Silicon Image VastLane Mobile 5-pin HDMI standard
By Richard Lawler 
posted January 8th 2008 5:04AM
posted January 8th 2008 5:04AM
A few companies have demoed cellphone chips capable of HD output, but the fact is HDTV inputs weren't designed with mobile power requirements and form factors in mind. Apparently unsatisfied by the mini HDMI connector created as part of HDMI 1.3, Silicon Image went ahead with its own design, reducing HDMI's 19 pins to 5 while still retaining compatibility for full HD and digital audio in a package it calls Mobile High Definition Link (MHL). Cutting out any serial connector or further compression, the first MHL equipped products are the VastLane SiI9220, SiI9222 and SiI9290, which could reach cellphones near you as soon as the third quarter of this year.
I didn't even know it existed. Cellphones? What cellphones are capable of displaying HD?
That must be one heck of a cellphone if it can store, process, and display HD video.
I'm a little confused as to the reasoning behind mobile HDMI. The cables are only used to send video right? They cannot be used to send anything else as far a I know.
So why have 2 separate devices to decode the HD content and then to display it? I would think 1 device would be preferable.
I guess I don't get it.
The point is so you han have digital HD out on mobile devices, like the next generation of iPod/Zune/Meizu. Meaning at a friends house, you can play your choice of HD video on their 108inch plasma!
HD Phone? That makes no sense. The screen is small enough to display sharp images and video + All types of video you download have different resolutions anyway. Youtube crap, MetaCafe, etc., Unless its broadcasing LIVE HDTV into the phone.