In January the HDMI website released some details on the HDMI 1.4 specs in this press release (http://www.hdmi.org/press/press_release.aspx?prid=93). In April Silicon Image, which is one of the HDMI Founders (http://www.hdmi.org/learningcenter/adopters_founders.aspx), said that the HDMI 1.4 specs would be released this quarter (http://seekingalpha.com/article/133057-silicon-image-q1-2009-earnings-call-transcript?page=3). Articles on HDMI 1.4 can be found at BusinessWire (http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090527005265&newsLang=en), Engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/28/hdmi-1-4-officially-detailed-ethernet-audio-return-channels/), Gizmodo (http://gizmodo.com/5254264/hdmi-14-internet-sharing-more-pixels-and-ridiculous-new-cables), Twice (http://www.twice.com/article/CA6661113.html?desc=topstory), and Yahoo (http://www.twice.com/article/CA6661113.html?desc=topstory). The HDMI website (http://www.hdmi.org/press/press_release.aspx?prid=101) has also released an official list of the new HDMI 1.4 features:

3D Over HDMI which will standardize input/output of 3D video and will specify up to dual-stream 1080p resolution.
4K x 2K support which allows support for resolutions of 3840x2160 at 24/25/30 Hz and 4096x2160 at 24Hz.
Audio Return Channel (ARC) allows for standard lossy audio to be sent back from the display to the AV receiver.
Automatic Content Enhancement (ACE) which is the ability to automatically optimize the TV's picture settings based on content type.
Automotive Connection System is a HDMI cabling specification designed for vehicles.
Expanded Support For Color Spaces adds additional color spaces such as sYCC601, Adobe RGB, and AdobeYCC601.
HDMI Ethernet Channel (HEC) allows for an up to 100 Mbps connection between HDMI 1.4 devices and will require a new HDMI 1.4 cable which will be graded either low data rate or high data rate.
HDMI Type D connector is a new HDMI connector for very small devices such as cellphones which is described in this Engadget article (http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/08/latest-mini-hdmi-connectors-get-shown-off-in-prototype-form/).

In January the HDMI website released some details on the HDMI 1.4 specs in this press release (http://www.hdmi.org/press/press_release.aspx?prid=93). In April Silicon Image, which is one of the HDMI Founders (http://www.hdmi.org/learningcenter/adopters_founders.aspx), said that the HDMI 1.4 specs would be released this quarter (http://seekingalpha.com/article/133057-silicon-image-q1-2009-earnings-call-transcript?page=3). Today several websites announced additional details on the HDMI 1.4 specs though the HDMI website (http://www.hdmi.org/) has put up a disclaimer that they would not confirm this information. Articles on HDMI 1.4 can be found at Engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/14/hdmi-1-4-brings-internet-sharing-dreadful-tiers-of-quality/), Gizmodo (http://gizmodo.com/5254264/hdmi-14-internet-sharing-more-pixels-and-ridiculous-new-cables), and Yahoo (http://tech.yahoo.com/news/zd/20090514/tc_zd/240304). Here is a list of the new HDMI 1.4 features:
Automatic Content Enhancement (ACE) adds several new features such as support for 4096x2160@30Hz, support for future 3D video standards, and the ability to automatically optimize the TV's picture settings based on content type.
Audio Return Channel (ARC) allows for standard lossy audio to be sent back from the display to the AV receiver.
HDMI Ethernet Channel (HEC) allows for an up to 100 Mbps connection between HDMI 1.4 devices and will require a new HDMI 1.4 cable which will be graded either low data rate or high data rate.
HDMI Type D connector is a new HDMI connector for very small devices such as cellphones which is described in this Engadget article (http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/08/latest-mini-hdmi-connectors-get-shown-off-in-prototype-form/).


