(High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is an interface standard used for audiovisual equipment such as high-definition television and home theater

systems. With 19 wires wrapped in a single cable that resembles a USB wire, HDMIHDMIHDMI is able to carry a bandwidth of 5 Gbps (gigabits per second). This is more than twice the bandwidth needed to transmit multi-channel audio and video, future-proofing HDMIHDMIHDMI for some time to come. This and several other factors make HDMIHDMIHDMI much more desirable than its predecessors, component video, S-Video and composite video. HDMIHDMIHDMI is an uncompressed, all-digital signal, while the aforementioned interfaces are all analog. With an analog interface, a clean digital source is translated into less precise analog, sent to the television, then converted back to a digital signal to display on screen. At each translation, the digital signal loses integrity, resulting in some distortion of picture quality. HDMIHDMIHDMI preserves the source signal, eliminating analog conversion to deliver the sharpest, richest picture possible. Previous video interfaces required separate audio cables, with the vast majority of people using standard RCA L/R analog audio jacks. HDMI, with its abundant bandwidth and speed, carries not only video but also up to eight digital audio channels for uncompromised surround-sound. It replaces the tangle of wires behind the system with a single cable, greatly simplifying the entire setup process of the home theater system while delivering top tier performance. Though standard HDMI or "Type A" has 19 wires, "Type B" will have 29 wires. The latter is targeted for the motion picture industry and other professional applications. Both varieties are "Intelligent HDMI," referring to the built-in capability for HDMI-enabled components to talk to each other via the interface. Auxiliary information can provide all-in-one remote functionality and other interoperable features not possible in previous interface technologies. HDMI supports standard video formats, enhanced video and high-definition. It is also backwards compatible with DVI (Digital Video Interface). High-end graphics cards featuring a DVI port can connect to a HDMI interface via a DVI/HDMI cable. This is simply a cable with a DVI connector on one end and a HDMI connector on the other. As a rule, HDMI cables should not run longer than 15 feet (5 meters), or degradation of the signal could occur. As of 2005, many high-end television sets were sold with at least one HDMI interface. Some experts advise that two HDMI interfaces will provide more flexibility, and for those who want to connect a game console, three might serve better. Multiple interfaces will become common on digital TVs as the industry incorporates HDMI interfaces into more peripheral components.

What is HDMI?
HDMI is the global standard for connecting high-definition Consumer Electronics and PC products. Its the uncompressed, all-digital interface that delivers both dazzling quality and unmatched ease of use. HDMI technology provides the highest possible signal to meet the needs of todays and tomorrows HD entertainment systems. With a single cable, it transmits:

digital video multi-channel surround sound advanced control data

More than 800 manufacturers have adopted the HDMI standard, including some of the worlds most trusted brands.

229 million HDMI-enabled devices shipped in 2008. 300 million are more projected in 2009. Market research from In-Stat projects over a billion HDMI devices in the market by 2010, when every new digital TV will feature at least one HDMI port

HDMI connectivity is already standard on a wide range of products:

HDTVs Blu-ray Disc players multimedia PCs gaming systems digital camcorders, and more.

With HDMI connectivity, you get it all. The convenience of a one-cable solution, plus the power and performance of a high-speed digital link. Now and in the future, its the best way to connect HD.

The HDMI Advantage

When you connect with HDMI technology, youre getting the utmost in simplicity, performance, and system intelligence.

Simplicity

HDMI transmits all types of audio and video through a single digital link, eliminating "cable clutter" by replacing as many as eleven older cables HDMI makes it ultra-easy to install or upgrade to an all-digital home entertainment system. HDMI makes it simple to hook up other devices to your home theater system. PCs, gaming consoles, and video cameras can all be connected with the same one-plug convenience. All HDMI versions are backward-compatible with previous versions.

Performance All-digital. No conversion or compression needed Enormous bandwidth capacity up to 10.2 gigabits per second, more than twice the bandwidth needed to transmit a 1080p signal, such as the output from a Blu-ray Disc player. o Better looking movies o Faster gaming o Richer audio Ready for future emerging technologies o Higher resolutions, like 1440p or Quad HD o Faster refresh rates, like 120Hz o Deep Color, taking the HDTV palette from millions to trillions of colors. Intelligence

HDMI is a "smart" two-way connection that allows devices to communicate and interact with each other to dramatically improve your home theater experience. Devices connected with HDMI have the ability to scan each others capabilities and automatically configure certain settings. An HDTV and a DVD player, for instance, can auto-negotiate settings like resolution and aspect ratio to correctly match the format of the incoming content to the highest capabilities of the TV. Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) is another intelligent HDMI feature set that provides for integrated, "one-touch" commands across multiple linked components. When enabled by the manufacturer, CEC allows system-wide behaviors like one-touch play or one-touch record,

where pressing a single button on a remote launches a series of coordinated commands.

