Possible new standard in audio/visual...

[RCA]

http://www.dailytech.com/So+Long+HDMI+N ... #cmt592737

I love the idea. Replacing HDMI, DVI, VGA, S/PDIF, component video, composite video and every other wire/connector with ethernet cable! Universal connectors FTW.

NICO's thoughts?

[MinisterofDOOM]

I'm definitely a fan of the idea. Doing more with existing cable designs is always good. Cat5e/6 can be had in crazy lengths for relatively cheap.

I'm going to call it now: Best Buy will be selling $150 6 foot cables with gold-plating on the plastic plug ends.

HDMI cables are THEORETICALLY supposed to be cheap-and-good. But everyone overcharges for them and actually finding them in any sort of length is a pain. Since Cat6 is an established format, that problem should go away.

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Yeah. It's easy to buy a whole spool of that stuff and make your own cables. Much more efficient than HDMI.

I laugh every time I see someone buying a "Monster Cable." What a joke.

[4cefed]

Wow, this doesn't make sense. Why would companies ditch these varied standards to unify? There's no money in that.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Wow, this doesn't make sense. Why would companies ditch these varied standards to unify? There's no money in that.

It doesn't really work that way with a/v I/O. Sure, there are a variety of connectors, but it's not a problem of proprietary restriction or anything. Everyone uses the same standards. Yeah, they're varied, but it doesn't cause intercompatibility issues because everyone uses the SAME varied standards. So, in reality, companies HAVE unified on that front. They've unified backward and laterally, too. EVERYONE uses HDMI. AND Coax. And VGA, and composite RCA, and component RCA. They can't afford not to. They want their DVD player to work with whatever TV you already have, or you won't buy it.

No...that's not an issue at all. And even if it were, this wouldn't change it. This is just going to add ANOTHER port to the back of your TV. The benefit's not standard variation. The benefit is product availability. Rather than single-purposed cables that can be pitched as premium and marked up moronically, you'll be working with something that's already established and can't be abused in the marketplace. Even if companies try to sell overpriced premium versions, as I predict they will, the "regular" versions won't go anywhere. You can buy connector crimping tools anywhere, cable anywhere. They won't be able to get away with charging $15 for a 6ft cable.

[Razi]

If this happens, I'll be glad.
We have a gigantic roll of that stuff in the garage.
Maybe even 2 rolls.

[4cefed]

Wow, this doesn't make sense. Why would companies ditch these varied standards to unify? There's no money in that.

Rather than single-purposed cables that can be pitched as premium and marked up moronically, you'll be working with something that's already established and can't be abused in the marketplace.

That's the part I don't understand. Why adapt to something that allows you to cheaply connect components? I guess adding the port will force a few people to switch to the latest gear, but I always thought a company wanted proprietary stuff to sell.

[MinisterofDOOM]

That's what I'm saying: there's nothing proprietary. Anyone can make an HDMI cable, or a component RCA cable, or a VGA cable.

[Razi]

Make the cables black and plate the connectors in gold.
$$$!

[4cefed]

That's what I'm saying: there's nothing proprietary. Anyone can make an HDMI cable, or a component RCA cable, or a VGA cable.

So Sony has never made an HDMI cable? I'm not saying this is a bad thing coming, looks wonderful. I just don't understand why. Maybe I should have been a business major.

[Looneybomber]

For digital video, we have what, DVI and HDMI?
For analog video, we have VGA, S-video, RCA (composite video), and component RCA?

Well, analog video is being phased out and DVI is used primarily in the computing world, which leaves HDMI.
So what is this interface trying to replace? HDMI? Why? Why replace one for another?

If they want to do something about compressed 7.1 audio coming from S/PDIF, then I'm all for it. HDMI, however does bit for bit lossless.

[Looneybomber]

That's what I'm saying: there's nothing proprietary. Anyone can make an HDMI cable, or a component RCA cable, or a VGA cable.

So Sony has never made an HDMI cable? I'm not saying this is a bad thing coming, looks wonderful. I just don't understand why. Maybe I should have been a business major.

Yes, Sony has had an OEM make cables for them, which they then branded as Sony cables and sell at a store for 30-60 bucks. However, you can buy those same cables from the OEM, www.monoprice.com, for around $5-8. It's not proprietary like the Sony mini-disk or those Sony memory cards. Everyone uses HDMI; Samsung, Panasonic, Nvidia, AMD, etc...

[MinisterofDOOM]

So Sony has never made an HDMI cable? I'm not saying this is a bad thing coming, looks wonderful. I just don't understand why. Maybe I should have been a business major.

I don't think you understand the meaning of proprietary (or you're just using a different word than you're meaning). I don't say that in a jerk way, but honestly. Proprietary is crap like Xbox 360's unique controller wireless standard, or the PS2 memory card connection. It's used for one thing, and intended to restrict compatibility.

HDMI is not proprietary. It's a widely-adopted industry standard. Sony makes them, EVERYONE makes them. There's nothing restrictive or limited or not-unified. Anyone can use HDMI connectors on their device or cable. It's as not-proprietary as it can get. Yes, it is very narrow-purposed, but it's still an industry standard.