Just wait and see, the natives will now go crazy and everyone will have to buy a 1.4 HDMI cable to make everything work correctly, ha!!!!!:D

Just wait and see, the natives will now go crazy and everyone will have to buy a 1.4 HDMI cable to make everything work correctly, ha!!!!!It sounds like the ACE and the ACR features will work with a HDMI 1.3 cable and that you would only need a HDMI 1.4 cable for the HEC feature.

It sounds like the ACE and the ACR features will work with a HDMI 1.3 cable and that you would only need a HDMI 1.4 cable for the HEC feature.

I don't know. I don't see anything that indicates a change in the existing pin count, so I would presume that existing cabling configurations would work, depending on the existing cable's bandwidth capabilities. Changing the connector for a change in pinout/pin-count would be a compatability nightmare, I just cannot forsee that happening at all.

But without hard information, it's kind of speculative.

I don't know. I don't see anything that indicates a change in the existing pin count, so I would presume that existing cabling configurations would work, depending on the existing cable's bandwidth capabilities. Changing the connector for a change in pinout/pin-count would be a compatability nightmare, I just cannot forsee that happening at all.

But without hard information, it's kind of speculative.Based on what the Yahoo article (http://tech.yahoo.com/news/zd/20090514/tc_zd/240304) says the cable configuration is changed with HDMI 1.4 so that some of the previously unused HDMI wires are replaced with a twisted pair wire structure which will be used by the HEC feature. The Yahoo article says that the HEC feature won't work with HDMI 1.3 cables though without more information it is hard to know whether that statement is completely accurate.

Based on what the Yahoo article (http://tech.yahoo.com/news/zd/20090514/tc_zd/240304) says the cable configuration is changed with HDMI 1.4 so that some of the previously unused HDMI wires are replaced with a twisted pair wire structure which will be used by the HEC feature. The Yahoo article says that the HEC feature won't work with HDMI 1.3 cables though without more information it is hard to know whether that statement is completely accurate.

I see that, but given that HDMI *is* a twisted pair cable, this doesn't make much sense, and seems like the author didn't know that. In other words, that statement seems to be implying that there is a change to twisted pair from some other cabling structure which they do not specify. But HDMI is a twisted pair cable, so I don't understand why they imply any change. Without the addition of new pins at the connector which I just don't see happening, then I don't see anything conclusive about a change in the physical cable or physical connector which that would require.

The only indication is the introduction of a new smaller form HDMI connector I assume like a mini-USB connector for portable devices, but I don't see anything conclusive about an overall physical re-vamping of HDMI cabling or existing connectors besides author assumptions from what seems like fairly skimpy information.

I see that, but given that HDMI *is* a twisted pair cable, this doesn't make much sense, and seems like the author didn't know that. In other words, that statement seems to be implying that there is a change to twisted pair from some other cabling structure which they do not specify. But HDMI is a twisted pair cable, so I don't understand why they imply any change. Without the addition of new pins at the connector which I just don't see happening, then I don't see anything conclusive about a change in the physical cable or physical connector which that would require.

The only indication is the introduction of a new smaller form HDMI connector I assume like a mini-USB connector for portable devices, but I don't see anything conclusive about an overall physical re-vamping of HDMI cabling or existing connectors besides author assumptions from what seems like fairly skimpy information.

hoe delightful. yet another reason to have to buy all new gear. id like to tell them what they can do with their new fangled dongle!:p

I'm sure Monster cable will soon release an HDMI 1.4 cable entitled, Monster's Magnanimous Ultra Super Fast Bandwidth HDMI cable with optional brain tonic which will cost the equivalent of home mortgage payment. :rolleyes:

Bingo!:cool:

I see that, but given that HDMI *is* a twisted pair cable, this doesn't make much sense, and seems like the author didn't know that. In other words, that statement seems to be implying that there is a change to twisted pair from some other cabling structure which they do not specify. But HDMI is a twisted pair cable, so I don't understand why they imply any change. Without the addition of new pins at the connector which I just don't see happening, then I don't see anything conclusive about a change in the physical cable or physical connector which that would require.The 3 data wire pairs and the clock wire pair use a twisted pair wire structure but a big question is which wires are they going to use for HEC? I know of only 5 unused wires in HDMI and 4 of those are shield wires. If they are going to use the shield wires for HEC they would have to put them in a twisted pair wire structure which might be what the author is referring to.

