(High-Definition Multimedia Interface) A digital interface for both audio and video signals designed as a small-socket, single-cable solution for home theater and consumer electronics equipment. Introduced in 2002, HDMI is electrically identical to DVI, which is video only, and an HDMI source can detect a DVI device on the other end and switch to the DVI protocol. In the photo below, the 19-pin HDMI plug (left) is much smaller than the 19-pin DVI video-only plug, yet HDMI also supports up to eight channels of 24-bit uncompressed audio at 192kHz.
HDMI/DVI Compatibility
HDMI is backward compatible with DVI, and adapter cables let video transfer between HDMI and DVI devices. For example, a computer may have DVI output, and a DVI-to-HDMI cable lets it hook the video up to a monitor with HDMI input.
On a cable TV set-top box, the digital video output may be DVI. In this case, a DVI-to-HDMI cable connects the video to the TV, and the audio is cabled separately as in the example below.
This TV Has Only HDMI In
The HDMI socket on this TV is labeled HDMI/DVI because it accepts both. If the cable box has HDMI out, then only the HDMI socket is used. If the cable box has DVI, then a DVI-to-HDMI cable connects the video, and the audio must be wired separately from the analog audio outputs of the box to the audio inputs here.
HDMI 1.3
Introduced in 2006, HDMI Version 1.3 supports 2560x1440 HDTV resolution, "deep color" 48-bit pixels and high-definition audio for Blu-ray players. HDMI also has enhanced protocols that support audio and auxiliary data packets.
HDMI 1.3 uses HDMI Category 1 cables for 720p and 1080i TVs. For 1080p and above, HDMI Category 2 cables are required. For more information, visit HDMI Licensing, LLC (www.hdmi.org). See HDTV, HDMI switch, HDMI CEC, DVI, HDCP, Blu-ray and UDI.
An HDMI Switch
HDMI switches allow several HDMI sources to plug into TVs that have only one HDMI input. This 3X1 (3 in - 1 out) unit from Octava switches between three inputs. See HDMI switch. (Image courtesy of Octava Inc., www.octavainc.com)
HDMI/DVI Compatibility
HDMI is backward compatible with DVI, and adapter cables let video transfer between HDMI and DVI devices. For example, a computer may have DVI output, and a DVI-to-HDMI cable lets it hook the video up to a monitor with HDMI input.
On a cable TV set-top box, the digital video output may be DVI. In this case, a DVI-to-HDMI cable connects the video to the TV, and the audio is cabled separately as in the example below.
This TV Has Only HDMI In
The HDMI socket on this TV is labeled HDMI/DVI because it accepts both. If the cable box has HDMI out, then only the HDMI socket is used. If the cable box has DVI, then a DVI-to-HDMI cable connects the video, and the audio must be wired separately from the analog audio outputs of the box to the audio inputs here.
HDMI 1.3
Introduced in 2006, HDMI Version 1.3 supports 2560x1440 HDTV resolution, "deep color" 48-bit pixels and high-definition audio for Blu-ray players. HDMI also has enhanced protocols that support audio and auxiliary data packets.
HDMI 1.3 uses HDMI Category 1 cables for 720p and 1080i TVs. For 1080p and above, HDMI Category 2 cables are required. For more information, visit HDMI Licensing, LLC (www.hdmi.org). See HDTV, HDMI switch, HDMI CEC, DVI, HDCP, Blu-ray and UDI.
HDMI Year
Version Intro. Features
1.0 2002 4.95 Gbps bandwidth; 165MHz
165 megapixels/sec (24-bit)
1.1 DVD-Audio
1.2 SACD audio
1.3 2006 10.2 Gbps bandwidth; 340MHz
340 megapixels/sec (48-bit)
2560x1440 video
TrueHD and DTS-HD audio
1.3a Technical improvements
1.3b Stricter compliance with spec
An HDMI Switch
HDMI switches allow several HDMI sources to plug into TVs that have only one HDMI input. This 3X1 (3 in - 1 out) unit from Octava switches between three inputs. See HDMI switch. (Image courtesy of Octava Inc., www.octavainc.com)
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Vizio announces Black Friday deals on its LCD HDTVs, Blu-ray player
- You may have noticed that Vizio hasn't been prominent in the Black Friday ads leaked online from Best Buy, Target, or Wal-Mart (save for a 26-inch LCD HDTV early special through Wal-Mart). But that doesn't mean the company, which has remained the number-one shipper of HDTVs in the U.S. for...
