14 DAY TRIAL // Back in December, a certain consortium of companies was formed that claimed to have come up with a new interface standard that would give the HDMI specification a run for its money. Said standard is named HDBaseT and is supposedly capable of delivering a complete experience to any consumer electronics through a single cable. Now, after months of preparations, the first version of that specification has been completed.
The HDBaseT standard not only supports uncompressed Full HD 1080p video, but it can also deliver 2Kx4K content and 3D formats. This much, compared to HDMI, may not seem overly superior, but the real asset of the technology is the means by which video output devices receive the content. In short, the standard delivers the complete set of power, video/audio to Internet and control signal through a single cable. The type of cable is CAT5e/6 LAN and can be up to 100 meters long. Products based on the technology are slated to debut by the end of the year.
"HDBaseT Alliance's creation of a unified specification based on HDBaseT technology will raise the bar as the most technologically advanced, unmatched solution for optimum digital media distribution," said Ariel Sobelman, president and chairman of the HDBaseT Alliance. "HDBaseT technology is poised to become the unrivaled next-generation home networking transport to meet the ever-changing trends in the digital media market."
"Today, there is an abundance of content in the home, including video, images and data. As HDTVs and HDTV service proliferate throughout the world, the amount of content, and the ability to move it around the home, becomes much more complicated," stated Brian O'Rourke, principal analyst, In-Stat. "The next frontier in networking is the ability to control and distribute this content. HDBaseT technology is well-positioned to offer a simple solution throughout the home to meet consumers' needs."