Automatic Content Enhancement (ACE) adds several new features such as support for 4096x2160@30Hz, support for future 3D video standards, and the ability to automatically optimize the TV's picture settings based on content type.

That's very disappointing. So we could have a higher resolution picture, but only at half the frame rate of current video (60fps) :(

It's such a shame that in a future standard they couldn't give us equal or better frame rates than we have now.

As the BBC correctly says, increasing the spatial resolution and display sizes only makes low frame rates much more obvious. The BBC say if the spatial resolution of TV increases, they should increase the frame rate to maintain the balance between static and dynamic resolution. Yet they've done the exact opposite and halved the frame rate!

Imagine the strobing effects you'll see on a 4K TV at such low frame rates.

I wonder if they will transmit interlaced video at their resolution to give higher field rates? eg. 4K 30i. Yet we have progressive displays and that halves the spatial resolution per refresh, and will lead to artefacts. Current TVs can easily accept 1080p60. I think it's a really bad idea to halve the progressive frame rate even when (especially when) you're increasing the spatial resolution.

Here's a revolutionary idea for HDMI 2.0: COAX!!!

Here's a revolutionary idea for HDMI 2.0: COAX!!!

LOL - I think they should use fiber or Cat5e. I've always said they should use an existing high bandwidth, cheap cable, wiht a more solid connector end.

That's very disappointing. So we could have a higher resolution picture, but only at half the frame rate of current video (60fps)Almost all movies and the majority of TV shows are shot at 24 fps.


Imagine the strobing effects you'll see on a 4K TV at such low frame rates.Did you mean to say judder? Consumer HDTVs show 24 fps video at 60 Hz, 72 Hz, or 120 Hz. There is judder because of the low frame rate (http://www.projectorcentral.com/judder_24p.htm) but that is going to be an issue even with new movies and TV shows until the major studios change to a higher frame rate. Several companies have proposed systems that could show movies at a higher frame rate but none of them were able to convince the major studios (Roger Ebert promoted MaxiVision 48 (http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061204/COMMENTARY/61204001)).

Almost all movies and the majority of TV shows are shot at 24 fps.

I wouldn't say the majority of TV shows. Fictional US TV shows maybe. But the bigger and higher res your screen is, and the higher res the production is made at, the much worse it will look on TV. Consumers weren't talking as much about "judder" or "strobing" with smaller CRT & SD DVD, but with newer higher res screens and players it looks much worse/more obvious. It will look even worse for 4K, assuming the production is actually 4K and not filtered or soft focused so the resolution is less.

Did you mean to say judder? Consumer HDTVs show 24 fps video at 60 Hz, 72 Hz, or 120 Hz. There is judder because of the low frame rate (http://www.projectorcentral.com/judder_24p.htm) but that is going to be an issue even with new movies and TV shows until the major studios change to a higher frame rate. Several companies have proposed systems that could show movies at a higher frame rate but none of them were able to convince the major studios (Roger Ebert promoted MaxiVision 48 (http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061204/COMMENTARY/61204001)).
I was told by someone on the AVS forum on the "when will the start filming at 60fps" thread that it isn't judder (the effects of the 24fps frame rate and film camera shutter) and that he said the correct word was strobing. I think he/others said judder should only be used for uneven movement like that caused by 3:2 pull-down.

HDMI 1.4 is a let down and I'll be less likely to upgrade to a 4K display if it's only half the frame rate of current displays and will show more strobing/other frame artefacts. Though I'm guessing the standard will allow interlacing, though we shouldn't need interlacing for new standards :( And that will mean de-interlacing of a 4K 30i or 25i source (or up-converting a 1080 30i or 25i source to 4K) can't be done by players (since it can't output 4K at 50/60p).

