New HDMI standard brings Internet to TV
Awhile ago I said all HDMI cables are basically created equal, regardless of price. That's about to change.
HDMI Licensing, the body responsible for licensing the High-Definition Multimedia Interface specification (widely known as HDMI) announced Wednesday the features that will be incorporated in the upcoming HDMI 1.4 specification.
A regular HDMI cable.
(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET)Among other advancements, the latest HDMI specification will offer networking capabilities with Ethernet connectivity and will add an Audio Return Channel to enable upstream audio connections via the HDMI cable.
According to HDMI Licensing, the detailed HDMI specification 1.4 will be available for download on its Web site no later than June 30. For now, you can read more about the new version here.
Personally, I'm most interested in the networking capability, which is said to cap at 100Mbps; not as fast as Gigabit Ethernet but still plenty fast for virtually any IP application.
It's safe to say that in the very near future, you'll be able to conveniently surf the Internet, as well as check e-mail and instant messaging with your TV. It also means your entertainment corner will be less cluttered, as this spares you from the need for a separate Ethernet cable, currently a must if you have a setup that allows for Internet access from your TV.
There's a downside, however: the new standard will require a new HDMI cable. Existing HDMI cables, including the Monster Cables that you paid hundreds of dollars for, will not be compatible with the new standard as they are designed to deliver sound and graphics only.
Even if the existing cable could handle the new standard, in many cases you will still need to get a new cable as HDMI 1.4 also comes with a new connector called Micro HDMI, which is about 50 percent smaller than the current connector. This new connector will be used in portable devices and support resolution up to 1080p.
New devices that support HDMI 1.4 are expected to be available by the end of the year.
Dong Ngo is a CNET editor who covers networking and network storage, and writes about anything else he finds interesting. You can also listen to his podcast at insidecnetlabs.cnet.com. E-mail Dong. 
Let's see, an RCA connector from 30 years ago still works today, a S-VHS connector from 15 years ago still works today, and so on and so forth. Early adopters of HDMI found out that new equipment would not work with their expensive (at that time) HDMI cables because it needed 1.3 for bandwidth and more importantly HDCP. So, how did DVI add support for HDCP and not require new cables? The changes were strictly in the end devices.
The answer is HDMI Licensing needs recurring revenue.
And beyond updating the freaking firmware, why would I want Internet in my TV? I mean convergence is great, but this is nuts.
And there is already a way to bring the Net to a TV without a second wire...it's called WiFi.
Sheesh!
As far as wi-fi? MUCH less secure. Considering my wireless G adapter which supposedly handles 56 mbps only gets me 15 Mbps and I have a 20 Mbps connection. So will a wireless N adapter even get the 100 Mbps this new HDMI will? I'm not sure why you even have an issue with this? No one is requiring you to buy a new cable.
It's called 'Playstation 3'
However, this spec is useless since an ethernet would have to be somewhere. Routers don't have HDMI port and you will at least have some network cord running out of your WiFi or wired router. This is only a means for media devices to be aware of the network: most likely to look for illegal sharing.
- by umbrae May 29, 2009 11:24 AM PDT
- You might see this as a convince, but this could also allow the RIAA and MPAA to sniff your network. I see rootkits or software loaded on devices from DVD's or other media that will now have network access to spy on you.
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