Imagine virtually any digital video source -regardless of its original resolution- being rendered in full 1920x1080 HDTV. Of course, most any modern display up-converter/scaling system will render images in a 1920x1080 format, but not at full HDTV resolution. Enter an incredible development shortly to be revealed - one that is truly exemplary of disruptive technology - the Ultimate Media Player or UMP, the working name and acronym for this amazing innovation. An interesting consortium of three companies, spearheaded by a large Japanese based electronics powerhouse, developed the UMP. (I am unable to confirm the name of this "prime contractor," but you can guess.) The key to the operation of the UMP is the revolutionary software component, conceived and written for a new Massive Multi-core Process (MMP) chip. The unique aspect of the UMP development process was that chip programming software was written prior to the chip development. This is certainly counterintuitive to any known chip/software production development process used or conceived. In order for this concept to work, the design process was serial in nature, i.e. the Japanese prime contractor wrote the product performance specifications and handed these over to the India based software subcontractor/partner. The software was designed with no existing chip parameters known or specified. The resulting operating specifications and software were then handed off to the American chip design partner to develop the IC structure that accommodates the operating objectives plus the software and performance parameters. In addition, the design approach philosophy was "no-compromise." This means the design could exceed the performance specifications but not compromise them. The only assumption made was that the chip would be a multi-core design (several individual processors per chip), thus the term, MMP - essentially a supercomputer on a chip. One of the most amazing aspects of the UMP project was the accelerated development time cycle; the contract was 95% completed in approximately five years, well ahead of the ten year contractual time-line. The actual product release date, however, remains uncertain, primarily because of a U.S. Government embargo on the IC. Seems the UMP project was unknown to the governments (US, Japan and India) of the three companies involved in the project. The project was completely private! When the United States NSA and DOD (who normally don't talk with each other) finally awakened, they petitioned the State Department to embargo the IC as well as the other project elements, including international intellectual property (patent) documentations. Needless to say, the low-level diplomatic negotiations with the Japanese and Indian governments are not going well, even though the capability of the UMP probably far exceeds that possessed by the intelligence gathering organizations of any of the involved countries. But, the information is gradually leaking. One can't make this stuff up! So, here's what this amazing UMP can do, based on information I have been able to piece together from several independent sources: As presently configured, the UMP accepts only wired or wireless broadband IP protocol data streams, although the ROM includes browser code. All the popular codecs are included as well as firmware to allow future codecs and other operational updates. Very little additional memory is required as all operations are performed in real-time at processing speeds several orders of magnitude above one-trillion calculations per second (1Tp). The MMP IC physical architecture contains twenty-six separate processors working in tandem to analyze each video frame, pixel by pixel, to accurately generate a high definition motion picture. Depending on the efficiency of the player codec used, the accuracy of the system averages 98% with as little as 500 Kb/s of compressed data. Since the UMP algorithms transform the decoded data to the frequency domain, decreases in input signal data and/or data errors translates to a decrease in image accuracy. Continued data rate reduction or errors translates to a decrease in image accuracy until the image gradually disappears into a "blur" as opposed to "blocking" or a complete loss of picture. As the input data rate increases, the accuracy curve actually exceeds 100%, essentially meaning the data delivered to the display system is more accurate than the human eye can perceive - or that any present optical system can resolve - or any display system can reproduce. The audio data are processed in much the same manner as video, producing noise-free, ten channel full spectrum audio with 95% frequency and directional accuracy. These accuracy levels can be achieved with as little as 5Kb/s of encoded audio, depending on the audio codec used. As with video, decreasing signal quality (bit-rate and/or noise errors) results in loss of audible frequency response and channel imaging. The UMP architecture also contains firmware provision for unspecified digital right management (DRM) and interactive user interface (UI) protocols, seemingly similar to the Open Cable Applications Protocol (OCAP) system. However, there are no provisions for data or security cards. The UMP assumes these elements are downloadable and thus upgradeable. No other details of the UI were available. Physical inputs are very simple. In addition to the standard Ethernet connection(s) for hard physical coupling to a router, the UMP includes a built-in power-line data adapter and IEEE 801.11n Wi-Fi wireless capability. Output physical coupling consist of HDMI and digital audio connectors only. ("Wireless" HDMI capability is being considered but not specified.) The unit does include a hard disc DVR system that records program streams. However, the UMP was not designed as a "network server," as system program data are not output to a network. However, hints are the capability of adding network functionality exists via firmware downloads, but the parameters for a network standard are too immature to include in an initial product release. Clearly, the implications of the UMP technology are extraordinarily significant, not only for television specifically but also for information communications technology generally. Essentially, bandwidth becomes a comparatively minor issue in supporting a given amount of accurate communications data at high data rates. It is possible the entire internet protocol paradigm could change significantly as a result of the UMP concept. So, when will we see it? Perhaps sometime within the next two years is possible. But, with the various governments involved, your guess is as good as mine. Maybe by next April 1. Ed April 1, 2007