HDMI 1.4 is a let down and I'll be less likely to upgrade to a 4K display if it's only half the frame rate of current displays and will show more strobing/other frame artefacts. Though I'm guessing the standard will allow interlacing, though we shouldn't need interlacing for new standards And that will mean de-interlacing of a 4K 30i or 25i source (or up-converting a 1080 30i or 25i source to 4K) can't be done by players (since it can't output 4K at 50/60p). I don't think the 4K@30 is for a 4K display. It's for doing 1080p60 3D. The 3D effect is done with 2 different (phased?) frames that the glasses need to create the effect. Consumer 4K displays are much farther down the timeline than HD 3D.

larry

I don't think the 4K@30 is for a 4K display. It's for doing 1080p60 3D. The 3D effect is done with 2 different (phased?) frames that the glasses need to create the effect. Consumer 4K displays are much farther down the timeline than HD 3D.

larry
"Automatic Content Enhancement (ACE) adds several new features such as support for 4096x2160@30Hz, support for future 3D video standards, and the ability to automatically optimize the TV's picture settings based on content type"

I'm sure the 4096x2160@30hz standard must be a different thing than the 3D standard since 4K is about 4x 1080p resolution (4096x2160 is 4.26 times the res). Yet for stereoscopic 3D you'd only need 2x (ie. 2x 1920x1080 streams). I would think their 3D standard would send them as 2x 1080p streams rather than as one big picture.

I think you're right that 4K consumer displays will take longer, though they have been demonstrating them at shows for a few years.

"Automatic Content Enhancement (ACE) adds several new features such as support for 4096x2160@30Hz, support for future 3D video standards, and the ability to automatically optimize the TV's picture settings based on content type"

I'm sure the 4096x2160@30hz standard must be a different thing than the 3D standard since 4K is about 4x 1080p resolution (4096x2160 is 4.26 times the res). Yet for stereoscopic 3D you'd only need 2x (ie. 2x 1920x1080 streams). I would thing their 3D standard would send them as 2x 1080p streams rather than as one big picture.

I think you're right that consumer displays will take longer, though they have been demonstrating them at shows for a few years. I was just guessing. I didn't think 4K was going to change the "standard" 16x9 we have now. I guess they'll need something to drive 4K displays even when they are only selling a handful (so to speak) in the next few years or so. Heck, HDTVs aren't a majority yet! :)

larry

I was told by someone on the AVS forum on the "when will the start filming at 60fps" thread that it isn't judder (the effects of the 24fps frame rate and film camera shutter) and that he said the correct word was strobing.I have never heard that term used for the poor motion caused by low frame rate video though I have heard the terms judder, motion judder, and temporal sampling judder. The term temporal sampling judder is used by Broadcast Engineering (http://broadcastengineering.com/hdtv/solutions-judder-problem/) and they are the best source I have found that had a specific term for it.


I think he/others said judder should only be used for uneven movement like that caused by 3:2 pull-down.The Broadcast Engineering article (http://broadcastengineering.com/hdtv/solutions-judder-problem/) calls that pulldown judder. The Broadcast Engineering article describes 3 types of judder (temporal sampling judder, motion judder, and pulldown judder).

I have never heard that term used for the poor motion caused by low frame rate video
Here's the James Cameron article and quotes:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117983864.html
James Cameron Quotes:
For three-fourths of a century of 2-D cinema, we have grown accustomed to the strobing effect produced by the 24 frame per second display rate
Some people call it judder, others strobing. I call it annoying
digital cinema supplies the answer to the strobing problem
Higher pixel counts only preserve motion artifacts like strobing with greater fidelity
Though in the article linked above he uses both "judder" and "strobing" to describe the effects.
eg.
the 4K/24 image will judder miserably during a panning shot, and the 2K/48 won't
In the broadcast article you linked to it mentions strobing too.
http://broadcastengineering.com/hdtv/solutions-judder-problem/
Excessive motion judder can be prevented, for example, by panning with a moving object. Follow panning itself creates another eye tracking artifact called background strobing. However, by forcing a shallow depth of field, background detail is reduced, thereby minimizing background strobing.

