STACK #236 June 2024

SPECIAL STACK

TECH

The 4K revolution

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Full HD 1080p seemed like the pinnacle of TV resolution until 4K Ultra HD came along in 2014 to show us that, yes, the picture could look even better! 4K has now become the standard resolution for smart TVs, streaming services continue to offer more content in the format, and movie lovers can experience their favourite films like never before on 4K Blu-ray disc.

The last two decades have not only seen STACK arrive in JB Hi-Fi stores on a monthly basis, but also the evolution and advancement of technology at a rapid rate. Let’s look back at some innovations in the consumer tech space that have revolutionised our lives.

2009 The first Fitbit tracker was released, paving the way for smartwatches and wearable fitness trackers to monitor our health and wellbeing. In June of the same year, Samsung launched its first smartphone in what would become the Galaxy series. It featured a touchscreen and 5MP camera.

2004 The uptake of digital television resulted in a boom for new display technologies like plasma and LCD TVs.

2012 TV technology received a further uptick in image quality with the release of 4K Ultra HD television sets, offering a resolution four times greater than Full HD 1080p.

2011 A budget option for computer users became available in 2011. The humble Chromebook offered a secure and affordable laptop that found popularity – and still does – with students.

The concept of home automation was the realm of The Jetsons until the Internet of Things (IoT) allowed devices to communicate with each other. The luxury of automated living is now a reality, and almost any The rise of the smart home

2019 As consumer tech grew in popularity and more and more devices began to fill the shelves at JB Hi-Fi, STACK introduced a dedicated

device can be smart, controlled by an app or a voice command, and linked together into a smart home ecosystem. And it can all start with a humble light bulb or smart plug!

2015 Amazon’s virtual assistant, Alexa, was first integrated into the Echo and Echo Dot smart speakers, and was ready to respond at

2016 Google’s first Pixel smartphones, the Pixel and Pixel XL, were released, replacing the Nexus series smartphones.

monthly tech section in the magazine. The inaugural ‘Life Tech’ section kicked off the New Year in 2020, making its debut in issue #183.

our beck and call.

Trending tech in 2004

2024 Microsoft announced the most intelligent Windows PCs to date, with Copilot+ PCs featuring integrated

2023 Introduced in 2020, spatial audio tech really took off this year and began to find its way into smart speakers and headphones, bringing a 3D soundscape to our ears on supported music content.

2021 Fashionable flip and

Back when STACK was just a fledgling pamphlet on the counter at JB stores, iPhones and YouTube were still a year away; the laptop was quickly replacing desktop computers; the iPod was at peak popularity (and getting smaller); Bluetooth connectivity had begun to find its way into various devices; and students at Harvard University in Massachusetts were connecting and sharing photos via something called ‘TheFacebook’.

foldable phones became the trendsetters this year, spearheaded by the release of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 and Flip3. The Galaxy Z Flip and Fold series is now in its fifth generation.

AI assistance that isn't cloud-based,

but instead operates on the PC itself.

Fast forward two decades and it’s amazing to think that all of the above is now a part or our everyday life – and that STACK is celebrating its 20th anniversary!

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