The next-generation of HDMI interface has been rubber-stamped by the HDMI Licensing consortium. HDMI 1.4 isn't just a small upgrade, either.
With one eye firmly on the digital home there are several significant improvements to the technology, including integrated data connectivity and support for 3D. Here's what you need to know:
1. HDMI 1.4 features an integrated Ethernet channel
The new version of HDMI adds a bi-directional IP data channel to allow devices to send and receive data at full Ethernet speeds (ie up to 100Mbps). This basically eliminates the need for a separate Ethernet cable and enables web-capable devices (with HDMI 1.4 connectors) to share their internet connection with other HDMI gadgets. For example, an HDMI 1.4-equipped amp could act as the internet hub of a home cinema system, sharing its broadband access with a connected TV or set-top box.
2. There's support for dual-stream 1080p 3D
HDMI 1.4 defines several 3D formats for HDMI-enabled devices, including 'frame alternative', 'line alternative' and 'field alternative' methods, 'Side by side' methods (full and half) and '2D plus depth' methods. The new specification is also capable of handling dual-stream 3D resolutions up to 1080p. Having already made an impact on the big screen, 3D TV is arguably the 'next big thing' in home entertainment. Sky has recently announced its intention to launch a 3D channel, while 3D gaming experiments have already been conducted on the PC and PS3.
3. HDMI 1.4 supports "extremely high HD resolutions"
Specifically, HDMI 1.4 provides support for 4K x 2K resolutions, which is effectively four times the pixel-perfection of a current 1080p device. This allows HDMI 1.4 to handle digital video in the same resolution as current digital cinema systems. Formats supported by HDMI 1.4 include: 3840 x 2160 pixels at 24Hz, 25Hz and 30Hz; and 4096 x 2160 pixels at 24Hz.
HIGHER DEF: HDMI 1.4 provides support for 4K resolution TVs. That's 4096 x 2160 pixels at 24Hz
4. There's a new Audio Return Channel...
According to HDMI.org, "in cases where a TV features an internal content source, such as a built-in tuner or DVD player, the Audio Return Channel allows the TV to send audio data upstream to the A/V receiver via the HDMI cable, eliminating the need for an extra cable."
5. … And extended support for color spaces
Specifically, HDMI 1.4 includes support for sYCC601, Adobe RGB, and Adobe YCC601 to enable colours to be more accurately reproduced when viewing digital photos on your digital telly.
Your comments (13) Click to add a new comment
alex11214
Monday at 05:24 UTC
13. You guys should really try this item, just found it on amazon, and it is the HDMI 1.4. i couldn't believe the price, but i ordered it, works great.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006YW3DI4
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thubleau
April 4th 2011
12. Ok so tell me, I have a amp/receiver it has 1.4 HDMI connections.I have a Sony 3D 55inch TV with 1.4 HDMI conections.
I use a 1.3 HDMI cable to connect,because that is what I have.
I have a Sony Blue ray player connected to the amps 1.4HDMI connector with a 1.3 HDMI from the blueray player.
Can someone tell me why I would need a 3D Blueray player to play a 3D movie ?
i think it is a load of rubbish, the 3D movie will play just fine on the Blueray player connected to a HDMI 1.3 cable,connected to the amp connected to the set.
Can someone get to the bottom of what the 1.4 ACTUALLY does ????
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jondotcom
August 19th 2010
11. I know it's a bit late, but it seems like a lot of effort just to try and give some trash talk - do you join up on gay chat sites to give **** to gays? It would be hard to explain to your peers, lol. Feelin lownely? Get your first lot of internet and cant find the porn? That's where a nerd is good - he gets all the porn first, then it dribbles down to the normies. Oh but hang on what about a girlfriend? For starters you don't find em reading about HDMI do you? Yes, well Duh! (i am sure we all agree on that). You are lucky that we even respond - go and comment on an Iphone or something commercial like that. Oh yeah, some people work with this stuff - as well as being mega nerds they can be mega rich, go back to your Trailer park (dont stop at your 1st cousins for a bj and some crack) get on the net and respond to this.
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panther
January 6th 2010
10. this is interesting as i just purchased a New 40" Samsung LED TV and the salesman said this TV would not work on the HDMI1.3 and required 1.4. It wasent an upsell, the cable was a 'gift' and normally 380HK$ ($50US). It simply did not work at all with 1080p signal on a 1.3 cable!
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skinjob
September 29th 2009
9. haha that shut him up
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lovlid
August 21st 2009
8. @ alanlowney.
YOU don't know anything about jmace86, yet you assume he's sad, a nerd and in need of a girlfriend. Bit hypocritical maybe?
You clicked on the article to see how sad people like us could be, yet you were the first to comment. Now thats sad. Maybe your lonely and in need of a conversation.
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alanlowney
August 21st 2009
7. 1st to comment? since when did 1st or last to comment make a difference? And you don't know the first thing about me. I'll leave you to your small little world of hdmi configuration settings. enjoy!
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mbb
August 21st 2009
6. But you were the first to comment, alanlowley. There were no other sad people. Just you.
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alanlowney
August 21st 2009
5. jmace, no I didn't want to know anything about hdmi yada yada. i clicked on it to see how sad people like you could be. it seems to me that you're "into" this kind of thing - a true nerd who feels the need to know the specifics of a new standard. I'll bet you have an awesome home cinema setup and have read all the manuals. maybe get a life...and a girlfriend.
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rif
August 19th 2009
4. Good intro article, looking forward to check for HDMI 1.4 at IFA in Berlin.
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m185874
August 18th 2009
3. Guys, you've been trolled by the ****.
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jmace86
August 18th 2009
2. Alanlowney, If you did not wish to know about HDMI 1.4 then why, exactly, would you click on an article that has the express purpose of informing you about HDMI 1.4?
Did you really just do it so that you could leave your pointless, little comment?!
If so, then I would suggest that it is you who should look into getting a life, rather than the article's author.
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alanlowney
August 18th 2009
1. 10 things I need to know about hdmi 1.4?
I don't remember needing to know a single thing about hdmi in the first place. get a life.
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