What is new in the HDMI 1.3 specifications?

With the new HDMI 1.3 specifications out, HDMI technology is updated to the newest standards available. It is important to understand what these newer specifications are and just how HDMI technology has advanced since it was first introduced. HDMI has gone through a few specification changes since this technology has become available. This ensures that HDMI includes the latest advancements in relative technology.

One of the areas where HDMI technology is being continuously upgraded is speed. HDMI 1.3 has increased band-width to 10.2 Gigabits per second, or 340 MHz. This allows support not only for all current HDMI formats, but also support for any future demands of High Definition display units, like Deep Color advancements and higher screen resolution. HDMI 1.3 also has a technical foundation that has been built into the specification, and this foundation will allow for even more speed advancements in the future.

Another new specification for HDMI 1.3 is Deep Color. All the earlier versions of HDMI supported 24 bit color. This newest version of HDMI supports 30 bit, 36 bit, and 48 bit color depth. This gives the display a rendering that is stunning, using over a billion colors for detail that is unprecedented.

Broader color space is another additional specification for HDMI. Support is added for the “xvYCC” color standard. This removes any current limitations on color space, and allows for the display of any color that the human eye can view. This enables more color variations and a richer picture quality.

Another new addition to HDMI 1.3 is a mini connector. With smaller versions of products that are intended to be portable, but yet still need a seamless connectivity with current High Definition television, such as still cameras and High Definition camcorders, a new connector option is available that has a smaller form factor.

Current consumer electronic products use increasingly complex digital signal processing. This is used to enhance the content detail and clarity. Audio synching is a capability that allows a device to perform the synchronization of audio and video signals, because of the challenge that is presented synchronizing the video and audio signal. Without audio synching the result could be the end-user having to make complex adjustments. HDMI 1.3 has incorporated audio synching capabilities that will allow a device to do this synchronization with complete accuracy, automatically.

Another new specification in HDMI 1.3 is the specification for the new High Definition lossless audio formats. HDMI has had the ability to support the high-bandwidth uncompressed digital audio all along, plus HDMI supports all compressed formats that are currently available. With HDMI 1.3 there is now extra support for the new lossless compressed digital audio formats like DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD.

The Sony Playstation 3 is the first product that has HDMI 1.3 and is available to consumers on the market. Also released for the consumer market and containing HDMI 1.3 is a display that supports 30 bit color. This display is manufactured by Epson.

On November 10, 2006 HDMI 1.3a was released. This version has additional specifications that go beyond HDMI 1.3. There are modifications for Type C cable and sink included in HDMI 1.3a.

Also included in HDMI 1.3a is a recommendation for source termination. The newest specifications also remove the undershoot and maximum time limits for rise/fall.

Another change in HDMI 1.3a is the limit for CEC capacitance. The new HDMI 1.3a also has an altered form of CEC commands for timer control that has been brought back in. Another new thing in HDMI 1.3a is clarification of the range for RGB video quantization.

Something else that is new in HDMI 1.3 is the definition of two cable categories. Category 1 cable is standard or High Definition television cable. Category 2 cable is high speed or greater than High Definition television cable. The definitions of cables that are set are intended to reduce and eliminate any confusion to consumers about which cable supports which format.

New consumer products will be on the market as early as November of 2006. This first product will be the Sony Playstation 3. High Definition DVD players that are supported by HDMI 1.3 will be available in early 2007. A/V Receivers that can decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio will be available for purchase by consumers in early 2007 as well. A better guide to selecting HDMI products is to choose which format you are looking for and then find products that are compatible with that format, whether it is version 1.0 or version 1.3a.