Skip to main content

Philips debuts its first foray into curved monitors at IFA 2015

Curved monitors have yet to really catch on with mainstream buyers, but the number of manufacturers launching their own displays in this niche suggests that the enthusiast market alone is well worth targeting. Now, Philips and its brand license partner MMD have unveiled an attention-grabbing 34-inch curved display at IFA 2015.

This marks the first time that Philips has ventured into curved monitors, but the results are very impressive indeed. Edge-to-edge glass and an ultra-narrow border emphasise the effect, but really it’s the 3440 x 1440 display itself that’s doing all the heavy lifting.

AH-IPS technology ensures that the UltraWide Quad HD resolution monitor delivers razor-sharp images, and DTS sound offers audio quality to rival its visuals.

MMD is also bringing the Philips 27-inch LCD monitor to the show, a display that boasts an UltraClear 5K resolution of 5,120 x 2,880. This device uses PerfectKolor technology for unparalleled color accuracy, while also featuring a webcam and speakers built into the unit.

Philips 24-inch display  with SoftBlue technology
Philips 24-inch display with SoftBlue technology Image used with permission by copyright holder

Several major manufacturers are currently engaging in research into Quantum Dots, a new semiconductor technology that has the potential to revolutionize the field of computer displays. While much of this work is still in its early stages, some companies are beginning to release products using the tech, and one such Philips monitor is being showcased at IFA 2015.

Philips’ 27-inch IPS-ADS Adobe RGB display features Quantum Dot Color IQ, which allows it to deliver 50% more color than a traditional LED screen. Moreover, it offers a significant reduction in energy usage compared to similar devices, and is a more affordable manufacturing process — which should make for a price reduction for the consumer.

MMD is also set to exhibit a 24-inch display that uses its SoftBlue technology, which looks to counteract the effects of blue-light exposure. Recent studies have found that the blue light emitted by electronics can lead to serious health issues, so SoftBlue attempts to cut down on the potentially harmful wavelengths while still delivering accurate color and optimal picture quality.

IFA 2015 is also the setting for the European debut of the Ambiglow Plus Base. This technology allows the base of a monitor to light up in colors that are synced to the images on-screen, offering enhanced immersion and a more pleasant viewing experience.

Brad Jones
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…
My quest to fully remove Microsoft Edge is finally complete
Microsoft Defender and Edge Security settings are open on a PC monitor.

I'm on a mission to eradicate Microsoft Edge from my PC.

It's not a slight against Microsoft -- I just don't particularly care for the Edge browser compared to some of the other best browsers out there. But Edge is different because Microsoft has tried -- and mostly failed -- to court its massive Windows user base, with some unsavory tactics, including making it nearly impossible to set a different default browser to massive, screen-overtaking popups when searching for the Chrome installer.

Read more
Nvidia’s RTX 40-series is coming to an end
Three RTX 4080 cards sitting on a pink background.

Out with the old, in with the new. According to Board Channels, Nvidia has now halted production for nearly all of its best graphics cards as it shifts focus to the RTX 50-series. Only one GPU remains in production, and some of the cards that are the most in demand are no longer being produced.

Nvidia hasn't officially announced that it's sunsetting the RTX 40-series, but we've been hearing more and more reports that imply that might be the case. The RTX 4090 was among the first cards to go out of production, and the discontinuation appears to have immediately affected the markets. Nvidia's behemoth flagship was hard to come by at the best of times, and now, as no more new units are being produced, it's safe to assume that this situation won't improve. The cheapest RTX 4090 I could find on Amazon costs nearly $2,000, but you can still snag one for .

Read more
Rest in pieces: Nvidia is finally ditching GeForce Experience for good
The Nvidia app on the Windows desktop.

We've had the Nvidia app for a while, but now, it's available officially. About a year ago, Nvidia launched the Nvidia app into beta as a one-stop-shop for managing some of its best graphics cards, including grabbing new drivers, messing around with different features, and optimizing your game settings. Now, it's out of beta, officially replacing the legacy GeForce Experience and Nvidia Control Panel apps, and with some new features in tow.

One of the biggest draws of the Nvidia app initially was driver downloads. It may seem mundane, but you'd previously need to download GeForce Experience and create an Nvidia account for GPU driver updates. If you didn't, you'd have to search and install your drivers manually. The Nvidia app gives you access to new drivers, and notifies you when they're ready, all without an Nvidia login. Now, signing in is optional for "bundles and rewards" offered by Nvidia.

Read more