Connecting with HDMI

Setting up an HDMI-connected system is easy: Choosing the Right Cable There are two types of cable to choose from: Standard Recommended for 1080i or 720p data loads High Speed Best for heavier 1080p data loads such as Blu-ray Disc movies or the output from a PS3 gaming console and Deep Color Switching between Source Devices There are two ways to switch between devices such as DVD players, set-top boxes, or gaming consoles: 1. Newer TVs come equipped with two or more HDMI inputs 2. An audio-visual receiver (AVR) with HDMI switching capability can connect your source devices to the AVR inputs, and then link the AVR to the TV with a single HDMI cable. TIP: If you have too many source devices for the available input ports, you can purchase a stand-alone HDMI switching box. Connecting your Basic Home Theater HDMI ports on your equipment are always "female," and the connector plugs on the cables are always "male." Make sure your connectors are firmly in place. The cable needs to be fully engaged to function properly. TIP: If you have trouble firmly connecting for instance in tight spaces or vertical configurations ask your dealer about a swivel adapter or "port saver," a specially designed short HDMI dongle. Connecting your Advanced Home Theater Long cable lengths 25 to 100 feet If you need to send a 1080p signal more than 25 feet, or a 1080i signal more

than 49 feet, active electronics will help clean up and boost an HDMI signal when its traveling long distances. You can purchase either a stand-alone booster box or an active cable, where the circuitry is embedded in the connectors themselves. In both cases, the connection requires a power source. Long cable lengths 100 feet+ Several specialized technologies have been developed for extremely long cable lengths. Go to "Running Long Cable Lengths" in the Installer section of this site for more information. Running Cable through a wall, attic, or crawlspace A 7/8" drill hole will accommodate most connectors.

Dont tug or manhandle the cable Dont twist the connectors Dont staple directly to studs

An HDMI cable needs to be handled gently to ensure its performance. What Else Can You Connect Using HDMI?

Many models of PCs gaming consoles, digital cameras (look to see if you have a Mini HDMI connector/adapter cable. If not, ask your dealer) camcorders

Connecting your PC to a HDMI High Definition TV

In the past year or so, computer graphic cards have begun to sprout HMDI ports allowing you to connect your PC to a High Definition (HD) TV via HDMI cables. I think it was the Sapphire Radeon X1600 Pro that was announced in March 2006 that was the first HDMI graphics card on the market.

While this probably does not mean much to anyone now as there is a lack of HD content available on the internet, we are slowly seeing this begin to change with more internet TV episodes beginning to stream in HD. TVTonic, for example, has a library of vodcasts that can be watched on a media center PC, with many of them being available in HD and perfect for watching on a plasma television. New Graphics Cards with HDMI If you have a new graphics card you should hopefully be fitted with a HDMI output which makes everything very easy. Just a simple HDMI > HDMI cable will have your PC connected to your HDTV. eBusinessCables has a well-priced selection of these cables available in its video cable section. One thing to watch out for is overscan which is a black area surrounding the viewing area, which you usually dont see on a PC, but can often show up on a HDTV due to resolution incompatibilities. Older Graphics Cards DVI or VGA Output Unfortunately if you are working with an older PC graphics card you may only have a DVI output, or even worse just a VGA output.
DVI

With a DVI output on your graphics card you will need a DVI > HDMI adapter cable. Unfortunately eBusinessCables doesnt seem to stock any DVI to HDMI adapter cables.
VGA

If you have a VGA output then you have the following situation, its either impossible or quite expensive and in this situation you are better off buying a new graphics card altogether. Note: eBusinessCables.com paid WebTVWire to be discussed in this post - all opinions are honest and were not influenced by the payment.
HD- the technology behind Graphics

Everyday we are used to seeing the graphics on our television screens and on our computer screens. These days a new term has been coined to define the available

resolution of image. It is High Definition. Television manufacturers are carrying advertisements proudly announcing that the television screens are high definition ones. But what is High definition? Is it a single technology or some complex technological term? Let us try to explain this. High Definition refers to a family of video characteristics. Any screen claiming to be HD may posses only one of the characteristics from the family of characteristics. High definition refers to set of technologies that support a resolution normally more than the conventionally available technologies. HD is infact a digital television broadcasting system with significantly higher resolutions than normally available. In the initial days of introduction of this technology, an HD signal was that which consisted of 720 horizontal lines from top to bottom and 1280 vertical lines from left to right of the screen. HD nowadays encompasses a resolution of 1080 vertical lines and 1920 horizontal lines. The more is the number of lines, more is the details of an image that can be seen. Another way of defining HD is by video frame rate. Present day HD includes frame rates of 23.98,24,29.97,30,59.94 and 60 frames per second. The frame rate chosen depends upon the video standard used. In addition to this another important point is the connections for HD device. Every high definition capable product has a set of connectivity options which enable it to be connected to other devices for use. These devices include variety of plugs, cables that confirm to a particular HD standard. The normally available connectivity options include VGA port which is one of the most suitable standards for displaying high definition video signals. The DVI or Digital video interface provides an all digital connection which reduces he noise associated with the signal received in VGA connections. Another connectivity option is High Definition Multimedia interface which is a true digital interface and supports a wide band width upto 10.2 gigabits per second ad can carry upto eight channels of audio on same cable. Now what should one look for when going in to purchase HD product? First point is to ensure what is the pixel size availability. Then we need to check in what connectivity options are available. Testing the HD product with the available connectivity options and viewing the results is also recommended. It would also be beneficial if the HD product has inbuilt antenna to catch the local

signals available. The hardware requirements of HD product include a dual core processor, a HDCP compatible card, optical drives, HD compatible display devices, software to support the HD product, suitable gaming consoles etc. Actually this technology helps in better viewing but with one condition that all the devices in line with HD product support the HD technology than only we can get the real quality pictures. It is going to be the clear technology of the future. Arvind Dhingra