Post by dkennedy on May 30, 2009 16:35:25 GMT -5
New HDMI 1.4 spec could lead to consumer confusion
May 30, 2009
By Sean P. Aune, Tech Blorge Magazine
As if buying all new high definition equipment wasn’t already confusing enough, the people behind HDMI seem determined to make you pull your hair out.
HDMI Licensing, LLC, the company that determines the specifications of the HDMI standard, are set to release HDMI 1.4 on June 30th, and it could very well be the most confusing thing to ever happen to setting up a home theater. When the new cables are released on the world, you’re going to need to read the packaging very carefully because there are now going to be five different versions of the same cable.
The first thing you should know is that more than likely the high definition television you currently have in your home has HDMI 1.3 ports, so your TV will be obsolete by the end of June. This doesn’t mean it will magically stop working, but it may make buying future equipment a bit more difficult, and it will certainly make buying new cables a larger pain. With HDMI 1.4 you will now need to choose between HDMI Ethernet Channel, Audio Return Channel, 3D Over HDMI, 4K x 2K Resolution Support and a new Automotive HDMI.
To explain what all of these new cables and specifications will do, it is probably best to let the official explanations do all the talking.
• HDMI Ethernet Channel
The HDMI 1.4 specification will add a data channel to the HDMI cable and will enable high-speed bi-directional communication. Connected devices that include this feature will be able to send and receive data via 100 Mb/sec Ethernet, making them instantly ready for any IP-based application.
The HDMI Ethernet Channel will allow an Internet-enabled HDMI device to share its Internet connection with other HDMI devices without the need for a separate Ethernet cable. The new feature will also provide the connection platform to allow HDMI-enabled devices to share content between devices.
• Audio Return Channel
The new specification will add an Audio Return Channel that will reduce the number of cables required to deliver audio upstream for processing and playback. In cases where HDTVs are directly receiving audio and video content, this new Audio Return Channel allows the HDTV to send the audio stream to the A/V receiver over the HDMI cable, eliminating the need for an extra cable.
• 3D Over HDMI
The 1.4 version of the specification will define common 3D formats and resolutions for HDMI-enabled devices. The specification will standardize the input/output portion of the home 3D system and will specify up to dual-stream 1080p resolution.
• 4K x 2K Resolution Support
The new specification will enable HDMI devices to support high-definition (HD) resolutions four times beyond the resolution of 1080p. Support for 4K x 2K will allow the HDMI interface to transmit content at the same resolution as many digital theaters.
Formats supported include:
- 3840×2160 24Hz/25Hz/30Hz
- 4096×2160 24Hz
• Expanded Support For Color Spaces
HDMI technology now supports color spaces designed specifically for digital still cameras. By supporting sYCC601, Adobe RGB and AdobeYCC601, HDMI-enabled display devices will be capable of reproducing more accurate life-like colors when connected to a digital still camera.
• Micro HDMI Connector
The Micro HDMI Connector is a significantly smaller 19-pin connector that supports up to 1080p resolutions for portable devices. This new connector is approximately 50% smaller than the size of the existing HDMI Micro Connector.
• Automotive Connection System
The Automotive Connection System is a cabling specification designed to be used as the basis for in-vehicle HD content distribution. The HDMI 1.4 specification will provide a solution designed to meet the rigors and environmental issues commonly found in automobiles, such as heat, vibration and noise. Using the Automotive Connection System, automobile manufactures will now have a viable solution for distributing HD content within the car.
While all of this sounds exciting, it also sounds like it will be an “either or” type choice for the consumer. For instance, you can have Ethernet, but not 3D? That is not totally clear.
It is certainly nice to see them striving to make HDMI the best possible connection it can be, but it also makes me feel a bit left out as a consumer. While I have a very nice HD TV, and not one I see myself giving up any time soon, I feel like I may be left in the dust of new Blu-ray players, gaming systems and audio equipment because I have 1.3 connections instead of 1.4. Some day electronics companies are going to have to realize we aren’t all made of money.
