What You Should Know Before Taking a Step Too Far, Too Soon
by ADMIN on April 11, 2014 in WHAT'S NEW
The HDMI Forum's announcement last September of version 2.0 has left consumers (and Pro-AV veterans alike) wondering what's next for them in A/V technology. What is HDMI 2.0? How will it handle current video content and devices? And how long until they become obsolete?
Tossed together at almost the same time as the new HDMI standard, was the rollout of 4K/Ultra-HD televisions and displays. Though there are over two dozen Ultra HD/4K displays available on the market, there are only a select few TVs and projectors that are fully compatible with HDMI 2.0.
For system designs that are now in the works, this leaves us questioning - do Ultra-HD display manufacturers have a planned path for HDMI 2.0 upgradeability? A display with an HDMI 1.4 connection simply cannot support the future's high-bandwidth resolutions and frame rates. To remedy this issue, some companies are claiming they'll be able to provide a firmware upgrade to bring 1.4 products in the field up to 2.0. However, there is still much to prove and many factors to consider.
HDMI 2.0 has amazing potential, and the specs undoubtedly promise a new wave of technological advancements. The catch? There are very few devices on the market that support it. What good are the flashing lights of tomorrow-land when there is no way to get there?
What is HDMI 2.0?
According to the HDMI Forum, HDMI 2.0, which is backwards compatible with earlier versions of the HDMI specifications, significantly increases bandwidth up to 18Gbps and adds key enhancements to support continuing market requirements for enhancing the consumer video and audio experience.
HDMI Specification Comparison
HDMI Version
1.0
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
2.0
Date Initially Released
12/9/02
5/20/04
8/22/05
6/22/06
6/5/09
9/4/13
Maximum Resolution
1600x1200
p60
1600x1200
p60
1600x1200
p60
