High Definition Multimedia Interface or HDMI, is a fancy digital cord for passing video and audio data with a single cable from a player to other components in an entertainment system. Basically, it is the successor to the DVI or Digital Video Interface cable that is more widely used at this point to pass digital video to a monitor and avoid analog to digital conversion. This equals a better picture in most cases.
With HDMI, you can also perform a nifty handshake with your components like a monitor that is HDCP compliant, (High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection), a sophisticated form of Digital Rights Management, (DRM) in order to give permission granted to display your content in all it's high def glory. But, just as we are beginning to grasp all these acronyms, HDMI is being upgraded. Rats!
But, don't dismay, if you have yet to purchase any of this newer equipment, then
you are going to like this upgrade and will be smug in your decision to
wait.
According to a report over at IGN, the spec has been finalized. Among other things, once we obtain a device that supports it, we can begin to a enjoy greater depth of color and vastly superior sound, due to a tremendous increase in bandwidth and sophisticated audio codecs, not to mention a new "mini-plug". Another benefit is the 1.3 HDMI chip can "lip sync", automatically matching the sound to the video. Here is some extra info that can be read from an interview with Sony's Ken Kutaragi over at IGN, that tells us how the PS3 will benefit from this new spec!
| PS3 Support The new 1.3 spec HDMI standard will be incorporated in the PlayStation 3. Ken Kutaragi, president and group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, applauded the 1.3 spec finalization, saying "PlayStation3 will be the most advanced computer platform for enjoying a wide range of entertainment content, including the latest games and HD movies, in the home. By introducing the next-generation HDMI 1.3 technology, with its high speed and deep color capabilities, PS3 will push the boundaries of audiovisual quality to the next level of more natural and smoother expression on the latest large flat panel displays." Assuming game developers choose to take advantage of 36- and 48-Bit color, the ability to output such a broader color spectrum could give the PS3 a solid technologic advantage over the Xbox 360, which will not be able to transmit such signals over component cables. If the promised, but still not officially announced, Xbox 360 DVI wire comes out, it too will not have the bandwidth to carry the high-Bit color that HDMI 1.3 supports. |
This PS3 is starting to shape up to be one heck of a Blu-ray value! This box will be quite future proof as it may be some time before you could even lay hands on a display that can handle the output of this gaming platform! Couple that, with a game subsidized machine that is probably going to list for much less than a standalone Blu-ray player and you have to consider this rig on our short list if you are thinking of going with a blue laser device this year.
Source: IGN
