New HDMI standard brings internet to TV

By Dong Ngo on 29 May 2009

A regular HMDI cable
(Credit: Dong Ngo/CBSi)

For a while now, we've been saying all HDMI cables are basically created equal, regardless of price, but that's about to change.

HDMI Licensing, the body responsible for licensing the High-Definition Multimedia Interface specification (widely known as HDMI) announced this week the features that will be incorporated in the upcoming HDMI 1.4 specification.

Among other advancements, the latest HDMI specification will offer networking capabilities with Ethernet connectivity and will add an Audio Return Channel to enable upstream audio connections via the HDMI cable.

According to HDMI Licensing, the detailed HDMI specification 1.4 will be available for download on its website no later than 30 June. For now, you can read more about the new version here.

Personally, we'd be most interested in the networking capability, which is said to cap at 100Mbps; not as fast as gigabit Ethernet but still plenty fast for virtually any IP application.

It's safe to say that in the very near future, you'll be able to conveniently surf the internet, as well as check email and instant messaging with your TV. It also means your entertainment corner will be less cluttered, as this spares you from the need for a separate Ethernet cable, currently a must if you have a set-up that allows for internet access from your TV.

There's a downside, however: the new standard will require a new HDMI cable. Existing HDMI cables, including the Monster Cables that you paid hundreds of dollars for, will not be compatible with the new standard as they are designed to deliver sound and graphics only.

Even if the existing cable could handle the new standard, in many cases you will still need to get a new cable as HDMI 1.4 also comes with a new connector called Micro HDMI, which is about 50 per cent smaller than the current connector. This new connector will be used in portable devices and support resolution up to 1080p.

New devices that support HDMI 1.4 are expected to be available by the end of the year.

Topics: cable, hdmi, internet, tv, new

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Comments (4)

  • darthsanger commented on 10/06/2009 17:02 Report abuse

    hey why wouldnt you just buy the monster MC1000 then you dont have to fork out money for your next HDMI with there cable for life structure. And guess what the next cable you get will be cable for life too.

  • PD commented on 01/06/2009 18:20 Report abuse

    This statement is on the HDMI website so looks like they have changed their minds about compatability .....
    "Backward-Compatibility
    Every HDMI version is backward-compatible with previous versions of the specification. Each revision includes the entire feature set of all previous versions, so you can be assured that any new equipment you buy will always deliver the highest level of quality that your existing equipment supports."

  • nanotek79 commented on 30/05/2009 05:25 Report abuse

    Sounds like another half baked standard to dip into consumers pokets again. This time with smaller and probably more flimsy connectors just waiting to break off and fall out of cheap sockets. I wonder how long it's going to take manufacturers to catch up with each others firmware standards this time. Anyone who has tried to use or install a video scaller / switcher between a source and a display will know all to well how difficult the current HDMI standard is.

  • john commented on 30/05/2009 00:45 Report abuse

    this is wrong. for those of us who forked out up to 4000 bucks for a huge sony lcd just a few months ago, for this new technology to make current tvs slightly redundant seems pretty low. would there be a way to connect these via original hdmi slots then?

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