As mentioned yesterday, while 4K is the term on everyone's mind at CES, 4K content is an elusive creature. There are a few varieties on the exhibitor floor:

HD up-rezzed to 4K content: Though no one is using the term "up-rezzed," that's what all the other euphemisms for HD content upgraded to 4K mean. Most every display manufacturer is showing off Blu-ray content up-rezzed to 4K. The up-rezzing occurs within an engine in the display. This isn't to say that up-rezzing is a negative. It's a necessary first-step to moving consumers to 4K displays. After all, what are you going to do with all that Blu-ray content you own? You want to watch it in ultra high-definition. But it shouldn't be seen as true 4K content.

Native 4K content: very few displays are showing native 4K content but the difference is evident. The up-rezzed HD is smooth and clean but it lacks the crisp, life-like detail of native 4K content. At booths where up-rezzed HD and native 4K content are being shown side-by-side, consumers can see immediately what 4K brings.

As Ted explained in his conversation with Engadget on Tuesday, RED feels a responsibility to educate its users and the public on how best to use the tools we create. 4K displays and up-rezzed HD are steps in the right direction. But they are not the future, simply the present. Native 4K content is where we must be headed.

RED is showing off the REDRAY 4K Cinema Player at CES. The REDRAY is showing 4K content on an 84-inch monitor at the Toshiba booth located in LVCC Central Hall #10926.