In the broadcast article you linked to it mentions strobing too.
http://broadcastengineering.com/hdtv/solutions-judder-problem/It does mention background strobing though it sounds like it is due to motion judder which is caused by how theaters flash the image twice. Though that is caused by the low frame rate it sounds like the general issue of poor motion caused by low frame rate video is called temporal sampling judder. There are a few names that are used by various sources for that though and temporal sampling judder was simply the most clearly defined term I have seen. The only other major online article I know about that uses that term though is this Microsoft article (http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/TempRate.mspx) from 2001 so other terms are far more common.

Since electronics are always changing, the advice is generally "Don't wait, buy it now."
But with HDMI 1.4 already announced and 3D standards supposedly being established this year, it's probably not the ideal time to invest too heavily in new equipment.If a person is not interested in 3D than there really isn't anything that important added by HDMI 1.4. On the other hand if a person is interested in 3D than it looks like waiting until next year would be a good idea.

Since electronics are always changing, the advice is generally "Don't wait, buy it now."
But with HDMI 1.4 already announced and 3D standards supposedly being established this year, it's probably not the ideal time to invest too heavily in new equipment.

Yeah, but one could have said the same thing 30 years ago.

What's HDMI-1.4 have to do with 3D?

With the insane plethora of hi-def 3D movies cramming the store shelves, and the abundance of hi-def 3D video content on the Web, I am SO psychhed about the upcoming 1.4 HDMI gear!!! :D

It'll allow higher bandwidth, for things other than 3D, probably higher frame rates in full HD or better (maybe 1080p120?) - though not 4K at high frame rates :(. Probably higher colour depths and more too like networking.

What's HDMI-1.4 have to do with 3D?From the sounds of it HDMI 1.4 will add support for 3D video standards. So instead of using proprietary methods for sending 3D video to a 3D display, which can vary depending on the company, with HDMI 1.4 there will be standard methods for doing that. One problem is that the basis for audio/video transfer with HDMI is the CEA-861 standard (the current version is CEA-861-E) and it currently does not support 3D video. CEA-861-F will support 3D video (http://www.eetasia.com/ART_8800552122_480700_NT_dd593d22.HTM) and last I heard it was going to be released sometime this year.

Will it be backward compatible with earlier HDMI standards? Will an HDMI switch still be able to switch a 3D video stream? Any more word on pin/plug compatibility?

The intent is always to be backward compatible except, of course, for new features. If the new supported resolution(s) don't exceed the 1.3 max bandwidth requirements, then a current switch should work. The switches don't interpret data formats.

larry

Do we have ETA for the newest standard?

Breaking news!!

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090527005265&newsLang=en

The HDMI 1.4 specification will offer the following enhanced functionalities:

* 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:

* 3840x2160 24Hz/25Hz/30Hz
* 4096x2160 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 Mini 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.

Consumers will have a choice of the following HDMI cables:

* Standard HDMI Cable – supports data rates up to 1080i/60;
* High Speed HDMI Cable – supports data rates beyond 1080p, including Deep Color and all 3D formats of the new 1.4 specification;
* Standard HDMI Cable with Ethernet – includes Ethernet connectivity;
* High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet – includes Ethernet connectivity;
* Automotive HDMI Cable – allows the connection of external HDMI-enabled devices to an in-vehicle HDMI device.

It says the official spec will be ready by June 30th. What, 6 months after that we'll see new devices?

NICE....
i mean please don't get me wrong, i really like innovation, BUT... Blu Ray is still on the Rise, an already a new standard is introduced??

What does 1.4 mean for us consumers, will there be Blu Ray Movies in ULTRA-HD Resolution?

i guess i'm a little nervous, just bought a new Denon Reciever and Pioneer Plasma, back in Dec., so all this Hardware will be outdated by 2010 ???

