HDMI 1.3 Needs new Connectors?
[Edit: no, HDMI doesn’t need new connectors. See the comments section.] You know what it means to assume. But I assumed anyway, and I may have done that in error. What’s that? Well, I knew that the new-fangled HDMI 1.3 was coming down the pike, and that it would allow Dolby True-HD, DTS-HD, and higher bit-depth video. I assumed, maybe incorrectly, that this could all be done inside the electronics components. That is, I thought that the HDMI cables themselves, and their connectors, would remain the same.
CE products with new HDMI 1.3 connectors will be available in stores before Christmas […]
The new connector offers the potential for enhanced audio and video performance in future CE products, a mini connector for camcorders and other small devices, and automatic synchronization of audio with video when audio is transported to a surround-sound processor from a video source but video is delivered directly to the display.
The first product incorporating an HDMI 1.3 connector is expected to be the Blu-ray-based PlayStation 3, due in November from Sony. HDMI 1.3 connectors could appear later on next-generation HDTV displays, next-generation Blu-ray and HD DVD players, A/V receivers, surround-sound preamp/processors and PCs.
That sounds to me like I’ll need to buy a new cable if I want to use the new features. Which makes me wonder - I can’t really use the new features yet. Does that mean I still need to buy a new cable? I wouldn’t think so, but you can never be sure. Maybe an HDMI 1.3 device can only accept HDMI 1.3 cables with their HDMI 1.3 connectors. That wouldn’t be fun.
That issue aside, this is a very informative article about HDMI, in case you were at all interested in this new technology.
Check out our new sister blog on Home Theater, HTBlog.net
June 26th, 2006 at 8:58 pm
HDMI 1.3 will NOT need a new cable and does NOT require a new connector. The quote on the linked website is misleading when it says “the new connector offers the potential for enhanced…”
The use of the word ‘connector’ is very misleading in this context as it refers to the HDMI standard not the physical adapter.
There is a great interview with Steve Venuti, Director of Marketing for HDMI Licensing LLC that answers many of the common HDMI questions.
http://www.electronichouse.com/info/specials/hdmi_basics.html
That said, HDMI is completely backward compatible with previous HDMI and DVI standards. You can connect a HDMI 1.1 device to a 1.3 device without any problems using any standard HDMI cable or vice-versa. Any newer features ENABLED (not mandatory, but available) in the newer version, if supported by the device, will not be available to the older device. Example - a new HD DVD player that supports HDMI 1.3 and can pass the new Dolby TrueHD to any device that supports it. But, if you connect it to a receiver or TV that only suppports v1.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1, you will be able to transfer DD5.1 instead.
The new physical connector that everyone is confusing this with is a new “mini-HDMI connector” http://hdmi.org/resourcecenter/mini.asp
http://hdmi.org/images/HDMI_andMiniConnector.jpg
This new connector is analagous to the mini DVI connector found on many Apple laptops or the mini USB connectors on cell phones, cameras, etc… There is no difference in the standard, but rather a smaller form factor connector that allows for integrations onto smaller devices such as camcorders, portable dvd players, etc… Its use will be no different than a Mini-USB to USB cable. The announcement of this new physical interface just happens to conincide with the announcement of the HDMI 1.3 standard and could very well be integrated into devices that utilize previous versions of the standard as, again, version standards are backward compatible and there is no difference in the connector pin out other than being shrunk.
Hope this clarifies some of the confusion - of course, that was the point of HDMI - single cable connection that takes the guess work and clutter out of connecting digital devices.
Short story - No new physical connector or cable is mandatory or even in existence for HDMI 1.3. It is a new standard for available features. The new Mini HDMI connector is compatible with all current HDMI implementations and is simply for smaller implementations similar to Mini USB connectors.
Cross posting this over at HDBLOG.net (the target of the news article)
James Depew
www.linksysinfo.org - 3rd Firmware, Hacks, and Support for Linksys wireless routers.
June 26th, 2006 at 11:46 pm
Thanks for the clarification, I appreciate that!
July 20th, 2006 at 10:36 pm
Check this link-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-Definition_Multimedia_Interface
New type B connector has 29 pins as opposed to current type A with 19.
Bloody frustrating! Just when you think everyone’s settled on a common hardware connection, they change it again!!!!
Why don’t they make a fibre optic connecting. More and more data can be streamed through that as required (just ask your phone company)
Dave.