WirelessHD version 1.0 is complete

WirelessHD (WiHD) is back, originally announced in late 2006, the 1.0 spec has been pronounced fit for consumption and will be released later this year. What's changed in the last 14 months? HD dream team Intel, LG, Matsushita (Panasonic), NEC, Samsung, SiBEAM, Sony and Toshiba have added 40 other companies as well as approval from DRM watchdogs MPAA and DTLA for their 60Ghz-based standard. Move over cable vs. satellite, downloads vs. disc and HD DVD vs. Blu-ray, with UWB-equipped HDTVs already on the way, a battle to replace the still-tricky HDMI connection is the new HD battleground for 2008.

[Z @ Jan 3rd 2008 1:46AM]

Wow. This is going to get interesting.

Cut more wires. Cut 'em all!

[pquistgard @ Jan 3rd 2008 11:14AM]

YEs. I hate wires! You trip over them, they look ugly and they take up unnecessary space. And that's including power cords.

Down with wires!

[Ahmed Alzayani @ Jan 3rd 2008 1:53AM]

Companies Master Plan: confuse the consumer, introduced all these useless DRM (that will be broken eventually) …. The future of HD as I see it …. Is pirated medias (HD DVD,Bluray don’t matter) and huge torrent downloads.

[John @ Jan 3rd 2008 1:59AM]

Fuck the DRM. We already have the disk encryption cracked, why make things any more difficult for TV and peripheral manufacturers than necessary.

[Dan @ Jan 3rd 2008 3:03AM]

In other news: Monster Cable profits drop 70% in 2008.

[pquistgard @ Jan 3rd 2008 11:15AM]

They could rebrand as Monster Wireless, or Monster Connect or something

[L.Rawlins @ Jan 3rd 2008 3:16AM]

Wireless for the win! Are you listening mythical 'Xbox Ultimate' development team?

Wi-Fi > HD-DVD

Oh, and please have the foresight to allow adaptation of the firmware over LIVE for 802.11N. Thank you and goodnight.

[DWells55 @ Jan 3rd 2008 4:30AM]

I really don't see any need for this. Wired devices, for me at least, have always proven more reliable than their wireless counterparts. HDMI works fine and it's probably much easier for the average consumer to plug in both ends of an HDMI cable than it is to do wireless anything. If this ever goes anywhere, it's going to be limited to high-end devices and be responsible for even higher prices.

[podphreak @ Jan 4th 2008 2:55PM]

those higher prices are generally paid by the people who have more money than patience for the rat's nest. For example, my brother recently bought a 70" Pioneer Elite Plasma as well as some insanely priced HDMI receiver all so he could deal with only HDMI cables. 2 cables per device is the best we can do right now. The next step is one cable, and the final one is reliable wireless data transmission and wireless induction power possibly built into furniture. THE FUTURE IS NOW! err.. soon at least

[jim @ Jan 7th 2008 5:33AM]

Just amazing how this works. Isn't it?
Sony kicks Toshiba's ass in the HD DVD one legged ass kickin' contest and then Toshiba climbs into bed with them in the WirelessHD SIG. Both of them were bitchin' because the consumer was being confused with the diffent HD DVD formats. Now a half dozen wireless formats are emerging and the chipset is going into any number of different appliances. If they think the consumer was confused over DVDs and was delaying purchases until the dust settled, just watch the marketing and advertising gurus freeze up sales over this issue. Like Gecho said in "Wall Street", "greed is good". God, don't ya just love market share battles. If they can't have it all, they don't want any of it.