NICE....
i guess i'm a little nervous, just bought a new Denon Reciever and Pioneer Plasma, back in Dec., so all this Hardware will be outdated by 2010 ???

No, Q4 of 2009.

Yippie !!!

I didn't see anything indicating that they are doing anything regarding closed captioning. I know that there were a lot of folks online, who, like us, are wholly dependent on closed captioning, but these folks were burying their heads in the sand regarding digital captions, perhaps even expecting HDMI to provide some follow-up to their complaints. Unless I've missed something, it is now even clearer that the standards group does not recognize the validity of their concerns, and will go forward with their original policy on closed captioning (that decoding is to take place at the tuner or play-back devices, not at the display).

My wife and, of course, are not affected by this, because we acknowledge the reality, and took steps to ensure our equipment (tuners and play-back devices) supported what they needed to support. I suspect, though, that a lot of folks were misled by vocal zealots, and are now surprised that reality isn't conforming itself to the unfounded expectations those zealots fostered. It is a shame that folks refused to hear the truth when it was offered to them, and instead continued to delude themselves and mislead others. :sad:

Is there a reason why HDMI 1.4 couldn't send the compressed video to the TV instead of the source having to uncompress it and send the uncompressed video via HDMI to the TV?

If HDMI 1.4 could send the original compressed video to the TV, you could send a lot more in the same bandwidth. eg. higher resolutions, at higher FPS, more colour depths, more video streams (eg. for 3D, PiP).

Is there a reason why HDMI 1.4 couldn't send the compressed video to the TV instead of the source having to uncompress it and send the uncompressed video via HDMI to the TV?

If HDMI 1.4 could send the original compressed video to the TV, you could send a lot more in the same bandwidth. eg. higher resolutions, at higher FPS, more colour depths, more video streams (eg. for 3D, PiP).
There was an early attempt at a lower bandwidth approach using firewire. However hollywood didn't want an interconnect that was easy to copy the stream from. So hdmi was created. It was an extension of the existing DVI standard.

If hdmi had used an optical connection, the whole cable portion of the standard would have been finalized a long time ago. The TV, source equipment could change as much as their hearts desire without affecting the existing cabling! The whole thing seems to have evolved into an excuse to try to get people to upgrade their cables and equipment. Also without a new source of higher def video the new standard is largely irrelevant.

There was an early attempt at a lower bandwidth approach using firewire. However hollywood didn't want an interconnect that was easy to copy the stream from. So hdmi was created. It was an extension of the existing DVI standard.It is true that content owners disliked compressed video connections since if the copy protection was broken consumers could copy the compressed video stream. There are though two others reasons why Firewire never took off. The first reason is that a compressed video connection can't overlay graphics without using an interactive standard. The problem is that when Firewire was made the CE industry was stuck with the interactive standard that was made for it and that quickly became outdated. The second reason is that Firewire only worked with compressed video so uncompressed video either wouldn't work with it or would have to be compressed in real time. Of course HDMI could have been designed so that it could carry both compressed and uncompressed video but as noted the content owners would have disliked that.


If hdmi had used an optical connection, the whole cable portion of the standard would have been finalized a long time ago.Fiber optic connections for video would be incredibly expensive both in terms of the fiber optic converters and the fiber optic cable. It costs less than $2 per port for a 1080p60 HDMI chip and you can buy 3 meter 1080p60 capable HDMI cables for less than $5 each. For example with 5 connections (4 to the AV receiver and 1 to the HDTV) it would cost less than $50 in terms of component cost while with fiber optic that would currently cost over a thousand dollars. The current price of a fiber optic connection is so great that it doesn't make sense to use it is as the standard connector for a consumer video connection standard. In the future that could change but back when HDMI was made and even today it would not make sense to design a consumer video connection standard that is based solely on fiber optic.

Where are you getting your cable from Richard? I can find fiber MUCH cheaper than a few grand for 6 lines.

