The HDMI Ethernet Channel feature will require a new cable that supports this functionality, either a Standard HDMI Cable with Ethernet or a High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet, depending on the maximum resolution to be supported. The Automotive Connection System will also employ a new class of cable, the Standard Automotive HDMI cable, which is designed specifically for automotive use.
What will I be able to do with an HDMI Ethernet Channel -enabled device?
The HDMI Ethernet Channel enables a number of new possibilities via the HDMI link, including:
- Sharing an internet connection – The HDMI Ethernet Channel feature allows your internet-ready entertainment devices, from gaming consoles to Blu-ray Disc players and more, to share an internet connection without any need for a separate Ethernet cable.
- Content distribution – Devices connected by the HDMI Ethernet Channel will be able to exchange digital content in its native format, enabling recording, storage, and playback options across a connected system, with no need for a separate Ethernet cable.
- Home entertainment networking – The HDMI Ethernet Channel accommodates current and future IP-based networking solutions for consumer electronics, such as UPnP, LiquidHD, and DLNA. HDMI with Ethernet is the ideal one-cable solution for connecting devices in these advanced home-networking environments.
What network protocols are supported over the HDMI Ethernet Channel?
The HDMI Ethernet Channel feature supports any networking protocol that can run over an existing Ethernet connection, including TCP/IP, UPnP, DLNA, LiquidHD, and so forth.
What is the maximum available bandwidth of the HDMI Ethernet Channel?
Up to 100 Mb/sec of bi-directional (full-duplex) bandwidth is available over the HDMI Ethernet Channel.
Will devices connected via the HDMI Ethernet Channel be able to share an Internet connection?
Yes. Provided there is a routing device somewhere in the network – either a stand-alone router or a device with integral router functionality – the HDMI Ethernet Channel will enable linked devices to share an Internet connection.
Will content distribution and recording be possible in a system connected via the HDMI Ethernet Channel?
Yes. The HDMI Ethernet Channel allows connected devices to share digital content in its native format. For instance, if it is protected by HDCP encryption, it will stay in its encrypted format, and can only be accessed if all the devices in the system are HDCP-compliant. Unprotected content, such as digital HD broadcast programming or user-generated HD video, will of course be free of any content protection.
Will I need a new cable to support HDMI Ethernet Channel functionality?
Yes. The HDMI Ethernet Channel feature will require a new type of cable, either a Standard HDMI Cable with Ethernet or a High-Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet, depending on the maximum resolution to be supported.
Audio Return Channel
What will I be able to do with an Audio Return Channel -enabled device?
If your HDTV has a built-in tuner, DVD player, or other digital content source, the Audio Return Channel allows the TV to send audio data “upstream” to your A/V receiver, eliminating the need for a separate audio cable in this type of configuration. Audio Return Channel-enabled TVs can either send or receive audio via the HDMI link, giving you greater flexibility in how you set up your home theater equipment and making a separate upstream audio link unnecessary.
Which audio formats are supported over the Audio Return Channel?
The Audio Return Channel supports all the same audio formats that can be sent through a traditional S/PDIF audio connection, including Dolby Digital, DTS, and PCM audio.
Is the HDMI LipSync feature compatible with the Audio Return Channel?
Yes. Whether the TV is sending audio to the sound system or vice-versa, devices featuring LipSync functionality (introduced in HDMI 1.3) will be able to track and correct for any processor lags, and adjust the delivery of audio and video so that the two signals stay in sync.
Will I need a new cable to support Audio Return Channel functionality?
No. Audio Return Channel -enabled devices can be connected via the existing categories of HDMI cables.
3D
Which 3D video formats are in HDMI?
The specification includes information on a wide range of 3D display formats at up to 1080p resolution, including:
- field alternative
- frame alternative
- line alternative
- side-by-side half
- side-by-side full
- L + depth
- L + depth + graphics + graphics depth
What kind of cable will I need to use for 3D?
3D video requires substantial data throughput, so you’ll want to use a High Speed HDMI cable (with or without Ethernet).
Are there any 3D displays available today? What about 3D content?
A number of displays on the market are already 3D capable, including many DLP models. Likewise, there are already some content sources, such as gaming consoles that are 3D-capable. The 3D support introduced in HDMI 1.4 fills an important role by providing an input/output connection that can handle 3D content, and this could help launch consumer 3D video into the mainstream.
Support for 4K format
What does 4K refer to?
4K is a term used to describe displays with resolutions that are essentially four times that of a 1080p device – or roughly 4,000 lines wide by 2,000 lines high. The HDMI specification supports multiple 4K formats:
- 3840 pixels wide by 2160 pixels high @ 24Hz | 25Hz | 30Hz
- 4096 pixels wide by 2160 pixels high @ 24Hz
What kind of cable will I need to use for a 4K display?
A High Speed HDMI Cable (with or without Ethernet).
Are there any 4K displays available today? What about 4K content?
The first 4K displays were showcased at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show. They became more widely available by the end of 2009, and we've seen 4K source devices, such as up-scaling Blu-ray Disc players, introduced.
Support for sYCC601, Adobe®RGB, and Adobe®YCC601
What do these color spaces refer to?
These are color formats used in many digital still cameras, providing an extended range of available colors that is wider than what’s available in the traditional RGB color model. By providing native support for these color spaces, HDMI enables HDTV manufacturers to deliver better and more accurate color to users when they view their digital photos.
What exactly is a color space?
A color space, also known as a color gamut or color model, defines the total palette of colors available to the display. The traditional RGB color space, developed in the days of analog broadcast TV, delivers a relatively limited subset of what the human eye can actually perceive. Extended color spaces like sYCC601, Adobe® RGB, and Adobe® YCC601 define a broader palette of colors that is closer to the full visible spectrum.
Does this require a new cable?
No. Support for these extended color spaces is compatible with the existing categories of HDMI cables.
What are the new cables that have been introduced?
HDMI Ethernet Channel functionality adds a new data channel, so new cables are required to support Ethernet connectivity. These two new cable types are Standard HDMI with Ethernet and High Speed HDMI with Ethernet, with the former supporting resolutions up to 1080i/720p, and the latter built for resolutions of 1080p or higher. Both cable types support a full-duplex 100 Mb/sec Ethernet connection.