- Blog posts 2009-11-19
- Apple Tablet - Unofficial, unannounced ... but still delayed
- You guys have been asking...You guys have been asking for a Mac tablet for years already, while we have been able to get tablet PCs for many years now, in many different form factors and from many different vendors.Yet when you close your world off by relying solely on Apple,...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- More leaks on upcoming Lenovo ThinkPad X100e
- Hmmm no HDMI?Seems like another waste of space netbook without simple add-ons like HDMI and native bluetooth.RE: More leaks on upcoming Lenovo ThinkPad X100eYAA, IT IS GOOD TO USSE THE LAPTOP.
- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- Apple iMac (21.5-inch, 3.06Hz Intel Core 2 Duo, Nvidia GeForce 9400M, Fall 2009)
- We awarded Apple an Editors' Choice for its new $1,699 iMac, largely because its 27-inch screen dwarfs its competition in that price range. So what to make of Apple's new lower-end iMac? At $1,199, its 21.5-inch screen is hardly the size leader for its price, and without a touch screen...
- Product reviews 2009-11-17
- Zvox Z-Base 575
- Photo gallery:Zvox Z-Base 575Sound bars feel like they've been around forever now, but they're still a relatively new product; consider that the groundbreaking Yamaha YSP-1 debuted back at CES 2005. Since then, the exterior design of the units hasn't changed much, with the vast majority still consisting of a long...
- Product reviews 2009-11-16
- Toshiba Satellite E105-S1802
- Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores.Toshiba's latest Blue Label laptop from Best Buy, the Satellite E105-S1802, is an exact replica of the company's earlier Satellite E105-S1602 model with one...
- Product reviews 2009-11-16
- Vizio VO320E
- Photo gallery: Vizio VO320EVizio chose to adorn its VO320E 32-inch LCD with claims of environmental consciousness, saying the little set exceeds Energy Star guidelines by 15 percent. But that's not a very high standard, and according to our tests the Vizio, while definitely no power hog, sips just...
- Product reviews 2009-11-16
- Toshiba 32AV502U
- Photo gallery: Toshiba AV502U seriesWhen we say the Toshiba AV502U series can produce relatively deep black levels, the key word is "relatively." It's perhaps more accurate to say that its shade of black outdoes most other less-expensive, lower resolution small-screened LCDs we've seen by a narrow margin. It...
- Product reviews 2009-11-16
- Dell's answer to Apple's Mac mini - The Inspiron Zino HD
- People Actually Buy These Things?Almost a $1000.00 for a cutsey, low powered designer computer? Do people actually buy these things? Maybe they should check out your Very Best Kit list.adrian please 959$ you dont put 959 for a low-end entry level machine you can have...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-16
- Alienware M15x (Intel Core i7 720QM, 250GB HDD, 3GB)
- Keeping the same revised look and feel as the recent 17-inch M17x version, the Alienware M15x is an imposing black slab of computing power that's thicker and heavier than most 17-inch laptops. We love having high-end options such as Intel's uberpowerful Core i7-920XM CPU, and it's a plus that...
- Product reviews 2009-11-13
- Gateway NV7802u
- Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores.Gateway continues to offer some of the best bang-for-your-buck retail laptops. The NV7802u is a fine example: It's a 17-inch wide-screen model with a...
