Just when you thought you had a handle on HDMI 1.3, along comes a new sub-class of HDMI switches supporting (are you ready for it?) HDMI 1.3a Category 2, otherwise known as HDMI 1.3 High-Speed. Learn it, live it. Accell's UltraAV 2-port switch supports a 1440p (2560 x 1440) resolution and 10.2Gbps (340MHz) high-speed data transfer without the need of an external power supply. Sure, there aren't any 1440p sets out there yet, but
they're coming, as are those
2160p Quad HD monsters. Sorry, no launch date specifics. We only know that it'll cost $99 and receive a proper unveiling in early September at the CEDIA Expo. Of course, you'll still have to find content and a source to pump that superior resolution but this is all about "future proofing" which often has little to do with rational thinking.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
G @ Aug 16th 2007 8:36AM
Engadget!
Sure, there aren't any 1440p sets out *their* yet
Shouldn't that read:
Sure, there aren't any 1440p sets out *there* yet
Proofread, come on!
G
Eric @ Aug 16th 2007 8:58AM
Maximum line resolution for 20/20 vision is 1/60th of a degree, and a 30 degree field of view is about as close as you should get to a TV without having to move your head around to see different parts of the screen.
So the maximum resolution we should be able to notice a quality difference with is (30*60*2, 1 pixel for line 1 pixel for blank space between the lines =) 3600.
So hopefully Quad HD is the end of the line, and we will eventually standardize on it, with all TV channels and DVDs being in a single format. I hate the multiple formats we have now.
mattclarkie @ Aug 16th 2007 9:28AM
I was just thinking about picking up one of Sony's new 1080p when they launch around October. Are you telling me that 1080p is already out of date. I'll just have to wait until 2160PP.
Pete @ Aug 16th 2007 9:45AM
I actually think its pretty groovy. It handles all the HDMI I have now, and it does it in a smaller package, with no power requirement and for less money than most of the current models out there. This is one case where future-proofing actually makes sense. $99 is not a bad price at all for that.
Jonathan A @ Aug 16th 2007 11:20AM
If you're like a lot of people and don't need anything higher than HDMI 1.2. Accell already has a great switch for $99. It's small and compact, not to mention a lot more afordable than a lot of options out there. I've used it in a lot of situations and it works great. You can check it out here:
http://sewelldirect.com/Accell-UltraAV-HDMI-Switch-with-remote-2-port.asp
Slvrgun @ Aug 16th 2007 12:58PM
Would be nice if USB got replaced by HDMI. Lots of bandwidth!
LikesGadgetsWillTravel @ Aug 16th 2007 1:30PM
I'm sure some "early adopters" (read: idiots with more money than brains) will buy these. Personally, I think I'd wait to order until at least the pictures of the products aren't photoshopped.
James @ Aug 16th 2007 3:12PM
http://www.buy.com/prod/playstation-3-hdmi-tri-link-switcher/q/loc/108/204972580.html
Hrmm, for the same price, I could buy 3 of these and have 7 ((3*3) - 2) inputs multiplexed through! Good thing HDMI 1.3 doesn't really do anything for 99% of the population...