing in the stores
- in your face hard-core porn (exotic4k / tiny4k)
- video clips you made yourself with a 4K camera (go pro 4, etc)
- 12x Hollywood movies that are currently available in 4K (requires a 4K bluray player)
- 2x independent animated short films
- 2x Netflix shows (if you have Netflix + the right TV + the right internet connection)
- The Windows desktop
- Android launcher on 4K TV Box (Review Video)

...that's about it, everything else is upscaled which doesn't count.

I did not realize that these TV Boxes already had a 4K UI in addition to 4K playback!
So kudos for making me look that up and learning something new,

So all the more reason that KODI should step up to 4K confluence. The hardware & the competition are already there.
And again, I am just talking about using the 4K UI (JUST the UI) for showing off what a 4K display can do.
Something where you can get right up close to the screen and marvel at the detail.

- Norsak

[un1versal]

http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=150516

[Norsak]

http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=150516

The link in that thread leads to a 404 page, which is an excellent example of why the really good addons should be integrated into KODI.

Yes KODI is extensible, but external addons also have disadvantages.
I setup a fresh XBMC/KODI box probably 3 times a year. My checklist for configuring them is already 2 pages long. And that's with me relying exclusively on built-in functionality. I stay away from add-ons as they are less reliable, especially when it comes to upgrade time. Either the add-on is gone after an upgrade, or not yet compatible with the most recent version of XBMC/KODI. And I exclusively use the default confluence skin because it's the only one I can 100% count on.

uNiversal:
Why are you so adverse to this suggestion? (I saw those deleted posts...)
This isn't some fringe issue which only affects 20 people in CA. This is front and center and affects everyone (well at least the 1080p part)

More over: it's inevitable/ unavoidable!
Someday KODI will include Confluence at 1080p, further down the line KODI will come with 4K Confluence.

uNiversal, please let us know if you agree that this will have to happen, and it's just a question of deciding where to fit the work into the development timeline.

[un1versal]

Im not adverse to anything. If you read (properly) the stuff deleted its just people misinterpreting stuff as usual and getting irate and blowing their own misinterpretations out of total proportion over nothing. My mistake is trying to explain myself.

There is a 1080p confluence skin floating around in any case if the link doesn't work, didn't know.

Its a shame this sort of work gets lost into oblivion

[DJ_Izumi]

Right now, end of 2014, what can you show off that is true pixel-perfect 2160p content?

- Pictures
- The exact same demo videos playing in the stores
- in your face hard-core porn (exotic4k / tiny4k)
- video clips you made yourself with a 4K camera (go pro 4, etc)
- 12x Hollywood movies that are currently available in 4K (requires a 4K bluray player)
- 2x independent animated short films
- 2x Netflix shows (if you have Netflix + the right TV + the right internet connection)
- The Windows desktop
- Android launcher on 4K TV Box (Review Video)

...that's about it, everything else is upscaled which doesn't count.

I did not realize that these TV Boxes already had a 4K UI in addition to 4K playback!
So kudos for making me look that up and learning something new,

So all the more reason that KODI should step up to 4K confluence. The hardware & the competition are already there.
And again, I am just talking about using the 4K UI (JUST the UI) for showing off what a 4K display can do.
Something where you can get right up close to the screen and marvel at the detail.

- Norsak

*drops down her 4K copies of Video Game High School Season 3*

4K 48FPS versions come out in December. :3

[Norsak]

*drops down her 4K copies of Video Game High School Season 3*

4K 48FPS versions come out in December. :3

Yes, I remember downloading one episode of that!
Fair enough, we need to add that to the list.

[Norsak]

...
Its a shame this sort of work gets lost into oblivion

..which is exactly why I feel it's important that the devs integrate this functionality directly into KODI.
It's a matter personal preference if Confluence is the best skin. But it is the default skin, it is the poster child for this project.
As a matter of principle it should set the benchmark by which other skins are measured, technically as well as aesthetically.

In my opinion the time for Confluence to move up from 720p to 1080p was about 24 months ago.
And the time to grow from 1080p to 4K is just about now.

uNiversal:
That is my opinion, in an imaginary world where I can turn back the clock and play god...
In the real world, what do you think is a realistic time table for these (somewhat inevitable) resolution upgrades to be achieved?

[Martijn]

Confluence also needs to run on the "crappiest" boxes out there that can't handle large resolutions and big images.
So when it happens? Likely never or way way way in the future.

[Norsak]

Confluence also needs to run on the "crappiest" boxes out there that can't handle large resolutions and big images.

Very true, but to quote myself:
... there is a difference between maintaining "Legacy support" and bringing everyone down to the lowest common denominator.
nobody is talking about removing the lower resolution options, just adding support for the current and the new standard.

So when it happens? Likely never or way way way in the future.

That is not very encouraging to read, and dare I say sounds a bit short sighted.

[Karnagious]

I setup a fresh XBMC/KODI box probably 3 times a year. My checklist for configuring them is already 2 pages long.

Off topic, so feel free to PM me with an answer if you like.

Why not just back-up your userdata folder?

[Memphiz]

Adding multiple resolutions to the Default Skin we ship will heavily increase Package size. I'd rather See other skins supporting the higher resolutions First...

[Norsak]

Adding multiple resolutions to the Default Skin we ship will heavily increase Package size. I'd rather See other skins supporting the higher resolutions First...

Again: WOW
The Americans call that: Leading from Behind, and I don't think they don't mean it as a compliment when they say it.

Surly there are better ways to achieve a small Package size then to pretend we live 3-5 years in the past.
You've seen those minimal-install Linux distributions which use a tiny installer, and then download packages as you ask for features.
Why not copy that model for built-in features if minimizing the the initial file-size of your deliverable is a priority?

From a technical requirements perspective:
Is KODI already capable of a 4K UI and ready to receive 4K skins?

[ironic_monkey]

es and yes. there is nothing magical about 4k other than it being an exceptionally stupid name for a predetermined number of pixels on the screen.