Proprietary stuff is usually designed to lock you into buying specific branded accessories, and is used in cases where the accessories are the profit-source, not the device itself (like with game consoles, which are often sold at a loss). Often it can be licensed, but it's not a widely adopted, industry standard. Not just anyone can use it.

So, yes, Sony makes HDMI cables. But so does Mad Catz. Sony isn't in a position to use HDMI sales as profit-boosters, because they're not a proprietary connector. There's free competition.

[RCA]

So what is this interface trying to replace? HDMI? Why? Why replace one for another?

I think what they are shooting for is one cable for each device.
HDMI + S/PDIF + Firmware updates/Data (ie Google TV or streaming from home servers) = all one cable.

[Looneybomber]

I still don't get it.

This new cable won't connect to the internet, so you'll still need a LAN cable going from your router to your computer. Then, HDMI will carry both audio and video, which could then be replaced with this new Cat6 cable. I guess I don't know what all this cable can do, but it still appears to replace one cable for another.

[Razi]

It's not about what the cable can do.
It's the cheapness of the cable.

You can buy a large roll of it and make your own really easily, that's what I like about this idea.

[C-Kwik]

I'm on the fence on this one. I have enough friends calling me asking me to help set up their systems as it is. HDMI has made things quite easy by being quite different than every other connector. I could easily see someone getting things muffed up betewwn a LAN connection and a video connection. Standard RCA connections used for composite and component video and audio already makes things confusing. Perhaps using a different end connector. It could be as simple as offsetting the tab for audio/video applications.

I do like the idea of using an existing cable so long as it meets current and future technical needs for some time.

[Looneybomber]

It's not about what the cable can do.
It's the cheapness of the cable.

You can buy a large roll of it and make your own really easily, that's what I like about this idea.

You show me one person that makes their own cables, and I will show you a HUGE market for the millions of people that don't. The AV market doesn't care about the DIY'er and it shows in the pricing. It's not even cost effective to make your own cables until you want something custom. And typical HT installs don't require anything custom.

I'm on the fence on this one. I have enough friends calling me asking me to help set up their systems as it is. HDMI has made things quite easy by being quite different than every other connector. I could easily see someone getting things muffed up betewwn a LAN connection and a video connection. Standard RCA connections used for composite and component video and audio already makes things confusing. Perhaps using a different end connector. It could be as simple as offsetting the tab for audio/video applications.

Agree'd. People have a hard enough time getting color coded RCA's in the right spot. Turn everything into the exact same interface/plug with a color difference and now Geek Squad is getting called out for 50-60 bucks just to move a couple wires around.

[Razi]

You show me one person that makes their own cables, and I will show you a HUGE market for the millions of people that don't. The AV market doesn't care about the DIY'er and it shows in the pricing. It's not even cost effective to make your own cables until you want something custom. And typical HT installs don't require anything custom.

Well that's obvious,the DIY'ers are always outnumbered by people who don't.
But whether you do it DIY or not, you can get Cat 5 cables for cheap.

Agree'd. People have a hard enough time getting color coded RCA's in the right spot. Turn everything into the exact same interface/plug with a color difference and now Geek Squad is getting called out for 50-60 bucks just to move a couple wires around.

I'm sure that the people that can't match colors together will need help whether or not the ends are different shapes or colors.

[4cefed]

I don't think you understand the meaning of proprietary (or you're just using a different word than you're meaning). I don't say that in a jerk way, but honestly.

You're right, I was thinking "unique to the industry" and misused proprietary.

At any rate, this will be interesting if it happens.

[Razi]

Yeah it will be interesting.
But I doubt it will.

Fun idea though.

[Looneybomber]

Yay, Denon to the rescue with $500, 1.5m cables!

http://www.usa.denon.com/productdetails/3429.asp

From what I've heard, the spec uses 8P8C, RJ45-type connections, but it's not necessarily Ethernet which uses specific pin combination's. Unless you DIY, you might not be able to use off-the-shelf Ethernet patch cables. So much for the cheap cable theory.

[Bwana]

Building your own custom length cables is the only way to go.

I wholeheartedly support this move.

[RCA]

I still don't get it.

This new cable won't connect to the internet, so you'll still need a LAN cable going from your router to your computer. Then, HDMI will carry both audio and video, which could then be replaced with this new Cat6 cable. I guess I don't know what all this cable can do, but it still appears to replace one cable for another.

That might be the case now, but imagine a receiver that is also a switch. Plug your cable modem into it and boom, now you can have a TV with data, sound and video.

Or image a receiver that has a switch and is a pc. Now you can send an ethernet cable to a monitor. It might be useful down the line. I have too many different types of cables behind my desk that only do one thing so it would be nice to use less.

[marlin29311]

My guess is that it probably won't work out too well. HDMI currently has built in HDCP...I can't see an existing cable somehow updated to have the capability.

[RCA]

My guess is that it probably won't work out too well. HDMI currently has built in HDCP...I can't see an existing cable somehow updated to have the capability.

http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/2010/07/02/ ... -solution/

http://www.valens-semi.com/media/1526/msnbc.pdf

EDIT:
As some one stated
"HDCP… if Sony is involved, it won’t have HDCP issues, it’ll be something far more complicated and awful."

LG, Samsung and Sony are all involved...
I am sure this will work out. The only question is when