The Costco Connection - December 2014

DECEMBER 2014 ;e Costco Connection 53

THIS IS an exciting time in the world of high-definition television, with two new big developments: ultra-high-definition (UHD) TVs and the sleek curved-screen models.

UHD is the latest in super-sharp screen technology. Also called 4K TVs or Ultra HD, these new models offer resolution that is four times higher than existing “Full HD,” or 1080p TVs. The simplest way to explain it is that UHD screens have more than 8 million pixels, compared to 2 million in a Full HD TV. More pixels mean much sharper images.

Curved-screen TVs also offer those sharp UHD pictures, but they differ from traditional flat screens. The curved screen gives viewers a more immersive, theater-like experience.

I get a lot of questions about available
content for these new UHD TVs. More and
more studios are beginning to produce shows
and movies in UHD; it definitely is the wave
of the future, showing up now. Meanwhile,
the new UHD models “upscale” existing con-
tent to make the picture sharper. You get the
most impressive results with larger screens.

Costco features a variety of new UHD TVs in the warehouses and for delivery on Costco.com. For curved screens, I suggest taking a look at the latest from Samsung, such as the 55- and 65-inch HU7200 TVs. For flat panels, Vizio’s P-series offer a tremendous value in 70-inch and other sizes in the warehouses and at Costco.com. C

HIGH;DEFINITION
video has become a
standard feature for
cameras, camcorders
and even smart-
phones. As a result,
flash mem-
ory cards—
where all
these price-
less videos
are captured
and stored—have had to improve
to function most effectively.

Costco offers a variety of the latest flash memory cards from SanDisk to handle Full HD video.

The SanDisk Ultra Plus SDHC™ memory cards are great for everyday casual users. They offer enhanced speed, faster downloads and better performance when capturing and storing photos and Full HD videos on high-megapixel point-and-shoot cameras and camcorders.

The SanDisk Ultra Plus microSDHC
UHS-I cards are ideal for Android-powered
and other smartphones and tablets. The
SanDisk Extreme Plus SDHC cards are ideal
for hobbyists and pros. They work perfectly
with midrange to advanced digital cameras,
DSLR cameras and HD camcorders. They
have no problem capturing
fast-action photos in quick suc-
cession, plus Full HD and even

4K videos with UHS Speed
Class 3, which is the SD
Association’s new specification
requiring a mini-
mum sustained
write speed of 30

MB per second.

It’s important
to note that all
SanDisk SDHC
and microSDHC
cards are durability tested to protect your
memories from life’s mishaps—they’re
waterproof, shockproof, X-ray-proof and
temperature-proof. Check your device’s
manual to find the right one. C
AS MANY of our
members have
noticed, Costco is now
selling a selection of
Apple products in the
warehouses and online
at Costco.com. The
latest hot item to add
to the lineup is the
new iPad Air 2, which
Apple unveiled in a
big rollout in October.
The Air 2 is amazingly light and thin—it
weighs less than a pound—and is 18 percent
thinner than last year’s iPad Air. Thanks to
Apple’s new A8X chip, the Air 2 is really fast,
which makes a difference when you’re load-
ing apps, opening Web pages and playing
games. For convenient security, the Air 2
features Touch ID fingerprint sensors (your
fingerprint is your password).

Other notable features for the Air 2 are its new 8-megapixel camera, an upgrade from the 5-megapixel model, and a battery life of up to 10 hours. That’s pretty impressive for a machine that’s as powerful as many personal computers.

One other note: The arrival of the Air 2 is pushing down the prices of previous models, so now there’s a broader range of price options on tablets. Costco carries the iPad Air 2 in various colors and the original iPad Air in the warehouses and on Costco.com. C