Where are you getting your cable from Richard? I can find fiber MUCH cheaper than a few grand for 6 lines.Note that I said a thousand dollars, that it was 5 connections, and that when I said fiber optic connection I was referring to both the fiber optic converters and the fiber optic cable.

I've got not clue about the converters. Are they really that expensive? Are they much different from a network optical connector?

I've got not clue about the converters. Are they really that expensive? Are they much different from a network optical connector?The last I checked the cheapest 1080p60 capable HDMI to fiber optic to HDMI system was around $300.

OH! Yes, those are expensive. But an optical port can't be anywhere near that expensive. Weren't we talking about native fiber?

OH! Yes, those are expensive. But an optical port can't be anywhere near that expensive. Weren't we talking about native fiber?I have seen the price for HDMI ports but I don't know what a fiber optic port would cost which would be capable of 4 Gbps. I did a quick Google search and for a single 10 Gbps fiber optic Ethernet adaptor the lowest price I could find was about $1700. As such when it comes to high bandwidth fiber optic ports it looks to me like they are very expensive which would explain why even the latest consumer connection standards (such as DisplayPort, SATA 6 Gbps, and USB 3.0) use copper cable.

wow after reading this and just going to get 1.3a cables lol sigh. and i just got into the hd phase.

*cough* I told you *cough*
down with HDMI!

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/intel-light-peak-optical-fiber,8736.html

It would seem M$ at least partially agrees with me. Instead of boring old copper with a crappy connection, here we see they want to move to optical and 10Gb/s (scaling to 100). Hopefully no HDCP and then we're gold!

Stumbled across this Video (https://webmail.si-intl.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=dc7a6d7183424f5a9092269899fe5ce5&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fwatch%3fv%3dgsXmqR3cPqU) of a new locking HDMI 1.4.

I've seen the PPC v1.3 cable before & they are nice, but the new v1.4 look even better with much stonger hold.

Contacted the Manufacturer (https://webmail.si-intl.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=dc7a6d7183424f5a9092269899fe5ce5&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.connect2ppc.com%2f);

600 Series HDMI
· HDMI 1.3 (already built to 1.4 specifications) High Speed Cable
· SecureGrip™ “High Retention” Connector
· Push button release with 12 lbs retention
· Black nickel connector; blue cable with black mesh
· Not in-wall rated
· Available Lengths: 3’, 6’, 12’
· Retail Pricing: $39.99-$69.99
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700 Series HDMI
· HDMI 1.4 High Speed Cable
· PerfectLock™ “Locking” Connector
· Sliding sleeve release with 25 lbs retention
· Gloss black connector; black matte cable
· CL2/FT4 in-wall rated
· Available Lengths: 2’; 4’, 8’, 16’, 25’, 35’, 50’
· Retail Pricing: $49.99-$199.99
· Shipping November

1000 Series HDMI (Cable seen in video you referenced)
· HDMI 1.4 High Speed Cable w/Ethernet Channel
· PerfectLock™ “Locking” Connector
· Sliding sleeve release with 25 lbs retention
· Black nickel connector; dark gray matte cable
· CL2/FT4 in-wall rated
· Available Lengths: 2’; 4’, 8’, 16’, 25’, 35’, 50’
· Retail Pricing: $69.99-$249.99
· Shipping November

Ethernet channel is one of the new requirements for the spec of HDMI 1.4. Basically it allows internet connection as well as A/V signal to pass on the single HDMI cable. Before if you had separate devices that all needed internet/intranet connection (internet TV, Cable Box, Satellite Box, Apple TV, etc.,) you would have to wire all of those devices with a separate Ethernet cable to a router. Now with 1.4 HDMI with Ethernet, all the devices can share the internet/intranet signal from only one source connected with an Ethernet cable. The other devices get the internet/intranet signal through the connected 1.4 HDMI cable with Ethernet.

This Link (http://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/hdmi_1_4/hec.aspx) has a bit more information.