HDMI Licensing, LLC has announced new features that will be included in the upcoming specs for HDMI v1.4, some of which directly relate to Blu-ray playback. One of the biggest additions is an Ethernet channel that will allow two-way Ethernet communication at speeds up to 100Mb/s over an HDMI connection.
As more and more home theater devices require Ethernet connections, the necessity to run CAT-5 Ethernet cable in addition to the already existing audio and video cables has increased. Now, consumers will be able to run one CAT-5 cable to their controlling devices (such as a HDMI v1.4 compatible AV Receiver), and then a single HDMI cable to their numerous HDMI v1.4 compatible components - such as a BD-Live Blu-ray player, DVR, or HDTV.
Another additional feature is support for two simultaneous 1080p streams for use in displaying 3D images. While no 3D Blu-ray spec has been approved at this time, the resulting spec will likely include the necessity for two 1080p video streams, and HDMI v1.4 will support it.
Some other new features include:
- Audio Return Channel
- 4K x 2K Resolution Support
- Expanded Support For Color Spaces
- Micro HDMI Connector
- Automotive Connection System
Once the spec has been released, consumers can expect five types of HDMI cables:
- Standard HDMI Cable – supports data rates up to 1080i/60;
- High Speed HDMI Cable – supports data rates beyond 1080p, including Deep Color and all 3D formats of the new 1.4 specification;
- Standard HDMI Cable with Ethernet – includes Ethernet connectivity;
- High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet – includes Ethernet connectivity;
- Automotive HDMI Cable – allows the connection of external HDMI-enabled devices to an in-vehicle HDMI device
The specs are set to be released no later than June 30th, with supporting hardware expected early next year (HDMI v1.4 will be
the hot item at CES 2010).