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HDMI 1.5 Wish List

When we bought our first devices that supported HDMI way back in 2006 the hot devices could handle the HDMI 1.1 specification. At that time the big deal was an AV receiver that would take next generation audio formats decoded on Blu-ray players and sent to a receiver that could accept PCM audio via HDMI. HDMI is still the only way to get next generation audio into a receiver.

Since then the HDMI specification has been updated more than five times and presently sits at version 1.4a which was released in March of 2010. We won't go back to the beginning but SOME of the more notable features are:

  • HDMI 1.3
    • Deep Color Support (Optional) By the way, we are still waiting on content to support this.
    • Support for next generation audio output to receivers (Optional)
    • Increased data rate up to 10.2 Gbps
    • Defined mini connectors for portable devices
  • HDMI 1.3a
    • Support for streaming SACD in bitstream DST format rather than uncompressed raw DSD (Optional)
    • Minor improvements
  • HDMI 1.3b/c
    • Define testing for HDMI 1.3a
  • HDMI 1.4
    • Define maximum resolution to 4K x 2K (3840x2160p at 24 Hz/25 Hz/30 Hz and 4096x2160p at 24 Hz
    • Support for Ethernet Channel
    • Audio Return Channel
    • 3D
    • Defined Micro Connector
  • HDMI 1.4a
    • Defined additional 3D formats not covered in version 1.4

At this time we haven't seen the HDMI 1.5 spec and actually wonder is there a need for one. Regardless we thought it would be fun to come up with a list of what we thought would be cool features to include. Ara asked for your ideas on Facebook and Twitter (@HDTVPodcast @BradenRussell). There were some good ideas but mostly people are pretty much fed up with the ever changing spec.

Power This one came up a few times from our listeners. It would make wiring up a system much simpler. Although it may require a redesign in the actual cable. It would take a pretty beefy power supply to handle this though. Our vision would probably see the AVR as the hub for this type of scenario. A satellite or cable box might be able to support an additional device like a TV. It would make wall mounting your flat panel TV a bit easier.

Universal Remote Commands (Jon Christensen via Facebook) It would be nice to be able to send a mute command to the receiver and then have it send it to the Satellite or Cable Box which would then turn on closed captioning. We know you can do this by programming a macro but other than the HT Guys and their listeners who else does this. Or send a DVD, Blu-ray, or TV commend to the receiver and have the system turn on only the devices for that activity. We know this is possible via programming your remote or if you buy equipment from one manufacturer. We'd like to see this as a standard that would work regardless of manufacturer with auto discovery.

Integration with Home Automation (Lee Overstreet via Facebook) This ties in with the Universal Remote Commands. We envision a device that would plug into the HDMI hub or as part of a daisy chain that bridges between your home automation and home theater. Ne need to run RS-232 lines anymore. The benefit to manufacturers is that they don't have to support all the home automation systems any more. Just support one standard and everyone can play!

Download Episode #479