With its arrival from a collection of contributors ranging from Sony to Toshiba, High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) 1.3 is something consumers are going to see in 2007.
In a press release for January 8, 2007, HDMI Licensing, LLC, stated that over 500 adopter companies had been added, which is a 60 percent increase for their last year. HDMI 1.3 was also declared Innovations 2007 Design and Engineering Award Honoree by the Consumer Electronics Association, and according to HDMI.org, the company expects to ship over 130 million units for 2007.
What is HDMI: High-Definition Multimedia Interface is a completely digital audio/video interface that connects to your set-top box, DVD player, monitor or receiver with only one universal cable. This not only enhances the audience's picture and sound, but also does away with the hassle of having seven or eight different cables involved in hooking up your home theater system.
Why is HDMI 1.3 better than 1.2: A number of specifications are mentioned on the
HDMI.org FAQ section. In short, it has a faster bandwidth of 340 MHz (10.2 Gbps) for any higher resolution HDTV that may come along. There is also the "deep color" feature that allows 10 to 16-bits of color depth. Prior versions of HDMI allowed up to 8-bits. HDMI 1.3 also has more color space that allows nearly an unlimited variety of colors to be viewed.
Another interesting feature is "lip sync" which bridges the gap between audio and video display limitations that make dialogue and picture seem out of synchronization. The newly compressed "lossless" audio formats such as Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio(tm) are fully compatible to HDMI 1.3.
Is HDMI 1.3 worth the wait: This is something you will have to decide for yourself. Here is why:
CNET published a review stating that the visual difference between a HDMI 1.1 picture (24-bit) and the 1.3 (48-bit) is predicted to be quite slim - meaning HDMI 1.3 wasn’t necessarily worth the wait when considering buying a new HDTV. CNET also said that programming subscribers will have to wait to get the full effect until satellite and cable providers release a 1.3 compatible set box.
However, in another review of HDMI 1.3 CNET said that today’s HDTVs aren’t worth buying because they aren’t HDMI 1.3 compatible. They say a 1.3 compliant TV is critical in obtaining the highest quality viewing experience. This is all, of course, at the mercy of the perfect source, TV, and output technology.
In other words, the answer for whether or not you should wait until a new TV has HDMI 1.3 depends on who you ask. If CNET has a conflicting point of view regarding HDMI 1.3 then you have to assume there isn't an industry consensus. There is no doubt, however, about the added benefits HDMI offers.
What products will support HDMI 1.3: HDMI.org stated that the first product shipped with compatibility to HDMI 1.3 was Sony's Playstation 3. It also will be ready to support devices such as high-definition DVD players and A/V receivers that are able to read DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD. Both will be introduced to the market in early 2007. LCD televisions and most digital TVs will also be able to receive a sharper picture.