May 30, 2009
By Sean P. Aune, Tech Blorge Magazine
As if buying all new high definition equipment wasn’t already confusing enough, the people behind HDMI seem determined to make you pull your hair out.
HDMI Licensing, LLC, the company that determines the specifications of the HDMI standard, are set to release HDMI 1.4 on June 30th, and it could very well be the most confusing thing to ever happen to setting up a home theater. When the new cables are released on the world, you’re going to need to read the packaging very carefully because there are now going to be five different versions of the same cable.
The first thing you should know is that more than likely the high definition television you currently have in your home has HDMI 1.3 ports, so your TV will be obsolete by the end of June. This doesn’t mean it will magically stop working, but it may make buying future equipment a bit more difficult, and it will certainly make buying new cables a larger pain. With HDMI 1.4 you will now need to choose between HDMI Ethernet Channel, Audio Return Channel, 3D Over HDMI, 4K x 2K Resolution Support and a new Automotive HDMI.
To explain what all of these new cables and specifications will do, it is probably best to let the official explanations do all the talking.
• HDMI Ethernet Channel
The HDMI 1.4 specification will add a data channel to the HDMI cable and will enable high-speed bi-directional communication. Connected devices that include this feature will be able to send and receive data via 100 Mb/sec Ethernet, making them instantly ready for any IP-based application.
The HDMI Ethernet Channel will allow an Internet-enabled HDMI device to share its Internet connection with other HDMI devices without the need for a separate Ethernet cable. The new feature will also provide the connection platform to allow HDMI-enabled devices to share content between devices.
• Audio Return Channel
The new specification will add an Audio Return Channel that will reduce the number of cables required to deliver audio upstream for processing and playback. In cases where HDTVs are directly receiving audio and video content, this new Audio Return Channel allows the HDTV to send the audio stream to the A/V receiver over the HDMI cable, eliminating the need for an extra cable.
• 3D Over HDMI
The 1.4 version of the specification will define common 3D formats and resolutions for HDMI-enabled devices. The specification will standardize the input/output portion of the home 3D system and will specify up to dual-stream 1080p resolution.
• 4K x 2K Resolution Support
The new specification will enable HDMI devices to support high-definition (HD) resolutions four times beyond the resolution of 1080p. Support for 4K x 2K will allow the HDMI interface to transmit content at the same resolution as many digital theaters.
Formats supported include:
- 3840×2160 24Hz/25Hz/30Hz
- 4096×2160 24Hz
• Expanded Support For Color Spaces
HDMI technology now supports color spaces designed specifically for digital still cameras. By supporting sYCC601, Adobe RGB and AdobeYCC601, HDMI-enabled display devices will be capable of reproducing more accurate life-like colors when connected to a digital still camera.
• Micro HDMI Connector
The Micro HDMI Connector is a significantly smaller 19-pin connector that supports up to 1080p resolutions for portable devices. This new connector is approximately 50% smaller than the size of the existing HDMI Micro Connector.
• Automotive Connection System
The Automotive Connection System is a cabling specification designed to be used as the basis for in-vehicle HD content distribution. The HDMI 1.4 specification will provide a solution designed to meet the rigors and environmental issues commonly found in automobiles, such as heat, vibration and noise. Using the Automotive Connection System, automobile manufactures will now have a viable solution for distributing HD content within the car.
While all of this sounds exciting, it also sounds like it will be an “either or” type choice for the consumer. For instance, you can have Ethernet, but not 3D? That is not totally clear.
It is certainly nice to see them striving to make HDMI the best possible connection it can be, but it also makes me feel a bit left out as a consumer. While I have a very nice HD TV, and not one I see myself giving up any time soon, I feel like I may be left in the dust of new Blu-ray players, gaming systems and audio equipment because I have 1.3 connections instead of 1.4. Some day electronics companies are going to have to realize we aren’t all made of money.