HDMI
As loads and loads of new audio visual technologies make their foray into the market, and our cable operators have started throwing words like HDMI and HDCP around, it seems like high time to find answers to questions like what HDMI is and what it stands for.
HDMI, which stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface, is the latest interface for audio visual systems. More simply put, it is a means of transferring data between your TV and other components like your satellite dish and DVD player etc. While you might argue that your analog cables or your new fangled DVI also does that, there are still a lot of things that make HDMI the technology of the future.
For one, HDMI allows for uncompressed digital data transfer, which gives you the best possible quality of picture and sound. Secondly, while its predecessor DVI only carried video signals, HDMI transfers both audio and video signals. Thirdly, HDMI supports HDCP, a copyright protection technology, that will soon become mandatory for playing Blu-Ray and HD-DVDs. Fourthly, HDMI is compatible with DVI, so that means it allows connections to PCs as well. And lastly, while previous interfaces left you with a large number of audio and video cables, a single HDMI cable is able to carry all audio and video signals, thus greatly simplifying a home theater setting up process. This is because of the fact that a single HDMI cable is composed of 19 wires that let it transmit 5 Gigabits of data per second.
The best part is that this is more than double the bandwidth required to transmit current multi channel audio and video. This combined with all other its other features; ensure that HDMI is going to stay for a long time to come. In fact, everybody’s favorite X-Box 360 is fast losing favor because the device does not come with an HDMI interface, and thus it can be used with only a limited number of HDTVs that accept component and VGA analog inputs. According to most sources, the company’s next model of the X-Box 360 should be able to accommodate an HDMI cable.
And if all this is not enough to convince you, then you also ought to know that it has been created by the major players in the consumer electronics industry - Sony, Hitachi, Philips, Matsushita, Silicon Image, Toshiba and Thomson. So even if you want to, you won’t be able to avoid using this technology for long. In case you are considering buying a High Definition TV, do not buy one without HDMI if you want your TV to last you for at least the next five years. Similarly, consider only HDMI DVD players on sale now at most major electronic brand outlets if you are buying a DVD player. You might want to invest in HDMI wall plates, switchers and splitters when setting up a home theater or in case you use multiple TVs or monitors. An HDMI Splitter will let you distribute signals from a set top box or DVD player to multiple HD monitors while an HDMI Switcher allows access to multiple HDMI devices, such as DVD players and Satellite set-top boxes to one HDMI display. You can consider going through the multiple HDMI cable reviews and forums available on line in order to get ideas regarding optimal use of your HDMI connections.
