Changes Included in the New HDMI 1.3 Specification

Perhaps you’ve heard of the new HDMI 1.3 specification. If not, don’t feel too down on yourself. Even though the standard was released June 22, 2006 there haven’t been a whole lot of devices released that uses the new signal until the last 6 months.

Some of the changes include an increase of single-link bandwidth (10.2 Gbit/s), optional support of up to 48-bit deep color (for over a billion colors), automatic audio-video syncing, optional Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio (lossless audio codec) which are used in Blu-ray Discs and HD DVDs (you poor saps), and the availability of the super cool mini connector which will come in handy with HDMI-out camcorders.

With the new signal come new devices, and with new devices come new connectivity solutions. The need of a switch comes when you have a lot of sources and one display. Unfortunately older HDMI switches won’t carry the new HDMI 1.3 signal, but we recommend the EXT-GEFENTV1.3-441 from Gefen. Or, if you are looking for something more for commercial purposes, you might like to take a look at their EXT-HDMI1.3-441.