HdmiCable
Latest
Panasonic brings free-angle HDMI cables to the USA
Panny's simplistic, albeit brilliant free-angle HDMI cables generated a lot of buzz when announced earlier this year. Now, Panasonic's doing the smart thing by bringing these suckers to the US of A. Announced alongside its sizable PZ850 plasmas and the PT-AE3000 projector, these HDMI 1.3a-compatible cables are destined to hit shelves (and your home theater setup soon after) in October. As for pricing, you're looking at $59.99 for the 1.5-meter edition and $79.99 for the 3-meter version.
Panasonic introduces HDMI cables with swiveling heads
Alright, so you're stocked up on locking HDMI cables, but what are you to do about those real tight situations where a traditional HDMI cable end simply sticks out too far? Panasonic to the rescue. As the pre-IFA news continues to trickle out, Panny has introduced a new HDMI cable with a swiveling head, one that can point up or down in order to work nicely in wall-mounted TV applications and the like. We are told to expect a 1.5- and 3-meter version this September, although pricing has yet to be revealed.[Via HDTV-Space, thanks Marcus]
Black Rhodium HDMI cables hit "every price point" except ours
Actually, we're being too kind. It hits every price point except the one below "absurdly inflated." For whatever reason, Black Rhodium figures it can get away with launching a pricey new line of HDMI cables that are "engineered for optimum performance at every price point," yet the cheapest one is a full £35 ($69)... and that's for a 0.5-meter edition. The sure-to-be-noticeably-faster (ahem) Sapphire HiSpeed cables boast gold-plated connectors, copper conductors and meet the ridiculous demands of HDMI 1.3b . Oh, and they go for £75, £130 and £180 for the 1/5/7.5-meter models. Sure, maybe these aren't quite as baffling as Monster Cables, but they're way too close for comfort.
Furutech's HDMI-xv1.3 cable makes Monster seem low-end
After getting a whiff of what Furutech's cooking, Monster is really going to have to step up its game. Not content with just charging a Benjamin or two for an HDMI cable, this company has decided that its HDMI-xv1.3 cable -- which is "engineered to work flawlessly in lengths up to 3 meters with new-generation 120Hz LCD and plasma screens" -- is somehow worth $280 to $1,400, depending on length. Sure, the thing boasts EMI / RFI rejection, contact resistance, silver-plated Alpha-OFC solid-core conductors, five full layers of shielding and nonmagnetic Pearl Chrome aluminum alloy connectors with 24K gold-plated α (Alpha) contacts, but really, nearly three bills for the one-meter edition? You know what they say about fools and their money...
Microsoft prepping component to HDMI adapter?
Friendly tipster Evan M wasn't too stoked to see an Xbox 360 Elite headed for store shelves after he'd just purchased a Premium 360, especially considering the fact that his TV has a whole HDMI port twiddling its thumbs, just waiting to get its game on. After informing Microsoft of his displeasure through what we're sure was a politely worded email, Evan claims to have received a slightly encouraging response from a Microsoft support person, promising an upcoming HDMI to component adapter for the 'box to make his situation perhaps a bit more bearable. Unfortunately, the support person also mentioned that "we do not have information as of the moment if the cable will be sold separately," which might mean such an adapter is only destined for sales with some sort of updated Premium SKU, at least for the immediate future. We'll keep our eyes peeled.[Thanks, Evan M]
Sony releases PS3 HDMI cables in Japan
While it didn't see fit to include one in the box (ours notwithstanding), Sony's more than happy to sell you an HDMI cable to keep your brand-new PlayStation 3 Sony-branded through and through, releasing a range of cables of varying lengths to coincide with the Japanese PS3 launch. Available in 1, 1.5, 2, and 3 meter varieties (approximately 3 to 10 feet), the cables comply with HDMI 1.3 specs and feature 24k gold-plated connectors for that extra touch of class (and improved signal quality). Keen observers of these sort of things will notice that that's three more cables than Sony has announced for release over here -- so if you're looking for more options on this side of the Pacific, you'll have to either go third-party or get importing. Prices in Japan start at 3,500 Yen (about $30) for the shortest cable, with each increment costing an extra 500 Yen, topping out at 5,000 Yen (just over $40) for the ten footer. [Via Impress]
Rumorang: Xbox 360 HDMI cable officially yanked
A newly discovered Gamestop and EB Games listing reveals an Xbox 360 HDMI cable, a rather ponderous product considering the fact that the console does not have the necessary port to accomodate such a miraculous transmissive device. Is it an expensive adapter that automagically goes from the bulky 360 AV connector to an HDMI output? Feel free to entertain such a possibility, so long as you remember that Microsoft wants nothing to do with it. After constantly pestering them for a comment, they informed us that the product was not one of theirs and that "Microsoft has not announced any additional support beyond component video for HD output. MS is watching the market closely and they will continue to evaluate any options in the face of consumer demand." Unless the face of consumer demand becomes crumpled in a furious frown regarding the lack of HDMI support, don't expect this retail listing (and they're usually so reliable!) to signify a change in Microsoft's strategy. Back in July, when handed the rumor of a new Xbox 360 equipped with an HDMI port, Microsoft promptly tossed it away and insisted that "you don't need HDMI for HD gaming." We fully expect the HDMI rumorang to return again sometime in the future -- catch it here when it does.[Via Digg, Xbox Evolved. Thanks Jayman16]See also: High-end PS3 shipping without HDMI cable
