14 DAY TRIAL // There are a lot of things that need to be said when you're talking about inputs and outputs on PC. Particularly those devices that are VIVO related prove to be a hard bargain especially because you need to learn a lot about them before you can understand what type of connector you need in order to hook up, let's say, a DVD-Player to a plasma TV using only digital interfaces.
HDMI is trying to become popular these days. It's indeed a clever little interface that does everything a DVI does and many more (including audio stream transport at the same time with the video stream). The only problem here is that HDMI interfaces and cables are still high priced due to royalty fees and additional taxes that are a must in case you want to access HDMI documentation.
These problems alone determine a lower growing rate of HDMI enabled interfaces. As a result, HDMI devices are both rare and expensive. But UDI comes to your help here and may probably resolve most of HDMI's problems.
First, it is identical in size and pinout with HDMI but it's a lot cheaper to produce and sell since there are no taxes regarding it. On the downside, it only supports video streams but that is not a problem since all HD lovers will probably use dedicated home cinema amplifiers instead of the integrated speakers found in a HDMI display device.
So it's cheap, it works with HDMI interfaces and the specifications are already out. Several manufacturers such as Samsung, Benq, Apple, and Dell have manifested interest in producing devices that are UDI enabled. Let's just hope that they will switch to UDI connectors since that could bring HDMI enabled devices prices down by a large margin.