- Product reviews 2009-11-13
- Sony Vaio L117FX (Core 2 Quad Q8400s 2.66GHz, 6GB RAM, 1TB HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium)
- Had Apple not introduced a 27-inch iMac for $1,699, we'd have fewer reservations about Sony asking $1,999 for its new 24-inch Vaio L117FX. Yes, HP's TouchSmart 600 expanded on some of Sony's innovations from its previous generation all-in-ones. Sony also doesn't even attempt to match HP's creative multitouch software. But...
- Product reviews 2009-11-13
- Canon PowerShot S90
- The Canon PowerShot S90 is designed for photography enthusiasts and it carries a hefty price tag to prove it. It also has some of the best controls you'll find on a compact camera for manual and semimanual shooting modes. Its lens and photo quality are top notch, too. Actually, about...
- Product reviews 2009-11-12
- Dell UltraSharp U2410
- About $600 for the Dell UltraSharp U2410 gets you a 24-inch, H-IPS monitor with great performance in games and movies, a host of connection options and ergonomic features, and a robust OSD. Unfortunately, its RGB presets are marred by dithering when viewing dark gray images and the screen has a...
- Product reviews 2009-11-12
- Asus UL50AG-RBBBK05
- Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores. This year has undoubtedly been defined, if not by Netbooks, then by the growth of affordable thin laptops that shave size--and even...
- Product reviews 2009-11-11
- Target Black Friday HDTV deal: Westinghouse 32-inch LCD for $246
- More Black Friday deals are trickling onto the Web, and while we still don't have info on Best Buy's yet, Target's have leaked, and include a very enticing HDTV deal. You'll be able (if you're an early bird) to snare a Westinghouse 32-inch LCD for just $246. ...
- Blog posts 2009-11-11
- Nokia Booklet 3G (black)
- Mobile phone maker Nokia is jumping into the Netbook pool with its recently announced Booklet 3G laptop, offering a premium-feeling system for a rock-bottom price, as long as you agree to a two-year AT&T mobile data contract. The Booklet 3G is easily one of the most upscale-looking Netbooks we've...
- Product reviews 2009-11-10
- Dell Inspiron i1545-4374PBU
- Editors' note: This review is part of our holiday 2009 retail desktop and laptop review roundup, covering specific fixed configurations of popular systems that can be found in retail stores. There's something to be said for simplicity. The Dell Inspiron i1545-4374PBU might not look like much and its limited supply...
- Product reviews 2009-11-07
- WD TV Live HD Media Player
- The first few rounds of network media streamers we tested weren't necessarily recommendable. Sure, this was partially because most of these devices depend on Windows Media Center for connectivity and content, but we also had issues with their interfaces and performance.Fast forward a year and it's safe to say that...
- Product reviews 2009-11-07
- Dell Inspiron i545s-1476N
- The $480 Inspiron 545s-1476 is the third Dell desktop we've reviewed with the company's current slim tower chassis, and we can't say our opinion has changed since the last time we saw it. We're still satisfied with its design, but we remain disappointed with the features Dell seems to have...
- Product reviews 2009-11-06
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- New Online Dashboard for IT Leaders
-
Read about top issues IT decision-makers face every day, plus get cost-effective solutions to real-life IT problems.
- Learn more >>
- The best support in the Linux business
-
If Linux is going to power your mission-critical applications, you'd better have the best support known to business. Novell was rated the top provider of Linux technical support.
- Learn more >>
- The best support in the Linux business
-
If Linux is going to power your mission-critical applications, you'd better have the best support known to business. Novell was rated the top provider of Linux technical support.
- Learn more >>
- The more you simplify, the more you save
-
When you transition from your existing Red Hat environment to SUSE Linux Enterprise from Novell, you can recognize dramatic cost savings, perhaps as much 50%
- Learn more >>
SmartPlanet
- Thought-provoking progressive ideas on diverse topics that intersect with technology, business, and life, and matter to the world at large. Visit SmartPlanet
- More from IBM
-
- Can your business work smarter? Learn more about Lotus Symphony
- Learn how to work smarter and optimize cost using the IBM Smart SOA approach Download the eBook
- Smarter ways to make smarter products Read the brief from IBM
